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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/05/department-of-labor-launches-my-skills-my-future_n_706328.html

Graham: Obama is 'tone-deaf'

Xanthos/NewsYerko DiFonis, partially deaf and legally blind, is a piano prodigy. An illegal immigrant from Chile, he will return to his native country to preserve the chance of a future student visa.

Though blind and partially deaf, Yerko DiFonis has wowed audiences and taken home top prizes for his remarkable piano playing.

But his dazzling musical talents can't keep him in the country.

The 17-year-old prodigy and his family have lived illegally in the United States since 2000, in hopes that the boy would receive better treatment than in their native Chile.

Yerko, who plays music from memory, has thrived - even getting accepted at the city's prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

But instead of starting his junior year this week, he and his family will return to their homeland on Sept. 25 under the threat of deportation.

"I say my wish would be that myself and my family would all either get green cards or have the possibility of becoming American citizens," he said.

Born legally blind, Yerko can only differentiate between light and dark and needs hearing aids in both ears. None of the public schools in Chile could handle his disabilities.

"The only reason that we came here was that I wasn't getting a good education in Chile," Yerko said. "The first year that I went there, I basically sat around and did nothing."

Yerko, his mother and brother flew to New York in 2000 on a temporary visa, the family says.

His father, Stefanos DiFonis, snuck into the country through Canada that same year, but was arrested. He remained in New York despite a judge's order removing him from the country, records show.

The family has led a comfortable life on Staten Island since, with his father running a contracting business. All that changed on July 1, when an immigration officer arrested his father and told him he would soon receive deportation papers, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said.

While the DiFonises want to remain in New York, they fear doing so will jeopardize Yerko's chances of attending a top U.S. conservatory after graduation. His family hopes by returning to Chile, he can eventually come back to study at a conservatory or college.

"It will be difficult for any of us to start over," he said.

His mentors are distraught. Dalia Sakas, his piano teacher at Lighhouse International, a school for the visually impaired, said she was "just dumbstruck" when she heard. "It was like a dagger through the heart," she said.

Yerko's parents first noticed his interest in music when he was still in diapers. "I used to move my head a lot when they put music on," Yerko said.

When he was 4, he asked his dad - an accomplished guitar and bass player - to teach him some chords. By the next day, he could play perfectly. And at 6, Yerko asked his uncle to teach him the basics of the piano and then learned the rest by ear.

"He received a God gift," said his mother, Beatriz, 40. "He listens to any music and plays it right now."

Three to four hours of daily practice and classical training have honed his talent. He can play from memory masterpieces by Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Robert Schumann and many other great composers.

His talents led to a solo performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a concert put on by students at Lighthouse. Last year, he took first place in New York State in the Very Special Arts Young Soloists Competition.

He has even composed his own piece, a stirring, romantic ballad he calls "Flying Away."

Using a cane in public and navigating his home by touching walls and railings, Yerko is most comfortable when his hands find the 50-year-old Steinway piano in his living room.

"I like to concentrate on the emotions of the music," he said.

Under U.S. immigration laws, if Yerko were 18 and caught as an illegal, he would be considered an adult and subject to a 10-year ban from entering the United States.

At 17, he can elude the penalty by returning to Chile and later applying for a student visa, the State Department and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services confirm.

In the meantime, the move means going back to teaching himself the classics.

"I am planning to take music with me, so I can self-study some pieces until I find a piano teacher I can study with," Yerko said. "I'll probably have to be on my own for a bit."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_sad_note_for_si_teen_brilliant_blind_pianist__family_must_leave_us.html#ixzz0ygLwtYPA

Dazeley/GettyYikes! More than 250,000 students in New York City were found to be too heavy.

overweight or obese - with about half the youngsters in some zip codes tipping the scales too heavily, a new city report shows.

In the largest study of childhood obesity ever conducted in the city, 40% of kindergartners through eighth-graders - more than 250,000 kids - were found to be too heavy.

Officials say even though the data seem startling, the rate of obesity in city kids is actually flat-lining, while it's rising nationwide.

"While it would be great if we saw the numbers go down, it is encouraging that they're holding steady," said Laurie Benson, executive director of the Department of Education's Office of School Wellness, refering to previous studies with smaller sample sizes.

The report, based on Fitnessgram assessments of more than 635,000 kids in eighth grade or lower, showed wide variation in obesity levels throughout different neighborhoods.

In the upper West Side zip code of 10069, less than 12% of kids were found to be obese or overweight. But in Corona's 11368, a shocking 51% of kids were found to be too heavy.

"I'm not surprised," said Corona mom Leslie Rivera, 34, whose 7-year-old son, George, is entering the second grade at Public School 13. "There's so much fast food around here."

Gabriella Mendoza, 39, while dining with her 6-year-old son Kevin at a Corona McDonald's, said she tries to carefully control his eating - but it's not always easy. "Sometimes I bring him here, but not often because I know it's too much calories," Mendoza said.

Among the report's additional alarming findings:

About 48% of children in two Central Harlem/Morningside HeighTS zip codes - 10037 and 10039 - are too heavy.

About 47% of kids in four zip codes in Washington Heights/Inwood - 10031, 10040, 10033, 10032 - are overweight or obese.

More than 46% of youngsters in Williamsburg/BushwicKs 11237 and East Harlem's 10029 are carrying too much weight.

City officials conceded that the dramatic geographic divide is disappointing but not surprising.

"If you look at the adult levels of obesity, you're going to see very similar trends," Benson said. "Unfortunately, there is a lot of correlation between socioeconomics and health status."

Kathy Nonas, director of physical activity and nutrition programs at the Department of Health, stressed that the data show the city's effort to tackle poor health among schoolchildren is showing results.

She pointed to measures such as eliminating sugary drinks from school vending machines, offering healthier lunches and increasing physical activity.

The data shows that "we're doing something right," Nonas said. "It also tells us that we have a lot more to do in order to get this down."

The departments of health and education compiled the data by examining the "Fitnessgrams," personal health evaluations based on strength, endurance, flexibility and body mass index.

The fitness report cards have been used to assess student health and offer specific tips since 2006, but the number of students participating in the program has increased every year.

"This helps us see whether the initiatives that we've put in are having some effect," Nonas said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/09/05/2010-09-05_citys_kids_are_just_too_fat_40_need_to_shed_pounds_sez_big_report.html#ixzz0ygHmYeMI

http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/smoking_toddler_quits_1_679679

http://www.wreg.com/news/nationworld/sns-viral-video-jerry-lewis-lindsay-lohan,0,7752119.htmlstory

     Those born of September 5^th like to use their active and alert minds to dream up the most imaginative and romantic plans. They are very adept indeed at making such ideal notions real, but unfortunately can be highly unrealistic about their degree of success.  Prone to excessive pride or indulgence, they may lose touch with reality and hence be afflicted with all kinds of maladies whey they least expect them.

     A recurrent theme in the lives of some September 5^th people is that of working against themselves in self defeating attempts. Those born on this day can really get caught up in their regal egos and bury themselves in what they are doing.  Consequently they may not only lose sight of what others think of them but also what is actually going on in their heart and subconscious.

    September 5^th people are capable of wonderful fantasies of all sorts. Although their personal lives may appear quite ordinary to some, what they surround themselves with, their creations or acquisitions are often amazing. They can feel like a king or queen in a fairytale palace. This magical world they create can hold the deepest meaning for them, unfortunately, their personal human values can get lost in the shuffle.

     Those born on the 5^th of the month are ruled by the number 5 and are quick thinkers. Those born on this day are likely to overreact mentally and to change their minds and physical surroundings with great regularity. The hard knocks that those ruled by the number 5 receive from life traditionally have little lasting effect on them, they recover quickly.

Advice:  Without losing your romantic sparkle, keep a firm grip on reality. Get to know yourself better, and like yourself more.

Strengths:   Imaginative, romantic and fun

Weaknesses:  Self destructive, unaware and excessive

Born on This Day:   Louis XIV, John Cage, Raquel Welch and Joan Kennedy

This Day In History 1972:   Israeli athletes killed at Munich Olympics

On this day in 1972, at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, a group of Palestinian terrorists storms the Olympic Village apartment of the Israeli athletes, killing two and taking nine others hostage. The terrorists, known as Black September, demanded that Israel release over 230 Arab prisoners being held in Israeli jails and two German terrorists. In an ensuing shootout at the Munich airport, the nine Israeli hostages were killed along with five terrorists and one West German policeman. Olympic competition was suspended for 24 hours to hold memorial services for the slain athletes.

Great Inventions:   1787 The constitutional clause concerning patents and copyrights was adopted by the constitutional convention in 1787.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/38989915#38989915

LINK TO STORY

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3123845/Dog-saved-after-eating-12-bras.html

The dominant theme in the lives of September 4^th people is that of building. No matter what their careers family situation or social circle is, they are taken up matters of structure, form, organization and putting things together to make them work. Although many September 4^th people possess technical ability, it is more envisioning in planning than those born on this day shine. Building systems, for example, that produce goods or services, in material or theoretical terms, is their forte. Pragmatic to the extreme, September 4^th people believe that the true measure of methods is in results.

     Because of their understanding of how systems function, those born on this day are also able to criticize, analyze and sometimes tear constructs apart to show when and where they do not work. Furthermore, September 4^th people can often suggest practical solutions or improvements that really make a difference.

   Those born on this day believe that the old must be cleared to make room for the new, if faced with structure based on an unfair foundation, their impulse is generally to raze it and rebuild, not just to patch and paste. Others may not be so understanding of this attitude, themselves preferring to leave things as they are, no matter how rotten.

     Those born on this day of the month are ruled by the number 4. Those ruled by the number 4 tend to be difficult and argumentative, since they so often see things differently from everyone else.

Advice: Try to put your knowledge of how things work to a morally sound end. Follow your desire to serve, but don’t neglect your own needs. Let up on your demands where you can, while still maintaining high standards.

Strengths: Methodical, capable and constructive.

Weaknesses: Inflexible, demanding and over exacting.

Born On This Day: Tom Watson, Dawn Frazier, George H. Love, and Craig Claiborne.

Great Inventions:   1888 George Eastman patented the roll film camera

This Day In History:         On this day in 1886, Apache chief Geronimo surrenders to U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the mighty Native American warrior had battled to protect his tribe's homeland; however, by 1886 the Apaches were exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo's surrender, making him the last Indian warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaling the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest.

This is for entertainment only!

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2010/09/03/2010-09-03_mayweather_jr_slams_pacquiao_in_video_rant.html

Thief who tried to sell stolen ladder to its owner -- twice -- gets six months in jail

Published: Friday, September 03, 2010, 3:52 PM                            Updated: Friday, September 03, 2010, 3:58 PM

  Emily E. Smith

The Oregonian   

WCSOKevin Michael Gilman

The case: Undercover detectives purchased three stolen ladders from Kevin Michael Gilman, 36, before arresting him last month, authorities said.

On July 28, a man called Washington County Sheriff's deputies saying that Gilman tried to sell him a ladder stolen from him just days before. 
 

The victim kept Gilman on site until deputies arrived and arrested him. After Gilman was released from jail, Gilman called the same man and asked if he still wanted to buy a ladder that he listed on Craigslist, deputies said. Gilman was unaware that he was calling the same man who helped deputies arrest him.

The victim reported the incident to deputies and undercover investigators arranged a meeting time with Gilman. Deputies said they bought three stolen ladders from Gilman on Aug. 3, then arrested him.

Update: Gilman was charged with one count of first-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft.

On Aug. 23, he pleaded guilty to the burglary charge and one count of first-degree theft and the other charges were dismissed.

Sentence: County prosecutor Chris Lewman said Gilman was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of formal probation. The state is still determining how much Gilman will pay restitution.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/03/famous-american-lies_n_705324.html

http://www.freep.com/article/20100903/FEATURES08/100903034/1320/Baby-pronounced-dead-revived-by-mother