THE LEFT LANE
Songs for America

You'll find feel-good pop favorites here, too, including "What a Wonderful World" and "Imagine."

The CD includes lyrics, so parents can sing along with their children.

College shift

Colleges and universities don't anticipate major changes in enrollment numbers this fall, but many expect to see more students from within their geographic region, says a study on the effects of Sept. 11 on higher education. Among key findings:

• Most respondents, particularly from two-year schools and four-year public institutions, said inquiries were up from last year.
• A third of colleges are putting more emphasis on location, safety and/or affordability. Some are stressing "the need not to defer dreams."
• Twenty-one percent reported noticeably increased interest after Sept. 11 in fields including criminal justice, international studies, faith-based programs, nursing and psychology.

That goofy plasticine man and his long-suffering canine sidekick are coming back. After a break of six years, Wallace and Gromit are returning in a series of short Internet films that show off Wallace's latest inventions, their creator has announced.

Nick Park, who has won three Academy Awards for his animated films, said fans will be able to download the 12 one-minute movies from the Web this fall.

In the new mini-films, Gromit will demonstrate a series of inventions, including a high-powered gun that fires cricket balls and a toaster-cum-TV — which Park's company calls "essentials for a modern lifestyle."