We're Number 2!!!

 
There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Toronto today as word has just been received that the Burj Dubai, under construction in the United Arab Emirates (UAR), has surpassed 553 metres. This makes it the tallest building in the world. The record has been held by the CN Tower in Toronto for over 30 years.

The bad news is reported in The Toronto Star [CN Tower no longer world's tallest].

"The accomplishment of being the world’s tallest free-standing structure is another defining moment for the multinational team of over 5,000 people who are using their collective intelligence to make this iconic structure a symbol of human achievement," said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, head of Emaar Properties, which owns the new tower. "This architectural and construction master-piece is truly an inspirational human achievement that celebrates the can-do mindset of Dubai."

CN Tower officials are playing it cool and, so far, the website still calls it "the world's tallest building." A short statement, sent out by email, said, "When the time comes and the building is complete, we will congratulate the Burj Dubai project on their unique achievement."

Okay, so we're not quite ready to officially concede just yet but the writing is clearly on the wall, so to speak.

A separate article in The Toronto Star attempts to console us by pointing out that we're #2 in a lot of things. It's nothing to be ashamed of [CN Tower topples to Number 2]. Some people wonder what all the fuss is about. An unidentified woman is prominently quoted in the print version of the story—the one that's being sold on the newsstands and delivered to suburban doors.

One woman, who didn't want to give her name, shrugged off the slight to Toronto as "such a guy thing."

"Who really cares? Trust me, length doesn't matter."