By Robert Farley (cl_kaulana) | cl_kaulana@oocities.com | Vienna Strasse/7000
Benedict Chiu, also known as MusakMaster and Googlyeyes, is one of the
newest community leaders in Vienna, and also one of the busiest. His posts
often adorn the CL forums, where he recently announced his intentions to
begin a Vienna Site of the Month. Currently working on getting that project
ready, Ben was also the first to post a reply to Liaison Mike's suggestion
that CLs interview one another for the Vienna zine.
Besides being an accomplished musician, Chiu is fluent in reading and
speaking Chinese. He is also a graphics and computing whiz, as evidenced
by his technologically excellent webpages. That is one reason why people
in need of help are glad to run into MusakMaster or Googlyeyes in the GeoCities
HelpChat room.
(The following interview was conducted between Australia and Hawaii over
two emails and one ICQ chat.)
Name: MusakMaster (Benedict Chiu)
Geographical Location: Melbourne, Australia
Email Address: musakmaster@oocities.com
Neighborhood(s) you are a CL in: Vienna, SiliconValley
Family (i.e. spouse, children, and/or parents, siblings, significant
pets): Only child (yippee!! :))
No pets?: Nope. My parents hate them. ROFL If I had one, I'd love
a Siamese cat.
Vocation and/or School Situation: Final year, high school (equivalent
to high school senior) / taking second-year Bachelor of Music (accelerated),
Melbourne University
Favorite Composer/Composition: Brahms (of course!) Favourite composition
ever would have to be something like ... ummm ... Rachmaninov's 3rd piano
concerto
Q: What instruments do you play? and how long have you played it or
them?:
A: Piano, since I was 4 years old (in case you're wondering, I'm 17 years
old -- turning 18 in November). I also play trumpet. Started when I turned
13 and have been going ever since.
What is your favorite instrument (whether you play it or not)?:
Hands down win for the piano.
Q: What are your non-computer, non-music hobbies?
A: I'm sports-mad as well, barracks for the Phoenix Suns in b'ball and Seattle
Mariners for baseball, love basketball, tennis, cricket (yes, that unusual
11-a-side game), and more. As well, I love jazz, reading widely, and socialising
:)
Q: When did you first come into contact with a computer? What were
the details, in school, at home?
A: First came into contact with a computer very early. My Dad is a computer
networking specialist and all-round computer "handyman," so I
was introduced to the joys of computing very early. I remember my first
computer was an Apple (complete with a green-and-black monitor) from way
back in 1985. We sold it in '91. I didn't actually get onto the Net permanently
until August last year, but I had always surfed the Net a lot at my local
library and I really liked it.
Q: You mentioned your father's occupation; what does your mother do
besides try to make sure you don't ruin your eyes by staying on the computer
24 hours a day?
A: LOL She's an excellent seamstress, always handy if you're missing a button
or bow tie half an hour before a concert :)
Q: What are your future plans and goals?
A: For now, I'd like to become a doctor or physiotherapist (sports physician
or something or other :)), and stay online for quite a while, helping more
people!!
Q: What can a person intuit about you from a visit to your homepage(s)
that is not expressly stated on the page?
A: Cheerful, honest, desire to please? *LOL*, helpful.
Q: How long have you been a GeoCities homesteader?
A: Since November last year.
Q: What made you decide to become a CL?
A: I hung around in Help Chat and saw myriads of people who needed desperate
help. So I thought the only way to help was to become a CL and help other
needy people. I've always needed help at some stage and I understood how
it felt like to be helpless and frustrated. I hoped that becoming a CL would
allow me to help people in need.
Q: How do you find the time to community lead in two neighborhoods?
A: Well, I s'pose there is something called time management. I make sure
I leave enough time for SiliconValley and Vienna duties and do a good job
at the same time. Homework always comes first, but I make sure I spend some
time doing my duties. (And yes, for those wondering, I DO have a decent
life outside :))
Q: How will your experience at GeoCities, both as a CL and a homesteader,
help you in the future?
A: It will help me immensely. Being at Geo has allowed me to see viewpoints
from other people's points of view and allowed me to understand their situation.
This has developed my patience, while also expanding my communication skills
with other people (and complete strangers!) So I feel it will indeed be
useful.
Q: In your opinion, what is the one most important aspect of a good
page? (List some other important aspects, if you want.)
Content. A web page is nothing without good content. (Incidentally, if you'd
like some web design tips, see my SiliconValley page at http://www.oocities.org/SiliconValley/2978
and find "Web design tips.")
Q: When you scan a page, what is the first thing you look for or notice?
A: I look at the general design of the page (whether it be frames, colorful
graphics/backgrounds, readable text etc.).
Q: Have you used all 11 megabytes of space on a webpage yet?
A: Never! Both my sites have only used about 3 mb so far. And it's extremely
unlikely I'll come anywhere near using the limit :)
Q: Do you sign guestbooks?
A: Absolutely. Another excellent way of promoting your site. *oops! Shouldn't
have said it! hehehe*
Q: How long do you think the brouhaha over the watermark is going
to last?
A: I think it will last for a while. A majority of people I have spoken
to strongly dislike the watermark. We can only hope that Geo is listening
and will administer the new changes.
Q: Last question. If someone were to visit Melbourne for the first
time, what would you recommend seeing?
A: I'd recommend seeing the zoo, the Rialto tower (with the best view of
Melbourne), the Arts centre, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground - the largest
of its kind in the world. And depending when you come, the Melbourne Cup
(the horse-racing kind), Moomba (a great local festival), the Australian
Open (which I go to every year), and the Australian Football League Grand
Final. (I'm not sure if you've seen Aussie rules.)
(cl_kaulana became a CL not long before MusakMaster and
the both of them were locked out of the forums together until MusakMaster
figured out how to get them in. cl_kaulana is also known as robertfarley.)
Zineterview