Wrong Number, Right on Cue
Out of the blue, a text popped up on my Google number from 615-965-8010: “How are you?”
I know this routine. Wrong number, friendly stranger, a little small talk, and—before long—someone’s pitching an investment opportunity, crypto scheme, or some other too-good-to-be-true adventure.
So I decided to play along.
“Fantastic,” I replied.
And the conversation delivered: a name, a photo, a question about my name, and even a location. That’s practically a full punch card for the Wrong Number Scam Café.
Then came the coffee invitation. Miami, apparently. I said I lived there too and asked if they’d buy me a coffee tonight.
I haven’t heard back yet. Maybe they’re busy checking their calendar—or looking for a café that accepts suspiciously charming strangers and Google Voice numbers.
Reminder: If a random texter gets friendly fast, you don’t owe them your name, location, photos, or personal details. Keep the coffee money. And maybe the conversation, too.
12 Days Until Cruise Time! 🚢
Twelve days to go until I’m aboard Radiance of the Seas for a four-night Western Caribbean cruise! I’ll sail from Tampa, enjoy a day at sea, visit Cozumel, have another relaxing day at sea, and then head back to Tampa.
I’m already looking forward to the little things: bacon, awesome food in the Main Dining Room, decaf Americanos, Coke Zeros, and Pellegrinos.
I also put in a RoyalUp offer for both a Grand Suite and an Owner’s Suite. The RoyalUp site shows these categories at 80% off their usual rate, so I went with the lowest bid: $200 total per suite. If I win one, I’ll be very surprised—but it’s fun to dream while I count down!
The Fraternity Lotto Pool: $1 Billion in Dreams and a $20 Buy-In! 💰🎰
Has the Fraternity Lotto Pool finally found its moment to become legendary?
This week, the lottery jackpots were looking mighty tempting!
🎰 Powerball: $600 million
💰 Mega Millions: $403 million
That's a combined advertised jackpot of over $1 BILLION!
Naturally, I did what any responsible fraternity brother dreaming of financial independence would do: I put it out there and asked who wanted to join the Fraternity Lotto Pool!
The deal was simple:
$20 buy-in per person
$10 toward Powerball
$10 toward Mega Millions
Nine players, $20 each, and suddenly we're all daydreaming about what life could look like with a few extra zeros in our bank accounts.
We bought the tickets, the pool was officially in play, and then one of the guys gave us instructions.
He told me to make sure I "picked the winning numbers." 😂
Oh, is that all I had to do? Why didn't anyone tell me sooner?
I've been sitting here thinking about lottery odds, prize tiers, cash options, and how nine people would split a jackpot. Apparently, all I needed was a fraternity brother to remind me of the most important part of the operation: PICK THE WINNING NUMBERS!
No pressure, right?
So, what happens if we win?
First, I’ll have to get used to answering a lot of phone calls. Then we'll need to figure out the logistics of claiming the prize, handling the taxes, and making sure everybody gets their share.
And after all that?
Well, I've got some ideas for how I’ll spend my millions. I'm not going to reveal everything just yet, but let's just say financial security, a few lifestyle upgrades, and the freedom to do more of what I want are definitely on the list.
Of course, I'll also have to remember the brothers who joined the pool before we knew whether we had a winning ticket. After all, you can't celebrate a fraternity lottery victory without the fraternity!
For now, we're waiting for the numbers to be drawn. The tickets are purchased, the dream is alive, and somebody has officially put me in charge of making us all rich.
No pressure, Niel. No pressure at all. 😂
Stay tuned!
Did the Fraternity Lotto Pool beat the odds? Did we win a few dollars, a bigger prize, or the kind of jackpot that changes nine lives forever?
And if we did win, what will I be doing with my millions?
You'll have to stay tuned to find out!
Until then, good luck to the brothers; may the numbers be in our favor, and please remember: if we win, I absolutely meant to pick those numbers all along! 🍀💵
Disclaimer: Lottery jackpots are advertised annuity amounts; the cash option is lower, and taxes can reduce winnings further. Lottery odds are long, so enjoy the dream responsibly.
From a WIS Interview to ABC News
This afternoon, I got a text and a phone call from Synai Ferrell at ABC News on my Google number. I did a quick search to make sure she was real—and it turns out she and possibly others at ABC had seen my WIS interview in Columbia, South Carolina.
The short version: I have a Microsoft Teams interview with ABC News on October 20 at 3:30 p.m.!
Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. More soon!
Day 123: Nextdoor Talks About AI. What About Election-Year Privacy and Safety?
Election Day is approaching, and I'd like Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia to address something.
We've heard plenty about AI, neighborhood intelligence, and the value of Nextdoor's data. Those are important topics.
But here's a question that deserves just as much attention:
What happens when a neighborhood discussion turns political—and someone with access to sensitive user information decides to misuse it?
Politics can get heated. People disagree. Local moderators try to enforce community rules, but no moderation system can guarantee that every discussion stays civil.
Now consider what makes Nextdoor different from many other social platforms: the connection between accounts and verified neighborhood addresses.
That raises an important question about access, privacy, and accountability.
The Risk Isn't Just What People Post. It's Who Can Access the Data.
Imagine a neighbor gets into a heated political disagreement with someone on Nextdoor.
What if the disagreement escalates beyond comments?
What if someone tries to identify where another person lives, expose their phone number, intimidate them offline, or use private information to retaliate?
I'm not claiming this has happened or that Nextdoor moderators are misusing anyone's information. I'm asking what safeguards exist to prevent it.
If a moderator or someone with platform privileges can access sensitive information tied to verified accounts, what prevents them from abusing that access?
A person's ability to moderate a conversation shouldn't automatically mean they need access to that person's private information.
Nirav, Here's What I'd Like to Know
Access controls: Who can access users' verified addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive information?
Least privilege: Are moderators restricted to the information they actually need to perform their duties?
Audit trails: Does Nextdoor log and review access to sensitive user information, and can suspicious activity trigger an investigation?
Moderator accountability: What screening, training, and oversight help prevent abuse of moderator privileges?
Reporting and response: If a user suspects their information has been misused, how can they report it, and what protections and response procedures are available?
Election-season readiness: Does Nextdoor have specific procedures for handling political harassment, doxxing, threats, and attempts to take online disputes into the real world?
These aren't accusations. They're basic questions about privacy, security, and risk management.
Verified Addresses Create Responsibility
Nextdoor's neighborhood model depends on connecting people to real communities. That can help make local conversations relevant.
But verification alone doesn't guarantee good behavior.
A verified address is a trust signal—not a guarantee that everyone with access to the platform will act appropriately.
Security has to extend beyond verifying who belongs in a neighborhood. It must also govern who can access sensitive information, why they can access it, and what happens when someone abuses that privilege.
That's especially important when disagreements become personal.
AI Can Wait. Let's Talk About Protecting People.
Nirav, I'm interested in Nextdoor's AI strategy. I'm interested in neighborhood intelligence and how the company plans to become profitable.
But as Election Day approaches, I think privacy and safety deserve a direct conversation, too.
People shouldn't have to choose between participating in their neighborhood and worrying that their personal information could be used against them.
What safeguards does Nextdoor have to protect users when political disagreements get heated—and how does it hold people with privileged access accountable?
I'm not asking Nextdoor to disclose security details that could help someone bypass its protections. I'm asking for a clear explanation of the safeguards, oversight, and reporting procedures that protect its users.
Day 123. I still want Nextdoor to succeed. Protecting the people who make the platform valuable should be part of that success.
👉 Follow my continuing case study at NielFlamm.com/blog