Well, I went to the mall to price some noise-cancelling headphones. WOW.
  Those are some absurdly expensive little toys. I still think I want some,
  but it's going to require a little more careful consideration.
  
  The ideal headset for me would be around-the-ear, collapsable, USB, linux-
  and mac-compatible (e.g. a standard USB audio device, not some
  crazy third-party thing that requires drivers), with active noise cancelling
  earpieces, a noise cancelling microphone, and of course standard features
  like in-line volume control and a microphone mute switch that doesn't
  produce a deafening bang when used. (I did have a headset
  which did that.) It should also cost one dollar and be bullet-proof.
  
  Obviously I'm willing to make some compromises, since I can't even find the
  union of "noise cancelling earpieces" and "microphone". Any suggestions?




