About Me, Jason Verhagen
TL;DR
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If you want to know more, read on….
My name is Jason. I am a tech geek with a wide variety of hands-on, high-tech hobbies and interests, including:
- Building, Troubleshooting, and Repairing PCs and Laptops
- Building Websites
- Programming
- Robotics
- 3D Printing and CAD Design
- Home Automation
- YouTube Video Creation, Editing, and Special Effects
- Light Shows Synchronized to Music
- Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
- Home Lab and Home Server Rack
- AI, AI Agents, and Automation Workflow Development
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
Building, Troubleshooting, and Fixing PCs and Laptops
I prefer to custom-build my own PCs and servers rather than rely on prebuilt systems that often prioritize cost over quality. Over the past four decades, I’ve worked with a wide range of computer hardware, operating systems, and software platforms. This experience allows me to do everything from basic processes like processor, RAM and storage upgrades to hardware/software diagnostics to more involved processes and repairs such as HDD-to-SSD migrations, power supply replacements, motherboard transplants, system rebuilds, and laptop keyboard and screen replacements.
Building Websites
I build and maintain my own websites using a mix of VPS providers and home-hosted servers. Most of my sites are built with ComposrCMS, which I find easier to configure, more secure, and more complete out-of-the-box than many popular alternatives. ComposrCMS is open source and includes built-in features such as forums, galleries, blogs, and news systems without requiring a large ecosystem of third-party plugins. It’s approachable for beginners while still offering powerful and creative extension options for developers.
Programming
I’m not a programmer by trade, but I can get around fairly well in the PHP and Python programming languages. I have used those languages to add functionality to my ComposrCMS websites and my Home Assistant home automation installation. While not as proficient as I am with PHP and Python, I can follow code and work with other programming languages such as Perl, C/C++/C#, Java/JavaScript, various BASIC languages, Windows Batch script, Windows PowerShell, and various Linux Bash/terminal script languages. Languages like Go and Rust are my todo list for learning new programming languages.
Robotics
I’ve built several small robots over the years using platforms such as the MIT Handyboard, Parallax Basic Stamp, EZ-Robot EZ-B, various Arduino-based controllers, and various Raspberry Pi-based controllers. I currently have multiple robotics projects in different stages of development, including full-scale and scaled-down movie-inspired robots, a small Wall-E platform I plan to convert from remote-controlled to autonomous operation, a Heathkit Hero Jr. robot awaiting modernization with modern sensors and microcontrollers, and a modular test robot built on a Zagros Robotics multi-deck chassis. Time is always the limiting factor, but the projects continue to evolve.
3D Printing and CAD Design
I own and regularly use several 3D printers, including a Creality CR-10, Cobblebot Vanguard, Comgrow/Sovol T500, and a Bambu Lab P1S with AMS. My workflow includes Fusion 360 for custom CAD design and a combination of Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, Cura, and Slic3r for preparing STL/3MF files and generating G-code for the 3D printers. I use 3D printing both for fun and function, supporting my hobbies and general maker projects.
Home Automation
Home automation has advanced significantly over the past decade, making sophisticated smart homes accessible to a wider audience. I run the open-source Home Assistant platform on a Raspberry Pi 4 controller, integrating Wi-Fi and Zigbee devices such as lights, outlets, sensors, cameras, and an HVAC thermostat. The system is connected to Google Assistant and accessible via my phone and smart speakers. From voice-controlled lighting and temperature adjustments to automated notifications for laundry completion and garbage day reminders, the system is designed to be both practical and hands-off.
YouTube Video Creation, Editing, and Special Effects
I have experience creating and editing video content, including compositing and special effects using Adobe After Effects and other editing tools. Some of the videos I’ve worked on - both behind the scenes and on camera - can be found on this YouTube channel: HolleywoodStudio
Light Shows Synchronized to Music
I live in a duplex in Appleton, WI, where I run Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day light shows synchronized to music. The project has its own website at West Pershing Lights, which includes schedule, location, and show details. The display uses Light-O-Rama controllers, LED string lights, RGB pixel lights, and pixel flood lights. Scheduling and automation are handled through Light-O-Rama software, Google Calendar, and my Home Assistant server, allowing the light show to run fully automated each day.
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology have legitimate applications. When properly implemented, decentralized blockchains function as transparent, publicly verifiable ledgers that are highly resistant to tampering. Blockchain-based financial tools such as peer-to-peer transfers, lending, and staking offer alternatives to traditional banking. From its beginning through to recent years, cryptocurrency usage has not been the easiest thing to work with, though usability, regulation, and consumer protections continue to evolve. While mainstream adoption is still developing, the underlying technology shows long-term potential beyond speculation.
Home Lab and Home Server Rack
My home lab is built into a custom 19" rack that houses multiple systems, UPS units, networking equipment, and media hardware. It includes an AMD 8-core/16-thread mini PC with 32GB RAM running Proxmox and Linux virtual machines, Raspberry Pi 4 systems hosting over two dozen local services in a Docker swarm, and a rackmount Windows 10 Pro server acting as a whole-home DVR and storage server. DVR functionality is provided by the open-source SageTV software, while StableBit DrivePool combines multiple disks into a single ~36TB storage pool with file duplication for redundancy.
AI, AI Agents, and Automation Workflow Development
My interest in artificial intelligence goes back to junior high school in the late 1980s, when I gave a class presentation on AI using a Radio Shack book that I still own. Today’s AI platforms, including OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic Claude, finally deliver on much of that early promise. When integrated with automation tools such as n8n and AI agent systems such as Agent Zero, OpenClaw, and Hermes, these systems enable powerful workflows, custom AI agents, and intelligent assistants that can meaningfully augment problem solving, productivity, and creativity.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
I’m a strong advocate for STEM education and lifelong curiosity and learning. In school in the 1980s and early 1990s, formal STEM opportunities were limited, though my senior year at Appleton West High School did introduce a robotics class (that was my favorite class). Today, I enjoy following developments in physics, astronomy, cosmology, computing, and engineering. I also enjoy applying math in practical ways, including in my manufacturing job, where understanding measurements, geometry, and algebra helps improve efficiency and problem-solving in a real-world production environment.