I had previously seen IUseThis, a sort of social bookmarking app for Mac applications, but it was brought back to my attention by John’s bookmark yesterday.
Having just gone through the trials and tribulations of installing all of my apps on a new MacBook Pro, I figured it would be a good time to catalog what apps make up my standard install.
So if you want to learn what I can’t live without, check out [my profile](http://osx.iusethis.com/user/remy).
A life lesson:
One of the greatest traits to have is to not only be able to listen, but to understand, to relate, to empathize. Tears on your shoulder, even for reasons you may personally not find worth crying over, need compassion.
Some people believe in the concept of “tough love”. Tough love is only effective as an occasional contrast, not as the standard. It cannot be the only tool in your emotional response arsenal. The emotionally distraught are weakened by their burden, and your focus should not be harming them in hopes of healing them, as that will almost certainly backfire.
If anyone you care about comes to you in their time of need, be there for them. Help them. Love them. Give them constructive feedback. Guide them where you can. If their needs conflict with yours, be willing to compromise.
Lack of empathy can lead to you becoming part of the problem. You will become a target of antipathy, possibly more than the actual problem itself, and you will only realize this after the damage is done. You will need to make amends quickly, because failure to correct transgressions will lead to permanent damage in your relationship. Apologies are rarely enough.
Strive to show compassion and love whenever you are able.
The first piece of musical software I remember sparking my interest was [Rebirth 1.0](http://www.rebirthmuseum.com/). I didn’t have a MIDI keyboard, and I barely had a lick of musical inspiration, but setting up drum loops and turning the knobs on the virtual synth just made me feel…I don’t know, I guess the proper word is *empowered*.
To the best of my memory, my discovery of Rebirth was also right around the time I found myself listening to electronic music. Rebirth came out in early 1997, and the span from 1996 to 1997 was when the US had that big HOLY SHIT **ELECTRONICA** moment. And even if it amounted to little more than press hype, it started me down the musical tinkering slope.
June of 2000: I discover [Igor Engraver](https://vjarmy.com/archives/2000/06/for_the_musicia.php) – a then-free piece of music notation software. I tinker, I toy, I play. Nothing comes of it, but that creative spirit blooms again briefly.
Early 2002: I find my way into Beatmania. I never recover.
Christmas 2003: I receive both a copy of [Traktor DJ Studio](http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=traktor3_us) and an [Oxygen8](http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Oxygen8-main.html) keyboard. I put together a few mashups, and end up putting a few musical blips together to be used in some games.
In the time since, I’ve taken up photography, and as an immediate-feedback outlet, it’s hard to top. But that desire to screw around and craft music has never really disappeared.
Which leads us to today. Today is the day where I acquired [Ableton Live 5.2](http://www.ableton.com/index/live).
I list the software I’ve gone through because of the massive rate of growth the industry has seen. In 10 years, we’ve come from a simple synth and drum machine to something through which [beatboxers can reach new heights](http://www.ableton.com/_common/downloads/pages2/artist_kid_beyond/kid-beyond.mov), [loops can be made out of common household goods](http://www.ableton.com/_common/downloads/pages2/artists/shawn_pelton/down_and_dirty_loops.mov), and [music can be made while traveling](http://www.ableton.com/_common/downloads/pages2/artist_telefon_tel_aviv/telefon_tel_aviv.mov). (Seriously, folks, **watch these movies.**)
I don’t know if anything worthwhile will come out of me having Live. It may just be another plaything, another toy I end up growing tired of. But once again, I feel that grand empowerment that comes from having a magical tool that almost begs to be bent to my will – and bend it I shall.