Two bombs go off at the Boston Marathon

[Baz]

Originally Posted by craigster59

That's okay, you're forgiven. Your punishment is you can't post any ABBA, Little River Band or Air Supply videos in the "What Music Are You Listening To Today" thread for a week.

Never heard of them, Craig. They make music?

OK - thanks for the comments guys. I know you have my back as I have yours as well.

Hey Zavo - I think a few mistook your post for attempting humor when you were only trying to point out the M&M trash can as a security issue.

A lot of passion flowing right now and rightly so.

Onward....gotta get the scum who did this now...

[Mahler9th]

I hope the best for the witnesses and victims and their loved ones. Including caregivers at hospitals, et cetera. I am sure it is traumatic for them as well.

One of my old buddies is a marathon and ultramarathon runner, but I don't think he has done Boston for a few years. I can imagine what folks about to run in places like London must be thinking.

I have been watching some of the media stuff on TV. I am sure the folks in media are having interesting meetings and discussions and decision-making. They have to compete for audience and balance that with everything else. So far I have seen a lot more fumbling around with "information" (as opposed to facts) than I would like to see. But I am not their target audience.

A large public event incident is unfortunately not a surprise. My perspective on this is informed by a friend that died a couple of years ago. He was in the FBI working in the White House in the area of national security/counter-terrorism. Incredible work. They named a building after him this year.

I met some of his colleagues at his memorial service. I added that experience to what I knew of him and his work and concluded that all of these folks are really dedicated to their work trying to keep us as safe as possible. They will be working really, really hard on this, and they have my support.

[red-beard]

When we did the Cape Cod MS150 (Boston to Provincetown), the wives spent the weekend in Boston. As we looked at the video of the scene, she kept saying "I've been there. See that Walgreens", etc.

[jyl]

No claim of responsibility. I think that makes domestic terrorism more likely. Agree/disagree?

[Hugh R]

Lone wolf sicko. Apolitical but psychotic. I was on the filming of a TV Pilot on that, or the next block a few weeks ago.

[techweenie]

The media has been pretty lame on this (surprise) the worst probably being the NY Post, claiming 12 deaths up to 20 or so hours after the blasts.

There's word that these were IEDs in pressure cookers with ball bearings and headless nails. If so, the object was to inflict maximum injury and strain the capacity of hospitals to manage care. The only thing left out of the playbook was a second explosive in the immediate area of each first explosive. That's the classic terrorist tactic for the first responders.

Bravo to the marathoners who kept running past the finish line all the way to donate blood at the hospitals.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by jyl

No claim of responsibility. I think that makes domestic terrorism more likely. Agree/disagree?

In my opinion - I'm not sure we can assume anything at this point. I'm no expert but I just don't see how you could even guess with any probability. The factions that do this type of cowardly act are not very predictable it seems.

I also would like to see the FBI and other agencies to do a thorough investigation at whatever pace and manner makes the most sense.....the media be damned.

I realize we all want to know who is responsible but the most important thing is those who are investigating are able to do so without distraction from the media and public.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by jyl

No claim of responsibility. I think that makes domestic terrorism more likely. Agree/disagree?

I really don't think that it was an American.

My thought is that they know who/which country and they've got a black-out on the news.

[stealthn]

Sadly I'm thinking domestic terrorism as well....

[Mahler9th]

I try not to guess, and I try to only pay attention to the official press conferences and statements. Too many "unnamed sources." I guess they are only human...

I have enormous confidence in law enforcement on this, and I don't think they would typically have a news black-out if they knew facts. I am actually a little surprised that they are saying as much as they are, but I am sure they have protocols for that. And I trust them.

I remember when a person tried to light his underwear on fire on a plane. Underwear bomber. It happened on Xmas 2009. I knew the incident would create extra work for my friend and his colleagues.

Months later when I spoke to him, he indicated that even though the government was shut down for quite a bit due to heavy snow storms right after the incident, he and his colleagues worked many hours on the investigations. Many, many hours. Tough getting to and from work I am sure. Probably an exhausting period.

The context of our conversation was the approaching of the 50 year age milestone and health. In a roundabout way all of that work and the fatigue and stress led him to a path that identified glaucoma. Somewhat lucky in terms of how early they found it.

Then a month later I got an e-mail. He had a learned of a new and totally separate health issue. Terminal.

People from his workplace took part in the service less than a year later. From my interactions with them in this tough time I concluded that these people formed bonds as colleagues well beyond what I have experienced as a businessperson.

They obviously work really, really hard on this stuff. I think they will be pretty relentless. And I hope they find he/she and/or they that are responsible quickly and with certainty.

[Baz]

Sorry for the loss of your friend, Mike. But appreciate your sharing this story.

I have no doubt most of us have no idea how hard our security agencies are working on this.

This is what defines their lives, I'm sure.

[Baz]

Not sure if anyone saw this.....unbelievable.....

Westboro Baptist Church Plans to Picket Boston Funerals

Boston Bombing Funerals Will Be Picketed, Westboro Baptist Church Says - US News and World Report

In a tweeting binge following the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday, the Westboro Baptist Church celebrated the carnage and announced its intention to picket the funerals of victims.

The tiny Topeka, Kan., fundamentalist group urged the U.S. government to "reinstate" the death penalty for homosexuality and warned "violence will fully consume u [sic]" if that doesn't happen. Most of the church's tweets said same-sex marriage caused the bombing, but others mentioned abortion and supposed mistreatment of the church.

A news release dated April 15 announced the church's intention to picket the funerals of the three bombing victims. Massachusetts, the release says, "invited this special wrath from God Almighty when it was the FIRST STATE to pass same-sex marriage" in 2004. "Westboro Baptist Church to picket funerals of those dead by Boston Bombs! GOD SENT THE BOMBS IN FURY OVER FAG MARRIAGE! #PraiseGod," said a tweet from the church's @WBCFliers account.

[Baz]

Third Victim in Boston Attacks Is a Chinese National

A Chinese woman who was a Boston University graduate student was among the three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombing, the university and the Chinese Consulate in New York said on Tuesday. The woman’s identity wasn’t disclosed.

The blasts also killed 8-year-old Martin Richard of Boston’s Dorchester section, whose mother and sister were seriously injured, and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, a restaurant manager from Medford, Mass.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Baz

Not sure if anyone saw this.....unbelievable.....

Westboro Baptist Church Plans to Picket Boston Funerals

Boston Bombing Funerals Will Be Picketed, Westboro Baptist Church Says - US News and World Report

There is a special place in hell reserved for those bastards. I'm ashamed that they reside in my state, and am shocked that nobody has taken them out wholesale.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by Baz

Third Victim in Boston Attacks Is a Chinese National

A Chinese woman who was a Boston University graduate student was among the three people killed in the Boston Marathon bombing, the university and the Chinese Consulate in New York said on Tuesday. The woman’s identity wasn’t disclosed.

The blasts also killed 8-year-old Martin Richard of Boston’s Dorchester section, whose mother and sister were seriously injured, and 29-year-old Krystle Campbell, a restaurant manager from Medford, Mass.

This is Martin.

[Baz]

[Mahler9th]

Thanks Bazza.

It has been a couple of years and I think of him often. Sadly, this incident makes me think about him and his work even more as he would have been 53 this Thursday.

This was a close, close childhood friend. In the front row at the service my wife and I sat next to a fellow that I had never seen before. He was clearly grief stricken despite the fact that like all of us he had months to prepare. He gave a eulogy that was heartfelt, and spoke to my mother for quite a while after the service.

You have seen him on TV, and you can bet he is working relentlessly on this.

I will pray that those folks change their minds about protest, and that if they don't, folks can endure their actions during the services.

[tevake]

If those folks that are thinking of protesting at the funerals are the same people that have protested at the funerals of fallen soldiers, they are really pushing the freedom of speech way over the line as far as I am concerned. Add to that they are supposed to be Christians and their actions truly baffle and infuriate me. What the hell are they thinking.

Richard

[aap1966]

Titus 1:16:
"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good."

[Lapkritis]

Originally Posted by tevake

If those folks that are thinking of protesting at the funerals are the same people that have protested at the funerals of fallen soldiers, they are really pushing the freedom of speech way over the line as far as I am concerned. Add to that they are supposed to be Christians and their actions truly baffle and infuriate me. What the hell are they thinking.

Richard

Any showing by those mouth breathers would surely be counter-picketed by a number of groups.

-Andrew