Dodgy Italian Minister Let Off The Hook

Last week, Italian member of parliament Marco Milanese evaded arrest because his colleagues in Italy’s parliament voted against a request by magistrates to have him handcuffed and taken away.

Despite being indicted in relation to mafia related offences, this week, Italy’s Agriculture Minister Saversio Romano survived a no-confidence motion in Italy’s parliament yesterday.  After the results of the vote were in, Romano was duly hugged by Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Many, including this blogger, were disgusted by the outcome of the vote.

The appointment of Saverio Romano as Italy’s Agriculture Minister was controversial in view of allegations that he’d been working to assist organized crime in southern Italy.  Romano denies wrongdoing.

Romano had also been a close associate of one  Salvatore “Totò” Cuffaro, an ex-president of the mafia infested region of Sicily.  Cuffaro is currently doing time for colluding with the mafia.

While working with ex-president of Sicily Cuffaro, Romano attended a meeting with mafia boss Angelo Siino. Siino is nicknamed the mafia’s minister for public works, incidentally.  The meeting took place way back in the very early 90s and concerned support for the 1991 regional elections in Sicily.

Italy’s Agriculture Minister is also under investigation for bribery and a couple of mafia turncoats have mentioned Romano’s name too.  It has to be said that evidence provided by mafia turncoats is not always reliable and it can hardly be argued that ex-mafia members are men of good character.

Still, investigators, who were on the point of dropping the mafia collusion charges Romano faced at one point, would rather like to have a chat with Romano about his contacts and acquaintances.  Indeed they will.  In the meantime though, Italy keeps a minister of dubious integrity.

In normal times, a minister who is suspected of mafia connections could, possibly, be tolerated.  But these are not normal times.  The Berlusconi government is scandal ridden and Italy is suffering from a distinct lack of credibility at international level.  Not only this, but new Berlusconi party secretary and former justice minister Angelino Alfano recently claimed in a Berlusconi party re-launch speech that “honesty” would be one of the party’s watchwords.

Even more surprising is that Italy’s mafia busting interior minister Roberto Maroni lent his support to Romano. Hopefully he knows something we don’t.  If this is the case, perhaps he would not mind telling us.

Once again, as with the Milanese case I wrote about last week, Italy’s Berlusconi government is sending out the wrong messages to both Italians and to those who might have been considering investing in Italy.

When will Italy wake up?  Probably when it’s far too late.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Sports Moments That Would Have Exploded The Internet If They Happened Today

  x You have successfully emailed the post.

How did people respond to crazy world events before the Internet and social media took over the world?

Whenever something totally unexpected happens, our first instinct is to hop on Twitter and share the experience with millions of other users.

Sports moments are no different.

In fact, the end of this summer's USA-Japan Women's World Cup game set the record for the most tweets per minute ever.

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Tony Manfred on Twitter.
Ask Tony A Question >

x

To embed this post, copy the code below and paste into your website or blog.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

'Bring Your Own Device' Programs Invade The Workplace

Image: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Scott Kraege is a director and co-founder at MOBI Wireless Management.

While there are many issues facing corporate wireless programs today, the greatest new challenge seems to be the consumerization of IT. This increasingly used term refers to the influence that consumer technology experiences have on technology used in the workplace. According to a recent survey by Symantec, 91 percent of employees say their company allows them to use their work-related smartphones for personal use. However, only 51 percent report their employer has communicated policies or best practices to them regarding the security of their smartphones

Perhaps the most telling statistic relates to the trend of bring your own device (BYOD) policies in the workplace – including smartphones, tablet applications and more. This concept is catching on in organizations across the country. In fact, 63 percent of businesses have implemented a BYOD program.

The traditional role of mobility management has focused on expense management, device/service provisioning and operational standards, but when BYOD comes into play, new issues arise for IT departments, employers and employees. As the social world enters the corporate world, new, non-traditional objectives are being created for seamless mobile management practices. As a result, BYOD calls for a new set of issues to address, because instead of IT departments forcing particular sets of mobile management solutions on their staff, employees can now use their company device for personal use.

These programs give employees the freedom to choose their smartphone, intertwining personal use with professional use. In turn, it can lower costs for both parties. Employees might decide to stay more connected to their job when a BYOD program is in place, thus increasing productivity at the same time–which is a benefit for any employer. However, IT departments need to make sure they have the resources to enforce passwords on company sensitive information, as well as maintain the ability to wipe data in the event that a device is lost or stolen.

While BYOD has become a common practice, it is also one that might require implementation of policies that employees are forced to adhere to in order to keep sensitive information safe and secure. The top three issues that executives and IT administrators must evaluate include:

1. Multiple operating systems. While the iPhone, Android and Blackberry–among others–are three of the most popular mobile devices, none of them operate on the same system. Companies need to evaluate how accessible their programs and apps are in each of the platforms, so that mobile apps for corporate practices are easily accessible to employees. Knowing what tools are available on each device gives the company a better idea of how their mobility program needs to be configured. Multiple operating systems also require the ability and knowledge to troubleshoot across all platforms. This is where centralized management comes into play. Finding the experts and continuing their education is typically a major expense for enterprises, but outsourcing alleviates the issue by having highly trained professionals on call for anything from a business-threatening situation to a minor issue with a mobile device.

2. Social applications. Social applications continue to integrate themselves into the business world. In fact, 58 percent of small businesses alone have accounts on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. However, many employers question if it is acceptable to have social apps on work mobile devices. With the consumerization of IT and implementation of BYOD programs, this is an issue to address in mobile device policies given to each employee when they enter the company’s wireless program. Putting a policy program in place avoids the fine line between personal and professional usage and keeps employees on the same page as the IT management team.

3. Mobile device security. Opening files on devices and accessing databases through a company server are situations that should require strong passwords to complete a transaction. Enforcing strong passwords creates a more secure connection between wireless servers and sensitive information. This issue requires both offense and defense from the employee and IT department. Outsourcing mobile and wireless management solutions fills the security gap by providing policy and general business rules for monitoring and enforcement. Finding the right partner with access and support resources for a range of mobile device management and solution platforms is critical. No single solution will work for every OS, employee and need.

Every business has unique needs when it comes to company-wide mobile management solutions. Consumerization of IT and the BYOD programs require companies to reevaluate policies and programs regularly in order to stay in-tune with a successful mobility management solution.

-###-

MOBI Wireless Management combines a centralized web-based portal, ongoing expense management and 24/7 end-user support to help companies better manage mobile telecom programs. Launched in 2007, MOBI Wireless Management set out to help companies lower wireless expenses, enhance end-user support, enforce wireless policy and save valuable time. From end-to-end procurement to comprehensive expense management to world-class help desk support, MOBI works behind the scenes and directly with carriers to simplify mobile telecom. For more information, visit www.mobiwm.com.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

BEHIND BARS: Europe's 20 Most Imprisoned Countries

  x You have successfully emailed the post.

The International Center for Prison Studies regularly compiles a list detailing the world's prison population.

The U.S. imprisoned nation on the planet. According to the organization, 756 people for every 100,000 are behind bars in America.

However, there are some European countries that aren't far behind.

Using the number of people in prison per 100,000 of the population, we've ranked Europe's most imprisoned countries.

NB -- There's definitely a geographical trend here, but there are also some wildcards that may surprise you.

Please follow Europe on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Nick Jardine on Twitter.
Ask Nick A Question >

x

To embed this post, copy the code below and paste into your website or blog.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

FLASHBACK: 20 Years Ago The Richest Athletes Were Boxers

  x You have successfully emailed the post.

Twenty years ago, Tiger Woods was just a teenager, and boxing ruled the sports world when it came to cranking in the cash, according to Forbes.

Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson topped the list back then, when boxers were in their prime.

Now, the list is made up of golfers, a lot of basketball players, and tennis stars.

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Leah Goldman on Twitter.
Ask Leah A Question >

x

To embed this post, copy the code below and paste into your website or blog.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

The NFL Is Trying To Profit Off Players' Season-Ending Injuries

  x You have successfully emailed the post.

Injuries are a part of football. Everybody knows that.

But that doesn’t mean someone should attempt to profit off a football player’s devastating injury.

Especially when that someone is the National Football League. 

But that’s exactly what the league is doing with their latest NFL.com advertisement hoping to attract late-bloomers to its fantasy football leagues.

That’s a picture of Jamaal Charles, taken shortly after the up-and-coming Kansas City Chiefs running back tore his ACL, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.

This just seems cruel and unusual.

Please follow Sports Page on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Ariel Sandler on Twitter.

x

To embed this post, copy the code below and paste into your website or blog.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Whatever Happened To The Homes Made Famous By Reality TV?

  x You have successfully emailed the post.

Reality TV gives viewers a glimpse into the lives of others — famous celebrities, or soon-to-be — following their trials and tribulations with more than a handful of drama along the way.

Viewers get to peek into the homes where reality TV celebrities live, or where they stayed during the filming of the show and sometimes the scenes are not so pretty.

Pets run rampant, peeing on expensive carpets, celebs fight to save their homes from foreclosure, and then there are the occasional domestic flare-ups.

The majority of homes are located in Los Angeles and most of them have several thousand feet of living space, as well as a pool and many other TV-worthy amenities.

What is the status of these homes now? Many of these homes are for sale — stuck on the real estate market with huge price cuts — or, were recently sold. 

Please follow The Life on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Erika Riggs on Twitter.

x

To embed this post, copy the code below and paste into your website or blog.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.