How to Help Boston

Ways to Get and Give Help

Need to Locate People?

Boston Police Help Line – (If you are looking for information regarding friends or family injured in the blasts) (617)635.4500

Boston Marathon Athlete Tracker – (Find runners via bib number.  Find out if they finished the race and when) www.raceday.baa.org/individual.html

Need to be Located?

Red Cross (Register yourself as “safe and well”) -https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php

Need Lodging?

Fill out the form via - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1r2dbf7q2sIiiQWynPNgH74qNeheNycTyk7hXue9AJhs/viewform

Offering Lodging?

Fill out the form via - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dqIKVq6IqX4BVXqOW_a9-qmXt1KJ_4Nu3NPNnC1g1mw/viewform

Want to Donate?

Donate to the Richard family who lost their precious Martin Richard (8) - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AoaN_Oln6zTcdHFTMUJRcHRHMGxTWmtRTi00ZGFad1E#gid=0

Blood donations – Due to an outpouring, all facilities are asking that if would like to donate, please schedule an appointment in the upcoming weeks. www.blooddonor@partners.org

Via Twitter – #BostonHelp is being used to collect donations and gather/report factual information.

Have Tips/Pics/Video Regarding the Blasts?

Boston Police Tip Line – (800)494.TIPS Task Line – (617)223.6610 or email – boston@ci.fbi.gov

Community Members that want to offer help – (800)Call.FBI

General Information

https://www.facebook.com/TheBostonMarathon

20 Boston Marathon Facts

Here are some facts regarding the Boston Marathon.  Just a few things to remind you of the joy of the race, as your news feeds and airways are force feeding you the sadness of the day.

1.       The Marathon is run each year on Patriots’ Day.  Patriots’ Day is a Massachusetts state holiday that commemorates the opening battle of the American Revolution that took place at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.  The holiday is celebrated on the Monday closest to the 19^th. (The event attracts, on average, 500,000 spectators and 20,000 participants).

2.       It is 1 0f 6 marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors (a competition for marathon runners).  Majors marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

3.       The Marathon was inspired by the 1896 Olympics and officially began the following year in 1897.  It is the world’s annual marathon.

4.       1966 - Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb is recognized as the first female to run the race in its entirety.

5.       1967 – Although women were not [officially] permitted to run, Kathrine Switzer registered as K.V. Switzer and successfully ran the race.  Race official, Jock Semple, attempted to rip off her numbers and eject her from the race.

6.       1972 – Women were officially permitted to enter the race. 

7.       1975 - Bob Hall wrote race director Will Cloney to ask if he could compete in the race in his wheelchair. Cloney wrote back that he could not give Hall a race number, but would recognize Hall as an official finisher if he completed the race in under 3 hours and 30 minutes. Hall finished in 2 hours and 58 minutes, paving the way for the wheelchair division.

8.       1980 - Amateur runner Rosie Ruiz came from out of nowhere to win the women's race. Marathon officials became suspicious when it was found Ruiz did not appear in race videotapes until near the end of the race. A subsequent investigation concluded that Ruiz had skipped most of the race and blended into the crowd about one mile (1.6 km) from the finish line, where she then ran to her apparent victory. Ruiz was officially disqualified, and the winner was proclaimed to be Canadian Jacqueline Gareau.

9.       1986 - The first financial prize was awarded.  Previously, the prize was a wreath woven of olive branches. This change came after sponsors were added to combat professional runners refusing to run minus cash prizes. 

10.   1990 - Men’s Masters Record: John Campbell (New Zealand), 2:11:04

11.   1994 - Women’s Push Rim Wheelchair Record: Jean Driscoll (United States), 1:34:22

12.   2002 – Margaret Okayo (Kenya) set the woman’s course record at 2:20:43. 

13.   2002 - Women’s Masters Record: Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova (Russia), 2:27:58  

14.   2011 – Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) set the men’s course record at 2:03:02.  It was not recognized as a world record due to the course route allowing for tailwind.

15.   2012 – Rick Hoyt (50), who has cerebral palsy, completed his 30^th Boston Marathon along side his father, Dick (72).  Dick was pushing Rick in his wheelchair.

16.   2012 - Men’s Push Rim Wheelchair Record: Joshua Cassidy (Canada), 1:18:25.

17.   2012 – Samuel Adams released its “Adams 26.2” as a commemorative lager with less alcohol content for exclusive purchase at the Marathon.

18.   2013 – Race dedicated to the victims of the Newtown shooting.

2013 start times –

9:00 a.m.: Mobility Impaired Program

9:17 a.m.: Push Rim Wheelchair Division

       9:22 a.m.: Handcycle Participants

       9:32 a.m.: Elite Women

      10:00 a.m.: Elite Men and Wave One

      10:20 a.m.: Wave Two

      10:40 a.m.: Wave Three

19.   On only four occasions have world record times for marathon running been set in Boston.   In 1947, the men's record time set was 2:25:39, by Suh Yun-Bok of South Korea. In 1975, a women's world record of 2:42:24 was set by Liane Winter of West Germany, and in 1983, Joan Benoit Samuelson of the United States ran a women's world record time of 2:22:43. In 2012 Joshua Cassidy of Canada set a men's wheelchair marathon world-record time of 1:18:25.

20.   The Boston Marathon Memorial in Copley Square, not far from the finish line, was installed to mark the one-hundredth running of the race. A circle of granite blocks set in the ground surrounds a central medallion that traces the race course and other segments that show an elevation map of the course and the names of the winners.

The Celebrity Edition

Anne Frank a Belieber?

     Justin Bieber (19) is under heavy scrutiny for his guest book entry at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam –

          “Truly inspiring to be able to come here.  Anne was a great girl.  Hopefully she would have been a belieber.”

          The tourist site shared his entry on its official FaceBook page and that is when the whirlwind of stomach turning began.  No one knows what prompted Bieber to end his entry with “Hopefully she would have been a belieber” and it does not look as if anyone will any time soon.  The Bieber Camp will NOT be issuing a statement according to a source close to the camp.  Silence can be golden, but for Bieber….its s little too late.

**Most popular response to his comment – “Can anyone be more self-obsessed?”

      BUUUUUUUUTTTTT…that is NOT what makes this news weird…..what makes this the star of the weird ball is that the museum is….wait for it…..DEFENDING BIEBER.  The comment was posted to the FaceBook page appears to have occurred due to the amount of beliebers that were outside the museum during his weekend visit.  According to a museum spokesperson, “His comments were quite innocent.  He was here for more than an hour and interested in Anne frank’s life and that for us is the most important thing.”

     All in all, I guess having publicity drummed up by the person who carries the most Twitter followers in the world is better than making sure that Anne Frank’s memory is not disrespected.  Maybe if Justin was a regular 19 year old, they would have taken a different stance.

Aubrey Plaza = the New Kanye?

 As Will Ferrell, dressed in a dollar-bill fabric suit, was giving his acceptance speech (MTV Golden Popcorn Comedic Genius award), Parks and Recreation star, Aubrey Plaza stepped out onto the stage.  Plaza had the name of her upcoming movie (The To Do List) written across her chest, alcohol on her breath, carrying a drink and wearing no shoes.  She proceeded to try to take the trophy from Ferrell.  When Ferrell would not let go of the trophy, Plaza put her head down and left the stage.  When she reached her seat in the front row, she spilled her drink and sat down.  Moments later, the show’s producers had her escorted from the building.  Hours after the show ended, Plaza tweeted, “thanks for the advice @kanyewest went better than planned!” 

         After Plaza left the stage, Ferrell simply said, “Aubrey Plaza everyone.  Just like we rehearsed it. Perfect, it was perfect.  Not too long, not too short.  Right on the money.”  The show’s producers continue to state that there was no skit/stunt/prank planned or spoken of.  

     “I think she wanted to tell me something important, but there was no message.  It was a lot of hot liquor breath.  And, then, and a little bit of sweat.  And then she ran away.  But the ship sailed on” – Will Ferrell backstage.

Pubic Razor of Love

     This past Saturday, while working out Gotham Gym (West Village, NYC) Hugh Jackman (44) was approached by Kathleen Thurston (47).  Thurston ran past the front desk, hysterically shouting that she loved Jackman.  As tears poured down her face she continued to run towards the X-Men star.  Mike Castle (a trainer at the gym) was able to stop Thurston before she reached Jackman.  When he stepped into ‘the line of fire’, she pulled out an electric razor (full of her own pubic hair) from her waistband which soon fell out of Thurston’s hands. 

     Thurston was able to flee the scene, but was apprehended by police a few blocks away from the gym.  It is apparent that Thurston had been stalking Jackman at his west Village gym.  Jackman is said to be fine after the incident.

Best April Fool’s Day Pranks

Taco Liberty Bell

   In 1996, the Taco Bell Corporation (TBC) took out full page adds in SIX major newspapers to announce that it had purchased the Liberty Bell.  TBC also announced that it would be changing the name of the historic staple to the ‘Taco Liberty Bell’.  Needless to say, hundreds of calls from outraged patriots were placed to the National Historic Park of Philadelphia (the home of the Liberty Bell).  Tensions calmed when after a few hours of the hoaxes birth, TBC revealed that the sale was merely a prank. 

   When asked about the sale, White House Press Secretary, Mike McCurry stated that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold and would now be called the “Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial”.

Not Nixing Nixon

    Talk of the Nation (a National Public Radio show) revealed that Richard Nixon would be running for office AGAIN.  According to the show, his new slogan was to be “I didn’t do anything wrong and I won’t do it again.”  The reports were accompanied by audio of Nixon giving his candidacy speech………well so thought listeners.  The show’s host, John Hockenberry, received tons of calls from listeners who were not shy about expressing their shock and OUTRAGE regarding Nixon attempting to take office again. 

     During the second half of the show, Hockenberry revealed that the announcement was a hoax and the audio came by way of Nixon impersonator and comedian, Rich Little.

Biblical Pi in Alabama

     An article written by physicist, Mark Boslough claiming that the Alabama Legislature had voted to change the mathematical value of pi from 3.14159 to the ‘Biblical value’ of 3.0 ended up going viral in 1998.  Boslough wrote the article for an issue of New Mexicans for Science and Reason newsletter and it was intended as a parody in regards to Alabama’s attempts to circumscribe the teaching of evolution. 

  The “changing” of the mathematical value spread across the web and via email swiftly, resulting in the Alabama Legislature being flooded with calls concerning the alteration.

Have it the Left-Handed Way

       Burger King published a full page add in USA Today, introducing their new ‘Left-Hand Whopper’.  The new sandwich was said to have all of the same ingredients as a traditional whopper, with a twist…..all of the condiments would be rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of the 32 billion left-handed Americans.  Thousands of people were reported to have requested the left-handed whopper and there were even requests for a right-handed version.

   The following day, Burger King placed another add revealing that the sandwich was simply a hoax.

Premature Virgin Hoax

    Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Records, wanted to combine his love of ballooning with his love of pranks.  Therefore in 1989 he created a balloon to resemble a UFO and wore a metallic suit (in order to appear alien), Branson planned to land his craft in London’s Hyde Park on April 1^st.  Due to wind conditions, he was forced to land on March 31^st in the wrong direction.

    Motorists driving along a highway on the outside of London noticed the ‘UFO’ descending.  Many pulled to the side of the rode in order to witness the “alien invasion”.  A few called local police.  Once officers arrived on the scene, ONE began to approach the craft, but when Branson emerged wearing a metallic suit, the officer fled in fear.