According to an article in Scientific American, most cars don't need anything more than the 87 octanes delivered by regular gas, and a few years ago, a spokesman for Porsche admitted that the fancy German cars, all of which come with recommendations to use premium fuel, "will run on regular fuel without damaging the engine." Some critics even suggest that car makers use a premium recommendation (rather than a premium requirement) as a kind of status add-on, making the car seem fancier.

The controversy over a Japanese mobile phone ad depicting Obama as a monkey — the company’s mascot — provides a ‘teaching moment’ that we can all use as a mirror to ourselves.Fishman is the author of the best-seller China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World.

What environmental initiatives are being led by children and schools in your community?