For the past year or so, I've been using a Sonicare electric toothbrush. It's an amazing bit of technological kit that blasts plaque away with a brush head that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies. I had used inexpensive battery toothbrushes for several years prior to acquiring the Sonicare, and I was fascinated to note several significant differences between it and its less expensive counterparts.
The first major difference is the lack of a motor. The other battery toothbrushes I have used have all had a small electric motor, which drives the the head with a simple mechanism that either causes the bristles to oscillate back and forth or spin around.
The Sonicare also oscillates, but there is no motor. The only physical connection between head and handle is the threaded collar that keeps the head in place. Instead of driving the head with the spinning shaft of a motor, this toothbrush uses an electromagnet that reverses polarity several thousand times a second, causing the head to vibrate several thousand times a second. Unlike traditional battery toothbrushes, which will run without a head attached, the Sonicare will not. Its head completes the mechanism.
A secondary advantage to this design is it allows the handle to be a completely sealed unit, ideal for operating in a wet environment like a bathroom--or a mouth. This sealed design continues at the bottom of the handle, where there are no electrical contacts despite the fact that the handle contains rechargeable batteries. Here again, magnetism comes into play as the batteries are charged by a process called magnetic induction. It's not the most efficient design, as it takes almost 24 hours to give the batteries a full charge, but it does facilitate a design where there are no metal contacts to allow leakage or oxidation.
As amazing as this design is, the batteries, two non-replaceable AA size nickle-cadmium (Ni-Cad) cells, are definitely its weak point. I was genuinely surprised the manufacturer, Phillips, opted for lower quality Ni-Cad cells when superior nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells would have added, at most, a few pennies to the cost of the toothbrush.
The problem with Ni-Cad cells is twofold: They generally have a faster discharge rate than NiMH cells and they develop a 'memory' pattern in which they have a very short operational life between charges if they are charged at frequent intervals without being fully discharged first. To get the best life out of Ni-Cad batteries, they need to have deep cycle charges, which can be achieved by charging the batteries only when they are fully depleted. Fortunately, the Sonicare toothbrush is engineered to maximize battery life by alerting the user when when the batteries need charging by giving a beep and flashing an LED under the power button. While the instructions mention the low battery indicator feature, they don't state specifically that the battery should only be charged when this feature calls for a charge. On average, I have to charge my toothbrush about twice a month.
This is somewhat problematic given that many users will doubtless keep the toothbrush in its charging stand between uses. Over time, this can lead to premature battery failure, which spells the end of the toothbrush's operational life since the sealed handle can't be opened without destroying it.
I believe that NiMH batteries would be more suitable for this application because they hold a charge longer and have much less of a memory effect. I proved the superiority of NiMH batteries to myself a few years ago when the Ni-Cad batteries in my Remington electric razor died on me. Because the outer casing was held together with screws, I took it apart to find conventional AA-sized Ni-Cad batteries with solder tabs inside.
After searching around the Internet, I found a source for the batteries and saw they had both Ni-Cad and NiMH batteries available at virtually the same cost. I opted for the NiMH batteries, soldering them with a minimum of fuss. In the process, I extended the life of the device at about a tenth the cost of replacing it. My replacement batteries outperformed the originals in every way. Not only do they hold a charge longer, but six years later, they are still going strong, whereas the originals only lasted about five years.
Given what I know about these batteries, it boggles my mind that Phillips would choose an inferior battery for an otherwise highly advanced toothbrush. The only rationale that comes to my mind is one of built-in obsolescence in that it's not always in the manufacturer's best interest to let the consumer have too much of a good thing.
Update: 10 December 2011
I was in Target yesterday and saw a new entry level Sonicare model. This one uses conventional AA batteries and sells for the relative bargain price of $20, less than half the price of my Sonicare Essence. Because the batteries are replaceable, you can use either alkalines or rechargeables and you don't have to throw the handle away when the batteries wear out. If I were in the market for a Sonicare today, this model would be on the top of my list, along with some rechargeable NiMH batteries. The brush heads are still frightfully expensive, but at least one would potentially get a longer service life out of the handle.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Is TV's Earl working the Twelve Steps?
I've been re-watching one of my favorite sitcoms, My Name is Earl, lately and I've made an interesting observation. It appears the show's protagonist. Earl J. Hickey, a reformed petty thief, drunkard and general ne'er do well, is working his own version of the Twelve Steps, popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and a host of other recovery groups.
The premise of the series is that Earl is trying to improve his lot in life by making a list of all his past transgressions and making amends for them with the help his not-so-bright brother Randy and a healthy dose of redneck humor.
The first clue that the Twelve Steps might be at the heart of this show's premise can be found in the title. It is customary in Twelve Step recovery groups for members to introduce themselves by first name (e.g., My name is ______ and I'm an alcoholic/addict/gambler/codependent/etc.) but the parallels run much deeper than that. Let's see how Earl's (mis)adventures with his list mesh with the Twelve Steps:
1. Came to the realization we were powerless over alcohol (or some other addiction), that our lives had become unmanageable.
In the pilot episode, Earl comes to a similar conclusion while laying in a hospital bed after being hit by a car only seconds after scratching off a $100,000 lottery ticket, paid for with funds acquired by picking someone's pocket in the men's room. He begins to put the pieces together and realizes his problems just might be his fault
2. Came to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Earl has a similar epiphany while watching an interview show on TV. The host of the show, Carson Daly, mentions his belief in Karma--that if you do good things, good things will happen to you and if you do bad things, bad things will happen to you. Earl buys into this philosophy on the spot and decides if he doesn't change his life, Karma will eventually kill him.
3. Gave our will and our lives over to God as we understood him.
Earl indeed hands his will and his life over to his higher power, which he calls Karma, and dedicates himself full time to righting his past wrongs.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves, to God, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Became entirely ready to have God remove these shortcomings
7. Humbly asked God to remove these defects of character.
Earl appears to work steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 in rapid succession during the first episode.
8. Made a list of all people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them
Earl's list is the very crux of the show's premise.
9. Made amends to such persons, except when to do so would injure them or others.
In each episode, Earl makes amends for one or more of his past transgressions, learning an important life lesson in the process.
10. Continued to take inventory and when were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Like most people in recovery, Earl has the occasional slip, but when this happens, he makes a concerted effort to avoid adding to his karmic debt by making immediate additions to his list and addressing them before the ink is completely dry.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to achieve a closer contact with our higher power, asking only for a better understanding of his will for us and the power to carry that out.
Earl invests significant time and energy trying to determine what Karma wants him to do next. He is open to all manner of signs and portents and when the appropriate path becomes apparent, he proceeds without hesitation.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we sought to bring the message of Alcoholics Anonymous (or some other 12-step recovery fellowship) to those who still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Hilarious as this show is, it quickly becomes obvious to the viewer that Earl's experience is transformative on a spiritual level. He becomes aware of and in tune with his higher power--Karma. While Earl is not shy about explaining his list and his mission to others, he isn't evangelical in his approach. To his credit, he lets others draw their own conclusions about whether it will work for them. In this respect, Earl is clearly following the 11th Tradition of AA, which espouses attraction over promotion. As for the last part, Earl consistently uses his belief in Karma to guide his daily actions. He frequently checks his baser impulses and then acts based on what he believes Karma would have him do.
I have no idea whether the show's creator, Greg Garica, is a member of a Twelve-Step fellowship or whether he consciously modeled Earl's quirky life journey on Twelve Step recovery, but the parallels are too obvious to ignore. Although Earl doesn't attend weekly meetings, pick up chips to mark milestones in his recovery, or sponsor new members, he arguably is working his own, unique, quirky, and hilariously entertaining version of the Twelve Steps. In the process, he is achieving his goal of living a better life. The moral to this story is that the Twelve Steps are for all of us, regardless of the nature of our character defects. Their wisdom is simple, and if applied honestly, they simply work.
The premise of the series is that Earl is trying to improve his lot in life by making a list of all his past transgressions and making amends for them with the help his not-so-bright brother Randy and a healthy dose of redneck humor.
The first clue that the Twelve Steps might be at the heart of this show's premise can be found in the title. It is customary in Twelve Step recovery groups for members to introduce themselves by first name (e.g., My name is ______ and I'm an alcoholic/addict/gambler/codependent/etc.) but the parallels run much deeper than that. Let's see how Earl's (mis)adventures with his list mesh with the Twelve Steps:
1. Came to the realization we were powerless over alcohol (or some other addiction), that our lives had become unmanageable.
In the pilot episode, Earl comes to a similar conclusion while laying in a hospital bed after being hit by a car only seconds after scratching off a $100,000 lottery ticket, paid for with funds acquired by picking someone's pocket in the men's room. He begins to put the pieces together and realizes his problems just might be his fault
2. Came to believe a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Earl has a similar epiphany while watching an interview show on TV. The host of the show, Carson Daly, mentions his belief in Karma--that if you do good things, good things will happen to you and if you do bad things, bad things will happen to you. Earl buys into this philosophy on the spot and decides if he doesn't change his life, Karma will eventually kill him.
3. Gave our will and our lives over to God as we understood him.
Earl indeed hands his will and his life over to his higher power, which he calls Karma, and dedicates himself full time to righting his past wrongs.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves, to God, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Became entirely ready to have God remove these shortcomings
7. Humbly asked God to remove these defects of character.
Earl appears to work steps 4, 5, 6, and 7 in rapid succession during the first episode.
8. Made a list of all people we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them
Earl's list is the very crux of the show's premise.
9. Made amends to such persons, except when to do so would injure them or others.
In each episode, Earl makes amends for one or more of his past transgressions, learning an important life lesson in the process.
10. Continued to take inventory and when were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Like most people in recovery, Earl has the occasional slip, but when this happens, he makes a concerted effort to avoid adding to his karmic debt by making immediate additions to his list and addressing them before the ink is completely dry.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to achieve a closer contact with our higher power, asking only for a better understanding of his will for us and the power to carry that out.
Earl invests significant time and energy trying to determine what Karma wants him to do next. He is open to all manner of signs and portents and when the appropriate path becomes apparent, he proceeds without hesitation.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we sought to bring the message of Alcoholics Anonymous (or some other 12-step recovery fellowship) to those who still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Hilarious as this show is, it quickly becomes obvious to the viewer that Earl's experience is transformative on a spiritual level. He becomes aware of and in tune with his higher power--Karma. While Earl is not shy about explaining his list and his mission to others, he isn't evangelical in his approach. To his credit, he lets others draw their own conclusions about whether it will work for them. In this respect, Earl is clearly following the 11th Tradition of AA, which espouses attraction over promotion. As for the last part, Earl consistently uses his belief in Karma to guide his daily actions. He frequently checks his baser impulses and then acts based on what he believes Karma would have him do.
I have no idea whether the show's creator, Greg Garica, is a member of a Twelve-Step fellowship or whether he consciously modeled Earl's quirky life journey on Twelve Step recovery, but the parallels are too obvious to ignore. Although Earl doesn't attend weekly meetings, pick up chips to mark milestones in his recovery, or sponsor new members, he arguably is working his own, unique, quirky, and hilariously entertaining version of the Twelve Steps. In the process, he is achieving his goal of living a better life. The moral to this story is that the Twelve Steps are for all of us, regardless of the nature of our character defects. Their wisdom is simple, and if applied honestly, they simply work.
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