ScottsBigMouth

Visionary Young Architect Claims "Fuel" Documentary Stole Futuristic "Vertical Farming" Images

CORRECTION:  IN THE ORIGINAL RELEASE OF THIS STORY, THE DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES AND WEBSITE FOR THE FUEL DOCUMENTARY WERE MIS-IDENTIFIED.  THE CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BELOW. SCOTTSBIGMOUTH.COM REGRETS THE RELEASE OF INCORRECT INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE STORY, AND/OR ANY BRAND CONFUSION THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE OCCURRED UPON ITS RELEASE.

When Blake Kurasek heard his futuristic "vertical farming" artistic renderings were being aired on Jay Leno, he was a little confused.  A friend sent him a text message to say she had just seen the images from Kurasek's master's degree thesis on the late night program one night in November 2008. 

"At first I was surprised and excited to see my work on the Jay Leno Show," Kurasek states in a recent interview with Scott Foval, Talk Radio Host for "ScottsBigMouth" on wsRadio Talk Radio Networks / wsRadioChicago "Chicago's Independent Talk", and blogger for The Huffington Post and ScottsBigMouth.com.  "I went back online and rewatched the episode, and there was a guest on there, Josh Tickell; and he was showing images of his new documentary film called "Fuel"(http://www.thefuelfilm.com), and he was showing a trailer to Jay Leno, and the majority of what he showing was my work."

Kurasek said he was dismayed to learn that Tickell was promoting "Fuel" in wide release without including any citations or even mentioning the work was actually owned by Kurasek as his intellectual property.  The renderings in question had been used illegally, and he realized that no one would know that the work that aired on Leno was actually his.

Kurasek originally had composed the work for his master's thesis at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2007.  The images in question, 3D renderings from the final project, were identified as belonging to Blake Kurasek, in public exhibitions at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry last year, and a full portfolio is on display at http://www.blakekurasek.com. 

The images, say Kurasek's Attorney, Kevin Keener, are copyrighted as Kurasek's intellectually property.  Keener says the U of I have not been indicated at this time as having a role in the misuse of the images.

Kurasek and Keener say that Blake is interested in receiving full credit for his work.  "I believe in giving credit where credit is due," Kurasek says.  

Attorney Keener says there have been initial discussions with the producers, but that no progress has been made towards a settlement. 

He declined to speculate on exactly what the terms of any possible settlement would be, but that he believes his client has a very solid case of copyright infringement regarding Tickell's use of the images in "Fuel," as well as against the production and distribution companies involved in the release of the film.

According to  IMDB, the "Fuel" documentary website is (http://www.thefuelfilm.com), and production companies are Blue Water Entertainment and Open Pictures.  Distribution companies include Greenlight Theatrical and Intention Media.  At press time, the Director, Josh Tickell, had not responded directly to attempts to contact him via email and telephone, although several attempts were made during the research and investigative process conducted by ScottsBigMouth.com / Scott Foval in preparation for this story.

Lame Ducks Fish For Red Herrings, Ignore Real Issues In Big 3 Barbeque Sessions

Yesterday's supposed "grilling" of the Big 3 auto executives on Capitol Hill proved how bitterly partisan and embarrassingly misinformed many of the members of Congress can be sometimes. Watching the proceedings, one was struck by how, with very busy yet truly sheepish CEOs sitting before them; certain members focused on whether these guys took a jet to the hearings rather than making them earn their multi-million-dollar salaries. As usual, rather than practicing real "Discovery in a time of economic crisis, preposterous grandstanding reigned supreme.

I couldn't believe it, how clearly out of their own league these members really were. They could have asked intelligent, well-crafted, economically-relevant questions that really mattered. They could have hammered these guys on why they shouldn't just make them take bankruptcy, why their business models suck, or even why it seemed they were doing everything to bow out of organized labor contracts and commitments to the line that actually makes their products. But no, these simpleton members (many on the right wing) instead went for a simplistic parlor trick--being unsophisticated and trying to "embarrass" the execs for taking their corporate jets to DC instead of flying on a commercial carrier.

Give me a break. Everyone knows that these executives' jets are flying offices, and they use them as extensions of the executive suite; keeping in touch and doing business around the globe. They allow them to make their meetings at plants, with labor leaders, and yes, with the Congressional committees who summon them ON TIME instead of spending their day waiting for American, United, Delta, or another carrier delay them for hours at O'Hare or Detroit International due to "an equipment problem" or weather delay. In other words, the whole question is just a red herring of an argument instead of a core issue to the economic crisis.

Our Members of Congress had a red hot chance to put these guys butts on the line, and make them stand-and-deliver in order to get the $25 billion loan that they were asking for in order to survive. They had a chance to stand up for millions of labor union members and other non-union workers who stand to lose their jobs if the Big 3 are allowed to reorganize and dump their contracts, or worse...just go belly up and send the entire country's economy into a true depression. They had a chance to really get some results for once from these overpaid captains of industry, and force them commit to protect laborers' pensions and simultaneously retool in order to get the loans.

Instead, they focused on stupid red herrings, and missed a golden opportunity to prove that they were more focused on what is best for the American People instead of their own egos. These same legislators tried to make themselves look like populists by attempting to make the auto industry look like losers, ignored the needs of workers inside the auto industry and dependent industries, and ignored their real responsibilities to protect the U.S. economy from an economic meltdown. They proved that they really don't understand the needs and worries of the common folks, but are more schooled in infighting, image, and what they think will enhance their own stature. What they missed, however, is that the people are listening, watching, and focused on results. Ahem, that's why there is a new, populist, responsible President-elect waiting in the wings.

These members are going to find out that their actions are going to have consequences. They're going to find out that if the auto industry isn't saved at all costs, and laborers' interests represented valiantly, that they're going to be looking for new jobs pretty damn quickly. The American People aren't going to take this crap anymore, and they're watching every player individually to gauge whether they're doing the right thing for them, and not what's politically expedient. They're also watching when members just sit back and stroke their own egos instead of standing-and-delivering on what the voters expect.

Watch out, idiots. The American People are not as dumb or easy to manipulate as you think; and they're becoming more sophisticated about what is a real issue and what is a red herring. They're even figuring out that Organized Labor is on the sides of the American worker, and that many members of Congress are being dubious in their own self-righteous, loud, and clearly deceptive behavior.

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NOLA Spill: Mississippi Has 100-Mile Slick, Jackson Square Area "Smells Like A Gas Station"

Residents of the Algiers suburb of New Orleans, LA, are clearing the shelves of drinking water as evidence mounts that NOLA is on the verge of another environmental catastrophe.  NOLA.com reported that this morning Mayor Ray Nagin cautioned people to drink tap water "sparingly," although he insisted the city's water supply is safe.  Seemingly in contrast, St. Bernard Parish announced at a news conference just before Noon that the parish's water intake would be reopened.  Several cities and parishes along the now 100-mile slick had shut their intakes as a precautionary measure when the spill was reported at 1:40 yesterday.

The Enclave Blog has amateur video with commentary from the shooter stating that the Jackson Square areas "smells like a gas station."

Online sources are questioning whether the spill is petroleum, or whether it is something more sinister.  Original reports that the spill might have also included other contaminents have yet to be verified by river water tests being conducted by the municipalities involved, the EPA, and the U.S.Coast Guard.  Officials have stated it will take 24 hours to get tests back.  WWL-TV reported that American Commercial Lines Inc. of Jeffersonville, Ind., which owns the sunken oil barge involved in the incident, brought in four oil spill cleanup companies with about 250 people and 11,500 feet of boom to keep oil away from water intakes and environmentally fragile areas, said Paul Book, vice president of operations facilities.

WWL also noted that the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating exactly whom might be responsible for causing the collision with the barge. "The tanker ship The double-hulled tanker Tintomara was loaded with about 4.2 million gallons of biodiesel and nearly 1.3 million gallons of styrene, but did not leak, said Michael Wilson, president of ship management company Laurin Maritime (America) Inc. in Houston."

The spill comes on the heals of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe, which is seen by experts as on of the worst American ecological catastrophes, second only to the Exxon Valdez spill in damage.  Numerous sources have quoted the loss of direct business at the Port of New Orleans at more than $100,000 per day.

Does U.S. Have The Guts To Meet Gore's Challenge?

Here in the United States, we talk a lot about “stepping up.”  From baseball to nuclear proliferation, it seems Americans are challenged by our leaders to “step up,” challenge our teams to “step up,” and even yell “step it up” at each other in a judgmental tone.  Well another weekend news cycle has gone by, and this week it is former Vice President Al Gore throwing it down.  In a keenly-timed Thursday speech (brilliant timing, actually—virtually guaranteed the Meet The Press invite) at Washington, DC's D.A.R. Constitution Hall; Gore took the stage and challenged us to replace all fossil-fuel-based electricity with renewable electricity within 10 years.

Context: Download the speech here and View the video here.

First reaction: “Holy shit.” Second reaction:  “Is that even possible?”  Third reaction: “Holy shit.”  Fourth reaction:  “Pass the vodka.”

That was the the universal response; and that was by Thursday night.  By the time Gore made it to “Meet The Press” Sunday morning, the press and the blogosphere had dissected his entire plan within an inch of its young life.  Almost nowhere were people standing up and cheering “Yes We Can!” as if Barack Obama had taken the stage.  Almost everywhere, people were downplaying the “reality” of the plan, and amping-up the questionable “possibility” of Gore's plan.  Despite incredible cheers the moment it was made (to a crowd of excitable admirers, no doubt); Gore's plan was panned almost across the board by the MSM pundits and presserati.

Even the usually-malleable Tom Brokaw, (filling in for our dear, departed journalistic hero Tim Russert) seemed to not even glance in the direction of 'hope' and seemed to bat-down the plan without even an exploration of its points of possibility.  Instead, Brokaw wasted his time with Gore debating the overall notion of the plan, ignoring its points of merit; choosing to refocus the discussion on the recent “New Yorker” cover, Gore's relationship with Bill and Hillary Clinton, and his appearance at The White House as a Nobel Prize recipient.

The question left on the table still isn't being covered by the MSM.  In essence, does the U.S. (and arguably the world) have the guts to actually take on Gore's challenge?  Do we still have that “Henry Ford” or “Wright Brothers” belief in our own abilities to actually make a go of it? Or, alternatively, are we resigned to the status quo, drilling offshore for oil that won't even make a dent in the fossil fuel dependence vs. climate change issue.

In the shadow of Anheuser Busch's absorption by InBev, does America still hold Augie Busch's legacy of good 'ol St. Louis can-do-it-ed-ness?  Are we even going to try? Judging by the reaction from the press and pundits, one must shed a tear for the apparent lack of sack that is being reflected back at us. 

Frankly, as an American, I'm embarrassed.

Rather than questioning the possibility or potentiality of Gore's plan, where are the people calling for Americans to “strap-a-pair-on and go for it?”  The bottom line reality of the situation is that we need to listen to this man.  So should both Presidential candidates, as should anyone running for Congress.  Entrepreneurs all over the world should consider Gore's challenge a call-to-arms, and venture capitalists should consider this gamble to be the biggest opportunity we've ever had to duplicate and surpass the golden industrial age in both accomplishment and profit.  Call it the “Greendustrial Revolution.”

All of the aforementioned parties should consider Gore's vocal leadership a common-sense airing of what we already know...we have to pull our stuff together and just go for it.  I find it interesting that this kind of visceral, no-nonsense, “git-'er-done” kick-in-the-ass is exactly what the U.S. Economy needs, yet Wall Street doesn't seem to be getting it yet.  More interesting (and frankly, a point of personal satisfaction) is that the current President seems to be sidelined in the current debate, preferring to return to what he knows (drilling) vs. what he doesn't (leadership).  Once again, Al Gore is proving that he is more Presidential than the President himself, even in his call to “widen the space of political debate” and move forward with a tangible goal for all of us, regardless of partisan affiliation.

We need to “step up” and actually try to make this thing happen.  Even if we don't do it in 10 years, we arguably might get a major portion of Gore's list accomplished and save the planet.  Agreed, it is a daunting, and seemingly crazy proposition, that we might actually replace fossil-fuel-based electricity with clean renewable energy.  Even if we achieve even half of what is necessary to reach the long-term-vision, at least we're going somewhere in the same direction...hopefully saving human civilization from itself in the process.

“Holy shit, pass the vodka...and the silicon.  (gulp) Yes we can!”

Full Version of T. Boone Pickens' Whiteboard Presentation

T. Boone Pickens also has this full whiteboard presentation outlining his plan.  Homework!  Let's discuss!

What To Think About Pickens' Plan?

Yesterday billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens, of "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" fame, spent a load of money advertising his new plan for energy independence.  Much of that money was spent on Progressive-leaning radio stations, in their prime programming (Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Rachel Maddow, etc.) blocks and across syndicated networks.  He also did a full scale presser for the media in Washington, D.C.

So what do we do with a guy who purposely tried to kill John Kerry politically last time around, but seems to be making some semblance of sense this time around?  Do we listen?  Do we write him off as an opportunist (he is an oilman after all)?  Do we give him a chance to have an "epiphany" and change his ways?  Is he really changing his ways?

Check out this clip and/or the full whiteboard presentation and then let's dicuss...

Email scott@foval.com or comment right here...

 

Green Business Conference and Green Festival This Week!

So this week is a biggie for all the Greenies in Chicago.  The 2nd Annual Chicago Green Festival and Green Business Conference are scheduled to kick off this week at Navy Pier.

Starting Tuesday with the Green Business Conference, the two events will feature the best ideas and brightest minds in the Green movement.  The cool thing about both of these events is that they are particularly targeted at their respective audiences.  For business types, visit http://www.coopamerica.org/cabn/conference/chicago/program.cfm.  There you can find out about the Chicago Green Business Conference, which is the Green Festival's sister event.  It starts bright and early at 7:30AM.

The Chicago Green Festival (or GreenFest as it is known) is a consumer-focused event that kicks off this Saturday morning.   Check out the site at http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/230/200/ Festival organizers are all local host committee members, and the event is coordinated by volunteers with presenters Co-Op America and Global Exchange.  Mayor Daley will be speaking earlier than the program states, at 10:15 AM; and Isabel Schechter, the Chicago Green Festival Regional Director , reminds everyone to get there early to have a good seat.

ScottsBigMouth will be there coordinating one of the seminar rooms.  Look for Scott running around trying to be helpful durnig the conference.  Be sure to say hi!  He'll be liveblogging the event as much as possible right here.