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Bioterrorism Charges Brought Against Professor

Posted by michael on from the world-gone-mad dept.

gnetwerker writes "Wired and others are reporting about artist Steve Kurtz, professor at Univesity of Buffalo (NY), and member of the Critical Art Ensemble will face a Grand Jury in two weeks on bioterrorism charges over artwork that used samples of harmless bacteria to make a statement about genetic engineering and food safety. He is charged with BioTerrorism under Section 817 of the PATRIOT Act. Apparently John Ashcroft can't tell a weapons lab from an art installation. There is more info and a Defense Fund on the CAE Defense Fund Site."

17 of 611 comments (clear)

  1. In related news... by k4_pacific · · Score: 3, Funny

    The FBI announced today that TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt) has been shut down until further notice under section 817 of the PATRIOT Act.

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    Unknown host pong.
    1. Re:In related news... by noidentity · · Score: 5, Funny

      "The FBI announced today that TCBY (The Country's Best Yogurt) has been shut down until further notice under section 817 of the PATRIOT Act."

      So, is "contains live and active cultures" a bug or a feature?

    2. Re:In related news... by Ieshan · · Score: 4, Funny

      I just replied... but for some reason, it didn't include the full text of my reply. It should have said:

      So, is "contains live and active cultures" a bug or a feature?

      Down here, we call it Yogurt. Up there, they call them Chemical Weapons frozen for storage. Washington is a scaaaary place?

  2. Uh-oh, hope they don't look in my fridge! by C3ntaur · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...it's probably an illegal biotech lab by their definitions too. I really need to throw out that months-old foil-wrapped leftover something-or-other in there.

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    Loading...
    1. Re:Uh-oh, hope they don't look in my fridge! by blindbat · · Score: 5, Funny

      >I really need to throw out that months-old
      >foil-wrapped leftover

      You found my hat!

  3. RE:Bioterrorism Charges Brought Against Professor by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    With any luck they'll never see the vegetable bin in my refrigerator..

  4. How so??? by DrugCheese · · Score: 2, Funny

    Our justice department, using its overwhelming powers granted in the aptly named PATRIOT ACT, cannot make mistakes!! If the government says this man is a terrorist, then he is!

    Question them, you're on the list next...

    Love thy country, fear they government.

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    *DrugCheese rants*
  5. Re:No, it's more like... by iabervon · · Score: 2, Funny

    And, in this case, he seems to be confused about which one contains E. coli...

  6. Re:I dunno by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    lock everyone with a brain- they could go postal and pull 911s out of their ass.

  7. In related news... by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Funny

    Terrorism charges were brought against all professors that used surprise exams against students.

  8. Re:wtf are you talking about by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 3, Funny
    when in fact its what (he claims) is harmless bacteria.
    "Is that a bioweapon?"
    "Yes ... I mean ... no."
    "Very well. Carry on."
    --

    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
  9. Re:That's what a grand jury is for by AoT · · Score: 2, Funny

    And the B is for Bureau, as in bureacracy, and that is the real reason they are involved.

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    A blog about stuff.
  10. Re:OH MY GOD by TheAntiCrust · · Score: 2, Funny

    IMNSFHO. Best. Acronym. Ever.

  11. Mmmmmmm... yogurt by thehomeland · · Score: 2, Funny

    Guess that means the yogurt industry is screwed.

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    thehomeland(.org)
  12. Re:I dunno by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    E.Coli is a WMD? Jesus Christ. Do you have any idea how much of that stuff I dump down my toilet every day??? I guess it's a good thing I flushed the evidence!

  13. Re:Damn, what a bad summary. by Quixote · · Score: 2, Funny
    The police generally don't host a grand jury unless they have a reasonable expectation that they'll be able to charge the suspect with a crime. If you're brought before a grand jury, then you should be concerned because that means there's a very good chance that you will be indicted (and hence go to trial) on something.

    There's an oft-quoted saying in legal circles, 'a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich if he chooses.'

  14. Re:Damn, what a bad summary. by Phurd+Phlegm · · Score: 2, Funny
    The police generally don't host a grand jury unless they have a reasonable expectation that they'll be able to charge the suspect with a crime.
    Drawing on my many years watching The Rockford Files, I have to question this. I thought that attorneys general and their ilk convened grand juries. The police have nothing to do with it at all. Neh?

    And as we see in this episode, grand juries are subject to abuse by prosecuters. I can't believe there wasn't a link to this in the original article....