I'll be heading to London next month. Guess I'll have to pack plenty of Altoids ....

quote:

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LONDON (Reuters) - More than half of Britons could have breath that smells worse that their pet's, according to a survey released on Thursday.

And women are the worst offenders, with three out of five failing a sulfur emissions test, according to research by toothpaste manufacturer Aquafresh.

"Some mouths may be dirtier than cat litter," dentist Brian Grieveson said in a statement that accompanied the research.

"Most people in the UK do not realize that cleaning your tongue is as important as cleaning your teeth," he added.

Scots had the best oral hygiene, with only 10 percent suffering bad breath,compared to 27 percent in London. Throughout the nation, 52 percent were rated at a level that could be worse than that of a pet animal.

"We are one of the last countries to understand the need to clean our tongue, with people in America and parts of Europe practicing tongue cleaning routinely," said Grieveson.

Secretaries were the freshest profession, achieving 100 percent freshness in the survey of 1,000 people, while retail staff fared worst and received the warning: "You could be losing sales."

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Thats probably true.....
Brits ...we have the worst teeth! no preventative dentistry as kids and not much on the dental stuff instilled as a child... its amazing I even have my own teeth and that they are not all wooden (well some of them are).
Would rather get me tits out than open my mouth and show you what awful 'peggies' i have!

So I was in London at Kudos Bar (upstairs: asian twinks, downstairs: black cock) near 11 p.m. when suddenly all the lights go on and everyone the bouncer his herding everyone out. My first thought is, "are they being raided? this is so New York". Then I found out they actually close at 11 p.m. -- every night. Then I found out ALL the bars do. My friends and I were really shocked.

A day or so later I was shagging this British guy. He explained afterward that the reason bars close at 11 p.m. is because alcoholism is so rampant and such a huge problem with the Brit men that bars have to close early in order to ensure the blokes are home by midnight. Otherwise they'd be running amok and raising hell on the streets all night and the cops would be overwhelmed. I thought that was funny.

Fortunately dance clubs can stay open all night.

Girl, make sure you go to Ghetto, or if you're there tonight (Sat.) go to Duckie. They're fierce!

Lavinia Co-Op has one of the hottest parties now too. It's called "Radio Egypt" and is on Sundays.

The Ghetto bumps! Fierce and trashy and grooving.

And packed! Even during the week! Alas, my heartstrings were pulled ....

Other highlights included Fruit Machine at Heaven (Wednesdays). Skip the main floor and head to the second floor (hip hop & rap) and third floor (pop/groovy house and performances). Also G.A.Y., both the bar on Old Compton Street and the larger Twilo-sized danceclub at the Astoria. Lots of slutty twinks!

In general I really enjoyed the energy at the venues I visited. It wasn't so much that the clubs themselves were better per se, it was just the sheer enthusiasm I felt from the people, something I rarely experience here these days. Perhaps it was just a case of 'the grass is always greener', but it certainly gave me pause for thought.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Luxury Lex,

That is an important observation though Lex, the point about enthusiasm. It is a sad comment on how effective the whole clamp down on NYC parties has been that it has affected the over all spirit of the partiers themselves.

I think there are examples of London clubs that far outdo any in NYC at this time. But besides that, the London scene is huge compared to NYC. There are just so many MORE clubs, and most on a scale that really make NYC second tier, to my mind, as a party destination. Plus, in my experience, the Brits tend to get way more drunk and way more tripped out on other libations while clubbing.

I hope you keep having opportunities to get to London on a semi regular basis. A club binge there is very therapeutic, and one of the better remedies to all the negative points one can rattle off about this side of the pond at this point in time.

Next you should try Ibiza.

It was theraputic in the best possible way. The whole time I was in the London clubs I was very concious of how cleaned up NYC has become, and how proud I used to be of our city's club scene and its undisputed role on the international stage as the world capital of nightlife. I can't say that about the Big Apple anymore. And yes, the Brits do drink harder and heavier, even worse than the Aussies. That almost goes without saying, it's a big cultural difference. Our country was founded by Puritans, after all. But New York always somehow stood apart from that mentality ... it wasn't a U.S. city so much as a world city. Or at least that was my perception. It still is in some respects, but being in a city like London does put things in perspective.

That having been said, I've yet to see NYC surpassed in the area of live performance and actual production. Here you have people with artistic talent who really PRODUCE their nights, designing themes, performances, set design etc in addition to promoters who merely hire good DJs and fill rooms. You do have producers in London too of course, but I wouldn't say they're better than ours. They just have a more desirable climate to work in. And in any case I still think NYC beats anything THIS country has to offer, hands down.

I suppose the ideal scenario is to have the creativity and production of New York combined with the sophistication of London and the freedom of places like New Orleans or Barcelona/Ibiza.

But London is pretty fucking cool.

I agree completely about what you said regarding live performance in NYC still being better produced and done with greater variety. I think though this is in part due to artists in NYC having adapted to the dirth of venues for performance by taking it in to the club scene, and then forging probably what has and is still becoming a hybrid of high art and all the historical American popular entertainment forms. And part of what makes the work here so strident, edgy and transgressive is exactly that it takes place in a social and economic environment that puts up a lot of adversity towards the art and artists. In Europe, in general, it is comparatively easier to gain legitimacy for art while in the US it is still the attitude that's like, well it is nice the boy can sing that vulgar song in a gorgeous costume, but it is not really something of any importance.

I couldn't agree with you both more. It is amazing the energy that you feel when you go out in London compared with NYC. And even if it is the fact they get drunker or take more drugs, it still means that the atmosphere is more celebratory and inclusive. Perhaps it's the KIND of drugs that they do there, natch? As far as performance goes, however, they are certainly behind compared to NYC. I just think that their recent club culture never developed with the idea that live performance should be merged with it. That's what makes Duckie so special is that they have all these nutty performers on this tiny stage at this dumpy tavern just south of nowhere. And now, they're getting funding from the government to produce some of their shows in other countries (including the US). I mean, how foreign is that concept to us? That's not to say that they are all pro-nightclub over there but I believe they accept nightlife as an essential or at least integral part of Britain's economy instead of the pariah that our country's leaders view it as. But while it may sound like whining, I really find all this inspiring. They have obviously found some formula that works fairly well, so I feel like anything I do here is sort of striving to achieve a similar atmosphere. That is unless someone from London wants to hire me to play over there, then it's "Sayonara!" Am I rambling?

yes.

London can be fab and fun and defo refreshing from the NYC rat trap.... but honestly I wish you would all venture 'Up North' Provincial Cities are not like US Provincial Cities.... Outside of London I find it MUCH more creative/Subversive off beat et al... Go to Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin and of course...Liverpool.... You'd be amazed at what is going on up there!

Thanx for the advice anna nicole-

Of these cities you list which are the most subversive/creative?

I think if you are looking for the most subversive/creative in the UK than it is not "Up North." Head to the Southern coast and go to Brighton. When, and if, I return to the UK full time, Brighton is probably the only city I could live in. As my mother would say, "it's full of poofs and prostitutes." Which she says as a deterrent but is exactly what makes it so great. Unlike most of the English coast which consists of towns where old folks go to die Brighton is thumping. It's clean and still a smaller enough city that parties and scenes are self generated and certainly less corporate than London. When I left England Londoners where begining to move to Brighton and commuting to London for work, a trend which Lavinia tells me is increasing. As for subversive and creative "Up North" it has to be Manchester. Now every big city in England has it's gay village but in Manchester has it never been so officiated. Manchester's gay village is even listed on street maps as a neighborhood. The bars/clubs along Canal Street are awesome and were of course the backdrop to the original "Queer as Folk." In Manchester there really is "Nowt as queer as folk."

As for other Northern cities perhaps it's because I'm a southern pansy but have found it to be "Grim Up North." I say that based on having lived in the Midlands for three years. Leeds and Newcastle both scare me and my time there has seen merry drunken English folks disintegrate into beating the shit out of each other when pubs close. I hate to feed into the infamous English Southern/Northern divide but seeing too many brawls break out up North has tainted my experience. I guess London is perhaps just as violent but Southerners barely bareknuckle it and are more likely to stab you - seems more humane, at least to watch.

I have never been to Scotland or Ireland so can't say much more than folks I know have and have said they are both good times.

Stay well clear of Birmingham (England's second city) - the most boring city in the world.

I'll leave the reply for this to Anna Nicole....

ha ha ha!! Jimmy! You read me too well... Ally boy! Read yer message.. while i sort of agree I sort of disagree...
Defo Brighton to me is better than London.. Central London is very Tao/Lotus crowd (NYC references so my yank peeps comprende)..whereas Brighton is very West Village by the sea... I LOVE Brighton but it gets a tad contrived for me, a wee bit brown rice and pilates crowd ..every friggin shop in Brighton sells Buddha's and tie dye for fuck sake..... i AGREE that the safety/crime level of the place is better than up t'North.
But I disagree that it's more subversive/creative. I really do find in the UK the more economically depressed a city is the more resourceful the folks are and the more that channels into 'entertaining themselves'... think of the noteworthy Brits in music or entertainment... how many of them are from Brighton (girl with the big tits Jordon is the only current one i can think of! LOL). And I think this is the same of the clubs/music etc scene... From an early age I remember the wildest queens in my hood in Liverpool.. and the likes of Pete Burns trollin the high street in all of his glory.. YES the defo do get beaten up more in Liverpool and the edge of danger is defo more there.. but somehow they shine much brighter and are less pedestrian... so .... I do think Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle... is where folks REALLY know how to take it to the EDGE ..take it to an extreem... NYC equivalent to me is - Brighton is like perhaps a fab night out with a cool West Village vibe while Liverpool is more like ended up in Harlem at a wild vogue ball ... there's that edge but the spark is much fiercer.
It really depends on what you thrive on..
As for Birmingham... if you are into Reggae SKA clubs .. its THE best...White americans would be shocked at how 'the norm' it is for them to be in a 'black' club in Birmingham but it is! (think of bands like UB40, the Beat..etc alway a mix... smth you don't see in the US).
There! (big sigh!) Jimmy Scouse are you happy I wrote this... yer lazy arse!

Had read Jimmy Scouse's post before your's popped up so was expecting you to tear my head off. Relieved to agree with you somewhat though. You are a Northerner and as such it would be stupid of me to dispute your experience of the North, but I was talking from a perspective of a Southern pansy and outsider to cities up North, and have often found it hard there not to feel like an outsider, often uncomfortably. And whilst I do think Northern England's music scene has always been much more high profile I think it is because it is guitar based led and the music industry always tends to idolize such figures. There publicity reaches far beyond the consumers of the music. That's not to say they should not but idolized but in terms of dance music the better stuff right now is coming out of the South, and particularly Brighton. Figures of the dance genre tend to pass much more annonymously. Brighton's Dance Fests on the beach thump. And it's just about the only stretch of English coast that you can go into the sea and not have turd and used sanitary towels float by you. Too many people living on a tiny island - don't eat fish.

I respect your perspective.

I guess what's good for the goose is not necessarily good for the ganda.

Oh and Fat Boy Slim is from Brighton but saying that is only less slightly humiliating than listing Jordan. Although somehow I do prefer Jordan to many of her ilk.

Oh, nearly forgot to add - I'm glad you think Brighton is better than London. Just winning that fight can be hard enough.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alligator Boy,

Hey Alligator Boy,
Was not being bitchy and un-welcoming...it is just that I know Anna (like me) is very Pro North, especially Liverpool.
I actually agree with your observations of the violence/social scenes of northen cities...I did a lot of my growing up around Canal street in Manchester and during that time (late 80's and early 90's) there was a lot of truelly ground breaking clubs and scenes emerging, Hacienda's Flesh, Cream in Liverpool, Vague in Leeds.... but ther was and still is something more gritty and "rough" about the north which can be very un-welcoming for outsiders i.e Southerners.....Anyway, I love Brighton too! Welcome to the mother boards and hopefully we can all have a chin wag at Magique one night.

A chin wag at Magique ... where 'ave you been..it closed last night..... did u know about John Lennon eh! sad news... he married Yoko... Jimmy ...always on the cuttin edge..bless
Ally boy.. think you are right there is such segregation with North = South in Blighty. American has that black and white segregation we have that class system and Northern working class shite versus that Posh London/cockney wanker syndrome.
next time you are back in Blighty on fancy a night out with other fey fops... Jimmy and I will sort yer out with all the locals in Liverpool .. the night life there is something to experience!
PS - How can you tell when a scouse girl had an orgasm?
She drops her chips!
Tarrah

Jimmy Scouse,

I did not think it was bitchy, just your post summed up my mother saying, "Just wait til ya father gets home." Usually meant six of the best for Ally Boy.

I know scousers will defend the North like nothing else. I look forward to said wagging of chins.

I posted before I read Anna Nicole's post - wanted to edit in light of said post but am too busy laughing.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Alligator Boy,