# Explosions at Boston Marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781 "2013-04-15T19:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/441 "2013-04-17T04:53:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Comedian Patton Oswalt writes:](http://www.facebook.com/pattonoswalt/posts/10151440800582655) That was beautiful, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/442 "2013-04-17T08:36:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The blonde lady in red that I asked about earlier is Nicole Gross. The press is doing a good job identifying the victims. According to this report Nicole suffered a fractured leg and had surgery right after the bombing. > > Another mystery solved. Her photo was featured in quite a few of the stories that I saw last night. > > [http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/16/former-ut-swimmer-nicole-gross-injured-at-boston/](http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/16/former-ut-swimmer-nicole-gross-injured-at-boston/) A report I read said that her left leg was broken in two places, and her right ankle fractured. Her sister Erika, didn’t fare so well. Her right leg and ankle were broken, and she’s had her left leg amputated. It’s all horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/443 "2013-04-17T08:59:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hope the London marathon is ok this weekend. I’m sure they’re reviewing matters, but we have prior experience of urban terrorism - bombing of parades and the like courtesy of the IRA ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/444 "2013-04-17T09:37:53Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m sure they’re reviewing matters, but we have prior experience of urban terrorism - bombing of parades and the like courtesy of the IRA The english have a history of being…stoic is the best word I can come up with in the face of this stuff. After the battle of Britain in WW2 and then the IRA they’ve had the bejeesus blown out of them and just toodle pip on their way. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/445 "2013-04-17T10:12:56Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’m sure they’re reviewing matters, but we have prior experience of urban terrorism - bombing of parades and the like courtesy of the IRA Security will be tightened, but it’s pretty tight already. There will be silent tributes observed before the race too. Article in The Guardian: [London Marathon to include tributes to Boston bombing victims | London Marathon | The Guardian](http://tinyurl.com/ckvs27b) ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/446 "2013-04-17T11:16:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Comedian Patton Oswalt writes:](http://www.facebook.com/pattonoswalt/posts/10151440800582655) “evil doers”? :rolleyes: Interesting viewpoint on humanity where nothing happened between 9/11 and Boston marathon bombing. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/447 "2013-04-17T11:43:27Z")
I realise there will be lots of this sort of claim, but [this pic](http://i.imgur.com/LvoCC5T.jpg) (from Reddit via 4chan) looks interesting: same colour rucksack, similar markings, and from the way it’s being carried it looks heavier than normal. Quick edit: here’s the [thread in question](http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/1cimxt/4chan_may_have_found_the_bomber/). Lots of people already challenging it though. ---
**Author:** ![Haunted\_Pasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/94ad74/32.png) [@Haunted\_Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Haunted_Pasta)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/448 "2013-04-17T12:00:39Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > “evil doers”? :rolleyes: > > Interesting viewpoint on humanity where nothing happened between 9/11 and Boston marathon bombing. The reason the tweet’s been posted, re-posted, Facebooked and re-treated by zillions, etc. is because it’s a thoughtful, uplifting sentiment, but cheers to you for stopping by to take a shit on it! You’re doing a fine job of making the world a better place. Really. Keep it up! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/449 "2013-04-17T12:19:47Z")
OMG a comedian didn’t meet some nebulous standard when trying to lift spirits and talking about how we react to bombings in the US! String him up! ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/450 "2013-04-17T13:48:56Z")
> [@Haunted\_Pasta](#): > > The reason the tweet’s been posted, re-posted, Facebooked and re-treated by zillions, etc. is because it’s a thoughtful, uplifting sentiment, but cheers to you for stopping by to take a shit on it! > > You’re doing a fine job of making the world a better place. Really. Keep it up! Well, once you see a 10 year old boy laying on the street in a circular pool of dark red blood whose head had just been blown up by a Serbian sniper in Sarajevo, his hand still holding onto a plastic container he planned to fill up with water, it kinda gives you a different perspective. It may be uplifting to you or some such but - as many pointed out - this is nothing compared to what’s going on. Ask yourself how come no censorship on blood and mayhem from Boston but full-on censorship on Americans or locals dying in Iraq or Afghanistan. This statement reminds me of a patriot whose contribution is to put a flag on his car. Which, strangely enough, seems now as more work than sending a Tweet or Facebook update. Please… :o ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/451 "2013-04-17T13:52:46Z")
> [@newcomer](#): > > Well, once you see a 10 year old boy laying on the street in a circular pool of dark red blood whose head had just been blown up by a Serbian sniper in Sarajevo, his hand still holding onto a plastic container he planned to fill up with water, it kinda gives you a different perspective. > > It may be uplifting to you or some such but - as many pointed out - this is nothing compared to what’s going on. > > Ask yourself how come no censorship on blood and mayhem from Boston but full-on censorship on Americans or locals dying in Iraq or Afghanistan. > > This statement reminds me of a patriot whose contribution is to put a flag on his car. Which, strangely enough, seems now as more work than sending a Tweet or Facebook update. > > Please… :o Do you know that your sentences seem coherent, but aren’t? I can’t parse much of this. There’s no argument here. Bad shit happens everywhere. Patton Oswalt is trying to say that good shit happens everywhere, too, and that the number of people who basically want to do good shit is larger than the number of people who basically want to do bad shit. There is nothing that you’ve said up there that even seems to _relate_ to his statement, let alone rebut it. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/452 "2013-04-17T13:56:00Z")
The New York Times has an article about the guy in the gruesome photo. He’s alive and his family learned of his fate from the picture via internet. I’m not sure how I feel about that. But I guess there really isn’t _any_ good way of learning that your son’s legs have been blown off. Though, they probably didn’t need to see pictures of it. Warning photo (cropped) at top of page. Don’t click if you don’t want to see. The article is very moving and upsetting. > **[In Grisly Image, a Father Sees His Son (Published 2013)](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/us/in-grisly-image-a-father-sees-his-son.html?hp&_r=0)** > > The family of Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in the bombings, learned of his fate from an image of the bloodied young man being tended to by a man in a cowboy hat. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/453 "2013-04-17T15:10:09Z")
[Jon Stewart’s thoughts on Boston at the start of last night’s Daily Show.](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-16-2013/a-good-little-city) [Stephen Colbert’s somewhat more roast-y tribute.](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/425527/april-16-2013/intro---4-16-13) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/454 "2013-04-17T15:16:50Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > I realise there will be lots of this sort of claim, but [this pic](http://i.imgur.com/LvoCC5T.jpg) (from Reddit via 4chan) looks interesting: same colour rucksack, similar markings, and from the way it’s being carried it looks heavier than normal. > > Quick edit: here’s the [thread in question](http://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/1cimxt/4chan_may_have_found_the_bomber/). Lots of people already challenging it though. Interesting. That thread also sheds light on the yellow balloons that floatyed up after the explosion. [This pic](http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18ku3sdquntqfjpg/original.jpg) was taken two minutes before the blast, according to a post there, and it shows the guy holding them. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/455 "2013-04-17T15:56:07Z")
Our local sportscaster (over 20 years) is from the Boston area. He was at race cheering on his niece. She was one of the runners that got stopped a miles from the finish line. His brother was across the street from the bombing. I found his perspective very interesting. A native that knows that area and could have lost family if things had worked out differently. > **[Sully Says: Marathon Monday](https://katv.com/sports/sully-says/marathon-monday-12-30-2015)** > > I got this horrifying series of texts from my brother. He said he was about 75 feet away from the first explosion. "We are alright. 2 bombs went off right across from us. My ears are still ringing." No family should have to go through what they... > [@](#): > > Anyone who has spent any time living in or around Boston can tell you how special Patriots’ Day is. No school + Sox baseball at 11 am + Boston Marathon = a great time for an over the top sports fan like me. > > I grew up in Framingham, which is the 6 mile mark for the 26.2 mile run from tiny Hopkington to downtown Boston. Part of the magic of the Boston Marathon is that all the small towns along the marathon route go all out to welcome the runners. It’s not just big crowds at the start and finish and fans scattered along the way. Boston is different. > \ > Team Sullivan was stationed in Framingham. We watched thousands of runners go by before Laura arrived. The picture attached to this story is Laura as we saw her at the 6 mile point. She looked strong and happy, ready to attack the last 20 miles. Nothing could prepare her or anyone else for what would happen three hours later. > > My marathon experience ended there. While my brother and his family headed for the finish line, I made my way to the airport. As I got closer to the airport, Laura closed in on the finish line. Then I got this horrifying series of texts from my brother. “We are alright. 2 bombs went off right across from us. My ears are still ringing.” He said he was about 75 feet away from the first explosion. No family should have to go through what they went through yesterday. > > They were the lucky ones. My brother and his family avoided injury. A friend gave them grandstand passes. If they didn’t have those passes, they would have been standing on that sidewalk where the bomb went off, waiting for Laura to finish. ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/456 "2013-04-17T17:06:01Z")
I’m seeing on twitter that they may have identified a suspect. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/457 "2013-04-17T17:19:09Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Comedian Patton Oswalt writes:](http://www.facebook.com/pattonoswalt/posts/10151440800582655) Patton Oswalt has always been one of my favorites, ever since he was on \*The King of Queens, \* but my respect for him has gone even higher. He expressed himself very well and more words like his need to be heard. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/458 "2013-04-17T17:19:50Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > I’m seeing on twitter that they may have identified a suspect. I sincerely hope that’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/459 "2013-04-17T17:22:47Z")
[CNN’s reporting it, too.](http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/17/us/boston-blasts/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781/460 "2013-04-17T17:23:21Z")
I wonder if that means they have a suspect in custody or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-boston-marathon/655781.md?page=24)