Philippe Matthews Show Guru Advice, Author Reviews, Tech Reviews, Entertainment News

A new project from 350.org lets people fill in the blank spots in their city with potential exciting improvements. If you were paying attention in New York this past weekend, you might have noticed signs plastered to telephone poles, buidlings, and fences. They're requesting that something--a green roof, a bike lane, a urban farm--be "inserted" at the site

If you're not volunteering because you want to really make an impact, this new matching site--now expanding out of New York--can link you to an organization that needs your exact talents. Most busy professionals would love to volunteer, if only they had the time and inclination to seek out worthwhile experiences.

When Facebook pulled out of the deals space, some people started predicting the end of the industry as a whole.

This month’s issue of Scientific American Magazine is a special edition about Cities:

UGG boots, the fuzzy-lined sheepskin boots best known for warming the toes of female celebs as they trot around Aspen and college girls as they trudge from class to class, are trying to recapture the interest of their original customer: dudes. As UGG Australia prepares to introduce its largest assortment ever of men’s styles for fall, the company has enlisted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as the new face of UGGs for men.

Author John Warrillow shares the tech tools he uses to run his start-up remotely while traveling through Europe.

Want to get in on the action at fashion week? Here's a look at how some small businesses are using the event to market their brands

By Carey Gillam KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Raging wildfires and scorching heat across the South over the last week, added to the human, economic and agricultural toll of a historic drought that climatologists said was only growing more dire. [More]

Building off its incredible success funding entrepreneurs in the developing world, the microloan company has turned its eye toward America, where it is giving loans in cities like New Orleans and Detroit. Microfinance platform Kiva has proven many times over that people are willing to give $25 microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries .

Author and Detroit native Josh Linkner shares poignant lessons in spurring change from the unfinished story of Motor City's slump and comeback. The City of Detroit has had more ups and downs than the most pampered celebrity divas.

Irene did less damage than expected, but when the next big storm comes (and it will), cities that have made innovative decisions in how they run operations will be better off. Thankfully, Hurricane Irene turned out to be much weaker than predicted.

New York commuters can ride a vintage 1920 train in September, compliments of Nucky Thompson. The MTA is going older school than usual starting Labor Day weekend, compliments of your favorite lovable crime lord, Nucky Thompson. As part of the “Compliments of Nucky” campaign promoting the September 25 return of period drama Boardwalk Empire, HBO is putting a vintage 1920s train back on the track on New York's 2 / 3 line (Nucky refers to the show's central character, played by Steve Buscemi).

We tend to take easy, safe access to potable water for granted until there's a shortage in access to it (like in Texas) or an overflow (as with Hurricane Irene). And in reality, there are a number of water risks that the world will face in the coming years, including deteriorating water quality, growing competition for limited access to resources, and an increase in water scarcity. The World Resource Institute's Water Risk Atlas outlines those risks--and gives a preview of what you can expect in your town or city in the coming years.

The QR code is an acquired taste. But just as the tech is primed to be overtaken, America is going nuts for all things QR.

New technologies don't just recycle plastic into new plastic.