CHEAPSKATE ARRESTED
ATLANTA (AP) - It's an all-you-can eat buffet. But there's a catch -- you have to pay for it! Authorities in Fulton County, Georgia, have busted Dan Linscomb for theft of service. Deputies charge he refused to pay his tab at the Iron Skillet buffet in northwest Atlanta. Officials say Linscomb ate at the buffet and let his girlfriend eat from his plate, too. He was charged for two seven-buck meals. After a couple of days of jail food, Linscomb pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and was released.

LOTTERY ERROR
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - You are not a winner. That's the message from the Virginia Lottery. Officials say a computer glitch is to blame for more than 600 misprinted Fast Play Super 7's lottery tickets. According to the agency, the tickets incorrectly appear to be winners, with pay-offs of $2 to $7,777. Officials say the lotto tickets will not be honored, but the buyers aren't completely out of luck. The Virginia Lottery says players can apply for cash payments of up to $2,000. The money comes from a settlement between the agency and the game's vendor.

WINE-LIGHTER BOTTLES
HOPLAND, Calif. (AP) - It's a wine diet -- at least for the bottles. Fetzer Vineyards is using lighter glass bottles. The Northern California winery says the new bottle design is about 14 percent lighter and will save more than 2,200 tons of glass a year. Consumers might not notice the difference. The trim bottle design is the same shape and color of the older style. But it has a flatter bottom. Some boutique winemakers say the skinny bottles are fine for the big producers. But they add that a handmade wine needs the special presentation of a robust bottle.

WRONG AD
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - It's a political attack ad -- but it's attacking the wrong person. Tennessee state Senator Diane Black is laughing-off a goof in her re-election campaign. The wrong tapes were sent to TV stations. Instead of attacking her current opponent, the ads were recycled from 2004. The commercials go after her opponent of four years ago. Black says a distribution company sent out the old tapes.

CINEMA EATERIES
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - Would you like a martini with your movie? The AMC Studio 30 Fork & Screen opens today in suburban Kansas City. It's part of a trend of upscale movie theaters that offer film fans more than popcorn and soda to enjoy along with the show. There's a bar and full kitchen serving everything from lobster rolls to Thai coconut chicken. The theater also has padded recliners in eleven renovated auditoriums. But movie-goers will pay a little extra to sit in the lap of luxury.

NYC MARATHON CLEANUP
NEW YORK (AP) - The big race in the Big Apple will generate a big mess. The New York City Marathon is Sunday. About 38,000 runners will take part and 2.5 million spectators are expected to line the 26-plus mile route. About 200 New York City sanitation workers will be standing by to clean up afterwards. Officials of the city's Department of Sanitation say there will be 1.5 million drinking cups to pick up, not to mention 100 tons of other trash. But the city is trying to go green with some of the marathon discards. Volunteers are set to recycle 84,000 empty 1-gallon water jugs.

by Jamie Friar

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)