Kaboom.

I know that besides the unbearable heat and humidity in the city of late, today some crazy stuff has been happening. (See the slideshow as well.)

I was at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue half an hour after the explosion, and subwayless commuters flooded the sidewalks and talked on cellphones as wailing fire engines streaked (OK, lurched) down Lex to the giant plume of smoke rising 18 blocks downtown.

I was on the phone with a friend who lives on the West Coast, and she said to me, "Chris, is it really worth it?" (I believe this was a rhetorical question; she actually meant to say, "Only insane people live in New York.")

I guess so.

:: photo from nytimes.com ::