I struggle with online introductions. It’s much easier when performing introductions in offline social spaces. You get to ask questions, receive responses and develop a dialog, usually while drinking some sort of beverage. An introduction for a blog, yet alone my personal blog is an unscripted monologue that requires me asking several questions. Where do I start? What do I say? Who the heck am I? Why am I doing this? What do I plan to achieve? And what’s my favorite type of pie? The best way to begin is to answer these questions in order.

Where do I start?

In the beginning. Hopefully I’ll be able to get to the middle and then reach the end. If I fail along this trek, then this post is not only a waste of your time but mine and I don’t provide refunds on wasted time (sorry).

What do I say?

Well, I’m going to be as honest and open as I can be without degrading myself to saying or showing something that I may regret later. I think there’s a picture of me holding my crotch with a beer in my hand during my 25^th or 26^th birthday somewhere on the Internet. It is going to be really embarrassing when that picture reappears during my presidential run in 2020.

Who the heck am I?

This is a great question! I’m Leo Newball, Jr. as the domain implies. I was born in 1981 (which means I’m 27 at the time of this post) and I’m a tech/geek/social medist/DJ/human being. I’ve grown up around computers since I was 11 years old, I started with a IBM PS/2 and the Macintosh LC simultaneously (the Mac LC outlasted the IBM PS/2 by several years). I began doing web development in 1995 and as a gamer was introduced to my first MMO in 2002.

I also go by a different name. Many people also know me as Nexeus Fatale. It’s a name I use while DJing and working on virtual world projects. While Nexeus may be my alter-ego, the lines between Leo and Nexeus blur a lot, almost too much. I respond to both names in my every day and depending on the situation I introduce myself as either Leo or Nexeus. If there’s any major difference between the two of us, Nexeus has a better chest and stomach than I do.

Why am I doing this?

As I’ve mentioned above, I’ve been in web development since 1995. The Internet has always fascinated me, from the days of AOL 2.7, Yahoo, and geocities to today’s new media, social networking, and Web 2.0. I’ve always been intrigued by the opportunities, possibilities, and the advances the web has to offer. While I enjoy, embrace and use a lot of the bleeding edge, I like to consider myself an early adopter, but I also tend to be hesitant of a lot of new tech at times. Sometimes I don’t quite see the practicality of it or quite get its use as it pertains to me. So while I may try new technology in its early stages, I’m definitely not trigger happy.

Virtual worlds plays an important part in my life. I’ve ventured through several virtual worlds, if not briefly, before arriving in Second Life. As Nexeus, I’ve found myself not only become very entrenched into virtual worlds but also DJing, specifically online. I’ve created a career out of it. While going about this process, I’ve never really expressed many of my other points of views of life, tech and web development which I have major passions for. Most of these things come through the lens of Nexeus. It feels out of place discussing web standards, Internet development, Flash and PHP as Nexeus, I’ve also come to believe it doesn’t help him or the career of being a super-mega DJ at all. His roles are quite defined, DJ, virtual world personality, FIC.

Instead of creating a new site and using his name, I’m taking a step back and creating my own website (what your reading) where I can talk about web development, my life and my thoughts on Internet technology. I also want one location to discuss all of my new projects, developments, things I’m working on.

Along with my day job, being a student (it looks like my final semester this Fall), and being Nexeus Fatale, I also work as a Virtual World consultant or a freelance web designer, I figured this would be a great opportunity to display all of the work I’ve done.

What do I plan to achieve?

With this website, I plan to take over the world!

On a more serious note, I really want one website that I can use as a reference point for all of the things I do, have a passion for, display my portfolio of design and other work, and to present my thoughts and discussions on web design and related net technology. All of this while discussing life (well my life), and being more personal. I created this with the motto “Design. Tech. Life.” The three interact with each other for me. I hope to discuss, and present all three in an interesting manner.

What’s my favorite type of pie?

It would be very easy to say Apple Pie. You can never go wrong with apple pie! It’s American! It’s tasty! It’s great! I could borrow from The Rock and say Pootang Pie to show a wild, comical side and make some sort of innuendo. However, nothing beats my favorite pie and that’s Key Lime Pie (see picture). There’s nothing better than a great Key Lime Pie!

Well, there’s my introduction! Welcome to my website, come back often, subscribe to the feed, and send me a message if you want to send me any Key Lime Pie!