whitebait

skylines

A recent post saw Whitebait misreading Myrick at Asiapundit and initially missing a great link to Diserio's 'Top 15 Skylines in the World'. It is the kind of list that makes grown anal-retentive bloggeurs go weak at the knees.

His list (including excellent images):
1. Hong Kong
2. Chicago
3. Shanghai
4. New York City
5. Tokyo
6. Singapore
7. Toronto
8. Kuala Lumpur
9. Shenzen
10.Seoul
11. Sao Paolo
12. Sydney
13. Frankfurt
14. Dubai
15. Seattle

Well, Whitebait certainly agrees on his number one and the top four overall. But to W's mind, New York should go to number two, Shanghai three and Chicago fourth. Tokyo, as readers will know, is a much beloved city for Whitebait but it doesn't rank as highly for this bloggeur in the skyline stakes. The dispersion of its skyline into multiple nodes produces a different kind of urban effect that almost takes it out of a consideration of 'skylines' in the conventional sense (though the view from the Rainbow Bridge is outstanding). In a different way places like Rome and Paris, which have sublime cityscapes, are similarly ineligible for this list. But that is a discussion for another post.

Back to the list then.  Sydney seems a bit hard done by here and to Whitebait's mind should probably pip SIngapore. As for the rest ... erm, he isn't sure as he hasn't had a chance to visit those cities and assess yet. Research funding offers welcomed.

BTW, he is not meaning to damn with faint praise when he says if we were to start a 'boutique skyline' list, Whitebait would be nominating Brisbane (viewed from Storey Bridge) as a top contender. It is certainly the best Australian city skyline after Sydney. Biggest ain't necessarily the most impressive.

in praise of third-person city madness

Last weekend Sheepwoman briefly visited Whitebait's new home along with her lovely partner R. and two young children. Maybe being aware of the Whitebait's prediliction for referring to himself in the third person and for being fascinated by cities--though more likely just on some bizarre childhood sugar-induced bender--the elder of the youngsters declared that he would now only respond to the name Shanghai (which was backed up by the generally  piratey disposition that he also adopted). The visit was then full of delightful interjections from him such as, 'did you know ... Shanghai only jumps from this chair'.

new photos

Have you noticed that Fraulein Dr Dr has a couple of great photo albums (from her recent travels to Hiroshima and Nagasaki) lurking there in the toolbar on the right? And she is showing Whitebait up by adding useful captions. Damn - will have to lift my game. So, his city categories are starting to really expand out ... the blog equivalent of that Lemon Jelly track, Ramblin' Man (for those with real player you can listen here). It is a deleriously odd track, purportedly narrated by Charlton Heston (but to my ears I can't hear the voice as his - cue Statue of Liberty in the sand ...' nooooooo'!). Much of the Lemon Jelly track features the narrator delightedly naming the places (mostly cities) he enjoys, er, ramblin' in (Adelaide persons be pleased that you make it in the list along with Sydney).

Speaking of 'urban music', Whitebait is really enjoying the recent Nick Warren mix that is part of the continuing Global Underground series.  I have only managed to check out the second disc of Shanghai #28 so far and it is great.  It starts out very breaks and guitar-oriented (which won't appeal to some) beforeheading into electro and other territory. Love the mixing (in terms of the mood transition) from the big guitar of Fly Guitar (Astero Breaks Remix) to the more subdued, funky  breaks of Conversations (Shiloh Remix). Check out some brief samples (win media and real player) here for a flavour.