I grew up in New York City in the late '70s, at a time when U.S. - China relations were something that was on the front page of The New York Times on a regular basis.
But when I came back into the city for the first time last November, I thought every truck, every building was going to blow up. It has truly changed me something fierce.
The form a city assumes as it evolves over time owes more to large-scale works of civil engineering - what we now call infrastructure - than almost any other factor save topography.
It's important that I get time to run, to just go for a jog for about 30 minutes. It helps with my voice, but it also kind of gives me a little bit of time to myself - and you get to see a city.
In the province of Quebec where I come from, we speak French, and the only cosmopolitan city is Montreal. Every time we tackle the subject of immigration and racial tension, it's an issue that concerns Montreal.
The reality of Katrina didn't really strike me until the first time I flew up in a helicopter and saw areas of the city that I had ridden my bicycle as a youth being fully flooded.
When time permits, I try to see interesting people in the cities I visit. In Seattle, I met Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, who is shy in personality but flamboyant in his philanthropy.
When I was little, I didn't really travel - from the suburbs to Paris was already a journey. I had a foreigner's eye on the city, and I still enjoy that point of view. Then there's the fact that one of the things that touches me most is injustice.
Dr. Schreber: You are probably wondering why I keep appearing in your memories, John. It is because I have inserted myself into them.
Inspector Frank Bumstead: So Husselbeck, what kind of killer do you think stops to save a dying fish?
Husselbeck: Everything Detective Walenski committed to paper should be here. Inspector Frank Bumstead: The only thing that should be committed is Wolenski.
[after overhearing a phone call between Emma and Karl] Mr. Hand: Karl. Uncle Karl. Haven't seen you in so long. Yes. [Floats away]
The Joker: All you care about is money. This city deserves a better class of criminal. And I'm gonna give it to them!
Bane: So, you came back to die with your city. Batman: No. I came back to stop you. [begin fighting]
Simon: [Simon, disguised as a City Engineer, surveying the damage caused by one of his bombs] Holy Toledo! Somebody had fun.
Medal of Valor LAPD: For their selfless actions and their exemplary service to the citizens of this city, the Medal of Valor is presented to Officer Brian Taylor and Officer Miguel Zavala.
Wardaddy: See that? That's a whole city on fire. I bet that's where those bombers were heading. The dying's not done. The killing's not done.
Old Sophie: A battleship? Howl: On its way to burn cities and people Old Sophie: The enemy's? Ours? Howl: What difference does it make?
SWAT Troop #1: [On discovering the bomb in the City Hall] Don't touch anything Detective Dunnigan: That wasn't one of my first instincts
Gothmog: Release the prisoners! Orc Lieutenant 1: Catapults! [the catapults fling dozens of severed heads into the city]
The Old Man: Old Detroit has a cancer. The cancer is crime, and it must be cut out before we employ the two million workers that will breathe life into this city again.
