The Heartbreak of Super Mario Bros.

I couldn't decide if this strange little video belonged here or at Terror Titans. I'll let you folks be the judge!

Anyone want a free ebook of short fiction?

As some of you are probably aware, I publish RPG material and fiction anthologies through a little outfit called NUELOW Games.

We've been doing okay with our fiction anthologies in the Robert E. Howard Collection, which are put together by yours truly, but I wish we were doing better. I like putting gas in my car, and I like even more the notion that people out there discover that Howard was a lot more than just a guy who created Conan and wrote fantasy stories. I have this crazy idea that if interested readers saw ratings or comments on the titles, they might turn into actual readers.

With that in mind, I am offering interested readers of this blog each one free copy of one of the following NUELOW Games collections of classic pulp fiction. I am hoping that you'll post rankings or reviews at DriveThruFiction.com when you're done with the book--be they good or bad--and I wouldn't mind coverage on your various blogs either. No strings attached, however... if you want a free book, just put a reply at the bottom of this post with an email address so I can send you the free download link. Or you can email me at stevemillermail [at] gmail.com; mention 'free NUELOW book' in the title.

Here's a list of the books that are subject to this offer; pick one in a genre you like. They are all in pdf format, which is compatible with most ebook readers, but can certainly be read on all desktop and laptop computers, as well as iPads and iPod Touches. Click on the links for more information.

Alice in Blunderland by John Kendrick Bangs - Political Satire (more than a century old, but still sadly relevant)

Shanghaied Mitts by Robert E. Howard and Steve Miller - Adventure/Comedy Fiction

Names in the Black Book by Robert E. Howard and Steve Miller - Horror/Detective Fiction

Shadows Over Texas by Robert E. Howard - Horror Fiction

White Fell and Other Stories by Robert E. Howard, Clemence Housman, and Steve Miller - Horror/Werewolf Fiction

The Deadly Sword of Cormac by Robert E. Howard - Historical Fiction

Oriental Stories Vo1. 1, by Robert E. Howard and Tevis Smith - Historical Fiction

Oriental Stories Vo1. 2 by Robert E. Howard - Historical, Fantasy, and Action/Adventure Fiction

Oriental Stories Vo1. 3: A Texan in Afghanistan, by Robert E. Howard - Action/Adveture Fiction

Skull-Face by Robert E. Howard - Action/Adventure Fiction

Jailbird Parade: A Cautionary Tale About Coffee?

The latest addition to the Jailbird Parade is Kenneth Sands, a driver for the Rainier School District (in Washington State). He has been convicted of molesting three high school volleyball players and two women during a volleyball game in Onalaska on Oct. 18.

Kenneth Sands: Victim of an evil, EVIL drug... or just a sack of lame excuses?

Why did he grope teenage girls and middle-aged women on that fateful day? Caffiene!

"That caused a psychotic episode," he told the court. "My son-in-law and daughter had never seen that kind of behavior from myself."

Now... I don't doubt for a moment that too much caffeine might cause symptoms that could mimic mental disorders. A few years back, I was drinking 10-12 cups of coffee a day. I went to the doctor complaining about certain symptoms... and she asked if there was a history of mental illness in my family.

When she started discussing my diet, she told me to cut back on the coffee and caffeine. WAAAY back.

I'm now down to about 5 cups a day. Still too much, but the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem right?

Well, Mr. Sands may have a problem that he's blaming on the wrong source. During all my years of excessive caffeine intake, I've never gone on a molestation spree.

Can we lay off the Twinkie Defense-style defenses already?

The full story is here.

It's Too Late to Apologize... again.

I posted a version of this video a couple of years ago. Now, in honor of Independence Day, here's a re-cut version, with the bizarre comedic bits replaced with clips from "The Patriot." (I did not do the edits. I'm just reposting from YouTube.)