Robot building...

Gordon MCComb has a book called "Robot Builders Bonanza" We have a hard copy of both the second and the third edition. /Most libaries and bookstores have it.
Epanorama.net net has some good stuff about the parallel and the serial port when it comes to interfacing. www.epanorama.net/circuits/parallel_output.html (just one example) Knowledge can be applied to some of the microcontrollers.
Another source: http://logix4u.net/Legacy_Ports/Para...terfacing.html

Plan to get Make: electronics when it gets back into the store.

Couple cables I have made for the robot I am working on.
http://www.instructables.com/id/No-s...ort-break-out/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Atx-...ps-test-cable/