A lovely image.

It's big news in the realm of music: Two of the Big 5 record labels are merging, into what Pitchfork calls "One Grotesque Abomination." Indeed. If the grim predictions are true, and my guess is they are, indie labels should see a new influx of good bands who were, up until now, "lucky" enough to be on a major label. So support those indie labels, folks, and fight media consolidation.

Without sounding too terribly vain, let me just say that I utterly vanquished the SAT Verbals back in the day. 800 flat, baby. But then again, I might not have performed so well if some of the more practical entries from this list were included. After all, this is the kind of stuff college is all about, right?