One of the nice things about FreeMind, if you’re a technical sort, like myself, is that the latest version, currently in beta, supports scripts written in Groovy, a powerful scripting language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This allows you to extend the capabilities of the software quite a bit. One group has developed a way interface FreeMind with a project tracking system, so they can use mind mapping to brain-storm solutions and generate estimates.

Since the program is written in Java, I’ve decided to join the developer team and see if I can add a few features I’d like to have. They mostly have to do with improving the utility of scripts and improving the user interface.

At the same time, I decided to go ahead and change my blogging software to WordPress. I’ve heard good things about it and my wife uses it on her own site.

I will do my best to restore most of the old stories I had on this site, at least the ones that are worth keeping around, like the recipes and how-to guides.

As far as news goes, I’ve been busy. I’m still working on my novel, its working title is now The 24th Chromosome. It’s about a genetics researcher who discovers something quite extraordinary buried in the Human Genome. So far, the story is being well-received by my writing group.

Now that things are working well here, again, I should be posting more frequently.