SNIPPETS

OCTOBER 24,  2009

BERLIN, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Hotels, stores and other attractions in Berlin are catering to Cold War nostalgia 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Adam Greis, a Berlin tour guide who moved to the city from the United States 1 1/2 years ago, said Checkpoint Charlie, the central border crossing from democratic West Berlin to communist East Berlin, inspired Snack Point Charlie, a cafe and souvenir stand near the former crossing specializing in Russian hats and other Cold War-era items, USA Today reported Friday.

Ah, in Germany there's always nostalgia for some war, cold or otherwise.

OCTOBER 23,  2009

NEW YORK (AP) -- An Argentine diva is accused of creating a drama of operatic proportions at a Manhattan cafe.  Gabriela Pochinki is due in court Friday on a misdemeanor summons.  She's accused of shoving the manager of Nice Matin (nees ma-TAN'), shouting and refusing to pay her bill last weekend. Witnesses tell the Daily News the ordeal was sparked when the soprano was making a loud cell phone call and the manager asked her to quiet down.

Do you sense a publicity stunt here?  This will make her better known than any of her recordings.