Day 121: I Sold My NXDR Shares. Now Let's Talk About the Faves.
On Monday, I decided to sell all my NXDR shares.
After following Nextdoor for months, documenting its successes and shortcomings, and watching the stock, I decided it was time to take my gains and move on as an investor.
Well, I wouldn't call it a short-term trade. I held those shares for a while. But eventually, I cashed out.
And looking at today's price action, I'm glad I made that decision. NXDR is down approximately $0.16, or more than 6%, based on the figures I'm tracking.
Does that mean I predicted the decline? No.
Does it mean I know why the stock fell? Also no.
But it does mean I made a decision based on my own investment judgment, and I'm comfortable with it.
I'm no longer a shareholder, but I'm still interested in what happens to Nextdoor.
And today's announcement gives me another reason to pay attention.
The 2026 Fave Awards: Neighbors Provide the Data. Businesses Want the Customers.
This morning, Nextdoor announced its 2026 Fave Award winners, celebrating local businesses their communities recommended.
According to Nextdoor, neighbors cast approximately 5 million votes for 750,000 local businesses across 20 categories. The winners will appear in their neighborhoods' Local Faves discovery hub. Nextdoor
That's tremendous community participation.
Think about it. Neighbors are identifying the restaurants they love, the contractors they trust, and the businesses they recommend to friends.
The neighbors are creating valuable data.
Nextdoor organizes it, presents it, and uses it to make the platform more useful to consumers and businesses.
But here's the question I've been raising:
Once a business becomes a neighborhood favorite, how easy is it for that business to reach the neighbors who voted for it?
Nextdoor offers free Business Pages, but it also sells advertising and paid products such as Opportunity Alerts. Businesses need to understand the difference between community recognition and paying to expand their reach.
A Fave Award is wonderful recognition. But if businesses need to spend money to turn that recognition into customers, that's another commercial opportunity for Nextdoor.
There's nothing inherently wrong with selling advertising. Nextdoor needs revenue.
But neighbors supplied the recommendations and votes that created this opportunity.
That brings me back to my petition: Should the people who contribute valuable content participate in the value it creates?
Maybe the Stock Decline Has Nothing to Do With Any of This
NXDR closed today at $2.49, down $0.17 (6.39%). StockAnalysis.com
I sold my shares on Monday, so I'm glad I did.
But let's be clear: I have no evidence that today's decline is related to the Fave Awards, Nextdoor's monetization strategy, or my concerns about the platform. One day's stock movement doesn't tell us why investors bought or sold.
I'm simply watching a company with valuable neighborhood data try to turn that asset into a sustainable business.
The question is whether Nextdoor can create lasting value for its business, its advertisers, and the communities that make it possible.
Day 121. I'm no longer a shareholder, but I'm still watching.
👉 NielFlamm.com/blog
The Cough That Wouldn't Quit: Time to See the Doctor
For the last couple of months, an annoying little visitor has refused to leave.
No, it's not another Nextdoor controversy. It's a cough.
A dry cough.
The kind that shows up uninvited, hangs around for a while, disappears just long enough to make you think everything is fine, and then comes back as if it forgot something.
This has been going on for about two months, on and off. I actually had a doctor's appointment scheduled earlier, but I started feeling better, so I canceled it.
Because, naturally, when you start feeling better, you assume the problem has decided to move out.
Apparently, my cough didn't get the memo.
Enough Is Enough
Yesterday, I'd finally had enough. It was time to stop playing the waiting game and get this thing checked out.
Today, I went to my primary care doctor.
First up was the temperature check. My temperature was 99.7°F. That's not a particularly high fever, but it was enough to get my attention, especially considering everything else going on.
The doctor listened to my lungs, and I mentioned that my chest felt tight.
After the examination, I walked away with a prescription for antibiotics, a prescription for Flonase, and instructions to pick up Claritin.
Apparently, my nose and respiratory system have formed a committee, and now we're treating multiple potential troublemakers.
Claritin, but Not the D!
There's one important detail about the medication instructions.
I was told to get regular Claritin, not Claritin-D, and to avoid products containing pseudoephedrine because they can raise blood pressure.
With diabetes and kidney failure requiring dialysis already on my medical résumé, the last thing I need is to add an unnecessary blood pressure problem to the list.
My medication cabinet is complicated enough without introducing new characters.
I'll pick everything up tomorrow and follow the doctor's instructions.
But Wait, What About COVID and the Flu?
Here's the question that's been on my mind since the appointment.
Why wasn't I tested for COVID or the flu?
We've all heard about COVID continuing to circulate, and flu season is another consideration. With this cough hanging around for weeks, a temperature of 99.7°F, and chest tightness, I started wondering whether you considered either infection.
I realize a doctor can't test for every possible illness during every appointment. There may be reasons for the treatment plan, and I don't know what factors went into the decision.
Still, I would have liked to understand whether testing made sense.
Was the examination enough to suggest another cause? Were my symptoms inconsistent with flu or COVID? Would a test have changed the treatment plan?
Those are reasonable questions, and I intend to ask them.
After all, antibiotics treat certain bacterial infections, not viruses such as influenza or COVID-19. And while I'm hoping the prescribed treatment gets me feeling better, I'd rather understand what we're treating than simply wait and see.
Living With a Complicated Medical Résumé
When you're dealing with multiple health issues, you learn that symptoms you might once have brushed off deserve a little more attention.
Between diabetes, dialysis, and the other medical adventures I've experienced, I can't always assume that something will resolve itself just because it did last time.
I'm not trying to diagnose myself online, and I'm certainly not suggesting my doctor did anything wrong. I went to the appointment because I needed medical advice, and that's exactly where I should be.
But I also believe it's reasonable to ask questions and understand the plan.
Two months is a long time to have a cough that keeps coming back. I'm ready for this one to pack its bags and leave.
Preferably without leaving a forwarding address.
For now, I'll pick up my medications tomorrow, follow the treatment plan, and contact my doctor's office to ask whether COVID or flu testing—or any further evaluation—is appropriate.
Have you ever had a cough that lingered for weeks? Did you eventually find out what was causing it?
I'd love to hear about your experience.
If you're dealing with a persistent cough yourself, especially with fever, chest tightness, or underlying health conditions, don't assume it'll disappear. Get medical advice.
Because sometimes the best health decision isn't another internet search. It's making the appointment you canceled the first time.
Trust me. I learned that one the hard way.
The Hinge Experiment: Harry Potter, Butterbeer, and a 2 AM Departure!
Last weekend, after attending the South Carolina Forum, I got to spend more time with Airica, and it was awesome.
We had the meat sweats at the Brazilian steakhouse, followed by salad and ice cream. Then, on Sunday, we went out for Mexican food.
Or, as they call it in Mexico…
Food.
You're welcome. I'll be here all week.
But that was last weekend. This weekend, things are getting a little more magical. By magical, I mean I'm about to do something that requires an alarm clock at an hour when most people are still dreaming about it.
Airica Has a Date With the State Fair
This Saturday, Airica is heading to the South Carolina State Fair with her family.
She's looking forward to getting her nieces and nephews some elephant ears. For those unfamiliar with fair food, elephant ears are those enormous pieces of fried dough covered in sugar and other deliciousness that make you question every nutritional decision you've made that week.
And what about Airica?
She's planning a little fair surf-and-turf for herself.
I hope she has a fantastic time with her family. I'm sure the kids will enjoy the rides, games, and treats, while the adults will be doing the usual calculations about how much money they just spent on a stuffed animal that cost more than dinner.
I'll be sitting this one out.
Why?
Because Sunday is Harry Potter day.
We're Going to COSM Atlanta!
On Sunday, Airica and I are heading to Atlanta for something called Shared Reality at COSM.
If you're unfamiliar with COSM, it's an immersive entertainment experience that combines a massive, high-resolution dome display with shared experiences that make you feel like you're stepping into another world.
You can learn more about the experience here:
COSM: The Experience
And what better way to experience this than with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
Yes, we're going to experience Harry Potter in Shared Reality.
There's just one little detail.
The showing starts at 8 AM.
Eight.
In.
The.
Morning.
Who Schedules Harry Potter at 8 AM?
Let's do some math.
The drive from Mount Pleasant to Columbia is approximately two hours.
The drive from Columbia to Atlanta is approximately three hours.
That means I'm looking at about five hours of driving to get to Atlanta, depending on traffic.
And because I need to pick up Airica in Columbia before heading to Atlanta, here's the plan:
2 AM: Leave home in Mount Pleasant.
4 AM: Arrive in Columbia and pick up Airica.
4 AM–7 AM: Drive to Atlanta.
7 AM: Arrive, park, and prepare for the experience.
8 AM: Harry Potter begins.
Around 11 AM: Finish the approximately three-hour experience.
That's right.
I'm leaving home at 2 AM on a Sunday to take a woman I met on Hinge to see Harry Potter.
Somewhere, Steve, the Iguana, is looking at his life choices and wondering how he ended up on the sidelines while I drive across Georgia before sunrise.
A few weeks ago, I wondered whether to delete Hinge because I had no matches.
Now I'm planning a road trip that requires me to wake up at an hour usually reserved for vampires, hospital workers, and people who have made questionable life decisions.
The Hinge Experiment has escalated.
There's a Special Harry Potter Menu!
Now, here's where things get interesting.
COSM has a special food-and-beverage offering for the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Shared Reality experience.
You can read the details here:
Harry Potter Shared Reality: Special Food and Beverage Offerings at COSM
Naturally, I had to investigate.
There's a Shepherd's Pie offering, and I purchased one for Airica.
Just one.
Why just one?
Because Shepherd's Pie at 8 AM is not my idea of breakfast.
I understand that we're entering the Wizarding World. I understand that the food is part of the experience. I understand that Harry Potter has probably eaten stranger things than Shepherd's Pie.
But I have my limits.
I'm a man who can eat Brazilian steakhouse meat until he experiences the meat sweats. I'm a man who's had shrimp and grits, rib eye cooked medium-well, and enough candy to stock a small convenience store.
Yet somehow, the thought of Shepherd's Pie first thing in the morning has me saying, "No, thank you."
Airica gets the Shepherd's Pie.
I'll stick with whatever else looks appealing.
And Then There's Butterbeer
I've also never had Butterbeer.
Yes, I know.
Apparently, this is a significant omission in my life.
I've watched movies, reviewed movies, driven to theaters, and even traveled to Pooler, Georgia, to experience the world's tallest IMAX screen.
But Butterbeer?
Nope.
I've never tried it.
I may take a sip.
Just a sip.
I'm not committing to a full Butterbeer experience until I know what I'm getting into.
For all I know, it’ll taste like cream soda and butterscotch, with a magical sugar rush that will have me bouncing off the walls before we even leave Atlanta.
And considering we're starting this adventure at 2 AM, I may need all the assistance I can get.
The Hinge Experiment Has Come a Long Way
Think about where this started.
I was on Hinge, wondering whether to delete the app.
No matches.
No conversations.
No dates.
Steve the Iguana was preparing to become my permanent companion.
Then I matched with Airica.
We talked.
We met for lunch in Columbia.
I nearly fell into a booth at The Grand.
We laughed, talked about our lives, and spent four hours together.
Then came the Brazilian steakhouse, the meat sweats, the gifts, and my first Boo Basket.
Now we're planning an early-morning road trip to Atlanta to experience Harry Potter in Shared Reality.
That's quite a progression.
I'm not going to pretend I know where this is going. We're still getting to know each other, and that's part of the fun.
But I do know this: I'm enjoying the experience.
I'm enjoying the conversations, the laughter, the time together, and the opportunity to do something different.
And if you had told me a few weeks ago that I'd be leaving my house at 2 AM to drive to Atlanta with someone I met on a dating app, I probably would have asked what you were smoking.
Now I'm checking the route, planning the departure time, and wondering whether Butterbeer is worth the hype.
Stay Tuned!
Saturday is the South Carolina State Fair for Airica and her family.
Sunday is Harry Potter, Shared Reality, a very early departure, and possibly my first sip of Butterbeer.
I'll report back.
Will I survive the drive?
Will the experience be worth waking up at 2 AM?
Will Airica enjoy her Shepherd's Pie?
Will I discover that Butterbeer is the greatest beverage ever created?
And most importantly, will Steve the Iguana finally admit that The Hinge Experiment is working?
Stay tuned!
The adventure continues.
🎃 Day 120: Halloween, Neighbors, and Another Day of Silence from Nextdoor
Halloween could be an AWESOME opportunity for Nextdoor to bring neighbors together. Think about it!
🍬 Kids smiling from ear to ear as they collect candy.
🍫 Adults secretly stealing candy from their own kids.
🏡 Neighbors hosting Halloween parties and welcoming people into their homes.
👻 Communities coming together for a holiday that so many people love.
That's what a neighborhood platform should do: connect people, build relationships, and bring communities together.
But let's check in on Nextdoor's leadership and communications.
📅 Nextdoor's last post: October 8.
📅 Nirav Tolia's last post: October 9.
If Nirav isn't talking about AI, is he talking about anything at all? 🤔
Meanwhile, NXDR is trading at $2.66 a share today. That's movement in the right direction, but it's still a far cry from the Citibank number Nextdoor previously referenced.
And here's the bigger question: What about the people whose data helps power the platform?
Nextdoor benefits from its users' activity, information, and contributions. Shouldn't those users have a voice in how the value generated from their data is shared?
📢 Have you signed the Nextdoor Neighbor Value-Sharing Petition?
If you believe neighbors deserve a share in the value created by their contributions, add your name today!
✍️ Sign the petition here: https://c.org/GkNWmffgg9
Let's keep the conversation going. A neighborhood platform should be about more than AI announcements and stock prices. It should be about the people who make the neighborhoods — and the platform — what they are.
🎃 Happy Halloween! Let's make it about neighbors again.
From Westbury Junior High to Top Host: Vote for Dexter Reid!
I think I’ve known Dexter since the 1980s. We definitely went to Westbury Junior High School together—now Westbury Middle School—so we go way back.
It’s exciting to see Dexter competing in the 2026 Top Host contest. He’s hoping to earn the chance to host a six-episode podcast produced by iHeartRadio, win $25,000, and appear as a guest on On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The competition also supports the Ryan Seacrest Foundation and its work bringing entertainment and creative outlets to children in hospitals.
If you’d like to support Dexter, please take a moment to visit his page and vote:
I’m cheering you on, Dexter! Please share this post and help spread the word.