Today's torrential downpour contributed to the 116th Street C station's unclean version of feng shui with the addition of four natural water falls. It was difficult for me to get a good shot of the falls, although each of them, two on either side of the tracks, continuously rained buckets of dirty street water onto the station's platforms for the entire 15 minutes I stood waiting for a train. This shot was my best, as it kinda catches both on the uptown side. The first fall is there on the right of the sign, and way back in the distance is the second, appearing like a fuzzy line.

The 116th Street C station is probably the most disgusting place I have repetitively entered on purpose. And this distinction was awarded the locale even before today's street water splashing drove the grime index* past the threshold of noticeable difference.

Years ago, when I first walked into the station, I paused and thought 'my mother would never understand.' But, as time wears on, I have become somewhat unfazed by things that pre-New York living would have scared me for life. Thankfully, I have moments like today, when something a bit more foul than normal makes me reassess certain surroundings and think 'yeah, I'm standing in a real shithole.'

*The grime index, which would be part of the filth report, is my idea of what should replace the summer weather report in NYC. Being that pretty much every summer day is hot and sunny, I think a segment on the morning newscast detailing how much filth is out there (street fair aftermath, a rash of especially negligent dog owners not scooping, nomadic homeless encampments), and to what extent external factors are amplifying the filth, called the grime index, would be much more helpful.