MindNode: Of all the note-taking and writing tools I’ve tried over the years, the one that has never really stuck for me is the mind map genre. I have a license for Mind Node from a while back and I opened it up and, once again, started thinking about how I might be able to use it for brainstorming or planning. Mind maps are a much more spatial version of note taking or outlining, although what’s interesting especially about MindNode is its outline view… it lays bare to you that, for however spatial they might seem, your mind maps definitely can be expressed in outline form. In any event, I was able to sign up for a generous free six-month trial period of MindNode Plus, which is replacing the standalone license.
Mr. Bar-B-Q Natural Lump Charcoal: I used this most recently to sear off some sous vide pork tenderloin I made. It does the job. It’s no Royal Oak, though.
Powderpuff football: Aaron was a cheerleader for his class (seniors) at Friday’s Powerderpuff game. Rhonda and I went and got to see some of the game and of course the big half-time show. One of Aaron’s friends is into choreography and dance, and he directed their production. It was a lot of fun and laughs, but a couple of things hit me. First, what a fun celebration in an otherwise serious endeavor. How much do we neglect when we fail to celebrate within our professional domains? There’s a lot you can write about Powderpuff: a beacon of flexibility in a society with rigid notions of masculinity… or maybe an event that, however playfully, reinforces the same norms? But I wasn’t there to overthink it. Got some great pics too.