A little reality check has me thinking how not so much worse our world really is. Oh, first let me say clearly that I am as deeply saddened as anyone over the crazy bombings happening lately. The fact that public events we all take for granted are more and more becoming places where security has to be measurably increased, will effect us all in a very real way. Now, looking at the stranger beside you and that black back pack has significance like never before, for me for certain.
The reality check I am thinking about is my sons history lesson of life at the turn of the century. Little things like what we now refer to as the common cold, headaches, tooth aches, etc, etc. These things today we simply take a pill for and the problem is solved. if there is something bigger going on it can usually be detected in a matter of moments or days by a doctor or two.
In much the same way, we are now seeing our security and police devour a bomb scene or a plane crash site with amazing detail and accuracy that it is incredible to observe. 100 years ago it would be very easy for perpetrators of crime and monstrosities to escape undetected. Today we see them paraded through the courts within days or weeks thanks to both modern technology and people involvement (crowd sourcing).
Take for example the case of Luka Magnotta (not even his real name...what a coward!). Here's a guy who went to great lengths and distance to not get caught. Even taunting police via the internet that he would never be caught. In the end it was the combination of a great public awareness campaign and Crowd Sourcing that made his face so well known that some coffee sippers in an internet cafe in Europe spotted the monster and gave him up to local police.
Say what you will, crowd sourcing has its pitfalls for sure, but in my mind its likely going to be police detail and a crowd source that will reveal or locate the Boston Bomber. I'm betting it won't take long.
RM