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There's a good reason Lisa Vanderpump didn't shed a tear after her elimination from Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star – who was partnered with hot new pro Gleb Savchenko – felt "an element of relief" to leaving the competition, she told PEOPLE backstage after her dismissal.
"I have to be honest," she said. "I'm okay with it. That's why I didn't fall apart crying."
In fact, Vanderpump is proud of what she's accomplished. "I did it," she said. "It's the fourth week of the competition. We knew we weren't going to win. We were competing against an Olympian and a 16-year-old dancer. I'm a 52-year-old restaurateur. Give me a break. It is what it is."
Although she says her early dismissal was "kind of in the cards, so to speak," she isn't entirely sure what sent her home so soon.
"[People at the show] said to me, maybe some of my fans didn't vote for me because they thought, 'Let her go home. She's exhausted.' I don't know."
Vanderpump, who "felt so crappy" while performing Monday's cha cha while sick, told reporters she didn't want to see the footage of her fainting spell during rehearsals last week. "I was like, 'Please, please take that out.' [The producers] were like, 'This is reality [TV]. We might show your best moments, but we'll definitely show your worst' ... It was just exhaustion, everything together."
But feeling better on Tuesday, the Housewife thanks Savchenko for guiding her through her DWTS journey.
"I know I couldn't have done this without [Gleb]," she said. "He was just amazing. I don't know what the other pros were like, but he was just the perfect fit for me."
And Savchenko had nice things to say about Vanderpump, as well. "The whole experience was amazing," he said. "I'm going to miss the laughs – the jokes she makes. She's got a great sense of humor. I think we're friends for life. Seven weeks together, every single day. I've spent a lot more time with her [lately] than with my wife."
Lisa Vanderpump Felt an 'Element of Relief' to Dancing with the Stars End
updated 04/10/2013 AT 10:00 AM EDT
•originally published 04/10/2013 AT 09:30 AM EDT


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Blanc Oval Swoop Bowl
Features Hide
- Contemporary swoop-shaped porcelain bowls add a modern touch to any kitchen
- Higher edges and lower center shape are ideal for serving side dishes, noodles or salads
- Safe for the oven, microwave and dishwasher
- Available in three sizes for all your serving needs
- Coordinates perfectly with other pieces in our Blanc collection
Specifications Show
- Material: Porcelain
- Care: Dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe. Oven safe to 500°F.
- Dimensions (approximate): 12" diameter
- Made in China exclusively for Sur La Table
Customer Reviews
The 7" bowl is perfect for desserts and individual servings of crudite or tortilla chips. They also double as prep bowls when I want to keep veggies and meat separate.
The 9" bowl is great for dinner-portions of soup (I love serving my Butternut Squash soup in these - it's such a pretty presentation!), dinner salads (a full portion of lettuce STAYS in the bowl!), and pasta, pasta, pasta! I also use for a one-bowl country breakfast and oatmeal in the winter.
I do not have any of the 12" bowls, but I imagine it would be useful for a fruit bowl, a serving bowl, or as a centerpiece holder (fruit/flower/potpourri/candle) that matches your table setting. I have one from a different pattern for summer that I use to keep a candle in the center of my dinner table. I might do the same with this for winter (when I serve soups, pasta, and oatmeal the most) to hold a candle with pine cones/pumpkins/leaves for my centerpiece.
Design notes aside, I love these bowls. I use them frequently and they still look brand new, despite being a year old.
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I loved this bowl for noodles because it is unique, modern, and resembles the old-fashioned gold bars that were used in China (kind of looks like a boat), so it has a double meaning. Surprisingly, my mom loves the idea, too.
The only comment is that the 7", while adorable and most resembles the Chinese gold bars, is a little too small, for true soup noodles. You really have to go to the 9" for that.
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Questions & Answers
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- AmandaSltCs Staff on Mar 9, 2014
I ordered a 12"" Blanc Oval Swoop Bowl online, and it's far too large for my needs. I'd like to return it to the Sarasota store and buy either the 7"" or 9"" bowl
- Reply
- Inaccurate
- Judith D on Sep 30, 2015
- Purchased on Dec 8, 2014
The 9" bowl has a 60oz or 5 cup capacity.
The 12" bowl has a 196oz or 12 cup capacity.
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- Inaccurate
- Amanda M Staff on Aug 27, 2014

subset: commoncrawl


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The Everhart Museum has an extensive collection of American paintings, both historic and contemporary, and a smaller collection of European works.
This collection includes works from around the world – drawings, prints, mixed media collages, assemblages, and photographs.
In addition to ceramics, wood, textiles, porcelain, and metalwork pieces, the museum has an extensive collection of Dorflinger glass.
Dorflinger glass was produced in White Mills, Pennsylvania, from 1852 to 1921. The factory, founded by Chrisitan Dorflinger, was renowned for its cut glass and stemware. The prestige of the factory was enhanced by its reputation for fine tableware that was sought after by eight American Presidents, from Abraham Lincoln to Woodrow Wilson, and select European royalty.
The Everhart Museum has an outstanding collection of American Folk Art, selections from which are on permanent display. Folk art is most often defined as work produced by artists who did not undertake academic training and whose work was created for the population at large. It was in 1934 that Mr. and Mrs. John Law Robertson lent significant pieces of American Folk Art for an exhibition at the Everhart Museum. Most of these collections were later acquired in the years 1946 to 1948 and these form the base of the extensive American Folk Art collection. Mrs. Robertson was one of the first individuals who exclusively dedicated time and money to develop on one of the seminal collections of folk art in the country. Her enthusiasm for folk art is recorded in letters stored in the Museum archives where she explicitly states her commitment to, and passion for, art that was frequently ignored by institutions exclusively dedicated to 'fine arts'. Mrs. Robertson, an area native, balked at the conventional, conservative trends of the art world in favor of what she deemed of value. Like other early folk art collectors, she sought American art outside the established halls of the Academy, understanding the intrinsic beauty, the evident craftsmanship, and the inherent history of these objects.
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Adults $7
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Children under 5 and Members admitted free of charge
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Media Partners: WNEP-TV, King Outdoor Advertising, Halibut Blue, & The Electric City


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Mar 2012
Distorted DuckAuthor: admin | Filed under: Uncategorized
Was this meant to be a duck face that went horribly awry? I have no way of knowing. What I do know is that this facial expression is indeed awkward and unattractive. I do like that cool picture in the background though.


text: > Now that you bring it up, the E programmer could indeed use this trick to > make all the pre/post-condition,invariants,requires patterns I explained > earlier explicitly switchable, negating my claim that Eiffel had a real > advantage here. Cool. To me the important feature of DBC is that the class's interface, as perceived by the programmers that invoke it or that edit its source code, is more richly expressed. The actual run-time checking of those constraints is not as important as the fact that the design is communicated explicitly among programmers. For E to be strictly better than Eiffel in this regard, it would need to have standard conventions for DBC that all E programmers learned, and a standard tool that extracted the interface and included the DBC constructs. Regards, Zooko


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Science Horizons will provide significant mentoring for 20 first-year students each year. In the fall, Science Horizons discussions will revolve around all aspects of research—how to get involved, including the possibilities available on and off campus, the benefits, the role of undergraduate research in future careers, and our current students' research projects. During the spring semester, Science Horizons discussions will revolve around "big questions" and emphasize interdisciplinary problems in biology that will influence students' perceptions about the impact of biology on their world.
Science Horizons students will receive support to conduct research over the January interim session and have the opportunity to present their results at a scientific conference. In addition, students can apply for a paid Interdisciplinary Research Fellowship for the summer following their first year.


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Seeing your face along-side many others on the Borg-Warner trophy of the Indianapolis 500 is not only an accomplishment, but an honor.
Drivers come from all over the globe to step into a 230 mph machine and tackle the highly-regarded Indianapolis Motor Speedway, each and every year.
It takes a special driver to complete the task of leading the last lap of any race, but many will go to great lengths to take home the greatest win of them all.
In previous years, we've seen last lap upsets, horrific crashes coming to the checkered flag, and of course the endings with sold winners as they pulled away from the field to take home the win.
With 2011 being the centennial anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, who do the fans want to see take home the prestigious win?
Take a look at some of the favorites in years past and decide for yourself, who do you want to see kissing the bricks one-hundred years after the start of one of the greatest races in the world?


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Amour de Pearl Sterling Silver Freshwater Pearl Twist Earrings
$57.00 Original Price $190.00
Savings: $133.00 (70%)
A classic staple with a modern twist, these 4-mm. - 5-mm. freshwater pearl hoop earrings intertwined with ribbons of sterling silver make this pair perfect for any occasion.
- Do not use ultrasonic cleaner. Avoid sudden temperature changes and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals.
- Imported
Shipping & Returns
Shipping your purchase is easy on belk.com. Depending on the destination of your package, you can expect it to arrive within 4-7 business days. Shipping Information
Returns are easy on belk.com. Easy returns
This item is also part of the collection:
Belk & Co. Freshwater Pearls Collection
Belk & Co. Freshwater Pearls Collection


text:
Mockery of Native heritage only perpetuates Native issues
Recently, I've seen a lot of people walking around with feathers in their hair, and it kind of me off. Maybe you haven't noticed the recent hipster trend of appropriating Native traditions, but being of Native descent and having been raising in a pro-Native household, I sure as hell have.
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text:
Quiz: Which Child Star Looks Like Kid Rock Now?
Many child stars grow up to be non-famous adults. Others grow up to be even more famous than they were as children—often in different industries. But a very lucky few child stars have an entirely different fate: they grow up to be Kid Rock.


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So after my day at the WTM it was time to head back home. I decided along the way to stop off at Oxford Street and visit my old collegues at Olympic. I rarely get to London these days so it would be a rare opportunity to catch up with everyone.
The OA office. ( My old work place. )
I walked in and everyone was surprised . It was great to see everyone and I spent quite a while there catching up on the news and gossip and chatting about old times. I always remember my time there with happy memories and most I have known for over 15 years so they have become good friends.
After a while it was time to leave . I came out and was greeted with the Christmas lights lit up.
I jumped on the Tube and went to Heathrow. I was quite tired by this stage.
Lots of changes to T1. It was very easy to check in though. I went to the Priority Star Gold check in and left my bag. It was only 13.5 kilos full of my WTM things but it seemed heavier when I was pulling it around all day LOL....
Security was fast and in no time I was in the International area which is now where all UK/Irish flights go through. Nice to have the same facilities as everyone else.
This was my first time to enter the new Star lounge .
I want one of those !!!
Good selection of food and drinks .
I decided to take a shower after a long day .
Refreshed I then had some more snacks. I was starving , I didnt really eat all day.
Then I had to try the Chilli
Have to say it was very nice .
Soon it was time to go to Gate 82 , boarding was delayed due to late inbound. I overheard the BMI dispatcher and the gate agents talking about the A330's that are being moved to LHR. He said '' I cant wait until they come down here '' . I bet your MAN collegues dont think that way I thought.
One thing that is not well organised at T1 Irish gates is the way they have to slide the glass door across the hall when an inbound A/C is disembarking. This is to keep the passengers arriving seperate from the departing. It does however block off areas of the hall and if you were running to the gate you would be further delayed until all passengers has got off the said flight. Not the best design I have to say.
After around 20 minutes it was time to board.
Crew were ok not great to be honest. Very authoritarian IMHO. We made our way to the runway and a Malaysian airlines flight took off before us. I then looked behind us and was great to see a SQ A380 . It was like a monster behind us. Looked really impressive. I had 3 failed attempts to get a photo of it as it was too dark.
Aerial view of T5
Soon meal service came round. I ordered a Pepsi and she gave me two cans. Nice enough.
Now this is my issue with BMI. They need to upgrade their ''Bento box'' product. When you look at what Swiss offer on their 1 hour flights I really think that BMI could do better. Maybe with the LH changes this will happen. It just seemed too cheap and plastic for J class. The cutlery was bendy and useless to cut Chicken. It did however taste nice.
If they served it on decent plates or Swiss style caserole mini dishes then it would really make a difference. It cant be that hard to do.
Anyway the rest of the flight was un eventful. I collected my bag off the baggage claim which in fairness was first off with the Priority tag so no complaints there.
I made my way to the Hotel shuttle bus stand .
Night views of T2
I was staying at the Holiday Inn Express as I was flying out the next morning with fellow Irish Anetter and friend Eirules.
I checked in and went to my room. Eirules had already checked in to his room earlier and had gone to bed. It was around Midnight when I arrived. The hotel and room was alot nicer than I expected.
So thats it . I hope you enjoyed this report. Shorter than usual LOL.... Comments , Suggestions and questions appreciated as usual.
Thanks for reading


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C.J.: Of course I want to touch the ball morePosted by on December 9, 2012 – 5:15 pm
The division of the workload between Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller was again a popular topic among fans in the wake of the team's 15-12 loss to the Rams Sunday. C.J. Spiller was asked about his eight touches in the game following the loss.
"I really cannot control how many times I touch the ball," he said. "I keep saying it over and over. I do not konw what else you want me to say. The only thing i can do is when my number is called, just try to do the best I can. Even when it is not, just do the best I can. Today I let a couple of my pass pros kind of slip a little bit. So I just have to go back to the drawing board to see what I did wrong, try to fix it and finish these last three games on a high note."
Spiller, who gave up a sack on the first third down of the Indy game in pass protection in Week 12, also spent less time on the field in the second half of that game. So his mention of his pass protection assignments in the Rams game is telling.
The Bills back had one reception for 15 yards and seven carries for 37 yards in the game. When asked if he's frustrated by his lack of work, Spiller said the following.
"Of course I want to touch the ball more, but there is no need for me to sit around, mope and groan and do all that because that is high school," he said. "That is childish. That is not what I am about. Is the frustration there? Yeah. Deep down in your gut as a competitor, yeah it is there. But there is nothing I can do about it so I am not going to sit around and pout and be a little baby or a little girl or something."
Tags: Bills-Rams, C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson
Posted in Inside the Bills
Rams kicker could make OC think twicePosted by on December 9, 2012 – 8:17 am
Rams rookie K Greg Zuerlein has a big leg. He's 7-11 from 50-yards plus this season, which has already set an NFL rookie record for most 50-yard plus makes by a rookie in a season. With successful 58 and 60 yarders under his belt this season, Zuerlein has the kind of leg that could make offensive coordinators think twice about getting aggressive on fourth down.
Offensive touchdowns have been hard enough to come by for the Rams as they have just 18 this season, third-lowest in the NFL next to Arizona (17) and Kansas City (15). Zuerlein has at least helped the St. Louis offense put points on the board from long distance.
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher isn't necessarily conservative by nature, but in his first year with the club he's taking points wherever he can get them.
As head coach Chan Gailey sees it, no matter how big a leg your kicker has, you can't let it make you conservative as an offensive play caller.
"It probably does, but I'm not sure it should let it because if you start depending on that, that's where you stop scoring touchdowns," Gailey said in his weekly conversation with Buffalobills.com. "You don't want to depend on that. You know you've got it in your back pocket, but you don't want to depend on that in my opinion."
Zuerlein got a game ball from coach Fisher last week, for kicking a 53-yarder at time expired in regulation to force overtime, followed by a 54-yarder in overtime to beat the 49ers.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey
Posted in Inside the Bills
O-line calls to be handled by vetsPosted by on December 8, 2012 – 10:26 am
Bills head coach Chan Gailey chose not to reveal the lineup for his offensive line Sunday. It's left the question out there as to whether it will be Kraig Urbik at center or rookie David Snow. Whoever is not at center will be at right guard. Even if Snow is at center against the Rams Sunday, don't expect him to be making the line calls. That will be handled by two veterans up front for the Bills.
Head coach Chan Gailey answered in the affirmative in his weekly conversation with Buffalobills.com when asked if Andy Levitre and Kraig Urbik will be handling a lot of the pre-snap calls on the line no matter where Urbik lines up.
"Oh yes," said Gailey. "A lot of times when you have two new guys playing next to each other that's not the easiest thing in the world either. You really have to communicate all the way out. The good thing about Sam (Young) is he's played, he's been a pro so I think he'll be able to communicate back in whatever is necessary to communicate back in."
Urbik also gave indication that he and Levitre would be handling the line calls before the snap.
"Whether I'm at guard or center I'm going to be help (David) Snow and Sam (Young)," said Urbik. "We're going here, or we're going here, that way there is no guesswork and no thinking. We're just going. I think Andy (Levitre) and I are going to be doing most of the communicating no matter what."
"The communication is one of the biggest factors, but we've been working with those guys," said Gailey of Snow and Young. "We've had communication with them for quite a while, almost the whole season now. The speed of the game is what they've have to adjust to. The other three guys are used to the speed of the game, they're not. It's going to be a challenge for them to adjust to the speed of the game. And this is a tough defensive front to make that adjustment against.
"This is probably the biggest challenge we've had all year. With the quality of players they have on their front, they play so hard and so fast. They're quick and strong. They're as good a defensive line as we have faced all season. We have our work cut out for us with two new guys on our offensive line. It's a challenge for our football team."
Tags: Andy Levitre, Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, David Snow, Kraig Urbik, Sam Young
Posted in Inside the Bills
WR Amendola a game time decisionPosted by on December 7, 2012 – 5:07 pm
The Rams top receiver is truly 50-50 for Sunday's game against the Bills in Buffalo.
That according to St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher.
After Friday's practice, Fisher told St. Louis reporters the following about Amendola's availability for Sunday's game.
"He was limited practice today and a little better than he was yesterday," Fisher said. "I'm sure he'll be a game time decision."
Amendola is dealing with a foot injury and is listed as questionable. LB Mario Haggan (elbow) is also questionable.
TE Mike McNeill (thigh) is out.
RB Steven Jackson (foot) and starting C Scott Wells (knee) are listed as probable after both participated fully on Friday.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Danny Amendola
Posted in Inside the Bills
Gailey holds O-line cards close to vestPosted by on December 7, 2012 – 1:29 pm
The Bills know what their lineup is going to be on their offensive line come Sunday against the Rams, they just don't want St. Louis to know. Head coach Chan Gailey chose not to reveal who would line up at center in place of the injured Eric Wood.
When asked what he was willing to reveal regarding his re-shuffled offensive line for this week, Gailey offered the following.
"We'll have five," said Gailey. "Every play we'll have five and sometimes we'll have six, but that's about as far as I want to go on that. We know what we're going to do, but I don't want to talk about where everybody is going to play."
Last Sunday after Eric Wood exited the game with a torn MCL in his left knee, right guard Kraig Urbik moved to center and rookie David Snow came on to replace Urbik at right guard. Sam Young stepped in at right tackle for the injured Chris Hairston, who has since been moved to injured reserve.
The other possible lineup would be David Snow at center and Urbik remaining at his right guard spot. Either way is comfortable for Urbik, who made five starts at center last season for Wood.
"I felt comfortable going in there last game when Eric got hurt and I've had a lot of practice at center so I feel comfortable there," said Urbik.
Whether the offensive staff has chosen to change that alignment for this week remains to be seen.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, David Snow, Kraig Urbik, Sam Young
Posted in Inside the Bills
Bills full injury status reportPosted by on December 7, 2012 – 1:17 pm
Here is the Bills injury status report for Sunday's game against the Rams.
Special teams LB Chris White was the only new addition on Friday.
"Chris White had an issue with his back and went in, but came back and finished practice," said Gailey. "He was limited."
DE Mark Anderson – knee
C Eric Wood – knee
WR Stevie Johnson – hamstring
CB Justin Rogers – foot
CB Leodis McKelvin – back
CB Aaron Williams – knee
DT Spencer Johnson – ankle
LB Chris White – back
DT Kyle Williams – ankle
WR Brad Smith – hamstring
WR T.J. Graham – ankle
LB Nick Barnett – knee
G Kraig Urbik – knee
S Da'Norris Searcy – hand
RB C.J. Spiller – shoulder
DE Mario Williams – wrist
TE Scott Chandler – groin
FS Jairus Byrd – back
G Andy Levitre – knee
DT Marcell Dareus – shoulder
WR Donald Jones – calf
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, Chris White
Posted in Inside the Bills
A. Williams still not there yetPosted by on December 7, 2012 – 1:15 pm
Aaron Williams has been practicing with the team for the past two weeks as he tries to return from a knee injury in Week 9, but he's yet to participate fully in a practice. That's why he's again listed as questionable for this Sunday's game.
"He did better," said head coach Chan Gailey when asked how Williams week of practice went. "It'll be close on him (for Sunday). I don't know if he'll make it or not. I want him really close to 100 (percent). I don't know if we're quite there yet."
Knowing Williams has been off the game field for four games, jumping right back in is difficult especially at cornerback. In all likelihood he'll miss his fifth straight game on Sunday.
With Williams not expected to be in the lineup, here is what the cornerback depth chart would look like for Sunday.
Stephon Gilmore
Leodis McKelvin
Justin Rogers
Ron Brooks
Crezdon Butler
T.J. Heath
Tags: Aaron Williams, Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey
Posted in Inside the Bills
Rams WR Amendola limitedPosted by on December 6, 2012 – 8:23 pm
Rams WR Danny Amendola is still not practicing fully due to a foot injury.
Amendola was limited on Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. Here's the rest of the Rams Thursday injury update.
Did not practice
TE Mike McNeill – thigh
C Scott Wells – knee
C Tim Barnes – not injury related
limited in practice
WR Danny Amendola – foot
LB Mario Haggan – elbow
RB Steven Jackson (foot) was a full participant.
Tags: Bills-Rams
Posted in Inside the Bills
Bills updated Thurs. injury reportPosted by on December 6, 2012 – 4:48 pm
Here's the updated injury report for the Bills following Thursday's practice, which lists practice participation.
Did not practice
C Eric Wood – knee
DE Mark Anderson – knee
Limited in practice
WR Stevie Johnson – hamstring
DT Kyle Williams – ankle
WR Brad Smith – hamstring
CB Justin Rogers – foot
CB Leodis McKelvin – back
WR T.J. Graham – ankle
LB Nick Barnett – knee
G Kraig Urbik – knee
CB Aaron Williams – knee
DL Spencer Johnson – ankle
Tags: Bills injury report, Bills-Rams
Posted in Inside the Bills
Stevie encouraged after Thursday practicePosted by on December 6, 2012 – 4:23 pm
Bills top wideout Stevie Johnson was back out on the practice field and was generally pleased with how his tight hamstring held up in practice.
"Yeah I was happy with it," Johnson told Buffalobills.com. "It went well. I just may have to change my style for a wet field."
Rain is in the forecast for Sunday's game against the Rams and a wet field can increase the chances for re-injury with footing not as sure as it is on a dry field. Johnson's route running really can't be described to begin with, so best of luck to Janoris Jenkins and Cortland Finnegan.
As head coach Chan Gailey saw it, Johnson's level of participation was encouraging to him as well.
"Stevie did most of practice, went through the whole thing and did okay," said Gailey. "He was not full speed, but he did okay. It was good because he'd go out and run some plays and go sit on the bench just like he would in the game, and then go back out and run. So that activity was good."
Johnson was officially listed as a limited participant Thursday.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, Stevie Johnson
Posted in Inside the Bills
Bills to practice outside todayPosted by on December 6, 2012 – 10:40 am
Last week the Bills practiced outside on Thursday to take advantage of the windy conditions, knowing they'd be close to the windy conditions last Sunday against the Jaguars. This week they're doing much of the same as they're practicing outside here on Thursday this week at One Bills Drive.
"I think the guys get accustomed to what it's like to be in the stadium under similar weather conditions," said head coach Chan Gailey. "It's never going to be the same because it's not normally the same two days in a row in Buffalo. You get similar weather conditions and you get to experience it then it's not a big deal. It's not a shock to them when they walk out there on Sunday. You're trying to create practice experiences as close to game experiences as you possibly can, and one way you can do it is with weather."
"We have to be able to embrace that," said Ryan Fitzpatrick. "We have to be able to use that as an advantage for us in these December games. As a quarterback, do I hope that it's really windy and rainy? No I don't. But if it is, we've got to be able to use that to our advantage."
Right now Sunday's forecast is rain, high of 41 degrees with sustained winds of 10-15 mph.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick
Posted in Inside the Bills
RBs, TEs ready to assist in pass proPosted by on December 6, 2012 – 9:30 am
Veterans on Buffalo's offense realize they'll have to assimilate rookie OL David Snow and OL Sam Young into the lineup in short order this week in preparation for the St. Louis Rams Sunday.
Although Ryan Fitzpatrick typically gets the ball out quick, the Rams are a formidable pass rushing front as they're currently tied for fourth in the league in sacks with 34.
"They do a great job of rushing the passer and (Chris) Long will be a challenge over there for Sam (Young). That'll be a real challenge for him. But to be honest with you they rotate through a lot of guys that can play. This might be overall as athletic a defensive front and a powerful combined with quickness defensive front as we've played all season."
Long has seven sacks this season and fellow DE Robert Quinn has 8.5. Buffalo's tight ends and running backs assure they'll be ready if help is pass protection is required.
"It's something that we'll be aware of," said Fred Jackson. "We would like to see what those guys can do, though. We're going to have some things in the game plan where we may be doing some things over there, chipping here and there, but I think that will be dictated by how they handle it.
"If they're doing fine, we'll let those guys handle it on themselves, and just do what we do. If we feel like we've got to get over there and give Fitz a little bit more time back there, it's something we're accustomed to doing and it won't be hard for us to adjust to that."
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, David Snow, Fred Jackson, Sam Young
Posted in Inside the Bills
No practice for Rams starting WR, RBPosted by on December 6, 2012 – 9:09 am
The Rams top wide receiver and starting running back were among those that did not practice Wednesday.
WR Danny Amendola did not practice Wednesday due to a foot injury. Starting RB Steven Jackson did not practice as well due to a foot problem as well, but he's been taking Wednesdays off for quite a while, much like Buffalo's Kyle Williams.
TE Mike McNeill (thigh), LB Mario Haggan (elbow) and starting C Scott Wells (knee) did not practice either on Wednesday.
Tags: Bills-Rams, Rams injury report
Posted in Inside the Bills
Snow, Urbik split time at guard and centerPosted by on December 5, 2012 – 4:32 pm
Buffalo's interior linemen are preparing to pick up the slack left behind by Eric Wood's MCL injury. The starting center is out for at least the next two games. Set to fill the void are Kraig Urbik and rookie David Snow at center and right guard. Who's playing where however, is still up in the air.
Head coach Chan Gailey said a final decision as to who plays right guard and who plays center will be decided later in the week. On Wednesday Snow and Urbik split time at both center and guard.
"I played both," said Snow after Wednesday's practice. "Not one or the other, just both."
"It was really split today," Urbik told Buffalobills.com. "I got guard and center work and we're just going to see what works out best."
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, David Snow, Kraig Urbik
Posted in Inside the Bills
Barnett, Graham, McKelvin limitedPosted by on December 5, 2012 – 4:26 pm
Several Bills players were limited in practice Wednesday, including a couple of new additions to the injury report.
Nick Barnett (knee), T.J. Graham (ankle) and Leodis McKelvin (back) were among the limited participants. Here's the full injury report from Wednesday. Also Chris Hairston's injury was listed as an ankle. Head coach Chan Gailey described it as a deep bone bruise.
Did not practice
DE Mark Anderson – knee
WR Stevie Johnson – hamstring
DT Kyle Williams – ankle
C Eric Wood – knee
OT Chris Hairston – ankle
Limited in practice
WR Brad Smith – hamstring
CB Justin Rogers – foot
CB Leodis McKelvin – back
WR T.J. Graham – ankle
LB Nick Barnett – knee
G Kraig Urbik – knee
CB Aaron Williams – knee
DT Spencer Johnson – ankle
Full practice
S Da'Norris Searcy – hand
RB C.J. Spiller – shoulder
DE Mario Williams – wrist
TE Scott Chandler – groin
FS Jairus Byrd – back
G Andy Levitre – knee
DT Marcell Dareus – shoulder
WR Donald Jones – calf
Tags: Bills injury report, Bills-Rams, Leodis McKelvin, Nick Barnett, T.J. Graham
Posted in Inside the Bills
DE Anderson still not readyPosted by on December 4, 2012 – 9:05 am
He's been out of the lineup since Week 5, thanks to a pair of knee surgeries, and it's not looking promising for Mark Anderson to return to the fold Sunday against the Rams.
When asked for an update on Anderson, Gailey still believes he'll get the veteran pass rusher back, just not this week in all likelihood.
"He may be one that's a struggle to get back this week," said Gailey. "I think he'll get back before the end of the season, but I don't know if he'll make it this week. We'll see."
Tags: Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey, Mark Anderson
Posted in Inside the Bills
A. Williams closer to a returnPosted by on December 3, 2012 – 5:32 pm
Aaron Williams has been out since Week 9 with a knee injury. He returned to the practice setting this past week, but was still not healthy enough to dress for the Jacksonville game. Head coach Chan Gailey is hoping they can get Williams close to 100 percent this week.
"I'm going to say he was in that 75 percent range," said Gailey when asked where Williams was health-wise for this past Sunday's game. "Not quite there, but fairly close. Hopefully we can get him a lot closer to 100 this week before we put him out there."
It sonds as if the Bills are trying to get Williams healthy enough where he can serve as an emergency option this week against the Rams, should the need arise.
"That's a tough position to play if you're not really close to 100 percent," said Gailey.
Tags: Aaron Williams, Bills-Rams, Chan Gailey
Posted in Inside the Bills


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Joseph and Joyce Colucci were married on Sept. 1, 1962, at Faith Lutheran Church in Cicero, Ill.
They have two children, Joseph Jr., currently living in Japan, and Christine Colucci Armstrong of Las Vegas, Nev. They have one granddaughter, Theresa.
Joseph retired from law enforcement in 1986 after 20 years of service from the Village of Stickney in Illinois. Joyce was office manager of a major moving company.
Friends surprised them with a dinner at a restaurant to celebrate the occasion.


text:
Tight end Will Tye was raised in Connecticut but grew up being a fan of Florida State football. Deion Sanders was his idol, and Tye wanted to play football at the same university. After two seasons of limited playing time with the Seminoles, Tye looked elsewhere. Now, his favorite school is Stony Brook.
FSU's Will Tye to Make Fast Impact for Stony Brook Football
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October 4, 2005, 09:56 PM
Ok I've got a question for y'all... Does storing magazines fully loaded damage the spring. I've been told both. The argument for the NO answer is that cycling the spring eg. loading and unloading the mag. is what wears it out. What do you guys say??? :confused:


text:
The other day Bobby Bonilla almost got mad. When an umpire called a third strike on him, the strapping young third baseman for the upstart Pittsburgh Pirates did something astounding—by his standards, if not those of most major leaguers: He objected, even raising his voice. The next day he did something even more unusual—for most major leaguers, if not for him. He apologized.
"I told him I was sorry I showed him up," Bonilla says. "I saw the replay. The pitch was right down the middle."
Perhaps not since Ernie ("It's a great day for a ballgame.") Banks retired from the Chicago Cubs 17 years ago has baseball seen a man with a sunnier disposition swing a meaner bat. "It sure is nice to come to the ballpark every day and see a smiling face," says Pirate catcher Mike LaValliere. "It's a good thing Bobby's that way, because he's so strong it's scary. I'd hate to see him lose his temper." So far, having a long fuse on a 6'3", 230-lb. frame has worked splendidly for Bonilla. After hitting .300 with 15 home runs last year, his second full season in the majors, Bonilla started this year on a tear and was named National League Player of the Month in both April and May. His name frequently appears among the leaders in most offensive categories in the NL, but Bonilla doesn't think stats when he steps into the box. "All I really want," says the 25-year-old switch-hitter, "is to concentrate on driving in runs."
"Right now, he's the best all-around third baseman in the league," says the Phillies' Mike Schmidt, a third baseman of Hall of Fame caliber. Bonilla and Schmidt were the top contenders to start at third for the NL's All-Star team this week.
Bonilla was an outfielder when he came to Pittsburgh. Pirate manager Jim Leyland says that once he saw the youngster's "great throwing arm, great hands and great quickness, we put him over there at third, threw him to the wolves, and he's done a great job." In fact, Bonilla seems to be a Teflon ballplayer, shedding pressure automatically. "This isn't pressure," he says. "Pressure is growing up in the South Bronx."
Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla was raised in a four-bedroom apartment in the South Bronx with his twin sisters, Milagros and Socorro, now 24, and his brother, Javier, 17. His father, Roberto, an electrician, and mother, Regina, a psychologist, who had migrated from their native Puerto Rico, divorced when Bobby was 8. Despite the breakup, "my father was determined to see us as much as he could," Bonilla says, "and Mom is a real laid-back kind of person. So I think they both instilled positive values in me." His own primary value was to make the big leagues. "I played sports 24 hours a day," he says. "In a place like the South Bronx, you have to dream or else you'll get caught up in the mess."
Bonilla made it to the majors by a little-used route. After graduating from high school he was completely overlooked by scouts and joined an all-star team that toured Scandinavia. There he was discovered by the Pirates' current general mananger, Syd Thrift, who conducted clinics on the tour and was impressed by the 18-year-old's maturity. But after five years down on the farm, Bonilla suffered a severe ankle break in an outfield collision and saw his dream threatened. Instead, the accident redoubled his commitment to the game. "That's when I realized how easy it is to take things for granted," he says. "An injury stops you and makes you say, 'Hey, you'd better wake up.' "
While rehabilitating his leg by playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, Bonilla decided to make another commitment—to his high school sweetheart, Millie Quinones. "I called her and said, 'Hey, get down here so we can get married,' " Bonilla says. "I gave her $22 to buy a dress and shoes. We sorta eloped." Now he and Millie, 24, are expecting their first child. Born-again Christians, they share a luxury apartment in Pittsburgh's scenic Mount Washington area but live modestly despite Bonilla's $230,000 salary (which, thanks to the Pirates' general penuriousness, is well below the $450,000 major league average). The couple talked about splurging on a $53,000 BMW, but, says Millie, "Robert didn't think he deserved it. So I went out one day and brought one home." Explains Bobby: "It was tough for me to buy because I've never had much money in my life."
He does now, and he also has his dream, in diamonds. He has a tough time accepting that, too. Already the word "great" is being applied to him, and he always flinches at it. "You know when I'll think I'm great?" Bonilla demands. "When my suit is hanging in Cooperstown. Right now, I'm just another one of the guys."
—By Eric Levin, with Mary Huzinec in Pittsburgh
Save That Ball, Boys—The Way Bobby Bonilla's Going, It'll Be Valuable
Mary Huzinec
updated 07/18/1988 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 07/18/1988 AT 01:00 AM EDT


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Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Vegetable breeding company Enza Zaden will exhibit at Asia Fruit Logistica 2012, to be held on 5-7 September, with the theme 'the power of local breeding, the power of Enza Zaden'. In other words, varieties and products tailored to the local wishes and local growing conditions of regions throughout the world. The range presented at the Enza Zaden stand will therefore be more varied than ever before.
Ruud Berkvens, Area Manager South East Asia: "We are extremely proud of our extensive range of Asian products bred in and specifically for Asia. At our stand we look forward to presenting products with which growers can stand out from the competition in the enormous vegetable market. Examples include blocky sweet peppers with high fruit quality, mini sweet conicals, classic Chinese cucumbers and Asian cherry tomatoes."
The stand will also spotlight the lettuce varieties for the hydroponic lettuce growing system. This presentation drew big crowds last year, and an even more extensive range will be on display this year. Enza Zaden has a whole range of lettuce varieties suitable for growing on water.
Hydroponic lettuce production is a large scale, commonly used production method in Asia, particularly due to the demand for food safety. Guaranteeing food safety is seen by the Asian supermarket companies and wholesale markets as an increasingly important strategy for achieving market distinction. The use of hydroponic crops will therefore continue to grow.
Besides presenting the product range, sales representatives from the various Asian countries hope to speak with visitors one-on-one. Berkvens: "A personal meeting at the trade fair is an excellent opportunity to hold a face-to-face discussion. We can explore what both parties can do for each other and how we can achieve added value for the product. This forms the basis for new product concepts, fully tailored to our customers' wishes."
The Asia Fruit Logistica will take place this year from 5 to 7 September at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Enza Zaden will be located at stand number 2I-20.
© 2016 Enza Zaden


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I'm delighted to inform you that my 2012 summer Seminar in Music History at Westminster Choir College will be "Nineteenth Century Nationalism in Music".
The course will be held on the WCC campus from July 23rd to August 9th; we meet from 1-4 p.m., Monday through Thursday; no exams; critical musicological and socio-historical inquiry are the foci. For further information, please visit www.rider.edu/summer or call 609-896-5033. Feel free to contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com.
Best wishes,
Paul-André Bempéchat, Affiliate
Center for European Studies
Harvard University


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Marlon Harmon faces habitual offender term
Marlon Harmon was sentenced last Wednesday by Judge Krystian Earles to 25 years at hard labor, after an Acadia parish jury found him guilty in May of Distribution of Cocaine
The conviction, which was Harmon's fifth for felonies, also forms the basis of a Habitual Offender Bill of Information that was filed Wednesday against Harmon. This now starts the process by which Judge Earles will be asked to sentence Harmon in the future to a sentence ranging from 30 years to life in prison.
Harmon was convicted in the 1991 burglary of Worthmore's 5&10 in Rayne, and the burglary of a vehicle owned by a Rayne resident. He was also convicted after a 1996 arrest for Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and another arrest for Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine from 1997.
Frederick "Fritz" Welter, felony prosecutor in the Crowley office of the district attorney, said that the sentence sends a clear message. "Drug dealers are not going to be able to sell drugs to the young people of Acadia parish without thinking hard about this 25 year sentence. It will hopefully act as a deterrent and help our local law enforcement agencies as they try to rid our parish of these drug dealers."
Rayne Police Chief Carroll Stelly noted that Harmon had been one of the area's biggest drug dealers, and that taking him off the streets makes it a better place for the law abiding citizens. "We are aggressively going after these drug dealers, and we are making it very uncomfortable for them to do their dealing here. This type of sentence will help us achieve our goals for this type of crime," said Stelly.


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Design Miami 2015: American designer Ian Stell has created an expandable bench that forms two conjoined chairs when contracted. More »
Tag: bench
Kitchen Sofa by Emma Nilsson, Johanna Westin
and Lisa Frode
Industrial design students Emma Nilsson, Johanna Westin and Lisa Frode of Lund University, Sweden, have created a wooden bench with storage units as part of their Masters project. More »
Seam Chair and Bench by Chris Kabel
Dutch Design Week: Dutch designer Chris Kabel has won the €15,000 Doen Materiaalprijs 2009 for a chair and bench made entirely of polypropylene fabric. More »
Extrusions by Thomas Heatherwick
- more images
London Design Festival 09: Heatherwick studio have released more images of their Extrusions exhibition, on display at Haunch of Venison gallery in London. More »
Extrusions by Thomas Heatherwick
London Design Festival 09: an exhibition of six extruded aluminium furniture pieces by British designer Thomas Heatherwick has opened at Haunch of Venison in London. More »
Modular Bench by Shizuka Tatsuno
Young Japanese designer Shizuka Tatsuno has designed an upholstered bench that can be converted into a chaise longue or an armchair and side table. More »
Living Wood by Matali Crasset
An exhibition of work by french designer Matali Crasset called Living Wood is on show at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris, France. More »
Max Lamb at Johnson Trading Gallery
A solo exhibition by British designer Max Lamb has opened at Johnson Trading Gallery in New York, featuring a new series of furniture cut from solid rock. More »
Nature V2.01 by Draw Me a Sheep
Belgium-based designers Draw Me a Sheep presented chairs and stools upholstered in real tree bark at 100% Design London, which ended yesterday. More »
h2o bench by h2o Architectes
More from h2o Architectes: h2o bench is a modular furniture system designed for the main square of Valenciennes in northern France. More »
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Tufts University
School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Biology
Find People
Student Opportunities
Principal Investigator
Current Lab Members
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Current Lab Members
Robert Schaeffer
Postdoctoral Researcher
Robert completed his PhD in 2014 at Dartmouth College. He is broadly interested in chemical-mediated species interactions and their implications for broader community patterns. For his PhD, he studied the role of nectar-inhabiting microbes as mediators of plant-pollinator mutualisms. In the lab, Robert examines how changes in defensive chemistry mediate interactions between two exotic herbivores (
Adelges tsugae and Fiorinia externa
) and the performance of their native host,
Tsuga canadensis
. He also examines linkages between aboveground herbivory by these invasives and the belowground ecology of
T. canadaensis
and its microbial associates.
Eric Scott
PhD Student
Eric is a PhD student studying the effects of herbivory on defense and flavor chemistry in tea (
Camellia sinensis
) in the context of climate change.
Esther Miller
PhD Student
Esther is a PhD student looking at the impact of invasive herbivores on the plant defense chemistry of the Eastern Hemlock.
Maria.Ordovas Montanes
Undergraduate Researcher
Maria is working on an interdisciplinary Biology and Community Health senior honors thesis. Her work investigates the impact of climate on tea quality and how consumers make food choices in the context of climate change.
Anne Elise Stratton
Undergraduate Researcher
Anne Elise is an undergraduate working on her senior honors thesis in Environmental Studies, Food Systems, Nutrition, and the Environment. Her research focuses on the relationship between plant biodiversity factors in Guatemalan smallholder cornfields and the protein and amino acid composition of maize from those fields. Overall, her thesis discusses biodiversity and socioecological health in the Q'eqchi' milpa system of Sarstún, Guatemala.
Amanda Sommi
Undergraduate Researcher
Amanda is an undergraduate studying Biology and Environmental Studies. Her research in the lab is focused on the over-winter feeding behavior of the hemlock-woolly adelgid.
©2016 Tufts University. All rights reserved. Site designed & maintained by Tufts Technology Services (TTS).


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Why Fluoride is Good for Teeth
Christians displaced by Kandhamal violence in 2008 sold for coerced labor or sex.
NEW DELHI, August 25 (CDN) — Nearly two years after large-scale anti-Christian violence broke out in India's Kandhamal district, Orissa state, a team working against human trafficking on Aug. 9 rescued a 16-year-old Christian girl – one of at least 60 people sold into slavery after being displaced by the 2008 attacks.
The recovery in Delhi of the girl represented the cracking of a network that has trafficked Christian girls and women from Orissa to the national capital, sources said.
"Human trafficking agents operating in the tribal belt of Orissa have targeted the Christian girls who are displaced by the Kandhamal communal violence – we have been receiving complaints of missing girls from Kandhamal after the violence broke out in 2008," said attorney Lansinglu Rongmei, one of the rescue team members. "Roughly 60 girls are estimated missing and have been trafficked to different states."
The girl, whose name is withheld, is a tribal Christian who was sold into slavery along with her 19-year-old sister and two other girls, all victims of the 2008 violence; they were trafficked from the Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district to the capital in December 2009, according to the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN). Her sister and the other two girls remain missing.
The mother of the girl accompanied the rescue team the evening of Aug. 9 in the Rohini area of Delhi, said a source from the HRLN Anti-Human Trafficking department on condition of anonymity.
"It was only the joint efforts of the All India Christian Council [AICC], HRLN Anti-Human Trafficking and the area police that made this rescue possible," the source said.
The rescue team took action after the minor's mother approached the HRLN of Kandhamal for help, which in turn called the Delhi office. Team members said they were disappointed by the reaction of police, who were initially cooperative but later "just unwilling to help," in the words of one member.
The girl was used only for labor, although she was sexually harassed, sources said.
Rongmei told Compass that police refused to file a First Information Report, telling rescue team members, "No rape of the victim took place as per the medical examination, and there was no need for a case registration against anyone."
The rescue team was not given a copy of the report of a medical examination at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, Pitampura, in Delhi, but they were told it indicated no sign of rape.
"It is confirmed that she was not raped," said Madhu Chandra, spokesperson of the AICC and part of the rescue team. "She was physically abused, with teeth bite marks and bruises on her body – her neck, leg and right hand."
The girl stated that a well-known woman from their village in Kandhamal district gave her and her sister a false promise of safe and secure work in Delhi as gardeners.
Instead, operatives brought the sisters and the two other girls to a placement agency in Ratala village in Delhi, Sakhi Maid Bureau, which was run by a man identified only as Montu.
The HRLN source told Compass that the girl was with the placement agency for six days as the owner, Montu, attempted to rape her on several occasions. She was threatened, beaten, drugged with alcohol and sexually molested, the source said.
The girl said her sister and the other two girls were treated the same way.
She was placed in a home in Rohini, Sector 11, as domestic help beginning in January. Until July, she said, she was treated relatively well there, except for a few instances of being slapped by the lady of the house. Then the family's 10-year-old son began to hit her and their 14-year-old son tried to assault her sexually, and she tried to flee earlier this month.
The girl told the rescue team that she informed the lady of the house about the elder son's misbehavior, but that the woman stated that she could do nothing about it.
"She bears marks from being beaten on her right hand by the younger boy," said Chandra.
He told Compass that the owner of the placement agency collected the girl's wages from the family who employed her, promising to send the money to her mother in Kandhamal district, but that he failed to do so.
Compass was unable to meet with the girl as she was still traumatized and undergoing counseling sessions. The girl's mother sobbed for her other daughter, grieved that no one knew what condition she was in.
Montu, the placement agency operator, has absconded, according to police.
Passive Police
Prasant Vihar Police Station House Officer Sudhir Kumar confirmed the rescue team's accusation that he refused to register a complaint in the girl's case.
"The victim is from Kandhamal, let her go back to Kandhamal and register her complaint there," Kumar told Compass. "No rape of the victim took place as per the medical examination, and thus there is no need for registering a case against anyone."
Assistant Commissioner of Police Sukhvir Singh told Compass he had no explanation why the girl's complaint was not registered, but he insisted on having her and the rescue team return.
"We will file their complaint if they come back to us now," he said.
Karuna Dayal, coordinator of Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives at HRLN, led the rescue team, which also included AICC Legal Secretary Advocate Rongmei, Chandra and Ashis Kumar Subodh of the AICC, and three others from the HRLN – Afsar Ahmed, attorney Diviya Jyoti Jaipuria and one identified only as Sangram.
Dr. John Dayal, secretary general of the AICC, said large-scale human trafficking in Christian tribal and Dalit women of Kandhamal district is one of the worst problems in the aftermath of the Kandhamal violence.
"Police have made arrests in the nearby Andhra Pradesh and other states," he said. "Because of the displacement due to the violence, they lost their future, and it is very easy for strangers to come and lure them. Community and family life has been disrupted; the children do not have the normal security that growing children must have. Trauma, unemployment and desperate measures have resulted in the loss of childhood, forcing many to grow up before their age."
The AICC is calling on the National Commission for Women, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes to investigate, he added.
Report from Compass Direct News
Hostilities common in area in Bihar state; victim had been part of team attacked in 2008.
NEW DELHI, May 11 (CDN) — The gruesome nature of the May 2 murder of an evangelist in Bihar state who had no enmity with anyone has led area Christians to suspect anti-Christian motives.
The mutilated body of Ravi Murmu, 32, was found in Jamalpur, Munger district, with the right hand nearly severed by means of a sharp weapon, and the jaw and neck were similarly slashed.
"Efforts were made to chop off his hand and neck, trying to separate it from his body," Shekhar Kumar, a member of his church, told Compass.
Police are investigating but have made no arrests so far.
"All his belongings were intact, which included his motorbike, Bible, cell phone, wristwatch and some cash," Murmu's brother-in-law, Shiv Kumar, told Compass. "This seems to be a planned murder. That is why Ravi was targeted when he was alone. To me the motive seems to be anti-Christian."
Murmu's pastor, Yunus Mandal of Bethel Brethren Assembly in Jamalpur, agreed.
"The intention behind the murder evidently is not robbery," Mandal said. "I am suspicious that Hindu fundamentalists have done this, but this could also be the handiwork of the Naxalites [Maoist rebels]."
Kumar and Murmu's widow, Rinku Murmu, both said the evangelist had no enmity with anyone, and that anti-Christian sentiment was the only motive they could surmise.
Murmu was returning from showing a film about the life of Jesus, "Dayasagar," in nearby Lakshmanpur. He had accompanied a team of seven evangelists showing the film but was alone when attacked. The murder is estimated to have taken place between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
He is survived by his wife, 8-year-old daughter Celesty and his widowed mother.
Past Assault
Pastor Mandal's wife, Mary Mandal, said anti-Christian hostilities are common in the area but did not reach Murmu.
"It is 32 years that my husband is ministering in Jamalpur, and he has faced threats day in and day out," she told Compass. "But we never imagined such a thing would happen to Ravi."
About a year and half ago, however, Murmu was attacked along with others in another part of the state, Pastor Mandal said.
"Ravi Murmu, myself and a team of 10 Christians were visiting the Newada area of Bihar, about 160 kilometers [99 miles] from Jamalpur, for the purpose of preaching the gospel," he said. "There we were attacked by about 15 members of the [Hindu extremist] Bajrang Dal."
In the assault Pastor Mandal suffered serious injury to his eye, which bled profusely, he said.
"Ravi at that time was also beaten up and sustained injuries on the face and to his teeth," he said. "They would have killed us, but they found money in our possession worth about 180 U.S. dollars, and so they looted it and fled."
In 2008, he added, members of the local Hindu student union protested when a family decided to follow Christ after a healing through prayer. But overall, Murmu had amicable relations with everyone, he said.
"Ravi was a very open-hearted, kind, honest, balanced and sensible human being," Pastor Mandal said. "He was a pearl of our assembly. The loss is immense."
Police detained two people in connection with the murder but later let them go.
Church members requested that Compass not speak with local police, fearing that resentful officers would further antagonize them; already police have asked pointed questions of the seven others on the evangelism team and of Murmu's widow, as well as searching their homes, they said.
An autopsy was performed on May 3, but the report has not yet been submitted to police or handed over to the family members, they said.
Lonely Road
Rinku Murmu said she and her husband were to celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on June 23.
She told Compass that her husband had preached Christ in Lakshmanpur for two years.
"He left home as usual but had informed me that he would come home late, as they had plans to show the film about Jesus to the villagers," she said. "The next morning at 6 o' clock, someone came home to inform me that a mutilated body has been found and that I should go and identify it. I could not believe it, and I took Pastor Mandal along with me."
Murmu's body was found on Margret road, East Colony area of Lakshmanpur, about four kilometers (less than two miles) from his house. One leg was stuck under the motorcycle.
"He was killed ruthlessly," said Pastor Mandal.
Shekhar Kumar, who was one of the seven team members showing the film that day, told Compass that they had publicized the film for nearly 10 days and had also invited surrounding villagers.
"About 150 to 200 people had gathered to watch the film – there were Christians as well as Hindus," Kumar said. "The generator broke down in the middle of the film, and even after many efforts we could not repair it."
The team announced to the gathering that the rest of the film would be continued the next day, and they went home.
"The road divides at one point – one part goes towards Ravi and Pastor Mandal's house, and the other goes toward Choti Keshavpur village, where the six of us live," Kumar said. "Departing at that point, we said goodbye to Ravi, and he went alone on that deserted road. It was around 9:30 p.m. at that time."
Pastor Mandal, who had returned earlier, had taken the same road half an hour ahead of Murmu, he added.
Murmu's wife told police that she had called her husband's cell phone at 10 p.m. from a neighbor's house and he did not answer the call, so police estimated the murder to have taken place between 9:30 and 10 p.m.
"I pray that God would change the hearts of those who have done this," Rinku Murmu said. "My prayer is that one day they too would carry the cross of Christ and share the Good News."
Report from Compass Direct News
Punjab, India, March 1 (CDN) — Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena on Feb. 20 beat Christians and vandalized two churches in Batala after a protest against an objectionable picture of Christ. Christians had noticed the picture posted as part of a composite poster for an upcoming Hindu festival, Ram Naumi. The poster contained pictures of other religious deities as they normally appear, while Jesus was portrayed with a cigarette and a beer, reported the Evangelical Fellowship of India. In response to the Christian protest, the Hindu extremists went on a rampage, beating the pastor of the Church of North India and a Salvation Army officer and burning and looting the two churches. With church leaders' pressure, police registered a case against Hindu extremists Pratap Singh and Raj Kumar, who were said to have put up the picture of Jesus, for a "malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of others" and "punishment of criminal conspiracy."
Orissa – Police on Feb. 20 arrested the Rev. Anant Prasad Samantray after Hindu extremists filed a complaint against him of making derogatory remarks against Hinduism in Bhabanipatna, Kalahandi district. Having obtained written permission from local police, Samantray, a former Hindu priest, spoke at a revival meeting of his journey to becoming a Christian pastor, remarking that "Jesus is the only way, the truth and the life," a local source told Compass. After hearing his speech, some Hindu hardliners dragged him to a police station and filed a complaint against him of speaking ill against Hinduism. Officers arrested the Christian for "malicious acts to outrage religious feelings of others" and "uttering words to wounds religious feelings."
Karnataka – Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Feb. 15 attacked Christians in Gokalam, Mysore. A source told Compass that Hindu extremists attacked church members of Shekinah Assembly of God Church because of their faith. Running from one house to another, the extremists beat the Christians in their homes, took Bibles and Christian literature and burned them. A Christian identified only as Shivmurthy sustained serious head injuries, lost four teeth and underwent an operation on his right ear. Jaylaxmi Puram police refused to register a complaint filed by the Christians, who left the area out of fear of further attacks; at press time 22 families had taken refuge among Christians in a neighboring area.
Karnataka – Hindu extremists on Feb. 14 stopped the inaugural service of Native Village Vision Church's new building and accused Christians of forceful conversion in Mysore. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that at about 5 p.m. a mob of intolerant Hindu radicals barged into the inaugural service of the new church building, verbally abused the Christians and accused them of forceful conversion. The extremists filed a complaint against the Christians of forceful conversion at the Beechanahalli police station. Officers told the Christians to cease future worship, though GCIC reported that Pastor N.S. Suresh had obtained permission from the village head to construct a church building and had produced required legal documents. Nevertheless, revenue officials locked up the church building on Feb. 15. At press time area Christian leaders were meeting with authorities to resolve the matter.
Karnataka – Hindu extremists from the Rakshana Vedike, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, on Feb. 8 attacked a pastor identified only as Timothy G. and two Bible students in Bangalore. An Evangelical Fellowship of India representative reported that the extremists attacked the Christians, who belong to Lord Living Hope Church, as they made their way home after visiting a sick Christian in the area. The extremists verbally insulted them and manhandled them, shoving them and threatening to do more harm if they continued Christian activity in the area. The Christians reported the matter to the police and continued to conduct worship meetings in the area.
Orissa – Hindu extremists on Feb. 7 attempted to rape a refugee at Mondakai Camp and threatened to harm Christians there if they filed a police complaint against them in Phulbani, Raikia P.S. area. A Christian Legal Association (CLA) representative reported that one unidentified man from the Hindu extremist community followed Afasari Nayak, who had fled her home during 2008 anti-Christian violence, as she went to take bath in a river near the camp after work. Nayak shouted for help as the man started attacking her, and people rushed to rescue her. At about 7 p.m. the suspect along with four other extremists went to the camp and threatened to hurt the Christians if they filed a complaint, saying also that the refugee Christians should not return to the village unless they convert to Hinduism, the CLA source said.
Orissa – Police arrested 11 Christians after Hindu extremists filed a complaint against them of assault on Feb. 3 in Badimunda, Kandhamal. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that Hindu extremists verbally abused two Christians and threatened harm unless they stopped worshipping Jesus; when the two Christians asserted their right to worship Christ, the extremists began beating them. People of both faiths amassed, and the two Christians managed to escape further attack. At about 7:30 p.m. the next day, five extremists showed up at the same place searching for the two Christians. Forcefully entering the house of Dibyakand Nayak, a Christian, one of the extremists hurt his own forehead, according to EFI. Upon seeing this, the extremists started beating Nayak. They damaged household goods and dragged him to the police station. Police arrested 11 Christians for allegedly causing hurt, causing hurt by dangerous weapons and obscene acts and songs. All except Nayak were released on bail.
Orissa – Two Fast-Track Courts on Jan. 30 convicted 15 people and acquitted 39 others in cases related to anti-Christian violence in August 2008. Judge Sobhan Kumar Das sentenced 13 people to five years imprisonment and fined them 2,500 rupees (US$54) each for torching houses in the Sarangarh area, Kandhamal district, between August 2008 and October 2008. The court, however, acquitted 17 people for "lack of evidence" in the same case. In a separate case related to arson at Ranjabadi village of Kandhamal district, the court sentenced two persons to five years of prison and imposed a fine of 2,000 rupees (US$43) on each of them. Judge C.R. Das of Fast-Track Court II acquitted four people who were accused of violence in Baliguda block, while 18 people were acquitted in another case of arson that took place in Phiringia block, Kandhamal. The district was rocked by anti-Christian violence that lasted more than three months after the Aug. 23, 2008 death of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who was assassinated allegedly by Maoists.
Andhra Pradesh – About 50 Hindu extremists on Jan. 29 accused a pastor of forceful conversion and forced him to eat food offered to Hindu idols in Secunderabad. The All India Christian Council reported that the extremists stopped Pastor Satyam Yellasiri of Good Shepherd Community Church at about 9:30 p.m. as he was returning from a birthday celebration and accused him of forceful conversion. The extremists forced him to eat the food offered to Hindu idols and threatened to beat him when he refused. Police, alerted by the extremists, arrived and took the pastor to the police station, where they detained him for two hours. Officers initially refused to register his complaint against his assailants. The next day, though, with area Christian leaders intervening, police accepted the complaint. Officers claimed they detained the pastor as a safety measure and assured the Christians that immediate action would be taken against the attackers.
Karnataka – On Jan. 24 in Bidarikere, Chitradurga, Hindu extremists from the Rashtriya Swayamsavak Sangh broke into the worship meeting of Indian Evangelical Mission and assaulted a Christian worker. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) reported that at about 10:30 a.m. the extremists barged into the meeting shouting slogans and started beating H. Raju, who was leading the meeting, and accused him of forceful conversion. They also burned Bibles and Christian literature and dragged him out to the streets, forcing him to identify Christians' homes in the area, according to EFI. Entering three Christian houses, the Hindu hardliners threatened to harm Christians if they did not stop worshipping Jesus. Local Christian leaders on Jan. 27 filed a police complaint with Jagalur police, and the next day police arrested three extremists.
Karnataka – Hindu extremists accompanied by local police stopped the worship service of Calvary Gospel Church (CGC) on Jan. 24 in Dudda, Hassan. Two local police stopped the Sunday worship in the rented house of Sekhar Chandra and his wife, Kala Chandra, and chased the Christian worshippers out of the house. Hindu extremists had filed a complaint against the couple, whose rented home was being used for the worship service. After the Jan. 24 disruption, Hindu extremists announced to all villagers they were not to allow any house be used for Christian worship. Subsequently, the landlord along with an agitated mob threw the couple out of their rented house, along with their household goods. The Christian workers are now renting the house of another Christian in the same area and are continuing their ministry.
Madhya Pradesh – Hindu extremists from the Bajrang Dal accompanied by Madhya Pradesh police stopped the worship meeting of Central India Christian Mission's (CICM) Shahdol Christian church on Jan. 23 and forced church members to falsely testify against Pastor S.K. Ashawan in Shahdol. A source reported that the extremists barged into the prayer meeting attended by about 35 Christians, verbally abused them and dragged them to Shahdol police station. Amassing at the police station, the angry extremists beat, punched and kicked the Christians, forcing them to testify falsely against the pastor by saying he offered each of them 5,000 rupees (US$108) to convert them to Christianity and also forced them to eat beef. Under pressure, the Christians gave a written statement with these accusations. Police summoned the pastor, detaining and questioning him for two hours. The town inspector told Pastor Ashawan that 35 Christians had testified against him, and he threatened to beat and arrest the pastor if he did not give him 100,000 rupees (US$2,168). "It was midnight, and I was under pressure with the police threatening to beat and put me in jail if I did not submit the money," Pastor Ashawan told Compass. The pastor started calling area Christians for help. That night, a source said, 100,000 rupees arrived into the inspector's hands. Ajay Lal, Director of the CICM, took the matter to administrative authorities, but state Chief Minister Shivraj C. Chauhan advised the area district collector to close the case immediately. Christian leaders planned take the matter to a higher court.
Andhra Pradesh – Hindu extremists on Jan. 10 stormed a house church, disrupting worship and beating a pastor in Jillelguda L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that at 9 a.m. nearly 50 area extremists belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh barged into Heavens Glory Church, shouting Hindu devotional chants. Repeatedly slapping Pastor Benhur Johnson, they falsely accused him of forcible conversion and warned him against conducting Christian services in the area. The extremists also beat some who came forward to help the pastor. A GCIC regional coordinator told Compass that Christians telephoned police, who rushed to the church and stopped the attack. Pastor Johnson along with other Christians went to police to register a complaint, but an official mediated an agreement between them and the extremists. The pastor told Compass that no worship was held on Jan. 17 or 24 out of fear of another attack.
Report from Compass Direct News
Al Shabaab extremists threaten widow of slain pastor of underground church.
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 26 (CDN) — Islamic extremists shot the leader of an underground church to death outside the capital city of Somalia this month and have threatened to kill his wife, his tearful widow told Compass.
Having learned that he had left Islam to become a Christian, Somali militants from the Islamic extremist al Shabaab murdered 41-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Ali at about noon on Jan. 1, Amina Ibrahim Hassan said.
He was killed sometime after leaving his home in Hodan, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, she said. She and other family members were not immediately aware that he had been killed.
"We waited for him that day, but he did not turn up," said Hassan, who has since fled to Nairobi. "The following day, on Jan. 2, I was informed by the fellowship that my husband had been killed."
Ali led an underground church. Christian sources said members of al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda terrorists, had been monitoring Ali and his wife for indications that they had left Islam.
Ali had organized New Year's Day festivities for Christians to take place in Medina, about 15 kilometers (nine miles) outside of Mogadishu. Al Shabaab extremists killed him after word of the planned party leaked to them, Hassan said.
Hassan, who worked for a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) before leaving the country, said she received threatening calls from members of al Shabaab on Jan. 3.
"We know who you are working for," Hassan said one extremist told her. "We also know your home and that you are a follower of the Christians, and we are going to kill you the way we killed your husband."
Aware of the Islamic extremist militia's determination to carry out their threats, Hassan called a relative in Nairobi and informed him of the death of her husband and her intention to flee to Nairobi.
She set out for Kenya early the next morning by bus with her only child, 2-year-old son Abdi Asis Mohammed Ahmed. They reached Ifo, one of the Dadaab refugee camps on the Kenya side of the border, on Jan. 11. She stayed there for a few days before continuing on, arriving at Nairobi on Jan. 20.
"I am thankful that I was able to reach Kenya safely having lost everything – my husband and property," Hassan said.
Al Shabaab extremists have been monitoring Somalis who work with NGOs for signs that they have embraced Christianity, Christian sources said.
Ali came to faith in Christ under the influence of his late uncle, Ali Mohammed Nur, who died in 2000 at the age of 70. Ali, who had worked as a taxi driver, completed secondary education and converted to Christianity the same year his uncle died in 2000. He was baptized in 2005.
Hassan said she converted to Christianity in 2005, was baptized in 2006 and married Ali in 2007. She worked for various NGOs in Somalia before fleeing the war-torn country.
In 2009 Islamic militants in Somalia sought out at least 15 Christians, including women and children, and killed them for their faith in a campaign to rid the country of all non-Muslims. On Nov. 14, Islamic extremists controlling part of Mogadishu executed a 23-year-old Christian they accused of trying to convert a 15-year-old Muslim to Christianity, according to Christian sources. Members of al Shabaab had taken Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf into custody on Oct. 28 after the 15-year-old boy reported him to the militants.
Before Yusuf was executed by two gunshots to the head, reports filtered in that he had been badly beaten and his fingers broken as the Islamists tried to extract incriminating evidence against him and information about other Christians. A source later learned that Yusuf's body showed signs of torture; his front teeth were gone, and some of his fingers were broken, the source said.
On Oct. 19 in Galkayo, in Somalia's autonomous Puntland region, three masked members of another militant Islamist group in Somalia killed a Somali woman who declined to wear a veil as prescribed by Muslim custom. Sources said members of the comparatively "moderate" Suna Waljameca group killed Amina Muse Ali, 45, in her home; she had said members of the group had long monitored her movements because they suspected she was a Christian.
Suna Waljameca is considered "moderate" in comparison with al Shabaab, which it has fought for control over areas of Somalia; it is one of several Islamic groups in the country championing adoption of a strict interpretation of sharia (Islamic law). Along with al Shabaab, another group vying for power is the Hisbul Islam political party.
Somali Christians are in danger from both extremist groups and Somali law. While proclaiming himself a moderate, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has embraced a version of sharia that mandates the death penalty for those who leave Islam.
On Sept. 28, a leader of Islamic extremist al Shabaab militia in Lower Juba identified only as Sheikh Arbow shot to death 46-year-old Mariam Muhina Hussein in Marerey village after discovering she had six Bibles, according to Christian sources. On Sept. 15, al Shabaab militants shot 69-year-old Omar Khalafe at a checkpoint they controlled 10 kilometers (six miles) from Merca after discovering that he was transporting Bibles, sources said.
On Aug. 18 al Shabaab extremists shot and killed 41-year-old Ahmed Matan in Bulahawa, near the Somali border with Kenya, according to Christian sources. In Mahadday Weyne, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Mogadishu, al Shabaab Islamists on July 20 shot to death another convert from Islam, Mohammed Sheikh Abdiraman, sources said. On Feb. 21 al Shabaab militants beheaded two young boys in Somalia because their Christian father refused to divulge information about a church leader.
The extremists also reportedly beheaded seven Christians on July 10; Reuters reported that they were killed in Baidoa for being Christians and "spies."
Report from Compass Direct News
Arbitrary administrative decision sends church leaders to re-education labor camp.
LOS ANGELES, December 3 (CDN) — Bypassing the court system, China arbitrarily sentenced five more leaders of the Fushan Church in Linfen City, Shanxi Province, on Monday (Nov. 30), this time to re-education labor camps for two years, according to China Aid Association (CAA).
A Chinese court last week sentenced five house church leaders to three to seven years in prison after they were arrested en route to Beijing to file a complaint about an attack on their church, according to the advocacy organization. The five leaders sentenced to labor camps this week were accused of "gathering people to disturb the public order" after they organized a prayer rally of 1,000 people the day after military police and others attacked their church members and building on Sept. 13.
In what CAA termed "an arbitrary administrative sentence by the Public Security Bureau enacted so the leaders would not be 'required' to go through the court and prosecution system," China delivered the verdicts to church leaders Li Shuangping, Yang Hongzhen, Yang Caizhen (wife of Pastor Yang Xuan, who was sentenced to three years of prison on Nov. 25), Gao Qin (also known as Gao Fuqin), and Zhao Guoai.
"Yang Caizhen was seen being beaten severely during an interrogation," CAA said in a press statement. "Having had one of her front teeth knocked out during a beating, and fasting and praying during her detention, Ms. Yang is reported to look very fragile."
The church leaders, the latter four women, were arrested on Nov. 11. They had helped to organize a prayer rally after the Sept. 13 attack on the Fushan Church branch congregation in Linfen, when some 400 uniformed police and civilians bearing shovels, batons, bricks, iron hooks and other weapons had beaten members of the church who were sleeping at the nearly finished factory building used as a worship site.
With several Fushan County officials involved in the attack, more than 30 Christians were seriously injured among the 100 Christians who were hurt, CAA reported. According to the Epoch Times, a church member's relative obtained a license to build the shoe factory and was allowing the group to meet there, as the church was growing too large to meet in homes and the building could hold up to 400 people.
As Chinese authorities had kept the families of Gao Qin and Zhao Guoai under tight surveillance, CAA relied on church sources to confirm their sentences to labor camp. The organization said family members had confirmed the sentences of the other three.
"Linfen house church Christians continue to be monitored by Chinese military police, including neighboring Golden Lampstand Church (Jin Dongtai) in Linfen City," CAA stated.
The organization said authorities violated Chinese law by refusing to provide family members of the prisoners with copies of documents notifying them of the sentences.
All 10 of the Fushan Church leaders plan to appeal their sentences, according to CAA.
"To arbitrarily send five innocent citizens to labor camps is in direct violation against the international human rights covenants and norms the Chinese government has signed and even ratified," said CAA President Bob Fu.
The five pastors previously sentenced were arrested on Sept. 25 without a warrant, according to CAA. Yang Rongli was sent to prison for seven years for "illegally occupying farming land" and "disturbing transportation order by gathering masses."
She and four other pastors were sentenced on Wednesday (Nov. 25) at the People's Court of Raodu district, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. Yang's husband, Wang Xiaoguang, was handed a sentence of three years on the charge of "illegally occupying farming land." Cui Jiaxing was sentenced to four and half years, and Yang Xuan to three and half years, on the same charge; Zhang Huamei received four years of prison for "disturbing transportation order by gathering masses."
The pastors were arrested by Shanxi Province officers of the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Fu characterized their trial as a farce, saying the case demonstrated a deteriorating state of religious freedom in China.
Yang Rongli and Wang Xiaoguang had led the Fushan Church, part of a 50,000-strong house church network in Linfen and the surrounding villages, for more than 30 years.
The Beijing PSB has misrepresented the demolition and attack on the Linfen branch church as a response to a "violent uprising," Fu said.
Report from Compass Direct News
Christian accused of trying to convert Muslim teenager found shot on Mogadishu street.
NAIROBI, Kenya, November 23 (CDN) — Islamic extremists controlling part of the Somali capital of Mogadishu this month executed a young Christian they accused of trying to convert a 15-year-old Muslim to Christianity.
Members of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab had taken 23-year-old Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf into custody on Oct. 28 after the 15-year-old boy reported him to the militants, an area source told Compass. Yusuf's body was found on Nov. 14 on an empty residential street in Mogadishu, with sources saying the convert from Islam was shot to death, probably some hours before dawn.
"Our brother Yusuf has been murdered," the source told Compass. "His body was dumped in Yaqshid district of Mogadishu, and his body is said to be on an empty residential street."
Al Shabaab, said to have links with al Qaeda terrorists, controls parts of Mogadishu and much of southern parts of Somalia, as well as other areas of the nation.
Their accusations against Yusuf had led the extremist group to raid Yusuf's home in Holwadag district, Mogadishu, sources said. After searching his home, militia didn't find anything relating to Christianity but still took him into custody.
Before Yusuf was executed by two shots to the head, reports filtered in to the Compass source that he had been badly beaten and his fingers broken as the Islamists tried to extract incriminating evidence against him and information about other Christians. The source later learned that Yusuf's body showed signs of torture; all of his front teeth were gone, and some of his fingers were broken, he said.
"We don't know the time he was murdered, but his freshly killed body was dumped in Yaqshid district at around 4:30 in the morning of Nov. 14, and due to the will of the family we have buried the body at around 3 p.m. on Nov. 14," the source said.
The clandestine Christians could not safely identify themselves to Yusuf's Muslim family, but they were able to indirectly assist the parents in burying him with dignity, the source said.
It is not known whether under torture Yusuf revealed information about area members of the hidden church, but underground church leaders have been relocating local Christians who knew him, the source said.
"We still don't know if the Shabaab did find any new evidence from Yusuf," he said.
Yusuf's Muslim parents did not know that their son was a Christian, and they had insisted to the al Shabaab militants that he was still a Muslim, the source said. The extremists accused the family of not reporting that their son had converted to Christianity, and they ordered his mother and father to appear before an al Shabaab court.
Although the Compass source could not confirm whether the parents heeded the command, he said they most likely did as it is not uncommon for the militants to behead those who defy their orders.
"I cannot confirm if they appeared before the Islamist court, but that is highly possible," he said. "Who can dare defy them?"
The extremists have demonstrated they have no qualms about killing those they perceive to be sympathetic to any "foreign" religion, the source said. He added that the Islamic extremists did not execute Yusuf quickly only because they had no evidence against him except the testimony of the teenage boy.
"In Islam, to execute someone you need to have evidence of three witnesses, and they didn't have it," he said. "Al Shabaab is known to do whatever they like, and they don't even follow the rules of their religion they claim adherence to."
The discovery of Yusuf's body brought an end to a strenuous attempt by his family to secure his release, but they are now living in fear since al Shabaab has accused them of concealing their son's new faith.
The source said Yusuf's death was typical of the Islamic extremist group, which often pumps bullets into their victims before dumping their bodies in public places to serve as a warning to those who dare to resist its orders.
Since the ouster of dictator Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has been without a strong central government and has been at the mercy of vicious clan-based militants. Some, such as al Shabaab, are seeking to establish a strict version of sharia (Islamic law) as they fight to oust the Transitional Federal Government of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed that is backed by the Africa Union and Western nations.
Report from Compass Direct News
Some Christian and Muslim leaders from the Horn of Africa region are anxious about the consequences of increased U.S. military aid to Somalia, but others back the move, in a country where some extremists in the name of Islam are reportedly removing gold teeth and ordering the separation of the sexes, reports Ecumenical News International.
"Although we see this as a noble attempt to help the government, it should not be the only way," said the Rev. Fred Nyabera, executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa in an interview with Ecumenical News International.
Nyabera said he believed that lawlessness in Somalia meant that the weapons once in the country might be resold.
Report from the Christian Telegraph
Madhya Pradesh, July 10 (Compass Direct News) – About 50 Hindu extremists from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal ( Youth Wing of the World Hindu Council) chanting, "Jai Shri Ram [Praise lord Ram]" barged into Beersheba Church and attacked pastor Kuldeep Daniel, his family and church on June 14 in Ratlam. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that the extremists beat, punched and kicked the pastor, his wife, two children and brother and also verbally abused them. They also destroyed church musical instruments and took the pastor's books and his brother cell phone. The couple suffered minor injuries. The pastor filed a police complaint at Alkapuri police station, but no arrests had been made at press time.
Karnataka – Police on June 12 detained Christians on a false complaint of conversion by allurement at Renuka Lodge, Athishaya Colony, Krishnaraja Sagar. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that a Church of Christ house church pastor, K. Nagaraj, had organized a fasting and prayer service on June 9-12 in which many pastors and other Christians had gathered. At 11 a.m. a Hindu extremist from the area identified only as Vaiaramudi led a mob of around 20 people into the lodge, making baseless allegations of bribing people to convert to Christianity. The extremists beat the Christians and took them to the police station, where they registered the complaint. Police allowed the injured Christians to obtain medical treatment but detained Pastor Nagaraj and his wife, Anusuya. With the intervention of GCIC, the couple was released at 11:45 p.m. without charges.
Andhra Pradesh – Police on June 7 arrested pastor David Raju on a baseless complaint of forceful conversion from Hindu extremists in Hyderabad. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India, Pastor Raju was invited by local Christians in Mangalagiri to preach in their church. Upon his arrival, about 20 extremists gathered and began beating the pastor, accusing him of forceful conversion and distributing gospel tracts. The Hindu hardliners later dragged the pastor to a local police station, where he was detained for about eight hours. With help from local Christian leaders, the accused reached an agreement with the Hindu extremists in which the pastor was given permission to continue Christian meetings in the area and the Christians forgave the extremists.
Karnataka – Police on June 7 disrupted a Sunday worship service and closed an Apostolic Church in Davanagere, claiming that the church had an illegal license. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that the village head and Hindu extremists had interrupted a prayer meeting conducted by pastor Prem Prasanth on May 29 and questioned him about permits for constructing a church building there. The pastor told them that he obtained the necessary permission from the village head, to which the official denied giving Christians any such permission, saying they were engaged in forcible conversion efforts. On May 31, the pastor received a notice cancelling the church license. Police subsequently disrupted the following Sunday worship meeting, ordering Christians to leave and locking up the church. The pastor appealed to police, who told him to take the matter up in the court. The church remained shut down at press time.
Assam – Hindu extremists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) on May 31 vandalized a Baptist church in Jorhat and threatened two Christian girls, 16-year-old Moromi Gogoi and Monica Gogoi, 18, daughters of a pastor who was arrested on May 8 by Assam police on false charges of forcible conversion. The Hindu hardliners also demanded 5,000 rupees (US$100) from the girls. A source reported that about 10 intolerant Hindus entered the church premises and broke the church's fence, walls, windows and doors, and they had threatened the two girls several times via mobile phone to stop their ministry or face dire consequence. Assam Valley Baptist Mission (AVBM) leaders took the matter to officials, refusing to meet the demands. An AVBM representative told Compass that calm had returned to the area as news spread that police were following up the matter.
Andhra Pradesh – Police detained Christians after Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) extremists falsely accused them of forcible conversion. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported that pastor S. David of Yesu Prarthana Mandiram (Jesus Christ Prayer House), in Shad Nagar, Mahaboob Nagar district, organized a Vacation Bible School on May 25-31 for nearly 75 children in Kammadanam village, Mahaboob Nagar district. On May 28, as two Christians identified only Narasimhalu and Ramesh were conducting classes, local extremists from the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad arrived and accused the Christians of forcibly converting village children. The extremists filed a complaint at Shad Nagar police station against Pastor David, Narasimhalu and Ramesh. Jey Prakash, GCIC regional coordinator, told Compass that police held the Christians until evening and released them without charges, but the Vacation Bible School was stopped immediately.
Madhya Pradesh – About 10 Hindu extremists from the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh attacked pastor Ramesh Mandevey, leaving him unconscious on May 24 in Dewas. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that about 10 Hindu hardliners stopped the pastor as he was on his way back from visiting a Christian's home and assaulted him. Sustaining internal injuries, the pastor was hospitalized in a local hospital. Local Christian leaders filed a police complaint at Dewas police station, but no arrests have been made.
Assam – Police on May 8 arrested and beat pastor Tarun Gogoi for alleged forceful conversion, suspicion of having links with Naga rebel militants and receiving donations from them for construction of their church building in Jorhat, Guwahati. The Hindustan Times reported that the pastor was accused of carrying out religious conversions – which are legal in India – with the help of tribal Naga underground groups, and the administration ordered him to temporarily stop construction work on their church building. Hindu extremists had filed a complaint against the pastor of luring local people to Christianity by offering cash and gifts-in-kind. Area church leaders denied any involvement with underground groups and forceful conversions, and they demanded legal action from authorities against officers who mistreated Pastor Gogoi. The pastor was released on May 9 after church intervention. Temsu Wathi, president of Assam Valley Baptist Mission, told Compass that after an inquiry, local officials said there was no evidence of forceful conversion and allowed the Christians to resume the church construction.
Tamil Nadu – Hindu extremists in Krishnagiri attacked pastor Paul Chinnaswamy on May 6, seriously injuring him. The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that the intolerant Hindus assaulted Pastor Chinnaswamy near his church. Kicking and punching him, they struck his chest and jaw and broke two of his teeth. Local Christians rushed to the scene and took him to a nearby hospital. The pastor filed a police complaint at Uddinapally, and officers took the pastor to three areas to identify the attackers, but he was unable to identify anyone. No arrests had been made at press time.
Report from Compass Direct News