Buzz
About a week back, we published a post inviting you to send your questions to me via email on any topic of interest. Luckily, most of the questions revolved around me and the site, making them relatively straightforward to address. This marks the first installment of responses. Naturally, some questions won’t be answered here—some due to personal or privacy concerns, and others because they may not appeal to the broader audience. Now, let’s dive into the Q&A.
3. Question 1
Q. What is your favorite list? A. Top 10 Incredible Sound Illusions
I spent countless hours entertaining friends and roommates by sharing the sounds from this list while compiling it. It’s the only list I’ve revisited repeatedly, immersing myself in the auditory experience. My second favorite would undoubtedly be the astonishing recordings.
2. Question 2
Q. What inspired you to start this site? A. The Book of Lists
During a visit to my brother (kiwiboi), I stumbled upon his copy of the Book of Lists. As I flipped through its pages, I found myself captivated by the fascinating content. Inspired, I purchased my own copy and became engrossed in the intriguing lists. This sparked the idea for a website. By the end of that week, I had registered the domain and launched the site! [EDIT: Kiwiboi recently reminded me that he had suggested a list-based site two months prior—so credit goes to him for planting the seed!]
1. Question 3
Q. Where do you get your ideas? A. My head
Initially, I crafted all my lists around topics that had previously captured my interest—bizarre phenomena, music, and the like. This meant I was working within a narrow range of subjects. Over time, as my own ideas began to dwindle, I turned to my RSS feeds for fresh inspiration. Fortunately, around the same period, readers started submitting their own suggestions, which provided a wealth of ideas and motivation.
4. Question 4
Q. Will the site be changing? A. Yes and No
This was a rather lengthy question posed by jesse. Here’s the full question:
Will I ever visit Mytour and find that you’re less welcoming to guests on the message boards? Are there plans to make significant changes, like requiring membership to post on Mytour? (You shouldn’t—that’s one of the site’s best features.)
First and foremost, I hope I never reach a point where I’m unfriendly to anyone here! I truly enjoy working on the site, reading comments, and engaging as often as I can. If I ever stop enjoying it or start being rude, I’ll hand the site over to Randall (just kidding—he once asked if he could have it, so I’m teasing him—haha).
Regarding the second part, yes—the site will undergo changes. I’ve consulted a web development company to implement all the features I envision. The project costs $20,000 US, so it’s on hold until I can secure the funds. For those curious, here are some of the features I’ve requested:
1. Nested comments (allowing replies to specific comments, not just the entire list) 2. User profiles with inboxes, favorites, and various profile-related features 3. Comment voting (with options to hide comments based on vote count or user preferences) 4. A unified username system for forums and the main site, along with a consistent design
I’ve also made it clear that commenting must remain accessible without requiring registration.
5. Question 5
Q. Do you practice any martial arts? A. No—but I used to
Currently, I’m not involved in any martial arts, though I did train in Ninjutsu for a period several years ago. I studied at a Bujinkan Dojo in New Zealand, founded by Masaaki Hatsumi. Unlike many “ninja” schools, Bujinkan doesn’t award belts (though it has a grading system), doesn’t participate in competitions, and doesn’t require masks. The training emphasizes stealth, deception, and weaponry—including modern weapons—while teaching students to leverage their surroundings. A unique aspect is the focus on escaping confrontations when possible, but if unavoidable, using techniques to break bones or neutralize threats to ensure safety. While some practices may be seen as “dishonorable” by other martial arts, Bujinkan prioritizes survival over tradition. It’s an exceptional system, and I highly recommend it. You can watch Masaaki Hatsumi demonstrate some techniques in the video above.
6. Question 6
Q. What is your day job? A. I don’t have one
At the moment, I’m not employed—I finished my last contract a month ago and haven’t sought another job since I’m returning to New Zealand soon. My professional background spans two fields: opera (as a singer) and IT (as a software developer). Most recently, I worked as a developer, primarily using Delphi, though I’m also proficient in C, Java, and C#. I’m gradually improving my PHP skills, which I’ve used to make coding adjustments to this site.
7. Question 7
Q. Which list is your least favorite? A. Top 10 common methods of suicide
This list is my least favorite because it has caused ongoing issues. Initially, many readers complained and emailed their disapproval. The comments section became so immature that I had to shut it down twice. The only reason it remains on the site is that it’s the most searched page via Google. I hope the warnings at the bottom, including helpline numbers, might help someone in need. [Image created by Kevin Chapman]
10. Question 10
Q. If you could pick an author to write about you, who would it be? A. Brett Easton Ellis (pictured above)
I’m a huge fan of Brett Easton Ellis, the author of *American Psycho*, *The Rules of Attraction*, and other works. I admire his writing style and the themes he explores, often focusing on the lives of the privileged and idle. I’d love for him to write a fictional book about me, with my personality traits exaggerated for effect (yes, this is quite a self-indulgent answer!). The second part of the question was about the title, which is tricky since his titles are often abstract. I’ll leave it to you all to suggest a fitting title!
To wrap up this list, thank you to everyone who submitted questions. It was challenging to choose which ones to answer and how to respond. I hope you appreciate my selections and don’t mind the personal nature of this list.
Lastly, I’m going on a five-day holiday at the end of the week. If anyone has a partially completed list they’ve been planning to submit, please send it in now—it’ll help lighten my workload while I’m away.
9. Question 9
Q. Can you name 5 people you would like to meet? A. I can—and will
The question also specified: Two living, two dead, and one fictional. Here are my choices:
1. Pharaoh Akhenaten – His story captivates me, and I’d love to have seen him in person—not necessarily to converse, but to observe his appearance and lifestyle as a ruler of Egypt. This would also let me see Nefertiti and judge if she truly was the world’s most beautiful woman. 2. William Burroughs – Burroughs is among my favorite authors, and I would have cherished the chance to meet him during his lifetime. He wrote *Naked Lunch*, and I own nearly all his works. 3. Steve Jobs – As an Apple enthusiast, I do all my work on a Mac (even Windows development) and traveled to San Francisco last year for the MacWorld Keynote. I own numerous Apple devices, with my iPhone being my most prized possession. Meeting the visionary behind it all would be incredible. 4. Joseph Ratzinger – Now known as Pope Benedict XVI, I’d have liked to meet him before his papacy. He’s making intriguing changes in the Catholic Church, and I’d love to understand his vision, especially given his past role as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith. 5. John Galt – The central figure in Ayn Rand’s *Atlas Shrugged*, Galt is the philosophical core of the book. Meeting him would be fascinating, as the novel is one of my favorites.
8. Question 8
Q. Do you use lists in your daily life? A. I do
Every week, I plan a list of meals for the upcoming seven days. Based on that, I create a shopping list of ingredients needed. When cooking for a crowd, I outline a timeline for each step of the process. Additionally, I rely on to-do lists to manage large projects effectively.
