That Friday feelin’! Let’s start with tech trivia. When Jeff Bezos was CEO of Amazon, he’d forward customer emails to department heads with just one character. What was that character? You’ll find the answer at the end of this email.

⭐ Be like Bob. Bob is a loyal reader who’s shared his referral link with friends and fam. He’s well on his way to earning great prizes, like an iPad. At the bottom of this newsletter, you’ll see your unique referral link. Send that to others in a text, email or DM. When a pal signs up, you’ll get a credit towards winning great prizes. — Kim

The web is chock full of hilarious snippets and screenshots of neighbors gone wild across the country, all documented in the Nextdoor app.

Like the house blasting “Sweet Child O' Mine” for three days straight. Hey, there are worse songs. Or how about those friendly people around the corner offering free (already cut open) avocados and expired salad dressing? Um, pass.

Millions of Americans take to Nextdoor to keep up with neighborhood news and log their complaints. What's bugging people the most?

Talk of the town

A recent survey dove into 58,735 Nextdoor posts and 354,972 comments in 50 of America’s largest cities to see what people care about most.

Anything related to dogs, cats and parking ranks No. 1 on the hot topic list. Location matters, too. Raleigh, Oakland and Virginia Beach have it the ruff-est when it comes to barking complaints.

Mesa and Phoenix in Arizona are in the top three stinkiest cities. Listen, bad things happen when it's over 110 degrees for 31 days in a row. No surprise here: California has the highest number of traffic complaints.

The pet peeve next door

So, what’re your neighbors gabbing about most on Nextdoor? Here are the most popular words and phrases found in message threads:

Dogs were discussed the most in Dallas, San Antonio and Washington, D.C. Residents in Fresno, Oklahoma City and Sacramento chat about kitties more than anywhere else — though it's mostly about feral cats in the first two.

In Albuquerque, Tulsa and Omaha, creepers and cameras are the hottest topics. Citizens of Oakland, Louisville and Sacramento seem to watch each other the most on doorbell cameras. Steal a package and they'll be on you in two seconds.

Neighborly advice

Nextdoor is a solid way to stay connected with neighbors and keep up with the latest happenings, but a little caution goes a long way.

🍽️ The other day, my neighbor came over with her dinner plate. Turns out Instagram and Twitter were down and she really needed someone to know what she was having.

Take your money and run: Rumor has it the U.S. Department of Justice is considering indicting crypto exchange Binance on fraud charges. They’re hesitant because it could cause a run like what happened with FTX, in which customers lost millions of dollars. Move your crypto now.

👂 Can you hear me now? Over-the-counter hearing aids (approved in October) are making the tech more accessible. New research proves it’s not just older adults who have difficulty hearing. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans age 30 and under have damaged hearing. Why? Listening to music too loudly in their ears for too many years. Mom was right: “Turn it down!”

Get your Goop on: Stay at Gwyneth Paltrow’s gorgeous Montecito guest house for free! One person will be lucky enough to grab the spot on Airbnb (one night only). Meals, snacks, sauna and juice are provided. Wonder if they throw in those scented Goop candles, too … Booking opens Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific.

Trend debunked: A decades-old fad has hit TikTok: Mewing. This practice of moving your tongue around to define your jawline isn’t new — but it is new to Gen Zers. Essentially, at rest, mewers close their mouths and press their tongues against the roof of the mouth instead of letting it rest. Sorry, everyone, but dentists agree it doesn’t work.

🎰 What happens in Vegas: In case you forgot, Elon Musk has a tunneling business. And his aptly named Boring Company just got the go-ahead to dig 68 miles of tunnels, complete with 81 stations, under Las Vegas. No, they’re not for trains — a fleet of Teslas will shuttle people to and from spots on the Strip.

Speaking of Tesla: U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating 280,000 reports the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have major steering problems. One driver says the steering “felt stuck,” and then the car slid off the road into a tree. Another driver was forced to cross straight through traffic after they couldn’t turn. These are brand-new 2023 models, btw.

⛺ Photo-copter: A hilarious name for parents who obsess over photos of their kids away at summer camp. Worth a read from WSJ (paywall link) if you’ve got the time. If not, here’s the gist: Parents are examining every tiny detail in the pics of their kids, then reporting their findings back to counselors. If the child has a neutral expression, he’s not happy. Standing alone? No friends. Wearing the blue tank top with striped pants is evening wear, not for daytime play.

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.

If you’re planning a summer or fall hike, start your search with these options, courtesy of the fine folks at StudyFinds:

1. Nugget Falls Trail in Alaska's Tongass National Forest: Two miles of lush forests, wildlife, a waterfall and glacier views.

2. Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California: The 16-mile trail leads you to the summit of Yosemite's illustrious granite dome.

3. Angels Landing Trail in Zion National Park, Utah: Five-mile roundtrip trail that’s described as terrifying and immensely rewarding.

4. Rim Trail in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: A 12-mile stretch along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon. Good news: This one is mostly level.

5. Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: A 5.4-mile trail that’ll get you up close and personal with Mount Rainier.

Don’t forget the gear

🆘 Oh, and pack a first-aid kit for long hikes — or at least stick it in the car. This one includes bandages, sterile wipes and a sting-relief pad.

🥾 I’m going on a hike and picking music. I have songs from “Peanuts,” the Cranberries and Eminem. I call it my trail mix.

Honestly, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with online dating. It sounds rough out there. The first big hurdle is creating a profile interesting enough that the people you have the hots for will respond. Here are five simple ways to make your profile better:

🔥 Did you hear about the new online dating app for arsonists? They send new matches every week.

I know what you’re thinking. “Wow, Kim. I wish I had a Komando show fanny pack.” You can! You can also snag a funny T-shirt to show off your geek side or a sweet phone case.

I also have backpacks perfect for carrying your gear and a mug you can use for your morning cup o’ joe while you read this newsletter. And hey, you’re supporting this free newsletter and all our hard work.

Mark Zuckerberg put a cage-fighting ring in his backyard and is getting ready for the big Musk-Zuck fight.

❓ The answer: Jeff Bezos would forward customer complaints to the appropriate department head with just one character — a question mark. No note like, “Hey, please look into this.” Nope, just a ?. Ever since I learned this, I’ve done the same thing. Too bad Jeff Bezos retired when he was in his Prime.

☀️ Is it just me or is the summer flying by? Leave a rating to let us know how we’re doing. Reminder: Clicking the rating is enough! You don’t have to leave a comment to submit. But I do read every comment, even yours, Stanley K., who wishes me a cheerful, happy day every single day! And to all of you, too! — Kim