(1) The First Italian Mamma Convention
(2) In Italy- Fighting World Cup Absenteeism
(3) Couple Weds After 62-Year Engagement
(4) Bad Cooking=Road to Divorce
(5) Euro Price Hike Pinches Italians
(6) Creating the Modern Chastity Belt
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(1) The First Italian Mamma Convention
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Considered an national institution, Italian mothers have just become the 
object of a national convention, "Il Raduno delle Mamme."

The Mamma Meeting also seems like a good excuse to get out of the house. Held 
in the beach and discotheque capital of Italy, Riccione, events for the week 
of June 8-15 include a Miss Mamma beauty pageant, belly dancing seminar for 
pregnant women and baby model casting sessions. 

The conference comes at a turning point for the Italian family: for the first 
time in almost a decade, the number of births were higher than deaths in the 
Bel Paese, according to preliminary reports from national statistics 
institute ISTAT. At the same time, the Italian Housewives Movement (MOICA), 
estimates that the number of women fleeing a hostile workplace to become 
housewives will double -- to 16 million -- by the year 2030. 

Modern mamme must cope with a decreased family network -- some 43% of the 
1,024 surveyed at the meeting said they don't have anyone to talk to and only 
19% said they count on their own mother for help and support. 

Not all Italian mothers will pack in the work clothes. Silvio Berlusconi's 
daughter, Marina, voted one of the 10 top women executives by Fortune 
magazine just announced her first pregnancy. Marina, 35, director of 
Fininvest, the Berlusconi family company that controls 48 per cent of 
Mediaset, is expecting a child by ballet dancer Maurizio Vanadia, 40.

Marina told newspapers she won't stop working. "The company is an important 
part of my life," said Berlusconi's first born, adding that the child won't 
be named after her famous father. "That life is changing now, but I'll have 
more reason to keep working. From now on, I won't be doing it just for 
myself, but for my child as well. For a woman, that's the best way to give 
meaning to what her work." 
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(2) Fighting World Cup Absenteeism
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Italy may be a nation founded on work but employers fear passion for World 
Cup soccer may lead to mass abandonment of the workplace. 
Just about anything short of changing the first article of the Italian 
constitution will be tried to keep workers from cutting out to watch soccer 
matches.

If the June 2 match, in which Italy trounced World Cup debutante Ecuador 
broadcast midday in Italy, is any measure it will become increasingly 
difficult to find anyone at work when the games are on.

An estimated 30,000 rushed to the main square in Milan alone. We spotted 
mechanics, construction workers, business people and teenagers.
"I just took a late lunch and won't go back until it's over," said security 
guard Salvatore G.,36, who asked not to publish his last name, standing in 
front of the maxi-screen in Milan's piazza Duomo. "I'm not really worried 
about getting caught -- pretty much everyone did the same thing."

This year because of the time difference between Korea/Japan and Italy most 
games that see "the blues" (gli azzurri) in action air around breakfast time 
in Italy. 
Workers at Fiat factories will be able to take short "soccer leaves" of a few 
hours, a solution also chosen by the regional government of Catanzaro. 
Fanatics will then make up the time after the tournament. In Val D'Aosta, the 
hours of city offices open to the public will change according to the 
schedule.

Some try to curb workers skipping out by installing TV sets in the work place 
-- a survey by Milan's Chamber of Commerce reported that 25% of local 
companies had set up a World Cup viewing area. Not all employers can let 
workers take time off, some are taking preventative measures like blocking 
sports websites and requests for vacation time. 

Fortunately for some, the question doesn't arise. "I really only enjoy the 
games with a huge crowd like this," said Silvia Manin, 47, during the 
Italy-Ecuador match in the piazza. "But I only work part-time so there's no 
problem. This time around, I'm World Cup lucky." 

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(3) Couple Weds After 62-Year Engagement
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After over 60 years together, two Italian retirees finally tied the knot 
breaking a record in a country known for long engagements. 
Annibale Labò had proposed to Bianca Castellana in 1940, but the two never 
quite got around to calling the preacher, despite having lived together since 
1941. 

Bianca, 79, determined to walk down the aisle, asked Annibale to marry her 
last week. The octogenarian immediately accepted.
Italian couples are prone to long engagements (averaging almost five years) 
and the trend seems to be lengthening. 2001 figures were a year longer than 
in 1987, (3.9 years) and living together is still a rarity, with only 4% of 
couples shacking up before the rice is thrown.
"I'm very happy," said new bride Bianca. "I hope not to die from joy!"

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(4) Bad Cooking=Road to Divorce
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43% couples separate due to woman's career
30% couples separate due to bad cooking
23% couples separate for cheating
4% couples separate for "irreconcilable differences"

Forget about extramarital affairs, lack of affection or fighting over money: 
separations for modern Italian couples are often linked to the fork and 
spoon.The poll, conducted by the center for family studies, examined reasons 
for the end of marital bliss in 500 Italian couples. 

Cooking was cited by men as a top reason, though researchers point out it's 
closely linked to the rise in women's interest in careers outside the home.

"These days, people get married less for exclusively emotional reasons, 
especially since generally marriages happen after 25," commented divorce 
lawyer Marianna De Cinque. "At that age, partners tend to view a marriage 
like a small business but the kitchen is still considered largely women's 
work."

The findings represent a marked change in the reasons for divorce--ten years 
ago, 70% of Italian marriages broke up over cheating.

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(5) Euro Price Hike Pinches Italians
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70% Italians feel unified currency = price increases
+21.4% more for a meal for two
+21% more for a taxi ride to airport
+16.8% more for a coffee in café
+10.8% more for a CD
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Statistics have finally confirmed the price pinch Italians have felt since 
the unified currency was introduced in 2002. Italians, for the most part 
enthusiastic about the euro, have been complaining about a series of 
unjustified price hikes due to the changeover. 

Treasury officials have tried to calm the waters by confirming that inflation 
remains stable -- but that doesn't ease what newspapers are calling the "euro 
sting." An independent study by AC Nielsen instead showed that price 
increases are almost across the board (a few exceptions: decaffeinated 
coffee, rubber gloves, Kleenex and some parking, all down slightly) and hover 
between 10-20.%  Ouch...

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(6) Creating the Modern Chastity Belt
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What started out as a joke turned into a profitable business for Italian 
sculptor Angelo Camerino who sells his virtuous creations in Italy and 
worldwide.Ten years ago the artist made a first pair of underpants in sheet 
metal, but the sideline didn't really take off until American Lorena Bobbitt 
made headlines in 1993 for cutting off her husband's penis. 

"A member of the US embassy here in Rome commissioned three chastity belts 
for friends in New York," says Camerino, 70, though he wouldn't reveal the 
employee's name. "From there it really took off, I did a showing of eight and 
sold all of them." 

He isn't the only one to capitalize on the Italian preoccupation with 
infidelity: psychologist, politician and self-proclaimed "Dr. seduction" 
Giuseppe Cirillo has invented an electronic chastity belt. The invention, 
currently in production according to Cirillo, notifies the worried partner 
just how long the beloved has taken off his or her underwear. 

Camerino's sheet metal belts made for either sex, lined in leather and satin, 
weigh about two pounds have a lock at navel level. Prices for the custom-made 
chastity chambers run between $1,000-1,600. The more expensive models, which 
decorative inlays, a heavier metal and no padding, were commissioned by the 
clients from Saudi Arabia. He says he's interested in the sculpture, not how 
his creations are used. "I suspect the padded and lined ones are used for 
erotic games -- thought not too long ago, I got an order from a jealous 
husband in Calabria, so perhaps they are put to practical use."...