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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."

7 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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    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. 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."
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    How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?