Need-Driven Design

Some late-night ideas....

me: no... it's freaking nutella! you wouldn't let it go to waste
un-named nutella fanatic: then I'D lick my plate clean!
me: fine.. you lick your own plates
un-named nutella fanatic: ...just not in the restaurants
me: =P
un-named nutella fanatic: i'll do the licking at home
un-named nutella fanatic: hehehe
me: i'm sure
me: you probably lick the bottle too
un-named nutella fanatic: if i could
un-named nutella fanatic: heheheh
un-named nutella fanatic: they should redesign the jars
un-named nutella fanatic: to make it easily accessible for licking
me: hahahaha
un-named nutella fanatic: and scraping so there's no nutella left behind
un-named nutella fanatic: hahaha
me: that's the best idea i've heard all day
un-named nutella fanatic: what? it's a GOOOD idea
un-named nutella fanatic: sheesh
me: it was a compliment!
me: compliment....
me: just take it and don't question it
un-named nutella fanatic: ok ok :P
un-named nutella fanatic: hey, go patent it for me
un-named nutella fanatic: :D
me: i'm thinking about the shape
un-named nutella fanatic: the sides need to be able to be flattened
me: i don't think we can get that licking part satisfied
un-named nutella fanatic: so i can open the entire thing and lick
me: why don't we do it like toothpaste tube?
un-named nutella fanatic: but there's gonna still be waste!!!
me: and get one of those japanese roller things that squeezes the last bit out
un-named nutella fanatic: can't ope the tube and lick either
me: and then you can cut it open and lick it
me: dude, you sound like some crack addict
un-named nutella fanatic: no, gotta make it easily accessible
un-named nutella fanatic: like...the bottom can unravel or something
me: can i blog this? =)
un-named nutella fanatic: this conversation?
me: hehehehe
me: yeah
un-named nutella fanatic: sure
me: this is amusing
me: i'll censor out your name =)
un-named nutella fanatic: :D
un-named nutella fanatic: but going back to the nutella topic
me: yes
un-named nutella fanatic: the toothpaste idea, i don't think it's gonna work
un-named nutella fanatic: cause it's gonna be a HUGE toothpaste tube then
me: family pack
un-named nutella fanatic: no, gotta have it all in one tube
un-named nutella fanatic: like the can ones
un-named nutella fanatic: economy pack!
me: does it behave like solid or liquid?
un-named nutella fanatic: like peanut butter
me: sigh... the liberate arts answer
un-named nutella fanatic: hhahaha
me: ok, in the long term, does it behave like liquid?
un-named nutella fanatic: it melts, yes
un-named nutella fanatic: like chocolate
me: i.e., if you do those upside-down bottle things (like the new mustard/ketchup bottles, would it work?
un-named nutella fanatic: it's not as liquid form as ketchup
un-named nutella fanatic: it's like peanut butter!!!
un-named nutella fanatic: except that if you leave PB out, it won't melt
un-named nutella fanatic: but if you leave nutella out, it WILL mlet
me: well... what i'm saying is that, say if you only have a little bit left, and you squeeze it out, would there still be significant portion left in the upside-down bottle that requires licking?
un-named nutella fanatic: yes
me: cuz if not, then we solve the licking problem
un-named nutella fanatic: unless you want to put the nutella out on the sun
un-named nutella fanatic: and let it drain from the top
me: make it microwave-safe
un-named nutella fanatic: that's gross
me: what?
me: we're just having it collect at the bottom for easy access, since the hole is at the bottom
un-named nutella fanatic: but warm nutella doesn't taste the same as normal temp nutella!
me: i wouldn't know
me: i'm not a nutella afficionado
un-named nutella fanatic: yes, figured that

Review of Angela Aki's "Kokoro no Senshi" single

I got to spend some time to sift through a ton of uncategorized music sitting in my computer (translation: too much downloading and not enough filtering to delete crap that's not good), and I happened across Angela Aki's "Kokoro no Senshi" single that came out this week. FYI, she's the one they asked to sing the Final Fantasy 12 theme song when it comes out in March (and August in the US).

For some reason I can't explain, I didn't think the songs in the single were that great. They weren't bad, but I wouldn't keep them around. The only notable track in the single is her cover of Faye Wong's "Eyes on Me" from FF8 was included as a bonus track on the CD... and that's not necessarily a good thing. I guess I'll bullet my list of negatives for her cover:

• She changed some notes in the song, so it sounds weird
• She made the song sound angry, especially towards the end. WTH? It's supposed to be a wistful song! Bet you can't visualize Rinoa being pissed.
• The piano accompaniment is nice, but it also sounds angry. See point above.
• When you do a cover of a great song, it better be better than the original. And it's not.
• I find her voice grating at times....
• Just cuz you're doing a FF theme song doesn't give you the right to mess with a previous one. Shame on you Square-Enix and Nobuo Uematsu, for approving this collaboration.

I still prefer the original version, sung by Faye Wong, in all its Engrish, sappy glory. I give Angela Aki's single, and especially the bonus track, a two thumbs waaaaaaaaay down. Needless to say, it no longer exists on my computer.

I just hope that her single for the FF12 theme song is much better.

Sucky End to 2005

It's been nearly a month since I last posted anything. Let's see.... long story short. I took 2 weeks off to go home (as in my parents' place in So. Cal.). Played a lot of video games, hung out with friends... then got sick the second week. It was some nasty flu and I had high fever for 2 days, followed by days of sore throat and over a week of throat-itchiness and coughing. The whole experience left me completely drained. It was also the first time that I had to nap during my ~390mi drive between LA and SF. I was getting so sleepy from the sickness that I had to pull over at a rest stop and napped for 40 minutes before I could continue on.

I was sad that I didn't get to hang out with friends more before I had to leave So. Cal. And I didn't do any of the GMAT studying that I was planning on doing during my second week of vacation! I couldn't even read a magazine article without feeling tired. =T I'm just glad that I'm all good again.