Pop forum: Meet today's featured reader
Today's reader loves comics, Lord of the Rings and Weezer. How can you go wrong with that trio? Learn more about him, then say hello. (As for my return to the Candy, I am counting the days, and I will see you Feb. 16.)
Reader of the day: Paulwise
Real name: Paul Abbamondi
Why I chose my screen name: I have a massive amount of love for all things Lord of the Rings, as you'll soon read/see, and Sam is my favorite character.
Where I live: Clifton, N.J. It's a cold zone currently.
Occupation: Editor for a global market research firm (day job), maker of journal comics and writer (both dream jobs)
Blog: http://mylifecomics.wordpress.com/
Favorite TV show: Lost, of course. The complexities keep me coming back for more every time, but I'm getting tired of seeing Jack cry in every episode. R.I.P. his grizzly bear beard.
People say I resemble: A Hobbit. Samwise Gamgee, to be precise. I've got the shaggy hair, the hairy feet (gross), and sadly, the body for it. What? I enjoy my foods and drinks. My likeness is so good that I've dressed up as a halfing before for Halloween, and it was the easiest costume ever put together under the sun. A man-made cloak from an old fire blanket, a Salvation Army vest, a ring on a chain, and poof, completion.
Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition). Yup, I'm one of those. The original releases are dead to me; long live Hobbity extendedness!
Favorite album: Weezer's The Blue Album. Every song is an amazing earworm, and it's one of the select albums that I enjoy listening to from start to finish as I work. Also, Rubber Soul from The Beatles is nigh perfection.
Favorite book: Gah, this is a tough one. A toss-up between 1984 by George Orwell or The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Both are classics by nature, and both played an important part in my growing up.
Favorite website (aside from the Candy): http://www.boardgamegeek.com I'm a Munchkin fanatic and this is where I go to get most of my fixes.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Sir Ian McKellan, Sir Terry Pratchett and Regina Spektor, who is not a sir at all.
One famous person I've actually met: Adam Duritz, the lead singer of Counting Crows. Crazy dreadlocks. Also, though she probably does not know it, I sat two seats next to Whitney during a BSG panel at the 2006 New York Comic Con. Yup, stalker in the house. I kid, I kid ...
Something I collect: Old books. There's a used bookstore a few streets down from my apartment, and I make a conscious effort to visit it at least once or twice a month. I'm particularly found of genre titles from the 1950s and 1960s, the aged and yellowy Daw paperbacks, the kind that smell musty yet yummy. Think Jack Vance, Ursula K. Le Guin, Tanith Lee and Isaac Asimov. Really cheesy covers, but I find books in general to be very comforting.
How/when I started reading Pop Candy: Sometime back in late 2008 (yes, I know, me sucks) thanks to my online friend Kelly Thompson (she was previously a featured reader here) sending me this way. Now I read every day, especially for posts about my favorite TV shows (The Office, Lost and Battlestar Galactica) and bands.
Thanks, Paul! Enjoy your day, and I hope you get to meet those fancy sirs on your list sometime. (And hey, did you say hello to me at that BSG panel? If not, you should have!)