Hello Throwback Thursday, friends! As always, let’s start with trivia. The 2023 Emmy nominations are out (“Succession” got 27, whoa). What series won Outstanding Comedy Series a decade ago? Was it … “Modern Family,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “30 Rock” or “Veep”? Make your best guess before you see the answer at the end!

📈 Hey, keep these newsletters free by visiting today’s great sponsor. If you’re ready to sell your small biz, you def need to check out Rejigg. Businesses in tech, IT and software are in high demand. Don’t miss this opportunity! Your next stage in life is waiting for you (hopefully, it includes a colorful drink with an umbrella in it)! — Kim

Have you noticed that someone is asking for a tip everywhere you look? That fancy-schmancy payment popped up at coffee shops. Now, they're at self-checkouts, stadiums and even fast-food joints. My plumber even had the option to tip him 20%! I'm glad I didn't. The ice maker leaked all over 45 minutes after he left.

Hey, I'm all for people making the most money for doing a job well. But when it comes to tipping, where do we draw the line?

Gratuity gone wild

We can thank the pandemic for bringing tipping more front and center. Plus, today's tech has made it super-easy to nudge customers into tipping through automated payment screens.

Inflation also plays a huge role. Businesses are trying to keep costs low — and tipping is a way to increase workers' wages without actually handing out raises.

Know the secret

Imagine you've just got a snazzy new haircut. Your stylist hands over an iPad, flashing three tipping options: 18%, 20% or 25%. Now, you don't want to be tagged as a "stingy tipper," so the lowest option is out. But, oops, the highest one feels like a bit of a pocket pinch. So, what do most people do?

Research says most of us play Goldilocks and go for the "just right" middle option! When presented with three choices, most people pick the middle amount for their tip. Now, isn't that a tipping trick worth remembering?

We’re not talking about cow tipping

Here's a quick list of how much to tip when appropriate.

Bottom line: It's easy to get annoyed by the number of times you're asked to tip. If you receive fantastic service somewhere, tipping is a welcome gesture. But if the service wasn't so great (or you're paying for something that never asked for a tip before), it might not be necessary.

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Print-happy warning: Washington Post found that when you print a doc at FedEx, Staples, or UPS, check the fine print. Their policies say they can use whatever you print for advertising or share it with unnamed third parties. Does the data tracking ever stop? Nope.

Unbelievable doorbell drama: An Amazon driver says he heard a racial slur from a Ring doorbell. Amazon punished the homeowner by cutting off all his Ring and Alexa smart home devices for a week. Video later proved the doorbell asked, "Can I help you?" No slur and the driver was wearing earbuds at the time. I hope the driver got reprimanded for a bogus complaint.

🚙 No more lines or paperwork: A new rental car company Halo sends a self-driving electric car to you. You rent through the app or online, and the vehicle cruises over while a remote pilot controls it from the company's HQ. Only happens in Las Vegas, for now.

Critical Windows update: Another Tuesday in Windowsland. The latest patch covers 130 security bugs, including six zero-day flaws. To get the update, click Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Fun times.

New freebie from Microsoft: If your Windows 10 or 11 PC is slogging along, Microsoft's new PC Manager app is worth a shot. I’m surprised it took them this long to come out with a competitor to CCleaner.

Game on secret: Thumb-tapping on your phone? Try an upgrade — use your index fingers. It's odd at first, but with added precision, your gaming level will soar. You'll thank me when you're smashing high scores.

📺 Name that tune: With just a tap on your phone, Shazam listens to the melodies around you, and voila! It tells you the song and the artist. And how does it pull off this magic trick? Check out this cool video for a peek at how the tech works!

Sound like a tech pro, even if you're not one. Try my award-winning, daily podcast. Search for my last name with "K" wherever you get your podcasts and "Go Komando!"

Listen to my podcast, Kim Komando Today, here.

Side hustle: It’s not when a crab is walking to its part-time job.

If you're looking for a part-time job, side hustle, or whatever you want to call it, check out these legit options we researched for you.

Get judge-y: Companies find out how well their websites work by hiring evaluators to give them feedback. An excellent place to start looking for evaluator jobs is Appen. They have jobs in language and AI training, too.

In your PJs: You can make up to $30 an hour as a virtual assistant. Find employers looking for full-time or part-time assistants on sites like Zirtual.com and FlexJobs. And hey, no gross office coffee!

Better than a garage sale: It pays to sell stuff on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. Many people make a full-time living (or side hustle) photographing items, writing descriptions and arranging sales. Use this (free!) guide to get started.

Cue James Bond music: Secret shoppers help stores assess stocked shelves, correct markings and customer service. It won’t make you a millionaire, but you can sign up through Field Agent. I did it once! It was fun and easy.

Ruff, ruff: Love animals? Become a dog walker to help residents in your area by searching listings at Wag! Check for dog-walking jobs and pet-sitting at Rover.

✅ If you’re an older adult or know one, we put together a list of jobs perfect for retirement years. Check that out here on our site.

I'm sure you're tired of yelling, "Alexa, off!"… especially when you need to stop a cooking timer and you're tasting something. Here's a sweet trick: Stop Alexa timers with a wave of your hand.

With the Echo Show's Gestures feature, you can use Alexa without vocal controls or needing to touch the screen. This is also handy for anyone with mobility or speech difficulties.

🛑 You need to enable it first. Here’s how:

Now, just lift your hand to stop a timer. Before enabling, understand that you’re giving Amazon access to your camera. Worth it? Up to you!

🙋‍♀️ What’s the question Alexa can’t answer? “Why are you unplugged?”

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about the latest innovation from SimpliSafe Home Security: 24/7 Live Guard Protection and the new Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera.

With a Fast Protect Monitoring plan, if an intruder breaks into your home, SimpliSafe monitoring agents can actually see, speak to and deter them through the camera, warning them they’re being recorded and police are on their way.

Right now, get 20% off any SimpliSafe system when you sign up for Fast Protect Monitoring. This huge offer is only available for a limited time.

What program does Jedi use to open PDF files? Adobe Wan Kenobi.

🏆 The answer: “Modern Family.” The ABC comedy had 85 nominations and won 22 Emmys over its run from 2009 to 2020. I admit it: I’ve never watched an episode!

And the award for best neckwear goes to … Well, would you look at that, it's a tie.

🤝 Hey, do you need a hand with your online business, a digital dilemma or getting something done? Drop me your questions here. Thanks for being such a loyal reader of the best dang tech newsletter in the universe!— Kim