Hi, hello there on this cozy Saturday, friend! Today’s trivia is a good one to share with a pal. An ex-Microsoft exec founded all these sites but one. Is that one … A.) Zillow, B.) Expedia, C.) Glassdoor or D.) Pinterest? Answer’s at the end!

❣️ Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so don’t say no one warned you. Below are some bright ideas for your sweetie — the gal edition! Tomorrow, I’ve got gifts guys will love. Just don’t show Barry, OK? Now, on to gaining massive tech know-how, smarty-pants. — Kim

I cleaned out a cabinet a few years ago and found a stack of old Super 8 tapes. I’ll never forget the way my Mom’s face lit up after I digitized videos of her late brother Harold Jr.’s wedding. Tragically, he died in a car accident not long after his wedding day.

Memories like those are precious, but when was the last time you watched your old family videos? If they’re on VHS, it can be a pain. Even worse, every year that goes by, those tapes degrade just a little more.

Satish from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, called my national radio show this week for help digitizing old tapes, and I figured he’s not the only one.

Go the DIY route

If you want to convert your VHS tapes to digital, you'll need a VCR or VHS camcorder. If you don’t have one, try eBay, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace or another local sales platform.

After that, you’ve got two main options. FYI, you’ll have to transfer your VHS recordings in real time, so set aside some time.

Option 1: Get a converter like this option from Elgato that digitizes video onto a computer. Plug it into your USB port, then connect your analog video source (VCR, DVD player, DVR or camcorder) using the included cables. The software bundled with your converter will guide you through the process.

Option 2: Try a handheld video-to-digital converter. You don’t need to use a computer or any software. Connect it to your video source, and insert a USB drive or SD card into the converter. Hit the “Record” button and watch your movies get digitized in real time on the LCD screen. Sweet!

Have someone do it for you

Costco, Walgreens or Walmart will convert tapes starting around $20 a pop. Not bad. They’ll take VHS footage and put it on a DVD for you, and they’ll give you a digital copy, too.

You can also try a service that specializes in this stuff. They’re slightly more expensive, but I’ve found the final product's quality is much higher.

• iMemories – Starts at $29.99 per VHS tape
• Legacybox – Starts at $60; the starter pack includes up to two tapes or 50 photos (I just spotted a 50% off sale on their website!)
• Capture – Starts at $29.99 per tape

Be kind and rewind

Let me tell you, getting this all done takes time and work. It helps to do it in baby steps. Gather your tapes, get the gear you need, or figure out the service you want to use. I put old digitized videos up on YouTube with a private link. This way, I can share that link with family and friends. Fun times!

🤣 Two goats are chewing on a VHS tape. One says, “This film is pretty good.” The other replies, “Yeah, but the book was better.”

Don’t know what to get her? Pick one or two off this list for the win! Thank me later.

• Mini waffle maker that’s good for hash browns, too
• Rechargeable reading light for the late-night reader (29% off!)
• Airtight coffee canister for a better morning cuppa joe
• Scratch-off world map so she can mark her travels
• Popcorn popper to make movie night feel nostalgic
• Lazy Susan rotating puzzle board for fun
• Super-soft pajamas in tons of colors and sizes (30% off)

🛰️ Wrong turn: An LA couple is suing Google after Maps routed them through a notoriously high-crime neighborhood in South Africa called Nyanga, where they were ambushed and assaulted. Surprise, Google only updated directions after the attack. Traveling? Investigate the route before you get in the car.

That’s not Joe Biden on the phone: The Federal Communications Commission wants to tag AI-generated voice scams as “artificial.” Why? The Telephone Consumer Protection Act says all artificial voice calls are illegal. Yes, please.

Take that to the bank: Mark Zuckerberg is about to cash in big time — $700 million yearly in dividends. The payday follows Meta slashing 21,000 jobs and seeing its stock prices nearly triple. Yeesh.

🛑 Attention all Tesla owners: 2.2 million vehicles are being recalled. The font size for the brake, park and antilock brake system warning light is too small. Models in the hot seat: 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y and the 2024 Cybertruck.

Ad invasion: Microsoft's new Outlook for Windows is disguising ads as regular emails. It’s a sly way to push users toward the $1.99 monthly "ad-free" subscription. Oh, brother. Time for an email client change.

🟰 “If you book with points, it’s free.” Nope, that’s girl math. Here’s the scoop on when to use points and when to spend.

On the hunt for a new job? Make sure your LinkedIn profile is ready for primetime.

🚨 “Only 1 in stock!” That’s a trick to get you to hit “buy” online. There are lots more.

Let’s save money: Lawyers are expensive. Skip some of those paid hours with help from AI.

Is nothing sacred? Scammers are targeting kids and teens. Talk to yours now!

A big Komando welcome … to our new sponsor, Philmore Video Voicemail. If you own a business, check it out. With their app, you can share videos with customers and receive video messages from them. So sweet!

🖨️ Clever printer hack: Dust can cause unexpected problems with your printer. Open the paper trays, remove any paper, then use a handheld vacuum cleaner to suck up the dust. You can also blow it out with compressed air.

🔋 Organized juicing: Make life easier by setting up designated charging stations for gadgets you use constantly, like your phone, earbuds and smartwatch. Place a few stations throughout your house so you don’t have to drag cords from room to room. I love this one!

My shredder is so lonely: Stop preapproved credit cards and insurance offers coming to your physical mailbox with OptOutPrescreen. You can stop offers for five years or forever. I picked forever.

📅 Bookmark this: Time and Date has a ton of different calculators. I like the one that helps you find the exact time between two dates. Excellent for planning across different time zones, too.

Running a successful business comes down to having the right people in the right roles. Hiring is a big job and a huge time-suck — unless you use the tools that make it easier.

LinkedIn is a no-brainer. Millions of people are there every single day hunting for their next career move. We’re hiring for freelance writers, an editor for this newsletter, a video guy or gal to edit clips, and a marketing manager to grow our team.

I know, it’s a lot! But trust me when I say I have big goals this year, and we need the right folks to make it happen. (Psst, if you know anyone, send them my way!)

Pro tip: If the produce just got sprayed down, dip your finger in water, then open the bag.

The answer: D.) Pinterest. Rich Barton helped launch Expedia in 1996, Zillow in 2004 and Glassdoor in 2007. OK, he’s been busy.

The number of times I’ve laughed at the ridiculous Glassdoor reviews people have left about me … Oh, the pane. For the record, I don't have time to watch the parking lot to see when people get here.

Glad you’re here! Otherwise, I’d just be writing this email for myself. While you have time this weekend, catch up on my daily video podcast. You’ve gotta see my interview with Anastasia Synn. She has over 50 implants in her body, including one that turns on her computer. See ya back here tomorrow with the best newsletter in the USA! — Kim