oh sweet artificial nectar that is capri sun

for those of us who might not be familiar with capri suns (no, they aren't a type of clothing), a capri sun is a 200mL package of "juice drink blend". the great thing about them is that they have a pouch form factor. unlike hard cans or bottles, these pouches are pliable so they easily fit into awkward spaces (such as a book/messenger bag) and won't poke or press into you. and when you are done, the remaining pouch takes up very little space.

so what's wrong with the pouch? unlike juice boxes, which provide a nice flat surface for you to pierce the straw through, the pouch deforms as you attempt to insert the straw. as a result, i often fail to insert the straw, leaving a hole for all the juice to run out--and run out it will, since the pressure you exert while holding it now squeezes out all of the juice. every time i think to myself "how difficult could this possibly be?? children drink this stuff!" and every time i proceed to squirt juice all over myself, upholstery, carpeting, laptops, and anything else that doesn't appreciate being doused with sugar water.

they say that practice makes perfect, and with time, i may learn the art of pricking the pouch. but until then, there sits a box of capri sun on the countertop. i guess the question is: is the juice worth the squeeze?