For those of you anxiously awaiting the release of Borderlands 2, a nice publicity stunt has given us a free, but annoying 16-bit version of the game.

So, let me get my grievance out of the way first. The free browser based game touts the adorable Claptap claiming, "Borderlands wasn't always the slick, handsome bastard of a game it is today! Go old skool and play the 1989 16-bit original to see how it all began. I can’t believe how young I look!"

Do you see the flaw? Look closer...closer...there! Yep. The 1989. You see, Borderlands first popped onto the scene as a teaser in 2007 letting fans wait another two years before being able to actually play it. Oh but that was the console version of the game you tell me. Yep. And the company Gearbox Software wasn't even formed until 1999, a full ten years after the little Claptrap proclamation.

Regardless, if you are jonesing for some Borderlands 2 and have time to kill on a browser game, this is for you. But, be aware that this game may vanish as it appears to be a marketing ploy to drive more interest in Borderlands 2.

As of yet, unlike other gaming studios, Gearbox Software doesn't have any Borderlands 2 rewards for playing the Borderlands 16-bit browser game.

What do you think? Let me know after you have gone and played the Borderlands 16-bit browser game for free.

Do not dismiss the free books for Kindle just because you do not have a Kindle. The Kindle reading app for computers is free and does a plethora of stuff the Kindle does.

Not up dealing with your computer? Try the free Kindle app for mobile phones: iPhone; Blackberry; Windows Phone 7 & Android. Here is the main free reading apps page for even more options!

And, as always, at the time this post was written, the free items listed are free. Be sure to check the price is $0 before checking out!

Shining in Crimson: Empire of Blood Book One (A Dystopian Vampire Novel)

Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia

Crash Gordon and the Mysteries of Kingsburg

Broken Evolution

What Can I Eat? Sugar Free Diet

Daily Deposits for the Soul: The Busy Christian's Guide to Abundant Living

Four Seasons of Romance

The Ways of Mages #1

In The Field Vietnam and My Letters Home

How to Manage Your Money When You Don't Have Any

Awakened Within, A Lost Souls Novel

What did you end up getting to read? Let us know via the comments!

Deviating from the norm, this is not my own recipe. Instead this is a treat I make up for my in-laws on occasion because they love their puppies!

Ingredients
32 oz. plain yogurt
1 mashed banana
2 T p'nut butter
2 T honey

It’s true dairy products aren’t good for dogs, but yogurt contains much less lactase than regular milk and the live cultures are great for your dog’s digestive system. This dog ice cream recipe is delicious and good for your pet!

Method
1. Mix all these ingredients in your blender, then dump into ice cube trays, paper cups, or even a kong toy to freeze and serve.
2. If you want to go all out for your mutt you can freeze these homemade frosty paws just like you would homemade ice cream. A salt-less automatic ice cream maker makes this as easy as using any other appliance in your home and the frosty paws will be ready to serve in 10 minutes.
For the ultimate treat, appropriate for desert at a doggy birthday party, follow steps one and two, then take the mostly frozen dog ice cream product of number two and spread it 1” to 1½” thick on wax paper. Freeze for five minutes and then remove dog ice cream from freezer. Next, use a paw shaped cookie cutter to cut a paw shaped “frosty paws”, remove ice cream around edges, and return paw shapes to the freezer to freeze solid.
NOTE: This can also be made with baby meat instead of the fruit and peanut butter.

Source: www.collargirl.com

Updated! Yet to be released games are in italics. Stay tuned for upcoming games for September!

 As many of you know, summer is winding down and game studios are starting to more heavily promote their *big* titles that are due out soon. Typically late September starts the 'good games' releases. But, aren't you all a little bored of playing the same old games? I know I am. So, here you go, the list of what to expect in August 2012.

Please be aware that game studios are notorious for changing release dates so do not yell at me if the dates don't match the actual release. 

Nintindo 3DS
19th New Super Mario Brothers 2

PC 
3rd Total Recall
10th The Amazing Spider-Man; Euro-Truck Simulator 2
14th Sleeping Dogs; Darksiders 2
21st Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2; Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Win/Mac)
24th Dark Souls-Prepare to Die Edition; Guild Wars 2
28th Transformers: Fall of Cybertron; Madden NFL 13

PS3
7th Persona 4: Arena
14th Sleeping Dogs; Darksiders 2
21st Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
28th Transformers: Fall of Cybertron; Madden NFL 13; Damage Inc: Pacific Squadron WWII

PSN
29th Rock Band Blitz

PSVita
28th Madden NFL 13

Xbox 360
14th Sleeping Dogs; Darksiders 2
21st Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2; Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
28th Transformers: Fall of Cybertron; Madden NFL 13; Damage Inc: Pacific Squadron WWII

Xbox Arcade
1st Deadlight
8th Hybrid
15th Dust: An Elysian Tail
29th Rock Band Blitz

Wii/Wii U
14th Darksiders 2 (Wii U)
28th Madden NFL 13

You should bookmark this page as I will be updating it throughout August as the studios, shall we say, fine-tune release dates.

So, what games are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!

It's that time of year again: Tax Free Shopping. So, roll those pennies and head out to take advantage of your state's tax free shopping days.

Connecticut - August 19-25. Includes clothing under $300 per item and shoes under $300 per item.
Maryland - August 12-18. Includes clothing priced at $100 or less and footwear priced at $100 or less.
North Carolina - November 2-4. This is the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday only!
Virginia - October 7-10. This is for qualifying Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified Products under $2,500 per product only!

Many states have their tax free shopping days early in the year, April/March. But, more and more, states are choosing to not have the tax free shopping as state budgets are shrinking.

Finally, be sure to do comparision shopping when doing your tax free shopping.

If your state isn't listed, check out a participating state near you if you live close enough/will be in the area anyway.

Happy bargain hunting!

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   Pretty rainbow!  

My grandmother used to make this and I loved it. I still love it and make it or variations of it regularly.

This is a great side dish/salad to make all year long. But, it is especially good when the ingredients are freshest and cheapest!

Ingredients
2 large tomatoes (beefsteak, creole, etc.)
or
5-6 large Romano tomatos
1 medium onion
1 bell pepper (any color)
1 medium cucumber
Your favorite Italian/Vinegar Dressing
Large plastic bowl with lid

Method
Slice your tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and cucumber. Not paper thin, but not thick either. 

Layer your tomatoes in your plastic bowl. There will be some left. Drizzle a bit of Italian dressing on them.

Layer your onions on top of the tomatoes. There will be some left. Drizzle a bit of Italian dressing on them.

Layer your bell peppers on top of the onions. There will be some left. Drizzle a bit of Italian dressing on them.

Layer your cucumber on top of the bell peppers. There will be some left. Drizzle a bit of Italian dressing on them.

Now, repeat the entire layering & drizzling process until you are all out of ingredients.

Doesn't it look pretty? Great! Put the lid on the bowl/container and make sure it is sealed up well.

Is it sealed? Excellent.

Shake the heck out of it to ensure everything is coated with the dressing.

Refrigerate for 1 hour minimum. Flip bowl over once about 30 minutes in to ensure everything comes out perfect.

Notes
This will be good for about 2 days kept refrigerated. After 2 days or so, the pickling process has gone too far and I find I do not like the taste.
This makes a great go to snack once made. In between bouts of gaming, I often will snack on this.
Be sure you use a very well sealing bowl.

As anyone that plays multiplayer of any game knows, there are always those that cheat. They are the annoying people that use exploits, glitches, etc. Sometimes they even manage to freeze up our games or consoles. I get why people cheat. I just don't do it and I advocate against it. My self-esteem is good enough I don't need it caressed with cheating my way to the top.

That in mind, Bioware has always taken the issues of cheaters in the multiplayer section of Mass Effect 3 seriously. It's not hard for them to do. Afterall, every other weekend is an event. In order to reap (yes pun intended) the benefits of the event, players must enable feedback upload. So in essence, everything every person in multiplayer is doing, is being sent to Bioware. This is a big old Homer Simpson DOH! for cheaters.

If for some reason you do not think they are serious (pay attention Treyarch & InfinityWard), on July 17, 2012, they banned 1359 players from multiplayer. 1359 people, worldwide, banned in a single day. This is on top of their weekly efforts to keep multiplayer clean by banning as they go. And as this game spans the Xbox 360 world, PSN world and PC world...that's a lot of work on Bioware's end. Watch out WiiU...they will be watching.

And, as Bioware isn't a big bad entity, there is an appeal process: ME3AccountAdmin@BioWare.com That is whom to contact if a banned person feels different than the evidence suggests.

But, the good news is for honest players that just enjoy annialating Reaper forces, there is a way to report cheating bastages: ME3MPCheaters@BioWare.com Of course this means you must stop your game and write an e-mail. But, it is better than nothing.

Honestly, I've only dealt with three idiots trying to cheat while playing Mass Effect 3 multiplayer. What I have seen more of is boosters. Jeesh those idiots annoy me. At least pretend to play by letting your cat sit on your controller.

Have you dealt with many cheaters/exploiters while playing Mass Effect 3?