Skout Success: Cody and Angela

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Skout changes people in lots of ways by enabling different types of connections all over the world. For us, it truly makes the juice worth the squeeze. Meet Cody and Angela, testaments to Skout!
Cody first downloaded the app on a whim, looking to meet interesting people and pass time. He had his doubts and wasn’t immediately sold on the whole ‘meeting people online’ thing…then he met Angela:

“When I saw Angela’s profile, something caught my eye, not sure if it was her beautiful eyes or amazing smile, but she is one of the few people I decided to try to connect with.”

They chatted for hours and hours, as if they had known each other for years. They chatted about everything from computers to what the other was having for dinner. They each found themselves eagerly checking the phones, hoping to see a new Skout message. Angela then asked Cody to lunch (you go girl), and since Skout connects you with those near you, lunch was possible!”Upon walking through the door and laying my eyes on Angela in person, my heart skipped a beat, the world seemed to have turned on its axis.  We sat down, talked and ate lunch, and lost track of time.”
(Melt. We melt.)

As they say, the rest is history. They are now days away from walking down the aisle.
Thank you, Cody and Angela, for being such an amazing part of the Skout community. You make us love our jobs even more.

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#TBT post: Technology problems then and now

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Remember the early days of cell phones and internet? Our worries were far simpler than available WiFi connection on your smart phone or how fast that file can load from your Dropbox. For today’s #throwbackthursday, we’re taking it back to the early days of cell phone and internet stresses vs. today’s.

Then: I want to use the Internet, but my mom is on the phone.

Now: So many of us are using the WiFi at the conference that the network isn’t as fast.

Then:  I didn’t get to the phone by the last ring and have no idea who called.

Now: Who is this random number from Tampa, FL calling me?

Then: They didn’t leave me a voicemail.

Now: They left me a voicemail.

Then: My AOL connection is stuck on Step 2.

Now: I have to load this Website in basic HTML. Ughhh.

Then: All of my friends on AIM are away.

Now: All of my friends on G-chat are idle.

Then:  My parents are mad at me because I went 548 text messages over my limit.

Now: Ugh, why did this send as a text message and not an iMessage?

Then: I can’t beat my high score on Snake on my Nokia 3310.

Now: I wish I never downloaded Candy Crush.

Then: I can’t decide which emoticon to use; a wink or a smile?

Now: I can’t decide which emoticon to use; a wink, a half smile, a smirk, a big grin, a cat smiling, a cat laughing or a cat crying?

Then: There aren’t enough ringtones.

Now: There are so many ringtones I can’t decide.

Have some to add? Tweet us with #SkoutTBT and we will add them here (and give you credit!)

#SkoutOn

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Bastille Day: Eat and Play Around the World

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Even if you’re thousands of miles away from France, you can still toast the Blue, Blanc and Rouge for Bastille Day.

The French national holiday, which falls on July 14 every year, marks the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution in 1789. In France, our local Skouters will commemorate the historic event with parades, fireworks and parties. A few of our favorite Bastille Day traditions:

EAT

Wine, cheese, chocolate — we can thank the French for many of favorite indulgences. Here are four easy recipes you can make to indulge in these cultured treats. Bon appétit!

Chocolate strawberry crepes:

PLAY

In France, the lawn game pétanque is a favorite way to celebrate and enjoy some friendly competition with friends. With origins in South France, the outdoor activity is similar to horseshoes and bocce. Learn about where you can find a game here.

LEARN

Here is a quick (and pretty fun) article giving you the 411 on the French celebration. Enjoy learning about what your French Skouters are doing today!

Stop Searching And Turn Off Mobile Devices During Sex

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by Laurie Sullivan of MediaPost 

Received some interesting mobile stats in my email inbox this morning about sex and mobile devices that reminded me of something a Rabbi recently said: “I’m going to remind everyone to turn their cell phones off before the ceremony”– referring to my wedding in less than two weeks.

As a huge fan of mobile and voice search, I do agree there are times when we should turn off the cell phones. Some never do. Not even during sex. It turns out July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Who knew? Skout, developer of a location-based social network and dating application, conducted the survey in June, fielding 5,617 responses among people who use the network. The survey aims to analyze the lengths that people will go to answer a phone call, even if it means being inconsiderate to others.

Some 49% of people admit to being interrupted during sex by their cell phones. Twenty-five percent of men and 17% of women have answered the phone during this intimate act. Half of people called off a relationship via a cell phone. Women are more likely to break off a relationship using their mobile phone — at 48%, compared with 39% of men.

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Have manners and think of others as a range of technology continues to become available. Some 67% of people believe cell phone manners reflect a person’s overall manners. Twenty-one percent of people participating in the survey have ended a relationship with someone because they had bad cell phone manners, and 78% of people say they notice when someone has good cell phone manners.

When it comes to photo tagging in Facebook and other social networks, ask friends if it is okay to tag them in pictures before you post. About 64% of people say that it is not okay to get tagged in photos on social media sites without their permission.

Fifty-two percent of people say you should not put your mobile phone on the table during a meal, but 70% of people confess that they are guilty of breaking that rule.

Forty-one percent of people participating in the survey admit to simultaneously talking to someone in person while on the phone, while 34% admit to speaking too loud in public, 13% talk on the phone while in the middle of a meal, and 12% use annoying ringtones.

I plan to take my phone, but leave it in the silent mode on my wedding day. After all, what’s a wedding without a few selfies posted to Twitter?

 

Independence Day Around the World.

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Tomorrow the United States celebrates its 238th birthday by taking the day off to barbecue and light stuff up into the air. However, we mustn’t forget that independence day is celebrated all across the globe - just not on the 4th of July (unless you’re from Abkhazia). Here is a list of when and how a few other countries celebrate their independence courtesy of Ozy.com:

PAKISTAN AND INDIA: SHARING HISTORY

The two South Asian neighbors celebrate a day apart: Pakistan on Aug. 14 and India on Aug. 15. That started in 1947, when the two countries were carved out of one British colony to allow the outgoing British viceroy to attend both independence ceremonies.

The two nations have since become bitter rivals, but in recent years, their consecutive Independence Day celebrations are embraced as a time to promote peace. Activists from both countries have met on the border between India and Pakistan to mark their shared history and engage in a transnational dialogue. Even the displays of nationalist fervor at the nightly Wagah Border ceremony, where citizens from both countries gather on opposite sides to cheer on high-stepping border guards as they lower their respective flags, take on a more communal tone. Last year, officials on India’s side of the border brought sweets to present to their Pakistani counterparts in honor of their Independence Day.

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SOUTH KOREA: I BEG YOUR PARDON

South Koreans also celebrates Independence Day — aka Gwangbokjeol or “Restoration of Light Day” — on Aug. 15. That’s the day in 1945 that Japan surrendered during World War II, ending the fight in the Pacific and liberating Korea from Japanese colonial rule. Of course, Korea had been self-ruled for centuries before the Japanese conquest.

In addition to the usual patriotic displays (Gwangbokjeol even has its own official song), it’s also a day when the South Korean government issues special pardons, primarily for petty crimes. A 2002 Korean movie, Gwangbokjeol teuksa (translated to English as Jail Breakers) spoofs the tradition, featuring a hero who’s been leading a model life in prison in hoping to receive one of the coveted pardons … until his girlfriend tells him she’s leaving him, at which point he throws caution to the wind and hatches a plan to escape from jail.

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HAITI: THE TASTE OF FREEDOM

Lots of countries have traditional foods they eat on Independence Day but Haiti’s meal of soup joumou might have the best backstory. Legend has it that under French colonial rule, native Haitians weren’t allowed to eat the Caribbean-style pumpkin soup because it was too much of a delicacy for slaves. But after the Haitian slaves revolted and finally defeated French forces in 1803 — the only slave rebellion in history to successfully establish its own country — that all changed.

Now every Jan. 1, Haitians mark the occasion by sipping on soup joumou.

Ain’t freedom sweet?

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3 Ways Social Media Is Changing Real Lives.

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Can you even imagine a life without social media? We can’t either! Social media is such a popular part of mainstream culture, it’s hard to get away from it. What used to be a way to keep in touch with friends you already know, has now created opportunities to meet new people, date, and even land the job of your dreams. Patricia, Raquel., and Julius are just three examples of this.

Twitter gave Patricia T. of Vancouver the opportunity to intern for one of her favorite streetwear brands  without ever meeting anyone from the company beforehand. Having been a fan of Hellz Bellz, which is located in Los Angeles, Patricia began following the brand on Twitter and commenting on their blog, creating an e-friendship with the team. When she replied to a tweet regarding a social media intern position at Hellz Bellz, she had no problem getting the position even though she lived in a different country. Patricia even stopped by the Hellz Bellz office when she visited Southern California one summer.

Patricia w/ Hellz Bellz founder Miss Lawn, and her husband Bam.

(L – R) Patricia w/ Hellz Bellz founder Miss Lawn, and her husband Bam.

Raquel T., met Angelica B. on the once popular social media platform MySpace over five years ago, and have been best friends ever since. Having mutual friends, Raquel noticed the familiar face on her timeline and decided to add her as a friend. After Angelica posted a question about needing bathing suits for an upcoming vacation, she replied back with a few of her favorite brands and they ended up exchanging contact information. Now, if one of them is on vacation you can usually count on the other being there too.

After receiving a “like” on one of his pictures on Skout, Julius C. of San Francisco decided to see who it was from. Turns out it was from Dani R. of San Ramon, which was just a 30 minute drive away. They began chatting on the app until one day they decided to meet up for lunch. Over lunch they found out they had many things in common, including an odd obsession for Seth Rogen. Lunch lead to a movie, and the movie lead to a newfound friendship.

These are just three of the many relationships social media has been responsible for. At Skout we’re excited to be a part of social media day, and even more so proud to be able to bring people together. We hope you use Skout to celebrate social media day too, #SkoutOn!

Happy #SMDay!

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Happy social media day! Yes, this is a real thing. Mashable first launched the event five years ago as a way to recognize the digital revolution. Since then, thousands of people from all over the globe participate in the movement every year. Still don’t see the big deal? Check out the results of our social media survey below!

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The Ultimate Weekend Playlist.

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Although everyday at Skout is an awesome day, we especially love our Fridays! The weekend means many things to different people, but for those who use it to capitalize on  staying out late and bottomless mimosas, this playlist is for you! We asked some of our Skouters what song makes them want to get the party started and created the ultimate weekend playlist with the results. You’re welcome. 

“Jumpin’ Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child
“We Are Young” by Fun
“This Is How We Do It” by Montel Jordan
“Fireworks” by Katy Perry
“To Get Down” by Timo Maas
“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea
“You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi
“Hey Boy Hey Girl” by The Chemical Brothers
“Raise Your Glass” by P!nk
“Partition” by Beyonce
“Come Alive” by Chromeo
“Rather Be” by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne
“Man of the Year” by Schoolboy Q
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
“Around the World” by Daft Punk

Sharing Is Caring.

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Around here, the easiest way to make friends … is to bear FOOD! Regardless of where you’re from, it’s the one thing that brings people together. We wanted to share a few of our favorite foods from around the world that are not only delicious, but easy to share. Now who’s having a potluck?!

Charcuterie, France. We love us a good charcuterie and cheese board. Unless you’re vegan, you can’t really go wrong with a plate of quality meats and cheeses. Charcuterie comes from the word charcutier, which means “pork butcher” in French. However, other meats may be served. The only thing that would make this even better? A glass of wine. 

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