Things I build

Curiosity, made tangible.

From software and interactive worlds to historical research and physical spaces, these are projects I built because I wanted to understand what was possible.

The 1802 Nelson County guardian bond carrying Benjamin Meason’s signature

Ongoing · 2026

Where the Record Ends

I was born Shannon Jeremiah Meason and adopted into the Cohen family. Where the Record Ends traces my biological Meason line through original records, family photographs, and carefully labeled uncertainty—while exploring why that history has mattered to me for as long as I can remember.

Research and presentation

  • Reconciles inherited family-tree claims against wills, deeds, bonds, censuses, church minutes, land records, and other original sources
  • Separates documented facts, family traditions, disputed claims, bounded negative searches, and records that remain inaccessible
  • Maintains a privacy-conscious boundary between the private research archive and the curated public story
  • Presents the reviewed direct line through an interactive family atlas, evidence neighborhoods, photographs, stories, and a detailed source catalog
  • Follows the documented journey from Kentucky through Missouri and Texas while keeping unresolved relationships and migration details visibly open
Explore Where the Record Ends
WOPR Terminal showing a cyan strategic simulation interface and world map

Sep 2026

WOPR Terminal

Zork was my first doorway into games, followed by an obsession with Sierra adventures like King’s Quest, Police Quest, and The Black Cauldron. WarGames made computers feel like mysterious worlds waiting behind a modem connection. WOPR Terminal is a playable tribute to that era, built for the browser and command line.

Origins and details

  • At 13, I created 5:30 Departure, a Hermes BBS in San Ramon, to connect with people and exchange software and technology tips before the web became part of everyday life
  • What now takes seconds could take weeks: dial in, leave a message or file, disconnect, and wait for the exchange to travel from system to system
  • A cinematic terminal interface with an animated strategic simulation, sound, green-phosphor mode, and a Joshua command session
  • Playable Global Thermonuclear War simulation and tic-tac-toe against an AI that cannot be beaten
  • Runs as both a browser experience and a command-line application
Launch WOPRView sourceBBS archive
Blue and yellow four-season treehouse built twelve feet above the ground

Sep 2024

Treehouse Builder

During the month between working at Sitecore and Altudo, and with the help of Justin Vogt, I was able to build a treehouse for my children Marty and Caroline.

Engineering highlights

  • 4-season weatherproofing and insulation for year-round use
  • Structural engineering for 12-foot elevated framework stability
  • Custom 8'×8' construction with integrated windows and door
  • Hand-crafted ladder and deck systems for safe access
  • Vibrant blue and yellow color scheme designed with children in mind
  • Complete electrical planning and safety considerations

A philosophy

“Whether it’s a cloud platform, a browser game, or a treehouse, the mindset is the same: stay curious, understand the system, and build something that lasts.”

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