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... I'm so dismayed @ this shocking image - that poor guy - he may still not survive such shocking injuries ... this only high-lights my sinking feelings of where the world is going - nothing but cruelty, death, carnage & destruction - it is global = the rot has set in - yes = I love life & there is good but the war between good & evil is in full swing - make no mistake ...
I agree. I really wonder about evil in the world. We all share the same DNA so we must be tolerant of all diversity in the human race. I don't know what sick bastards can do this (one of the killed was an 8 year old) but hopefully karma will balance the scales of justice...
I would point out I went to college right near where this occurred and this marathon (and indeed every marathon in the world) may never be the same. How do you even start to have security over
a 26 mile course? You've got hundreds of thousands of people lined
up on the entire 26 mile course. Who knows what the Boston Marathon will look like next year if it is held next year.
Already the folks at the London marathon are looking at this closely. There are many marathons held throughout many countries,
and who knows how those marathons will be effected.
Plus they also have to look at how this will impact the July 4th acitivities which attract 250,000 to 2,000,000 people, the Head of the Charles regatta (rowing) which also attracts a half a million people.
As someone ran for many years i've saddened by the events of today. I never ran a marathon but I was up to running 6-8 miles at a stretch.
I have run several marathons (not Boston however). Prior to this they already had several security measures in place. When you pick up your race number, you must show i.d. On race day when you check your gear, it must be in a transparent plastic bag. As a result of this, future events may have check points that resemble a courthouse. Medal detectors at the entry to spectator areas and being required to leave your cellphone home or leave it at the check in area.
To give you an idea of the scope of the problem this weekend alone
there are 30 marathons scheduled. (26 miles long.)
What will probably end up happening is you'll have video cameras
running the length of the course (start to finish). And then you'll have several people watching every inch of those videos to
look for suspicious activity.
As it wat the security for the Boston Marathon was very tight.
They did a sweep of the area and then they did a second sweep
of the area. They had bomb sniffing dogs, they took air samples,
etc. to look for anything out of the ordinary. It's now being
reported that the bombs were in pressure cookers using ingredients commonly available. The pressure cookers were then
placed in back packs.
Scary. No matter how thorough security measures are in the area
the terrorists will find ways to be one step ahead.
One thing I would mention is in Boston for a few years now they've had each runner fitted with a GPS device such that at
any given time the race officials can pinpoint where someone is.
(I believe it was donated by Digital Equipment after the Rosie
Ruiz incident.)
Ultimately the question is can you have a 26 mile race and
have adequate security? Affer all it's not like a football/baseball/basketball/hockey game where everything
is contained in one stadium/ball park/structure?
BTW, I was looking for video on the guy with the waist length
hair who is with law enforcement, haven't seen him yet. (Could
he be FBI/ATF/Massachusetts State Police/Boston Police/etc.?
I think you're missing one critical point here.
They not only have to worry about the well being of the runners,
but also well being of the millions of spectators that line
the route start to finish. (Think about it, you've got 52 miles
of spectators to worry about (26 mile course, spectators on
both sides of the road. Plus all the buidlings along the route,
You also have people that can come and go at will, there is no
central entrance like at a baseball game. Take one block for
example, you've got people who could enter the crowd from
50 different way be it crossing the street, entering from
adjacent buildings, etc.
From a security point of view it's a very difficult task.
Hi Jason,
I am happy to see a longhaired man in such a position. I'm sure he is as good if not better than his counterparts. I am extremely shocked and horrified by this senseless act of inhumanity. I can assure you that whoever did this does NOT share the same type of DNA as me. May they rot in Hell forever.
May the victims remain in my thoughts and prayers forever. Take care my friend!
Ted
I want to first give my condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this hateful crime. May they get all the love and support they need in their time of sorrow :(
As for me, I was watching some series last night (CET) with my girlfriend, when suddently I see an update from Papa Roach (the band, of all things) saying "Boston is in our hearts". Had to turn on CNN international (Don´t have Fox news here with my current operator) and have to admit I got the chills. The reports from Boston gave me a huge, frightening flashback to 9.11 and the horriffic events of that day.
Having lived in the middle east for 15 years, I have gone through more terrorist attacks than I can count on 10 hands, unfortunately, but still.. each time something like this, in this magnitude, hit America, I get truly disheartened.
Terror is a GLOBAL threat, and we must stand united against it and never cave in to the will of these heartless bastard.
I sincerely hope that none of our members nor their families and friends have been personally affected by this senseless murder.
God bless!
Hi Raul,
I just want to say I am very happy you made it through those attacks! Hope you're having a great week my friend!
Ted
Thanks for the kind words, bud! Crazy busy week here, so little time for the net and MLHH, but I appreciate it! =) Hope you're having a great week as well!
Hi Raul,
Just wanted to say thank you for being a good teacher. It must be fun to have a part in these kids' lives. I think I should have been a teacher. Oh well, at least there are good people out there to do it. Take care and great weekend to you and yours:)
Ted
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This is hideous. I sure wish it was possible to exterminate every terrorist on the planet. They have no compassion and have a total disregard for human life. They are a waste of skin. This is pure evil on steroids.
They should be publicly hanged if caught.
Scott
Anyone who can look at their fellow human beings and decide that they are expendable pawns that can be freely disposed of merely to make a political point are simply defective somehow, and need to be removed.
Frodo
Hi Jason,
I was horrified and saddened to see and hear about this dreadful tragedy. Boston has always been close to Nova Scotia at heart, and this really does strike close to home. We get all of our American networks from Boston, and the coverage was extensive on all of the Canadian networks as well.
My thoughts and prayers go to everyone and their friends/families, and I hope that the investigation can find out who is responsible, and that proper justice can be done.
Take care,
David
Our thoughts go to all those affected by this appaling attack, here in the UK the London Marathon goes ahead on Sunday as a tribute to our brothers and sisters in Boston, and to those who lost their lives or were injured whilst trying to help others.
Hi Ian,
My wishes to everybody in London for a fun and successful marathon! May it go on without any problems!
Ted
I removed the image. It seemed to sum up the horror of yesterday but was perhaps too graphic.
I think it's safe to say that the Boston Marathon will never be the same again nor will similar major events around the world. Very sad.
Hi Jason,
I think that was a wise move to remove that graphic image being it
may be disturbing to some of our users. Sure we must not let down our
guard in situations such as these but sadly as time passes the public seems
to loose interest as I suspect was the case with 9/11. Yesterday was a stark
reminder of how violent the world is becoming and now once again it fell on our
doorsteps:( I'll certainly have this on my mind the next time I visit NYC.
Mârk
They might even encourage this agent to have long hair. After all, there may be many situations where it's handy that a federal agent doesn't look and act like one.
An update on the situation:
Suspect #1 is dead.
Suspect #2 was captured moments ago alive.
In addition three individuals in New Bedford
were arrested.
Suspect #1 had gun shot wounds, burns (presumably from an IED),
was also run over by suspect #2 when he fled the area.
Suspect @2 is injured and in custody.
The stay at home order is lifted. Mass transit is resuming
operation.
We have witnessed history in the making.
(I was watching the coverage and didn't see long haired
law enforcement official.)
Suspect #1 and Suspect #2 are Chechen.
Thank God the situation has been resolved. Thanks to all the police and emergency personnel for their hard work. Very impressive indeed. May all the wounded get well and the deceased rest in Peace.
Ted
I would add there are five dead, three at the marathon, the MIT
policeman, and suspect #1. In addition there are 27 in serious
condition, and the Boston area lost many millions of dollars in revenue.
I think the money is of little concern at this point.Money can be replaced
but the people lost can't.
Mârk
Yea I heard that all late last night but thankfully avoided watching what
must have been over coverage by the media as usual. Instead I spent
my day enjoying the warm weather in NYC taking in some local shopping:)
Sadly this likely will not be the last one of these kind of attacks on soft targets like the Boston Marathon.Its quite obvious how easy it is to produce these bombs and
set them off. Our own defense is to catch them before it happens.
Mârk