News In Brief

AND I'LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN

The long arm of the law finally has caught up with Wesley Ridgwell after no fewer than 705 punishable offenses in less than a year. Yes, you read that right: 705. The 20-something was fined more than $7,000 and had his driver's license suspended for three months - on top of another $15,000 for skipping a court hearing. So what did he do? Well, video cameras caught him speeding through toll plazas on Florida's Orlando-Orange County Expressway without stopping. Said a chastened Ridgwell: "I apologize. I do understand that everyone should have to pay the tolls."

IT WASN'T LUMPY AT ALL

When young Norwegians tune in to the 10-program TV series "The Princess in Fairy Tale Land" this Christmas, they'll be watching a presenter who can speak from experience. Her Highness Martha Louise is the daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. In case you were wondering, she really did sleep on a mattress with a pea under it before taping began.

Holiday prospects for plane tickets you don't yet have

If you're planning on traveling over the holidays and haven't made flight reservations, time is running short. But it isn't hopeless yet to nail down the itinerary you want. Priceline.com, which offers airline tickets on a bargaining basis between passengers and carriers, has identified 29 days - through Jan. 10 - that hold a realistic possibility of securing an in-the-ballpark fare. If travelers use the services of priceline.com, they agree to let the airlines put them on a flight anytime between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on the desired day. The days that priceline.com identifies as realistic choices (dates through Jan. 10 that are not listed below are identified as peak travel days):

Best availability

Dec. 2, 3, 5, 13, 19, 20, 24, 28, 29

Jan. 3, 4, 10

Average prospects for a reasonably priced ticket

Dec. 1, 4, 6-8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 25, 27, 30

Jan. 5, 6, 8, 9

- Business Wire

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