Okay
This is kinda off-topic, but really it's the only way to save the QOTW. After some thought, I've decided I prefer to see it as a more 'music in general' question.

Now, working in a place 20 minutes away from the house, I tend to save myself a train fare by walking to work. I'm normally a lazy bastard and despise exercise in general and long walks in particular (that would make a great opening line for a dating ad). I tend to alleviate the boredom by sticking the Beatles or Led Zeppelin on the iPod and retreating into my own little world.

Recently, my earphones packed in, and I decided to splash out. I got a new pair of Phillips noise-cancelling in-ear headphones - let me tell you, these things are fucking amazing. They bury right inside your ears and when you've got the volume turned up, you can't even hear yourself cough. Seriously, it's fucking spooky. I walked past a building site and saw a guy operating a pneumatic drill, and all I could hear was 'Penny Lane' being blasted right into my eardrums.

The roads are normally quiet in the mornings, so I'd gotten into the habit of walking across without checking left or right - with my old headphones, I'd still hear the noise of an approaching car. Not so with these babies. I stepped out onto the road as normal, strolling along and humming 'Stairway to Heaven,' when, all of a sudden, a movement in the corner of my eye catches my attention. I turn my head, and watch as a car screeches to a halt barely inches from where I'm standing. Being not yet awake, I simply stand and stare in slack-jawed wonder as a heavy-set man leans out the window and begins screaming at me. At least, I assume he's screaming. All I can hear is the guitar solo beginning to pick up speed. His mouth moves in time with the music, and, just for a moment, I imagine that the sweet sounds of Page's guitar are eminating from the hole in his face, bursting forth from this man-mountain like spring water from a Roman fountain. Then I shake myself, shrug, and walk on.

It seems somehow poetic - almost being killed while the strains of 'Stairway to Heaven' are echoing in my ears.

Maybe I should go back to my old headphones...
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Fri 8 Feb 2008, 3:07, 2 replies)

In-Ear Headphones
I've got a pair like that - rubber ear buds that fit in your ears. They give great bass response! I used to wear them when cycling to work.

I took them out after I crashed into a car. You really need your ears when cycling.
(adamjc is awesome, Fri 8 Feb 2008, 9:22, closed)

the ones that came with my
walkman phone are the same

I get shouted at when at work because I can't hear, even with the music switched off.

I had to give up using those when on my bike too because of near death experiences.

fucking good sound though
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 8 Feb 2008, 10:58, closed)