Each Thursday, 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?

November 1, 2001

Book of the Week: Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams & Mark Carwardine. Adams is best known for his whacked out sci-fi humor. But we remember him as well for being not just funny in outer space, but funny on this planet too. He goes around the world documenting his experiences with species that are on the brink of extinction, before they are gone forever. My favorite funny Adams passage ever is in this book, dealing with an Australian venomous animal specialist. If you can get the audiobook--that's priceless.

Graphic Novel of the Week: Marvel Boy by Morrison & Jones. Morrison's first excursion into the Marvel Universe in a while, and it's a doozy. Features cloned Captain America drones, a villain who's a cosmic ray junkie and runs around in an old school Iron Man suit of armor, and a hero who's a genetically created super soldier who's got a little bit of roach in his DNA. Fun and violent.

DVD of the Week: The Lion in Winter. You want balls to the wall acting? You got it. O'Toole as Henry II, Hepburn as Eleanor of Acquitane, Dalton, Hopkins, and an incredible script. You've never seen backstabbing like this before. Favorite lines include: "Piss on your peace" and "When the King's off his ass, nobody sleeps!" Incredible.

Off the Beaten Path Rental of the Week: The Dark Backward. Out of print, not on DVD. Again. But it's just so damn strange. Judd Nelson plays a guy who really wants to be a stand-up comic, egged on by his friend, played by Bill Paxton. But he can't get anyone to give him the time of day...that is, until he grows a third arm out of his back. With everyone from James Caan to Wayne Newton in this film it's just...it's...God, it's so damn odd.

CD of the Week: Pure Rock Fury by Clutch. Maryland's heaviest band returns with their fifth full-length LP, and they are as reliable as ever. Seriously crunchy guitar riffs, deep-groove rhythm section, and the ever bizarre lyrical stylings for which Clutch has become famous. Notable tracks: "Careful With That Mic...," a live rendition of "Spacegrass," "Immortal," and "Drink to the Dead." Best line (Tie): "May you go marching in three-measure time/Dressed up as asses and drunk to the nines." OR "Me Cray, you abacus."

Beverage of the Week: Sobe Adrenaline. There are many really small, really overpriced energy drinks on the market. We know, we've tried pretty much all of them. Our favorite for punch and taste is still this monster. Just enough to get our eyelids thrumming.

Snack of the Week: Ice Cream Sandwiches by Tofutti. Ah, Tofutti Ice Cream Sandwiches. You'd be amazed at the tofu(!) replication of real ice cream taste and texture that they cram between two wedges of chocolate. Dairy free and Kosher, they'll satisfy your needs whether you're Jewish, lactose intolerant, health-conscious, or a wannabe of any of the above. .