You have the ability to press R to forcibly rotate every block you place, making it much easier to work with directional blocks like logs.

• There are four modes: Force Direction Off, Up/Down, North/South, and East/West

You can press and hold V to measure distances

• When you first press it, it records the location you are looking at
  -- It tells you the location, gives you a visual particle cue, and makes a cow bell sound
• Look at where you want to stop measuring and let go of V
  -- There should be another visual particle cue and cow bell sound
• It will tell you the height, length, width, vertical diagonal length, and horizontal diagonal length of the measurement

Press G to use the pointer

• Press G to turn it on if it is off
  • This will put colored particles at any block you look at
• Press G again if it is on to turn it off

Press Y to turn on the Y-Lock. At the time of pressing it, the y location of the block below you is recorded. While the Y-Lock is on, you can only place blocks on that y level. Press Y again to turn it off.