07:40 – There doesn’t appear to be a lot of hard information available yet about the Boston Marathon bombings. After watching video of the event, my first impression is that this is very unlikely to be state-sponsored terrorism. Although so far no group has claimed responsibility, I think it’s more likely to be domestic terrorists like a lunatic-fringe anti-abortion group or white separatists. From the appearance of the explosions, the bombs appear to have been small and crude, perhaps something as simple as a kilo or two of black powder surrounded by ball bearings. The brilliant white flash one expects from a detonation of high explosives was missing, and there was far too much smoke. If I’m right, these devices could have been built by almost anyone, using materials they could have purchased at a Home Depot.
07:59 – I’m surprised that we haven’t yet heard any demands for new bomb-control legislation.