Coversation of the Day

After taking out the Christmas tree, my mom noticed sap on her pants.

Mom: Crap it's sap. I hate that word.
CC: But you said it.
Mom: I had to because it rhymed. Don't tell anyone. I'm breathing like a tornado.

2008 Best iPhone Apps

Here are the apps that I think are most rad this year:

1. Mint.com
If you use this online financial service, this application is fantastic. It's completely intuitive and lets you check all your finances that are linked up to Mint in a matter of seconds.

2. Now Playing
If you go to the movies, it's a must. It searches for theaters close to where you are and displays the critical review rating beside the show times. Complete with links to imdb.com and YouTube trailers, this has made making last-minute movie trips a breeze.

3. RTM (Remember the Milk)
Another app that requires the use of a website, rememberthemilk.com is my favorite for organizing "To Do" lists. I think the app requires that you are a premium user of their services (maybe $20-25 a year?) but if you want a single list of things that need to be done, Remember the Milk is hard to beat. And it integrates with Gmail through a Firefox Add-on (called Remember the Milk for Gmail).

Other Favorites

Sportacular
For live sports updates in almost any category, Sportacular has an interface that makes it easy to check scores, stats, and schedules. Satisfy your sports cravings with a quick glance if you're stuck in a business meeting during your team's bowl game.

Twinkle
I'm learning to be a better user of Twitter, but so far, Twinkle is far and away the interface that I prefer.

Pandora
Internet radio could not be sexier. If you don't know Pandora, visit pandora.com.

SnapTell Explorer
Snap a picture of the cover of a CD, movie, or book and instantly compare prices with a broad database.


Others worth checking out:
Woot On!
Facebook
Google Earth
eBay Mobile
Urbanspoon

Also the Joost app sucks right now, but it might be a really great mobile media platform once they fix it.

WOW: Wow

So I sold my World of Warcraft account today ($325!!!!) and after the money came into my Paypal account, this was the response I got from the guy who bought my account:

lol
nice try scammer
the secret answer is fake
ill contact paypal and get my shit back ,wish you die on christmas fucker

Technology, Education, Design - TED

One of the coolest sites you can ever experience is Ted.com. The gist of the site is to show video clips from a conference where they get a bunch of really cool and really brilliant people together to discuss things that are interesting. Yes, this may sound vague, but that's because it covers everything from art and architecture to the future of the internet to quirks of evolutionary psychology to the structure of the universe.

The following video is one I watched today in which Steven Strogatz explains spontaneous synchronization.

Also, Merry Christmas eve!

The Onion

Typo In Proposition 8 Defines Marriage As Between 'One Man And One Wolfman'

Tom Cruise Cake

I just ate some of Tom Cruise's cake.  He sent a coconut cake to Tony and it tastes good.

I just discovered Ping.fm. If you're a blogger, you should check it out immediately.

Joe Pug

Joe Pug is the real deal. Authentic and poetic lyrics that scream the wisdom of an old man, Joe's music is inspiring. He won the Sam Selden Playwriting Award at UNC years ago before he dropped out - a fact that is reflected through the narratives of his songs. I would go on, but you should watch this video rather than read me.


Joe Pug - Bury Me Far From My Uniform from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

Another reason LA is Stup-tarded

I wanted to go to the Prop 8 protests on Saturday, but I knew it was going to be crazy crowded so I thought I'd take public transportation. Should be easy right? Forget it.

I had to drive my car 2 miles to the nearest metro stop and when I got there, it just so happens that there was no parking. Anywhere. NO PARKING ANYWHERE!

So basically I took my private transport to get to public transport only to find the public transport was unavailable because of all the private transport that had parked there!!! WHAT THE HELL, L.A.?


P.S. Stupid + Retarded = Stup-tarded

Pixar's "Up"

This movie is going to be amazing... just like everything Pixar does.

Response

I got an email response nearly a month after I submitted some jokes to a website and finally got this response back:

CC, Very Funny!

You KILLED with your application to AskEJean's Dope Astrology.
I received 496 submissions and you made it into the TOP 30!!

I have chosen Miss Adrianne Frost.
http://askejean.com/dopeastrology/

Meanwhile, if you are still looking for work, I am desperate to hire
a right-hand person to help me run AskEJean.com. (Obviously,
I need assistance----it has taken me all this time to get back to you!)

Here is the Craig's List posting with the details:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/889416541.html

Ravishing Regards,
E. Jean

If you received this note twice, I apologize-----Damn! I need someone
to manage all this!!!!

So that's exciting.

Long Time No Blog

My new favorite web show happens to be at the company I work for:

Back on Topps

In an attempt to occasionally write for an online humor site, I submitted these little humdingers. Let me know if you think I'll get the job or not:

Fake Horoscope -

• When John McCain watched Top Gun this weekend for the first time, he discovered that he wasn't a maverick at all. You too will suffer a blow to your ego.
• Poll: 60% think a depression is likely in the near future. You are part of the 40% who are already depressed.

Succinct Satire -

• Senator Obama has expressed concerns that there are more black men in prison than in college. In response, Sarah Palin came up with a solution: don't let black men graduate.
• It was discovered that Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist was limited by the iPod hard drive capacity. Apple CEO Steve Jobs responded by promising that the next software update would allow for infinite storage.
• Michael Cera was dubbed Hollywood's hottest awkward teen. When Michael Bluth was asked for his comment on the situation, he responded, "Him?"
• Scientists are hopeful that the Large Hadron Collider will produce evidence of the "God Particle" which will help explain how massless particles can cause matter to have mass. It appears that Sarah Palin already holds the secret to the God Particle as she has unleashed new condemnations of Senator Barack Obama's ties with terrorists. A seemingly baseless particle of non-information is steamrolling it's way through the ignorant crowds of Americans - the same ones who don't have spam filters or facebook profiles - and gaining enough mass to make its way to Prime Time network news! For the love of God Particles, don't listen to Sarah Palin.
  

How Long Have I Been at This?

In response to Sarah Palin's quote during the debates last night, I've started a new blog from Palin's perspective.

Check out:

I've Been at This Five Weeks!

Biden-Palin Quotes That Make Me Wonder

Palin:

How long have I been at this?  Five weeks?

Senator O'Biden

Drill, baby, drill

I'm being straight up.

Um...  (seven seconds pass) (gibberish) white flag of surrender

Biden:

Characteriz- characteristi- characterize

Special FX - Alien 1

Here's an After Effects project where I morph my face to look like an alien. Sorry, no sound.

Ants Go Marching

Today my roommate Casey Trela is going to be Haley Joel Osmond's stunt double. He shaved his beard so that ants can crawl all over his face. We documented the facial hair removal process, which will posted soon.

The Taking of Pelham 123

I got to see the first screening of The Taking of Pelham 123 tonight down in Huntington Beach. It stars John Travolta and Denzel Washington and it looks really good. There are still some technical tweaks to make, but the story and cinematography are superb.

Tony Scott's remake of the 1974 film is going to be a blockbuster when it hits theaters July 2009.

Biznaz Cards

I designed this business card and it should be arriving in a couple weeks. Yeeeee!


Yeah, there's a back too.

Debi Derryberry

I got to have lunch with my friend Madeline Walter today and she informed me that she was renting an apartment from a little character named Debi Derryberry. My gift to you is the link to her website.

Suggestion: Click the "Baby Banana" link

Debi Derryberry

Status

In a nutshell here's what I've been up to in terms of work:

• Worked as an intern at Scott Free Productions for 2 months.
• Worked as a PAID intern at Scott Free Productions (and a little at Totem Productions) for 1 month.
• Will be unemployed for lots of months.

Kona Bites

We have a parrot at work named Kona. He can be very friendly. Other times he draws blood.

Our Landlord is Famous

Analiese van der Pol
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1156809/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWJNKVvc7P8

and her boyfriend, Josh Greene....
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1014018/

(Garrett Kemble found out this tidbit!)

Wicked Fuckin' Queeyah

Yes, that is the name of an improv group that we saw at Del Close Marathon in New York. They are ridiculously entertaining. The group pretends to be die-hard Red Sox fans doing bad improv and letting their personal relationships interfere with the show. Oh, and they aggressively drink beer during the show.

Check out some of the chaos:

[editors note: previously I mistakenly wrote that the group pretends to be Yankees fans, but I meant Red Sox fans. This group would kill me for that error if they ever read it.]

Pictures from Austin

Tracy looks beautiful as Gaya tries to lick her.

Austin is the city of live music. And weird homeless people.

Who is cuter? I give up.

We Live Together

I was in New York this past weekend for the Del Close Marathon - a comedy improv marathon that also just happens to be the most fun event in all of New England. Ever.

"We Live Together" performed on Saturday - a fairly mediocre show, but as usual we still had a complete blast! Despite our feelings of not-so-goodness, someone from the group did stumble upon this review from one of our shows earlier in the spring.

Oh, and on Saturday I saw Brooke Shields. More details to come.

"Student Film" by Casey Trela

Casey Trela made this short film that spoofs student films. I'm in it. Watch it.


Trapped in a Student Film! from Casey Trela on Vimeo.

Doomed Groom

I just informed the groom that his wedding is at 5:00, not 6:00 like
he's been telling everyone.

Cheers from CC's iPhone

[New cell: 310-880-3520]

Austin.

Austin. Good bars. Weird people.

That should be the slogan of this city. The live music has been great and the bars are really cool, but there are more Crazies here than in LA. Just a minute ago, a random guy asked me if I was from London and then proceeded to sing "Great Balls of Fire" on the corner of the street while he simulated surfing. He also appeared to have a giant gobstopper in his mouth.

Coolest bar: Qua - where you can dance over sharks.
Weirdest person: Fourteen-way tie with everyone I met last night.

Clubbin' in Austin

Even though Maile didn't want me to post this, I think it's a cool
picture from our night out on Saturday.

Freedom!

My last day at Scott Free Productions as an intern: today. These are the other interns.

Left to right: Brad Hughes, Marc Weber, Julia Polk, me, Grant Illes

Earthquake

Just survived my first earthquake!!

NOTE: I'm keeping my posts on this blog pretty short, but I'm also going to link longer versions if you just want a couple more details. If you click the word "earthquake" above, it should take you to my spillover blog. If you don't want to deal with that, just click HERE.

Interns at the Pool

Left to right: CC Pearce, Katie McNeill, Ryan Lawlis, Garrett Kemble, Joanna Zelman

Just Starting an Xmas in July Party

Cheers from CC's iPhone

[New cell: 310-880-3520]
>

Parrot Attack

A parrot just ate 3 buttons off my shirt.

Cheers from CC's iPhone

[New cell: 310-880-3520]

Dicaprio

I just drove Leo's car.

Cheers from CC's iPhone

[New cell: 310-880-3520]

Serving Rich People Food

Synopsis of night:

• Allergic reaction
• Mexican sabateur
• Made 37 major catering mistakes
• Ate all the duck that the guests left on their plates (how is that a mistake?)
• Realized I don't like catering
• Got paid
• Realized I like catering

Cheers from CC's iPhone

Catering

And now a live update:
As I'm prepping some zucchini for a catering event tonight, I just cut off the tip of my middle finger. Now when I flip off the horrendous drivers in LA they will laugh at my stub.

Cheers from CC's iPhone

Show Biz Kids

"Show Biz Kids Expo" just happened to ruin my Sunday brunch. I went to get my delicious Sunday meal of cold doughnut and warm coffee, but this time I had to stand in line because 30 kids were waiting in front of me. There were photographers, agents, stage moms, and all the other things that you never want to experience on a Sunday morning.

HOWEVER, we did see a Marc Weber's head shot from a few weeks prior on prominent display. This was, of course, without his permission.
For those who don't know Marc, he's the one in the lower left corner with a Carolina blue background.

The Latest

July 4th we got to watch child stars alternate performances with a live band. Many were very good, but it's hard to be comfortable when a twelve-year-old girl is singing sexy lounge music.

Went to the coolest beach - sea urchins, starfish, and anemones everywhere. If you visit me, I will take you here.

Got an iPhone. BOOYAH! Click the button in the sidebar to call me from your computer.

I Peed in Ridley Scott's House

I had to drop off something at Ridley's house earlier in the week and created a strategy to see the inside of his grand home. As I pulled in, the maid came to get the package and the following conversation took place:

CC: Hey Conchita!
Janet: My name is Janet.
CC: Oh, you look like Conchita.
Janet: She's not working today.
CC: OK, well can I get these documents signed?
Janet: Yeah.
CC: Also, since I've been sitting in traffic for 45 minutes, do you think I could use your restroom.
Janet: Uh...
CC: It's an emergency.
Janet: OK.

And it worked. The place is so nice, it's amazing - a courtyard with a huge fountain, marble sinks, etc., etc., etc.


ALSO: I almost accidentally hit a cross-dresser with my car. He/she jumped out right in front of me on a big, flamboyant, yellow bicycle.

Meatgrinder Ep. 3 - WARNING: Offensive Humor

Meatgrinder's War On Terror from The Meatgrinder Show on Vimeo.


So my friend Chris Erb has developed a web series called "Meatgrinder" and if you are not easily offended, it's hilarious. If you are, please please please don't watch. I got to edit the audio for Episode 3 last week - the episode embedded in this blog. If you want to see more, check out www.meatgrinder.tv.

My Recent Happenings

Things that have happened recently:

• I was almost shot. Not really, but 6 police ran past me the other day brandishing firearms. One girl cop stopped almost right beside me. “I’ll stay here in case he comes back out,” she said.

• My friend Patrick is literally living in my walk-in closet. Whatever saves money for rent.

• Working on a web series that I’m writing tentatively titled “The Could-Be’s and the Has-Beens.”

• Edited audio for a web series called “Meatgrinder” which you can watch at www.meatgrinder.tv - I edited the audio for Episode 3. For mature audiences only.

• Got to spend a day at a photographer’s ritzy new home. Beside his villa that he calls a home is a studio, a fire pit, and a Jacuzzi that cascades into a heated pool. No idea why the pool would need to be heated.

• Held an Oscar. At a lecture series, I met Hughes Winborne who edited Crash and he brought his Oscar with him. It was heavy.

• Went to a super happy/awesome/smiley wedding in Statesville, NC. Congrats Stockton and Paige Perry!

More to come soon!

Why LA is Backwards: Reason #614

I work at 614 N. La Peer Dr, but the first day of work I got lost even though I had a GPS. Here's why:

I was on N. La Peer Dr. heading north where the building should have been. But after a while I was suddenly on S. La Peer Dr. which eventually dead-ends. Then I discovered there is another N. La Peer north of S. La Peer.

WHAT???

So if you're traveling north at the southernmost part of La Peer Dr you will go through the following roads:

N. La Peer
S. La Peer
(no) La Peer
N. La Peer

If you're bad with directions, maybe this city is a piece of cake to navigate.

Crimson Tears

How do you get VIP treatment for an entire night in Los Angeles? There are two simple ways:

1) Be famous.
2) Make people think that you're famous.

This past Saturday I chose the latter as about 10 friends from UNC all went out to a bar as the cast of "Crimson Tears," a show to premiere on TBS in two weeks. Except that the show does not exist.

Regardless, I ushered our group to the front of the line, got a VIP table, received a round of free shots on the house, and even had a bouncer escort friends to the bathroom. When I drunk man fell into our table, I tapped the bouncer on the shoulder and pointed, and the bouncer had him removed from the club.

It's tough being famous.

First Week

Whoa. LA is busy. And fast. And so so so stupid.

And I kind of love it.

Working at Scott Free Productions as an intern so far has been pretty gnarly. All the people I've met are great and I keep pretty busy with binding scripts, critiquing writing samples, running errands, and making happy-grams for creative executives who seem a little too stressed out.

For those who don't know, in 1995 Ridley Scott, together with his brother Tony, formed the film and television production company Scott Free Productions in Los Angeles. If you want to know more about it check out his wikipedia page or to see a list of movies he's worked on, check out his imdb.com page.