About Me19 min read

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I. Free Xenon?

Curious to know where my online pseudonym and website name comes from? Well, you are in luck! I wrote a small post talking about it came from: Free Xenon?.

II. General Biography

A. Overview

James E. O'Neill IV
James E. O’Neill IV

I am a cisgendered, heterosexual, heteroromantic, monogamous neurodivergent (ADHD) male (he/him/his). I am happily married to a beautiful Belarussian and we live in a small house in south-central Wisconsin with our beautiful daughter.

  • My Divergent faction would be Erudite.
  • My Wizarding house would be either Griffindor or Hufflepuff – I have tested equal for both.
  • My Patronus would be a spicy chicken sandwich.
  • In Game of Thrones I would definitely be from House Stark, but I would be one of the Starks that would have already died ingloriously off-screen just prior to the start of the book. =)

B. Introvert

Me with people: quiet. Me on my own: blathering away.
Me with people: quiet.
Me on my own: blathering away.

On the Myers-Briggs Test I test as INTP. I am quite introverted and at any moment you see me I will most likely be lost in my thoughts and conversing with myself. A little too often my wife and daughter will both ask me who I am talking too. =O

In groups of people, I tend to quiet down significantly, but I can extrovert when needed – presentations, parties, etc. Plus, if you get me on a topic I am passionate about I can talk quite a bit.

I have recently added an About My Blog page.

C. ADHD Neurodivergent

Note – added 10 March 2023

Here, I won’t go into my whole path on how we get to this amazing place, but I am almost 50 and my daughter (14) and I were just diagnosed with ADHD (Dec 2022). I think I will put this into a post at some point. Here are how some of the ways that my ADHD manifests:

  • Impulsiveness – For me, my impulsiveness or lack of control shows itself with food and with spending money depending on the conditions. 
  • Hyper-focus is a part of the ADHD superpower, but like all great narrative super powers, it has a negative side. I am hyper-focused on things such as politics and storytelling and I find it very difficult to pull myself away from such things and can become cranky when I have to. 
  • Don’t Touch My Stuff – If it moves to where I did not put it, then it is lost in a black hole, never to be found again, which makes me cranky.
  • Thrive Under Routine – I like routine so I don’t waste brain cycles. I really hate shaving and clipping nails, such a waste of brain cycles and it breaks my routine.
  • Crappy Grades in grade school and high school.
  • Sensory Sensitivities – sensitive to loud sounds or food texture
  • No Small Talk – I do not like small talk. I really only prefer to talk about the things I am passionate and hyper-focused on (politics, religion, sexuality, nerdy stuff).
  • Sleeplessness – Not being able to sleep because my mind has always been active which is a mixed blessing, of course. Not sleeping sucks… a lot, but I cannot tell you how many times I have had amazing thoughts or epiphanies during those sleepless times.
  • Short Term Memory – easily forget things required by short term memory to which my wife cannot powerfully attest to.
  • Project Jumping – Picking up and dropping hobbies or things:
    • I have 87+ blog posts sitting in various forms of draft
    • I have picked up video and audio editing, novel writing, music creation as hobbies which then get discarded.
  • Massive Procrastination – It is hard to start certain things unless certain criteria are met, or for some reason my brain wants to make it what is called an Impossible Task. Even if it is an easy task, my brain will just not want to do it. OR sometimes it manifests as if there is a project that requires a lot of brain power then it can be very, very difficult to start.
  • Work Pressure – Have you ever had the thing where because of the pressure to get something done during work time that it is impossible to do, but as soon as the work day is done that project instantly becomes easier to do because the pressure is no longer there?
  • Underestimate time – It was during our daughter’s appointment where we heard that we should start with what time we think a project will take and then multiply it by 2.5.  The week of her appointment I was just thinking of how shitty I am at estimating time to do projects at work!
  • Planning – Need to plan things, especially things that I write, or cannot think or write. I need an outline and headers.
  • Hyperactive Starts – For me, when I have decided to do something for working out or health, I have tended to go 100% and have ended up hurting myself in some way perhaps by not paying attention or not having the support I need (personal trainer or something).
    • Daily Yoga – I did yoga 7 days a week for months and this was the best shape I had even been in and it was amazing!!! But I ended up with knee issues.
    • Bowflex – Then years later (7-8 years ago), my Dad gave me his Bowflex (work out machine) and I ended up with significant shoulder problems which still create significant problems for me today. With knee and shoulder issues it make it harder to even attempt to try to take better care of myself. Frankly, it saddens me.

Here are some videos on ADHD:

D. Religion

I identify as an Agnostic Humanist, although according to the Dawkins Scale I am a Defacto Atheist. We have attended a Unitarian Universalist (UU) and Free Thought congregation.

You can see the Personal Creed I developed years ago to give you an idea what that means. The 4 following documents are the closest things I have to ‘religious‘ documents:

I am an LGBT+P friendly ordained minister with the Universal Life Church and I am open to performing services. Here is my Ministry page if you want to learn more.

I am also a LGBT+P advocate. You can take a look at my writings regarding these topics here under Social Activism.

D. Politics

1. Overview

With my recent diagnosis for ADHD, I realize that my journey into politics has not just been 15 neurotypical human years, but my journey has been 15 hyper-focused ADHD years!!!

I am an agonizingly leftist and support the issues of :

  • Civil Rights
    • Separation of Church and State
    • LGBT+P Rights
    • Universal Healthcare and Education
  • Metrics:
    • 24 Hour Clock
    • the Metric System
    • ending Daylight Saving Time
    • Calendar Reform
  • Resource Based Economies: 
  • Others

Yes, I know… keep laughing. =) =P

I am a member of the Green Party and I supported Bernie Sanders for President, and I voted Green in the last few elections.

2. General Political Conversation

Twitch: I have also started to stream on Twitch where I talk radical leftist politics: Free Xenon @ Twitch.

Transforming the World Conversations: I have also started a local conversation group at our Yoga Studio titled: Transforming the World: Conversations on Social, Economic, Political, and Sustainable Policy.

Patreon: If you would like to support my writing, live streaming, and activist work then please stop by my new Patreon project.

3. Interstellar New Deal

If you want to see what my policies might look like if I ran for office, then please check out an entire website dedicated to my policies:

The Interstellar New Deal – Transforming Humanity with a Vision for Radical: Equity and Social, Environmental, Economic, and Technological Justice

4. Running for Baraboo School Board 2022

Here is my candidacy websites:

F. General Preferences

Computers, Web Development, Role Playing Games, Martial Arts, Traveling, Esperanto, Investing, Religion, Politics, Yoga, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Nerdy, Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Writing

G. Personal Profiles

III. General Interests

A. Travel

I have traveled around the world a little bit, both while in and out of the military, to the following countries: Spain, Italy, Israel, Greece, France, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, St. Martin N.A., Russia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada, and Germany.

The most beautiful place that I have been is Prague, Czech Republic – their buildings are exquisite. I hope to visit China, and Japan some day. My wife and I both want to visit Paris, Rome and Ireland together.

I have taken trips with friends and family to places around the United States like: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Hoover Dam, Badlands National Park, the Statue of Liberty, Saguaro National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Disney World, Disneyland, Hershey Pennsylvania, and more.

B. Food

Italian, Mexican, or Traditional American although I generally avoid all three since have been trying to eat as healthy as I can – slowly adding vegetables into my diet, as well as much organic as I can. I would love to be a vegetarian, but I do not like vegetables so much. The struggle is real!! =)

C. Music

primarily pop, rock, 80’s Hair Metal, and a little metal

2 Cellos, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Bruce Willis, Creed, Def Leppard, Disturbed, Enigma, Evanescence, Five Finger Death Punch, Goo Goo Dolls, Guns and Roses, Halestorm, Jeff Healey, Journey, Nickelback, Pat Benatar, Poison, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Queen, REO Speed Wagon, Scorpions, Third Eye Blind, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, White Snake

I have found that as I have grow older that my taste in music has become heavier. I am starting to look at Disturbed and Five Finger Death Punch having recently bought a bunch of their music. There is this Norwegian musician and producer, Leo Moracchioli,  who does some amazing metal covers which I have bought. Leo’s cover of Adele’s Hello is amazing!

D. Television/Video Series

Life is too short to be normal. Stay Weird!
Life is too short to be normal. Stay Weird!

primarily sci-fi, fantasy, and nerdy

Agents of Shield, Altered Carbon (Netflix), Arrow, Big Bang Theory, Black Lightning (Netflix), Caprica, Cosmos, Daredevil (Netflix), Defiance, Doctor Who, Firefly, Fringe, Game of Thrones (HBO), Glee, Gotham, Heroes, House of the Dragon, Into the Badlands (Netflix), Jessica Jones (Netflix), Lost in Space (Netflix), Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), New Girl, Peggy Carter, Peripheral (Amazon), Ragnarock (Netflix), Sense8 (Netflix), Star Trek (original series, TNG), Star Wars: Bad Batch, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Stranger Things (Netflix), Super Girl, Supernatural (Netflix), The Boys (Amazon), The Expanse (Amazon), The Flash, The Good Place (Netflix), The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix), The Magicians (Netflix), The Punisher (Netflix), The Witcher (Netflix), Van Helsing (Netflix), Warrior Nun (Netflix), Wednesday (Netflix)

I hate to admit it but American Idol, The Voice, and So You Think You Can Dance. I blame these fully on my wife.

E. News and Politics:

  • AJ+, Breaking Points With Krystal and Saagar, Francesca Fiorentini,
  • Abby Martin, Chris Hedges, Dr. Cornel West
  • Michael Parenti, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky
  • John Oliver, John Stewart, Cody Johnston (Some More News)
  • Peter Joseph and Jacque Fresco

I have also started to stream on Twitch where talk radical leftist politics: Free Xenon @ Twitch.

F. Movies

primarily science fiction and action/adventure, with a splash of drama

300, 5th Element, Aladdin (Disney), Aliens, Angels and Demons, Army of Darkness, Avatar, Avengers (Marvel series and spin-offs), Braveheart, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Clash of the Titans (original), Contact, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Dances with Wolves, Dark City, Divergent (series), Enemy at the Gates, Finding Nemo, Event Horizon, Gladiator, Harry Potter (series), Hercules (Disney), Hunger Games, Indiana Jones, InterReflections (Peter Joseph), Interstellar, Ironman (Marvel), James Bond movies, Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) Labyrinth, Lethal Weapon (series), Lord of the Rings (series), Lost in Space (Netflix), Matrix, Monsters Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Pay It Forward, Pirates of the Caribbean, Primal Fear, Pulp Fiction, Rent, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Romeo and Juliet (Danes and Di Caprio), Romeo Must Die, Scent of a Woman, Serenity, Shawshank Redemption, Schindler’s List, Sister Act (series, don’t judge me =P ), Sixth Sense, Spiderman, Star Trek (original and new), Star Wars (IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX), The Da Vinci Code, The Fallout (HBO), The Lost Symbol, The Maze (series), The Princess Bride, The Usual Suspects, Toy Story, Troy, Unbreakable (+ Split and Glass), Wimbledon, X-Men

I don’t know how it happened, but the wife and I survived a Star Wars Marathon for the release of Episode 7 – a total of 7 movies and 23 hours including about 2 hours of driving. =)

The Joker is an amazing movie! Check out my post on: Themes, Messages, and Symbolism from the Movie “Joker”.

G. Sports/Activities

I have done martial arts (Shaolin Kempo Karate), racquetball, ping pong, tennis, and yoga.

I watch Green Bay Packer games when I get a chance, but that is about it.
I will also rarely watch tennis and billiards too.

H. Artists, Contemporary

mostly fantasy works

IV. Uploading to the Brainbow!

A. Education and Training

Brainbow – This image really embodies who I am. =)

Right after high school I enlisted in the Navy for 6 years and was stationed on the U.S.S. Enterprise as a Reactor Operator/Electronics Technician during the Persian Gulf War.

I graduated with honors from the Herzing College of Technology with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems (CIS) and an A.S. in Computer Networking Technologies (CNT). I have also become a Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) from Human Factors International (HFI) in 2006.

For the first 6 years of my post college career (2003 – 2009) I worked as as Web Standards Based developer, dealing with such issues as Semantics, Separation of Layers, and Validation. The next 13 years (2009 – 2021) was spent as a Drupal Administrator, end user trainer, and accessibility advocate.

In this next phase of my professional career, I am in a heaven working for Western Governors University as their Digital Accessibility Expert, being able to finally embrace and dive into a long time passion of mine – accessibility.

As of this year (2022), I am a member of the International Association of Accessible Professionals (IAAP, Dec 2021) and I am also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC, Mar 2022).

B. Books, Pleasure Reading

Check my Good Reads profile for more info on the books I have read.

primarily science fiction and fantasy

I have not done a whole lot of ‘pleasure reading’ in the last 10 years or so. In the last year I started reading the Harry Potter books to look them at from the stand point of learning how to write. I am on book 7. I have also started The Expanse series too.

Angels and Demons (Dan Brown), Harry Potter series, Heir to Empire trilogy (Timothy Zahn), Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien), Origin (Dan Brown), Robots Trilogy (Issac Asimov), Sword Dancer Trilogy (Jennifer Robberson), The Dark Elf Series (R.A. Salvatore), The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown), The Expanse (series), The Lost Symbol (Dan Brown), Thrawn trilogy (Timothy Zahn), Dungeons and Dragons as well as other RPG books.

C. Books, More Serious Books

Check my Good Reads profile for more info on the books I have read. I keep that pretty up to date

I have read books on politics, healthy living, real estate, investment, business management, religion, civil rights, constitutional law, economics, resource based economies, as well as evolutionary psychology and biology, sexuality and relationships, religious history, philosophy, theology, divine feminine theology and symbolism.

I just finished these 2 books the week of my birthday (Nov 2022):

D. Brain Drain

1. Kindle and Nook Books

I have many books on Kindle and Nook (over 2 years of non-stop reading).

I have also started tp listen to some audio books through Audible, mostly novels while I am on my walks.

2. YouTube and Netflix

I watch the following channels or programs:

I also just found out a about Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur (SFIA). This is an amazing YouTube channel discussing space, futurism, and related technology. They release one amazing video a week on Thursdays, so prepare to educate yourself on SFIA Thursdays!

3. The Great Courses

My mind is like my internet browser 19 tabs open, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.
My mind is like my internet browser 19 tabs open, 3 of them are frozen, and I have no idea where the music is coming from.

If you do not know about The Great Courses then please go there NOW!! I loves it. It is my precious.

Here is a list of some of the Great Courses I have listened to:

I have too many of these too. So much to learn… so little time!

V. Important Pursuits and Hobbies

A. Aspiring Writer

I desire to write fantasy, urban fantasy, solar punk, and science-fiction works. If you are interested you can see some of my older writings on this site through the writing category. I have tried my hand with some flash fiction. I also participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2013. and want to write novels, although… By the gods above! Plotting… is… HARD!!

My top 4 series to watch for writers are:

All of these shows were conveniently based on a book series.

I also have my Fate Guides which could be used as a tool for writers.

B. Changing the World

I have pursued studying many topics for over a decade in order to try to figure out how and why our world is so messed up, and how to fix it. Many of my blog posts and my blog pages are aimed at just that. From talking about Resourced Based Economies, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and my 8 Philosophical Pillars for Peace in Humanity to Calendar Reform, Esperanto, and Yoga, to all of the other crazy things I talk about here.

C. Gaming

Oh, I don't try to hide my weird. I like to wave it around and scare away the boring people and it's like a beacon for my fellow weirdos.
Oh, I don’t try to hide my weird. I like to wave it around and scare away the boring people and it’s like a beacon for my fellow weirdos.

1. RPG’s

I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons and Star Wars as well as a smidge of Alternity, The Expanse, GURPS, Shadowrun, Call of Cthulu and other RPG’s for over 25 years. I just fell in love with the FATE Core system! <3 Years ago I played Magic: the Gathering and Spellfire.

If you want to see my various posts, writings, and narratives for Role Playing Games check out that tag: RPG.

2. Other Table Top Games

For traditional cards games we primarily play: Rook and Euchre. For other card games we play Sushi Go and Exploding Kittens.

For board games I play: Axis and Allies, Carcassonne, Firefly, Othello, Pandemic, Risk (Dr. Who), Settlers of Catan, Tsuro.

I just had backed Kickstarter for the following 4X game: Laruna: Age of Kingdoms, but this seems to be locked into a lawsuit vs their Chinese manufacturer

3. Computer and Console

In the distant past I have played various consoles such as: Atari 2600, Nintendo, SNES, Playstation 1, 2, 3 and their many, many games, although I have had to pretty much end all console or computer gaming due to RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) in my wrist and forearms. (me sad panda)

I was playing Mech Warrior Online (MWO) and Star Wars: The Old Republic, but had to quit due to my arm issues. Currently, I am only playing a turn based strategy games such as:

Turn based games are about what my arms can handle. =(

I really want to play Cyberpunk 2077, but my hands would cry!!!