Munich has more money and is (generally) less innovative. Berlin is more innovative but not so commercially successful (subjectively). Munich is probably the better place to succeed. Berlin is the place to invent more out there stuff.
Cities and Ambition
161–170 of 313 posts
Re: Cities and Ambition
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
There is a disproportionate number of white bums, but there are certainly a lot of black bums too. So I would not say they are almost always white.
my favorite is that black guy that hangs before Au Bon Pain that uses flatery to get money: "Young lady", "Big guy", "Pretty lady", could you spare some change? SF bums are not that pleasant.
The same is true of a lot of Boston beggars. I find people in the Boston area generally well-spoken. Education is emphasized a lot, not just in Cambridge.
Re: Cities and Ambition
#163My experience as a native resident of San Francisco(22 years, but the last few mostly spent out of town for college/work) is that most of the people residing there are _tourists_. That is, people who come there(and many different people do, the turnover is high) also tote along some baggage of what they think the city is about. Vision meets and gradually becomes reality as the newcomers act out their desires, to vary…
SF was created during the madness of Gold Rush, and it changed over nite. Then it got raised twice to the ground, and got rebuild again. The Japanese got kicked out, and the Chinese and African Americans moved in.... etc. etc. Than the 60s and the hippes came, then the 90s and the dot commers came. SF has always been a city in a huge flux, as a place of great opportunities, and attracted many people with the "gold ru…
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Re: Cities and Ambition
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
Okay, me too. Columbia SC: Uh, the culture is pretty much centered around it's mid-tier University of South Carolina, which is a party-hardy Frat/Sorority vibe. So, I guess it says "YEEE-HAAAAW! More beer, Bo!" Hartford, CT: Unless you can calculate the death of a 55 year old smoker with no major medical history within a margin of error, the city says "There's NY below and Boston above, take your pick, pay your toll,…
Wow, SC people hang out here? Sweet. Columbia, SC doesn't really send any strong messages. Only the young people in the area have anything to do with USC, normally, so not even the frattiness comes across that strong. College football tailgating, however, is a state-wide sport.
aston, are you from SC? I'm from Greenville (which sends the message, "How can we be more like Atlanta?", or at least it did when I last lived there 14 years ago). Small world.
The message in Charleston definitely has something about aristocracy and the value of old money, while the message in the rest of the coastal towns generally involves fishing. Except Myrtle Beach, where the message is, "Y'all come on down for a visit, and leave your money when you head back up north."
Re: Cities and Ambition
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wish the spirit of Boston were anything so romantic as "old money rules." Actually there are hardly any of those people left. The Thurston Howells have all died, and their trustafarian kids have long since moved to Berkeley or Boulder. Except for Cambridge, Boston doesn't send any message at all that I can pick up.
Boston says, "Ride the T, don't buy liquor on Sunday, and incorporate Dunkin' Donuts into at least two meals a day."
I totally felt the Dunkin' Donuts part of the message. I ate Dunkin' for breakfast twice while visiting. Who knew they served bagels?
Re: Cities and Ambition
#166I've noticed messages as well: Gary, IN: Lock the doors. Do not stop. Macon, GA: You know, Atlanta is just up the road, right? Elko, NV: The only winners are the house and the mine owners. Milwaukee, WI: Fourth place is just fine, given enough beer. Clearly, I need to hang out in better cities.
Okay, me too. Columbia SC: Uh, the culture is pretty much centered around it's mid-tier University of South Carolina, which is a party-hardy Frat/Sorority vibe. So, I guess it says "YEEE-HAAAAW! More beer, Bo!" Hartford, CT: Unless you can calculate the death of a 55 year old smoker with no major medical history within a margin of error, the city says "There's NY below and Boston above, take your pick, pay your toll,…
My friends live in West Columbia, and I think they're trying to build a hip scene out there, but it's hard going.
I live in Honolulu. It's a miracle that I make it out of bed in the afternoon.
Re: Cities and Ambition
#167Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow, SC people hang out here? Sweet. Columbia, SC doesn't really send any strong messages. Only the young people in the area have anything to do with USC, normally, so not even the frattiness comes across that strong. College football tailgating, however, is a state-wide sport.
aston, are you from SC? I'm from Greenville (which sends the message, "How can we be more like Atlanta?", or at least it did when I last lived there 14 years ago). Small world. The message in Charleston definitely has something about aristocracy and the value of old money, while the message in the rest of the coastal towns generally involves fishing. Except Myrtle Beach, where the message is, "Y'all come on down for…
Went to Furman, agreed.
Visited Bob Jones as a kid -- "You know you're going to hell, right?"
Re: Cities and Ambition
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
Have you been to Austin? I am very interested in going there and would like your take on it.
I live there. I think the message is: You should be younger and hipper and enjoy indie music.
Actually, you're picking up the last bit wrong..."and join a band" is actually the way the last bit of the message goes. But close enough.
In personals ads in Austin, "musician" is code for "unemployed", because everybody is a musician. You only mention it if you don't have anything better to say about your career.
Re: Cities and Ambition
#169Anyone offer thoughts on Asian cities? I lived in Japan for a year, and mostly agree with shiro's summary. I guess I would only add that Japan's identity is far more tied up in Tokyo (and vice versa) than any one U.S. city is indicative of the U.S. as a whole. Generally, when people cite Japanese culture, it is Tokyo culture they are referring to (and given the emphasis the Japanese themselves put on Tokyo, not inacc…
I lived two years in suburban Japan with JET. The message I got is "You don't really understand Japanese, do you?" :/
Re: Cities and Ambition
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
aston, are you from SC? I'm from Greenville (which sends the message, "How can we be more like Atlanta?", or at least it did when I last lived there 14 years ago). Small world. The message in Charleston definitely has something about aristocracy and the value of old money, while the message in the rest of the coastal towns generally involves fishing. Except Myrtle Beach, where the message is, "Y'all come on down for…
Went to Furman, agreed. Visited Bob Jones as a kid -- "You know you're going to hell, right?"
Weird. I lived three blocks from Furman. It was my playground, growing up. We played video games in the student center using change fished out of the fountain beside it, flirted embarrassingly with the college girls, skateboarded and biked all over, and regularly got kicked out after the campus closed for the day (for those unfamiliar with small Southern Baptist liberal arts schools, or at least Furman, they close all of the gates except the main gate at 10PM and only allow students in).
Speaking of Bob Jones, no one ever believes me when I explain that it has a "date room", wherein couples sit together in a chaperoned room, with a Bible-width space in between. Which explains why Bob Jones girls are such a terror when they do manage to escape the watchful eyes of the school.