Each Thursday (or Friday, since some weeks we seem to be running behind on everything), Needcoffee.com's staff of whackos will wrack our brains to give you interesting and new things to do over the weekend. Books, movies, whatever. We'll throw them out, you do with them what you will. And hey...if you have something you want to recommend--whatever it is--drop us a line.

Incidentally, we've provided links where we can for you to buy the stuff or find out more if you're interested, courtesy of those Amazon types. Hey, come on, we can't be totally selfless in this, can we?

April 13, 2002

Book of the Week: Lummox: The Evolution of a Man by Mike Magnuson. Ah, "The Champagne of Beers". Great slogan. The author of this book is pictured on the front, ready to pound one down. Reason number one this book holds promise. Reason number two? It opens with a great Frank Zappa quote about cute vs. ugly people. Basically Magnuson's life story, lightly fictionalized, this novel doesn't really go anywhere but still takes you someplace. Good for a laugh and to prove how you can and cannot judge a book by its cover.

Graphic Novel of the Week: Top Ten, Vol. 1 by Alan Moore & Gene Ha. Where Bendis' Powers serves as a kind of NYPD Blue of superheroics, this series is more like Hill Street Blues. With a sizable cast of protagonists, all nicely fleshed, you get not only a bit of humor (and a slew of comic book superhero references) but you also get the first part of a really smartly done "first season" of a story arc. Makes you wish Moore would get into TV.

DVD of the Week: Ghost World. The comic movie that most people don't think of as an adaptation, simply because they were previously unfamiliar with the work of creator Daniel Clowes. The good news is that it's a startingly accurate depiction of coming-of-age isolation and all of the strange baggage that comes with it. The bad news is that it doesn't end where it should, but that's a small price to pay for a load of great performances and smart dialogue.

Off the Beaten Path VHS of the Week: The Haunting (1963). Still smarting from the remake? Ah, who isn't. Well, if you haven't read the original book by Shirley Jackson, the least you could do is check out the original film. Downright scary, it actually knew how to be subtle--unlike Jan de Bont. And of course--not available on DVD.

CD of the Week: Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix. Usually, I'm not a fan of greatest hits compilations. Because I love deep cuts as much as the "hits", and they're never included. But, you know, when you've got to get a quick and impressive infusion of Hendrix into your bloodstream--this CD will do just fine, thanks. All the necessary tracks are here, and you know, it's just damn good listening.

Beverage of the Week: Thai Coffee. Oh yeah, baby. This stuff is jet fuel. Strong, strong coffee mixed with a little bit on the spice angle, then heavy cream and a buttload of sugar. There's nothing quite like the kick one gets from shooting back a large mug of this concoction. Check out the recipe we've linked to; it's one of our personal faves.

Ice Cream of the Week: Chocolate Ice Cream with Chocolate Hearts. Godiva is pure evil. And this ice cream is downright satanic. It's Godiva chocolate ice cream with Godiva chocolate hearts in it, and it just melts your brain with its decadent goodness. They also have vanilla with caramel-filled chocolate hearts in it too. Those brilliant bastards.