On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 20:36:30 -0600, 1956-70002@parago____.com wrote:

    >On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:22:00 GMT, "Gooserider"
    ><[email protected]> wrote:
    >>"no fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >>news:8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet.. .
    >>>A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
    >>> shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
    >>> place on smiling. And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said Americans
    >>> are a bunch of smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets used
    >>> to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing he
    >>> said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
    >>> noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on TV.
    >>> I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    >>> obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
    >>It's because we HAVE TEETH, unlike lots of Europeans.
    >It's all part of a conspiracy from the American Dental Association.
    >In the end, they make all the money. Most dentists are crooks anyhow.
    >I was seeing one that insisted that every cavity I had needed a root
    >canal, (at a cost of $1200 per tooth), and this happened everytime I
    >went there. When I would tell him just to fill them, he would give me
    >a big speech. Then piss and moan the whole time he was treating me
    >(because a filling is $100). I finally had enough of that guy and I
    >asked for my xrays. He wanted to charge me more to get them. I
    >finally told him that since I paid for them, they were mine, and I'd
    >be happy to take him to small claims court. He gave me the xrays and
    >took them to another dentist. That guy said the dentist I was seeing
    >was a crook. He said none of these teeth were even close to needing a
    >root canal, and also told me that one of the fillings that other
    >dentist put in (a few weeks prior) missed part of the cavity, and was
    >loose. I considered going to court over that, but just left the new
    >dentist re-do the filling. I am sure to tell everyone I see to avoid
    >that crook dentist.

Avoid Scarborough UK AFAIR this is the third

Dentist facing jail over NHS swindle
A SCARBOROUGH dentist is facing jail and could lose his home after he
committed what investigators believe is one of the biggest-ever NHS
swindles.

David Heppleston claimed almost £150,000 from the health service for
treatment that he never carried out.
A further 85 alleged offences relating to more than £460,000 could be
considered when he is sentenced on December 8.
The case was said to involve almost 4,000 fictitious treatments and
800 non-existent patients.
The 45-year-old widower, from Osgodby Lane, won £64,000 when he
appeared on the TV quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2002.
He appeared at York Crown Court yesterday and admitted 15 charges of
dishonestly obtaining the money between March 2002 and December 2005.
"It is the largest criminal case we have investigated," said
investigator Nick Aronin from the NHS Counter-Fraud Service after the
hearing.
"It is a sad day that a professional has betrayed the trust, not just
of the NHS but the patients as well and we hope the sentence on
December 8 will reflect that.
"Today's plea is a result of a year-long investigation by the NHS and
we are pleased with the conviction. He has co-operated throughout – he
has never tried to shift the blame on to anyone else." The NHS fraud
team believes Heppleston claimed money from the NHS for almost 4,000
fictitious treatments for his practice at 12 York Place, Scarborough,
between October 1997 and January 2006.
He created false patients to claim the extra cash and added extra
treatments which his existing patients had never received.
The NHS Dental Practice Division, which pays dentists, grew suspicious
when it was discovered that Heppleston had claimed for an abnormally
high number of crowns.
The case was referred to the NHS Counter Fraud Service and their probe
discovered more than 800 non-existent patients on Heppleston's list.
The fraud team believes around 50 per cent of his claims were false.
The dentist, who has no previous convictions, appeared in court
dressed smartly in a light-coloured shirt and blue double-breasted
blazer. Adjourning for pre-sentence reports, His Honour Judge Jim
Spencer QC told him: "I can tell you in clear terms that offences of
this gravity involving this amount of money, the usual sentence is
imprisonment and you should expect that."
A statement released later yesterday from Steven McKenzie, also of the
NHS Fraud Unit, said: "Heppleston let down both the NHS and the
patients whose care he was charged with.
"Over a period of time he defrauded huge sums of money that were
intended for patient care – this was not only a betrayal of the people
of Scarborough and the majority of honest, hardworking dentists, but
of the NHS itself."

* Backgrounder - see
http://www.scarboroughtoday.co.uk/Vi...icleID=1873116
11 November 2006
--

Martin

"Magda" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 22:22:00 GMT, in alt.gossip.celebrities, "Gooserider"
    > <[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like
    > this:
    > ...
    > ... "no fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > ... news:8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet...
    > ... >A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
    > ... > shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
    > ... > place on smiling. And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said
    > Americans
    > ... > are a bunch of smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets
    > used
    > ... > to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing
    > he
    > ... > said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
    > ... > noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on
    > TV.
    > ... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > ... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
    > ...
    > ... It's because we HAVE TEETH, unlike lots of Europeans.
    > You have NO idea what you are talking about!

Yes, because the British are known for their excellent dental care.

On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:48:12 -0600, "John A. Weeks III"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Maybe we don't want to have the nasty looking teeth that
    >most Europeans seem to have? Ever see news reports from
    >France, and look at the teeth on those folks?

You have a problem with natural and need to post tired insults about
it? Hopefully you're not a typical American.
--
Mike Reid
I will agree bendybuses are a good idea when they build bungalows on Mayfair
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"

On 12 Nov 2006 17:41:20 GMT, Bert Hyman <[email protected]> wrote:

    >> I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    >> obsessed with teeth and smiling.
    >Because it's not.

I think it is, (not "obsessed") Americans do do toothy smiles more
than most Europeans. THe OP is obviously trolling, but there is a
cultural difference going on.
--
Mike Reid
I will agree bendybuses are a good idea when they build bungalows on Mayfair
Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk"

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:14:29 GMT, in alt.gossip.celebrities, "Gooserider"
<[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:


... > ... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
... > ... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
... > ...
... > ... It's because we HAVE TEETH, unlike lots of Europeans.
... >
... > You have NO idea what you are talking about!
...
... Yes, because the British are known for their excellent dental care.

And Europe is *only* Britain. How damn lucky we are to have you to teach us the truth...

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:23:45 +0100, Magda <[email protected]> wrote:

    >On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:14:29 GMT, in alt.gossip.celebrities, "Gooserider"
    ><[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
    > ... > ... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > ... > ... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
    > ... > ...
    > ... > ... It's because we HAVE TEETH, unlike lots of Europeans.
    > ... >
    > ... > You have NO idea what you are talking about!
    > ...
    > ... Yes, because the British are known for their excellent dental care.
    >And Europe is *only* Britain. How damn lucky we are to have you to teach us the truth...

Magda:10 Old mother goose:0

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:31:48 +0100, in rec.travel.europe, art <[email protected]> arranged
some electrons, so they looked like this:

... On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 12:23:45 +0100, Magda <[email protected]> wrote:
...
... >On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:14:29 GMT, in alt.gossip.celebrities, "Gooserider"
... ><[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
... >
... > ... > ... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
... > ... > ... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
... > ... > ...
... > ... > ... It's because we HAVE TEETH, unlike lots of Europeans.
... > ... >
... > ... > You have NO idea what you are talking about!
... > ...
... > ... Yes, because the British are known for their excellent dental care.
... >
... >And Europe is *only* Britain. How damn lucky we are to have you to teach us the truth...
...
... Magda:10 Old mother goose:0

Easy - the creature was BORN a zero.

"Gooserider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected].. .
    > "James Silverton" <not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]. ..
    >> Hello, marika!
    >> You wrote on Sun, 12 Nov 2006 18:57:47 GMT:
    >> ??>> A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks
    >> ??>> and he was shocked by what he said is the enormous
    >> ??>> importance that Americans place on smiling. And teeth.
    >> ??>> And teeth whitening! He said Americans are a bunch of
    >> ??>> smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets used to
    >> ??>> it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening
    >> ??>> thing he said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to
    >> ??>> agree. Even I have noticed the unbelievable amount of
    >> ??>> teeth whitening commercials on TV. I just couldn't explain
    >> ??>> to my friend why American culture is so obsessed with
    >> ??>> teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
    >> m> i haven't had a chance because I didn't get back from work
    >> m> til real late and both days lunchtime was out
    >> Interesting, complaints about teeth coming from higher dental caries
    >> areas :-) To see the distribution have a look at
    >> http://www.scielosp.org/img/revistas...9/a11fig03.gif
    > The map is a bit misleading. Of course African nations would have low
    > numbers of filled, decayed, or missing teeth----they have no dentists.
    > It's difficult to diagnose decay without a dentist, and it's difficult to
    > have dental work done without one also.
Besides that it's their diets. Ancient peoples had no dental caries.

"no fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet...
    >A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
    > shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
    > place on smiling. And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said Americans
    > are a bunch of smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets used
    > to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing he
    > said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
    > noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on TV.
    > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?

We're just happier here.

HH - no veneers or teeth whitening for me, just good genetics. PFFT.

On 12/11/06 18:25, in article 8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet, "no
fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote:

    > A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
    > shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
    > place on smiling.

Other cultures do smiling too. It is a behavior which sends a message
that you are "friendly" and not about to draw a weapon and attack.
I have the impression that some Asians smile a lot more than necessary.

The French shake hands a lot for that reason, it takes their sword
hand out of action (except for left handed people).

    > And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said Americans are a bunch of smiling
    > idiots.

Right now, after the election loss of Bush I am into smirking, chortling
and other poor winner behaviors. However, I have been on the receiving
end in other times. We don't pass this way but once, it is a repeat
performance, like the Hindu wheel of life.

    > I guess living in the US one gets used
    > to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing he
    > said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
    > noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on TV.
    > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?

America developed by expansion, people moving constantly on, forming
new communities etc. This created a culture where friendship was
not deep, one made and broke friendships easily, it hurt less in
the breaking stage if you were not too close. Smiling substituted
for deeper human relationships. One has to get along everywhere.

French culture is different, a friend is a friend for life. The uses
of the "vous" and "tu" forms of "you" in forces the idea of a difference
in closeness. If you see two people meet with and exchange of hugging
each other alternate cheek touching, you know those people are close.
And they might smile when doing it, but it is not necessary.

Not doing this is not a fault of American culture just a different
historical experience. I don't think this means that Americans
are naturally less or more humanitarian, on the average, although recent
experience with the use of torture and the insensitivity of some
to the victims of war (except our own) it disheartening. Our
nation is not maintaining that course, it is tacking in a different
direction now. I hope the days of the "good Americans" return with
things like the peace corps. I too would like to see all the killing
stop in Iraq and that the Darfur atrocities stop, that Israel no longer
shells (by accident one hopes) women and children in the Gaza, and that
their own people don't get rocketed to death.

Then smiling will be worth while.

In article <[email protected]>, The Reid
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > On 12 Nov 2006 17:41:20 GMT, Bert Hyman <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > >> I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > >> obsessed with teeth and smiling.
    > >
    > >Because it's not.
    >
    > I think it is, (not "obsessed") Americans do do toothy smiles more
    > than most Europeans.

Maybe Europeans are just behind the curve... that seems to be the case
for obesity.

jay
Mon Nov 13, 2006
mailto:[email protected]



    > THe OP is obviously trolling, but there is a
    > cultural difference going on.

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 08:29:37 -0800, in rec.travel.europe, Go Fig <[email protected]> arranged
some electrons, so they looked like this:

... In article <[email protected]>, The Reid
... <[email protected]> wrote:
...
... > On 12 Nov 2006 17:41:20 GMT, Bert Hyman <[email protected]> wrote:
... >
... > >> I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
... > >> obsessed with teeth and smiling.
... > >
... > >Because it's not.
... >
... > I think it is, (not "obsessed") Americans do do toothy smiles more
... > than most Europeans.
...
... Maybe Europeans are just behind the curve... that seems to be the case
... for obesity.

You have given the example, you have shown the Europeans how to be grotesque and die early
- aren't you proud?

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:30:14 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, "hamburger helper"
<[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

...
... "no fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
... news:8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet...
... >A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
... > shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
... > place on smiling. And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said Americans
... > are a bunch of smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets used
... > to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing he
... > said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
... > noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on TV.
... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
...
... We're just happier here.
...
... HH - no veneers or teeth whitening for me, just good genetics. PFFT.

Heil Hitler?!?

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:43:58 +0100, Magda <[email protected]> wrote:

    >On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:30:14 -0600, in rec.travel.europe, "hamburger helper"
    ><[email protected]> arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
    > ...
    > ... "no fake smiles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > ... news:8hlel252bubjr425d0jq7912nfhveq4vv9@usenet...
    > ... >A friend from Europe came to stay with me for two weeks and he was
    > ... > shocked by what he said is the enormous importance that Americans
    > ... > place on smiling. And teeth. And teeth whitening! He said Americans
    > ... > are a bunch of smiling idiots. I guess living in the US one gets used
    > ... > to it and doesn't notice it as much. But the teeth whitening thing he
    > ... > said was the weirdest and I guess I'd have to agree. Even I have
    > ... > noticed the unbelievable amount of teeth whitening commercials on TV.
    > ... > I just couldn't explain to my friend why American culture is so
    > ... > obsessed with teeth and smiling. Any ideas?
    > ...
    > ... We're just happier here.
    > ...
    > ... HH - no veneers or teeth whitening for me, just good genetics. PFFT.
    >Heil Hitler?!?

-----------------------------------
END OF THREAD
_____________________
--

Martin

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 09:29:08 -0600, "hamburger helper"
<[email protected]> wrote:


    >Besides that it's their diets. Ancient peoples had no dental caries.

Most didn't live long enough.
--

Martin