Dr. X's Free Associations

Photography Is Not A Crime

Carlos Miller:

On the same day that federal investigators pleaded with the public for photos and videos that would help them identify the Boston Marathon bombers, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI released a memo stating the “discreet use of cameras or video recorders” could be interpreted as a sign that a terrorist act is being planned.

I try not to read Carlos Miller too often because the stories of photographer abuse and police crimes against photographers give me agita, but the more photographs I take, the more regularly I'm reminded of this problem.

Writing in the Times, Olivier Laurent reports that the problem is even worse in France, where street photography has all but disappeared.

A Well-dressed Crook

Jonathan Turley on CIA cash for Karzai:

We have previously discussed reports of billions disappearing in Afghanistan and the long record of corruption surrounding the family and friends of President Hamid Karzai. Now a new report details how for more than a decade, the CIA has been dropping off monthly suitcases, backpacks and even shopping bags filled with cash to Karzai at his office. Despite these reports of grotesque corruption, the money continues to flow into Karzai’s pockets even as he attacks the U.S. and Americans as “demons”, and moves to shift alliances to Iran and China.

It appears that the CIA has dropped off “tens of millions” in cash to Karzai personally according to the report below. His former chief staffer, Khalil Roman says that they called it Karzai’s “ghost money” and that it simply disappeared with the president.

Psychopharm and the Self

Linda Logan writes in the NY Times about her experience in treatment for bipolar disorder. Originally from the the Boston area, Logan sought treatment in Chicago at Rush Medical Center, and eventually moved to Chicago to be closer to her psychiatrist. She names her current doc in the article, but for some reason omits the name of the psychiatrist who treated her for many years. Based on the info she provided, I think most Chicago clinicians who've been around for a while know who she's talking about.

Pork Spine Sign

Sunday Morning Video

One place I lived out in the burbs was on a lake filled with river otters, though they steered clear of people.

Grow or Die

Artist's rendering of the future Beinen Music and Communications Building, Northwestern University. Groundbreaking May 2012.

Taken during a bike ride, the image below is the site today.

Ricin Suspect, James Everette Dutschke, Recently Charged In Child Molestation Case

I haven't seen mention of this in any of the initial reports of the Dutschke arrest:

James Everette Dutschke, of Tupelo, was brought before Lee County Justice Court Judge Rickey Thompson on Jan. 22. Dutschke was charged with one count of child molestation, each from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Tupelo Police Department.

“His bond was set at $500,000 for us, and another $500,000 for the city for a total of $1 million,” Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson said. “He would have to obtain a bail bondsman under the authority of the judge. He could not do a property bond but I wouldn’t approve it anyway.”

Dutschke, 41, the owner of Tupelo Taekwondo Plus, was taken into custody at his business without incident on Jan. 18. “The allegations took place at his business,” Johnson said. “The child was a 7-year-old female.

[....]

Dutschke also ran unsuccessfully against Steve Holland for the office of Mississippi House of Representatives, Dist. 16 in the 2007 election.

When the news of Kevin Curtis's arrest broke, I went straight Google, social media and YouTube where I found lots of info on the man. Although I had suspicions that Mr. Curtis had some "difficulties," I came away doubtful of his involvement in the ricin case. Nothing I saw added up to a guy who would mail packets of ricin to politicians.

Dutschke, on the other hand, is in the middle of some serious legal troubles. His January child molestation arrest occurred after he was turned in by a family member of a victim. The story linked above indicates that there may have been additional victims among Dutschke's students. There was enough concern that the judge ordered him to stay away from everyone associated with his karate business, including family members and "third parties."  That would seem to cover a lot of people.

Wild speculation: Is it possible that Curtis was framed in retaliation for playing some role in molestation case against Dutschke?

Update:

Since posting, I've found several ricin stories mentioning Dutschke's molestation arrest. How'd I that? Oh, well, I miss a lot.

I still wonder about the possibility of retalliation.

Another Drunk Cop, Another Bartender

Previously, in drunk and violent Chicago cops in bars...

Now we have a new of case, and another possible CPD cover up.

Jennifer Cafferata, a bartender at Tommy's on Higgins, claims the officer was "severely intoxicated" when he threw the full bottle at her after she cut him off for bothering another customer, according to the suit.

The officer, a regular customer at the bar at 5954 W. Higgins Ave., was off-duty at the time of the May 15, 2012, incident, she claims.\After the bottle hit her in the head, the officer grabbed his keys off the bar and left, she said in the suit.

The bartender claims city officials knew the officer was "particularly violent when he was intoxicated" based on other incidents, according to the suit.

Cafferata further claims that when she went to the Jefferson Park Police District to file charges against him, a sergeant there appeared to already have spoken with the officer, who worked in the Rogers Park District, according to the suit.

The sergeant allegedly tried to discourage the bartender from filing charges, and told her the officer would file a cross-complaint accusing Cafferata of stealing his cell phone during the encounter -- an accusation the suit calls "a complete fabrication."

The officer has never been charged over the incident, but Cafferata did file a complaint with the Independent Police Review Authority, the suit said.

IPRA spokesman Larry Merrit says an investigation stemming from a complaint filed over the incident is pending, and declined to provide further details.

Eat More KFC

There, I said it. So sue me.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office this week gave a “preliminary no” to Vermont-based folk artist Robert Muller-Moore regarding his efforts to protect his “Eat More Kale” T-shirt business. This ruling is based on Chick-fil-A's claims that the “Eat More Kale” phrase is too similar to its trademarked slogan, “Eat mor chikin.”

Patents, copyrights, trademarks--these invented rights--are way out of hand, way beyond encouragement of creation and image protection, spilling over into controlling thought, expression and outright rent-seeking.

The Moral Lives of Flies

Via Sullivan, this is a pro-hijab billboard.

If you believe your capacities for empathy, self-restraint and moral judgment are comparable to the capacities of a fly, would it be unfair to regard you as a disease-carrying insect? And how should disease-carrying insects be treated?