The Princeton Review, one of America’s most widely-known education services and test-prep companies, and USA TODAY, announced the 100 “Best Value Colleges for 2009.”

The “Best Value” colleges list, reported on PrincetonReview.com and USAToday.com, features 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities. The Princeton Review selected these institutions as its “best value” choices for 2009 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2007-08 academic year.

The “Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges for 2009″ are:

1. University of Virginia (Charlottesville VA)

2. New College of Florida (Sarasota FL)

3. College of William & Mary (Williamsburg VA)

4. State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton NY)

5. Florida State University (Tallahassee FL)

6. North Carolina State University (Raleigh NC)

7. Univ. of California - San Diego

8. City University of New York - Hunter College (New York NY)

9. Univ. of Georgia (Athens GA)

10. The College of New Jersey (Ewing NJ)

To view in-depth details about the schools, go to The Princeton Review online, or to USAToday.com.

Source: The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review, one of America’s most widely-known education services and test-prep companies, and USA TODAY, have announced the 100 Best Value Colleges for 2009.

The “Best Value” colleges list, reported on PrincetonReview.com and USAToday.com, features 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities. The Princeton Review selected these institutions as its “best value” choices for 2009 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2007-08 academic year.

The Princeton Review “Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges for 2009″ are:

1. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore PA)

2. Harvard College (Cambridge MA)

3. Princeton University (Princeton NJ)

4. Rice University (Houston TX)

5. Yale University (New Haven CT)

6. Williams College (Williamstown MA)

7. Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

8. California Institute of Technology (Pasadena CA)

9. Pomona College (Claremont CA)

10. Stanford University (Stanford CA)

To view in-depth details about the schools, go to The Princeton Review online, or to USAToday.com.

Source: The Princeton Review

In politics, it isn’t over until it’s over…and even then, some close races don’t ever seem to end.

In light of the recent Burris and Franken episodes, Time magazine took a look back at some of history’s Top Contested Officeholders. Here’s what the editors came up with:

Roland Burris/Al Franken, U.S. Senate, 2008

Hiram R. Revels, U.S. Senate, 1870

Adam Clayton Powell, U.S. House, 1967

Rutherford B. Hayes, U.S. President, 1876

Mary Landrieu, U.S. Senate, 1996

Frank Smith, U.S. Senate, 1926

John Durkin, U.S. Senate, 1974

Theodore. G. Bilbo, U.S. Senate, 1946

George W. Bush, U.S. President, 2000

Frank McCloskey, U.S. House, 1984

To find out what made these races so controversial, visit Time.

Through Dec. 27, 2008, Wii Sports had exceeded Super Mario Brother’s lifetime total of 40.24 million units, taking over the all-time top spot.

The top 10 selling games of all time, according to vgchartz.com, are:

1. Wii Sports

2. Super Mario Brothers

3. Pokemon Red/Green/Blue

4. Tetris

5. Duck Hunt

6. Pokemon Gold/Silver

7. Nintendogs

8. Super Mario World

9. Wii Play

10. Super Mario Land

Source: vgchartz.com

1. Gather your records…now! It’s never too early to start getting together any documents or forms you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks, and other documents that support an item of income or a deduction you’re taking on your return. Also, be on the lookout for W-2s and 1099s, coming soon from your employer.

2. Find your forms. Whether you file a 1040 or 1040-EZ, you can download all IRS forms and publications online.

3. Do a little research. Check out Publication 17 on IRS.gov. It’s a comprehensive collection of information for taxpayers highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return. Review Pub 17 to ensure you’re taking all credits and deductions for which you’re eligible.

4. Think ahead to how you’ll file. Will you prepare your return yourself or go to a preparer? Do you qualify to file at no cost using Free File on IRS.gov? Are you eligible for free help at an IRS office or volunteer site? Will you purchase tax preparation software or file online? There are many things to consider. So, give yourself time to weigh them all and find the option that best suits your needs.

5. Take your time. Rushing to get your return filed increases the chance you will make a mistake and not catch it.

6. Double-check your return. Mistakes will slow down the processing of your return. In particular, make sure all the Social Security Numbers and math calculations are correct as these are the most common errors made by taxpayers.

7. Consider e-file. When you file electronically, the computer will handle the math calculations for you, and you will get your refund in about half the time it takes when you file a paper return.

8. Think about Direct Deposit. If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll receive it faster than waiting for a check by mail.

9. Visit IRS.gov often. The official IRS Web site is a great place to find everything you’ll need to file your tax return: forms, tips, FAQs and updates on tax law changes.

10. Relax. There’s no need to panic. If you run into a problem, remember the IRS is here to help. Try IRS.gov or call our customer service number at 800-829-1040.

Here are the current top 10 electronics deals as of Jan. 7, 2009:

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Mississippi’s rate was more than 60 percent higher than the national average in 2006, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The teen pregnancy rate in Texas and New Mexico was more than 50 percent higher.

The three states have large proportions of black and Hispanic teenagers — groups that traditionally have higher birth rates, experts noted.

The lowest teen birth rates continue to be in New England, where three states have teen birth rates at just half the national average.

Here are the top 10, with number per 1,000 births:

1. Mississippi: 68.4%
2. New Mexico: 64.1
3. Texas: 63.1
4. Arkansas: 62.3
5. Arizona: 62.0
6. Oklahoma: 59.6
7. Nevada: 55.8
8. Tennessee: 54.7
9. Kentucky: 54.6
10. Georgia: 54.2

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In case you’re thinking of investing in any of these, check out what he has to say about them first.

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DRM in All Its Forms

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Recovering from preseason knee surgery, Manning went on to have a stellar year, earning a third NFL Most Valuable Player award in the process. That ties him with Brett Favre on the all-time list.

Sports Illustrated commemorated the occasion with a slideshow of the last 10 NFL MVPs. It’s an interesting trip down memory lane, and a reminder of how fleeting pro football fame can be.

Here goes:

1999: Kurt Warner, St. Louis

2000: Marshall Faulk, St. Louis

2001: Kurt Warner, St. Louis

2002: Rich Gannon, Oakland

2003: Steve McNair, Tennessee, and Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

2004: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

2005: Shaun Alexander, Seattle

2006: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego

2007: Tom Brady, New England

2008: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis

John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice: January 27, 1955

Samuel Alito, Associate Justice: April 1, 1950

Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice, August 15, 1938

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice: March 15, 1933

Anthony M. Kennedy, Associate Justice: July 23, 1936

Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice: March 11, 1936

David Hackett Souter, Associate Justice: September 17, 1939

John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice: April 20, 1920

Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice: June 23, 1948

Source: Cornell University Law School