I hadn’t heard of the author Raj Patel before (no offense, but that name has to be the Indian equivalent of John Smith in the West), but his latest book sounds interesting: The Value of Nothing. Patel is likely to take some ribbing, especially from close-minded detractors, since he isn’t giving it away for free, he’s selling it (for exactly $14 apparently, according to his video, though one can already pick up used copies for less now).

DETROIT–I am on the BMW stand at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, and Ulrich Kranz is explaining all that’s good about the Concept ActiveE, an all-new and electric version of the Series 1 Coupe.

Kranz is the director of Project i, a somewhat mysterious (no website) enterprise launched by the German carmaker to build vehicles for the world’s emerging megacities. The first of its vehicles is the Mini E, an electric version of the popular Mini. Some 450 of those are currently on American roads (and Bill Nye the Science Guy has one).

Filmmakers Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger are nearing completion of their feature documentary film Sun Come Up, which tells the emotional story of the Carteret Pacific Islanders and their struggle to save their culture in the face of rising sea level. I recently sat down with Jennifer, a colleague of mine from journalism school, and she told me about the exciting project, the first we are aware of that documents climate refugees on the front lines. But now Jennifer needs help too. Sun Come Up still needs finishing funds, and Jennifer and Tim have tried to raise $14,000 through Kickstarter, an innovative website that crowdsources support for worthwhile projects.

A Toyota-related accident that may have been related to sudden acceleration. (ABC-TV photo)

Three weeks ago, I purchased a 2005 Toyota Corolla. On March 24, 2005, while pulling into a bank parking lot on North Broadway in Nassau County, New York, my car suddenly accelerated, knocking over a chain-link fence and landing in the middle of a six-lane busy road. It is almost unheard of that there were no cars in my path and no one was hurt…Has this ever happened to anyone else with a Toyota?? Let me know.

When you hear the words “green interior design,” what comes to mind? Grass mats on a dirt floor, and a chair made of recycled cardboard?

If the answer is “yes,” you might be disappointed to learn that a chair made out of recycled cardboard sells for $990. You can brag about your Frank Gehry chair to your friends, but that won’t mean much when boozy Aunt Helga spills her margarita all over it, reducing your green chair to a $990 pile of wet paper.