L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 www.italoamericano.com L'Italo-Americano 3 visit to the memorial cemetery and national monument Fosse Ardeatine in Rome, where in 1944 the Nazi occupation troops k i l l e d o v e r 3 0 0 p e o p l e . H i s intention was to send a clear message of unity and resistance against the forces of terror and tyranny, in compliance with the values that also shaped his per- sonal history. Born in Palermo, Sicily, of a prominent and politically active family, Sergio Mattarella fol- lowed in the footsteps of his father Bernardo and elder broth- e r P i e r s a n t i , b o t h C h r i s t i a n Democratic politicians. His main interest and university major was in Law, and his career in politics started only in 1980 after the Mafia assassination of Piersanti, then president of Sicily region. Sergio Mattarella joined the left w i n g a n d c o m m i t t e d t o h e l p eradicate Mafia control over the Sicilian faction of the party, but continued to pursue his vocation as a legal academic by becoming judge at the Country's constitu- tional court. Over 25 years as a member of the Parliament, he served in d i f f e r e n t m i n i s t e r i a l p o s t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e M i n i s t r i e s o f Education and Defence, and a u t h o r e d t h e e l e c t o r a l l a w enforced from 1993 to 2005. Competence, experience, and a sound reputation for integrity and austerity are qualities that the Italian people have always valued – and more than ever in Every year in January, the C o n s u m e r E l e c t r o n i c S h o w showcases the latest technology from countries all around the world to the general public. This year at the CES (held at Las Vegas, Nevada) Italy had the opportunity to prove itself as one of the most innovative countries in technology today, presenting inventions ahead of our time. O n e o f t h e m o r e u s e f u l inventions presented at CES for e v e r y d a y l i f e i s t h a t o f t h e company Sensoria; they've cre- ated a new type of intelligent fitness sock infused with textile pressure sensors designed to inform you when you are strik- ing the heel or the ball of your foot while you run. The socks also pair with a mobile app called Sensoria Fitness, which a l l o w s y o u t o v i s u a l i z e t h e foot-heat map. Along with this g r e a t f e a t u r e , t h e S e n s o r i a Fitness mobile app can send you real-time feedback and act as a "Virtual Coach", continu- ously monitoring your form during your run. A n o t h e r g r o u n d b r e a k i n g Italian invention popular at the CES was the "Floome", which i s a p e r s o n a l a n d p o r t a b l e breathalyzer that can easily attach to the audio jack of any smartphone. The "Floome" measures blood alcohol con- centration (BAC) and sends the results to your phone, no bat- teries required. The unique "Floome" app also aids you if your BAC is too high, giving you resources to call a taxi, contact a friend, or locate near- by places to eat to lower your BAC. Italian engineering in elec- tronic vehicles was not to be forgotten as well at the CES, w h e r e E n e r g i c a M o t o r Company showcased a brand n e w e l e c t r o n i c m o t o r c y c l e , model name "Energica Ego". T h e 1 0 0 % I t a l i a n - m a n u f a c - tured electric superbike was designed and constructed by CRP group, a company known worldwide for its state-of-the- art technology. By engaging in this "international project", CRP group has launched the challenge for developing more eco-friendly high performance technology. These are only just a small few of the many high-profile inventions that Italian compa- n i e s h a v e d i s p l a y e d i n L a s Vegas. Nevertheless, Italy has l e f t a l a r g e s t a m p a t t h e International CES this January of 2015, and innovators and inventors alike can all agree that Italian technology is unde- niably first class. Italian Technology Triumphs at CES 2015 in Las Vegas this delicate moment of recovery from the economic crisis - in a President of the Republic. His figure is usually seen as – or, at least, is required to be – super partes and principled more than a l l o t h e r p o l i t i c i a n s . S e r g i o Mattarella was highly respected in political circles but not yet very popular amongst the public. Nevertheless, his behaviour and f i r s t s t a t e m e n t h a v e q u i c k l y e a r n e d h i m t h e s y m p a t h y o f many supporters of both left and right factions. First of all, he dri- ves a common man's Fiat Panda instead of a fancy chauffer-dri- ven car, and right after the nom- ination he said that his priority is to deal with "The hardships and hopes of the Italian citizens." T h i s w o u l d r e a l l y m e e t t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s o f h i s p e o p l e , whose faith in politics has been wavering in the recent years. Despite playing a role that is mostly ceremonial rather than active, the intervention of the President of the Republic can be decisive when it comes to politi- cal crises or the contentious cre- ation of a new government. For his opponents, Sergio Mattarella represents a back- w a r d s t e p t o m i d - 1 9 5 0 s Christian Democracy, while his endorser Matteo Renzi is confi- dent that his decisions will be u n b i a s e d , b a s e d o n t h e Constitution, and made in the i n t e r e s t o f I t a l y a s a w h o l e . Time will tell. President Sergio Mattarella meets Italy's former President Giorgio Napolitano BECKY ZEFERINO Continued from page 1 Prime Minister Matteo Renzi with newly elected President Sergio Mattarella The groundbreaking Italian invention, the "Floome", which is a personal and portable breathalyzer

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