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Hope is captured in the Scripture as a state that can only be realized through walking the talk of one's chosen faith, but only in an environment of love.
It, therefore, has a close relationship with one's destiny as a goal of human struggle for survival which can only be realized in part because of the frictions of life against which the energy for the struggle vectorially moves through a relative velocity for one's destiny to be terminated into a destination.
This is why some scholars see hope as a desire accompanied by an expectation of fulfillment. Hope can be viewed through the perspective of self as an individual and we as a community or nation.
Hope realization, therefore, is best driven through a self resolution to meet up with all conditions for him or her to be able to blaze the trail.
This equally subject to the favorable conditions of the 8 pointers of wellness.
Troubled souls are usually faced with frustrations which if not well controlled may lead to a suicidal note for premature termination of hope, age, and the ultimate, a life of fulfillment. Emotional disturbance is another psychological factor that must be controlled otherwise building of hope would be dashed.
Finances and physiological needs determine one's access to a better active life upon which hope can be realized when one falls short of this grace, the hope may not materialize in one's desired goal, cutting short one's destiny into a fatal destination.

Lazy people, therefore, will suffer from dashed hopes, most especially when such a person lacks goodwill and a positive disposition towards others.
Hardworking people who follow due process in realizing their hopes and aspirations may take some much time to be appreciated in an environment where double-dealing and other forms of illegalities are the order of the day through devilish connections.
The hopes of any nation and community, therefore, lie in the ability of their leaders to keep a nation or community without fraud in an environment of zero tolerance to corruption and institutional indiscipline. However, the virtues can only be realized when leaders are visionary with the determination to live by a sense of patriotism for a bequeathable legacy.
It takes two to tango-the government and the people. If leaders are transparent and accountable, they would become dependable and people will overwhelmingly shower such leaders with their trust, sense of patriotism, and unimaginable sense of endurance.

When there is an economic downward effect on such a nation, people will naturally persevere through the troubled times and keep their hopes alive that there would be a better tomorrow based on their leaders' efforts and assurances.
Hope, therefore, is a natural in-built characteristic into every mortal which he or she experiences every day based on the events of the time, most especially in his or her growing period, trying period, and when under the fear of not missing the state of equilibrium in wealth and affluence.
People should, therefore, not lose hope, but make self-adjustment towards having a good disposition, high spirit to supplement the missing pointers in the state of his or her wellness.

                                                                          Press Release

HOUSTON – A 47-year-old man will forfeit three real properties and pay a $5 million money judgement for running a multi-million dollar synthetic narcotics distribution network, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Daniel Bowles, Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and analogues. He admitted to overseeing call-takers and the operation’s business finances as well as using multiple business entities to conceal the significant amount of its illegal proceeds.

In 2015, authorities began investigating a smoke shop in Laredo. During that time, they discovered a nationwide mail order business that supplied the shop with illegal synthetic cannabinoid products. Call-takers in several states took orders for the products with names such as “Brain Freeze” and “Death Grip” which was delivered to shop owners from California. Payment was set to Arizona, often into accounts Bowles controlled.

During the investigation, authorities tracked payments from multiple retail smoke shops throughout the United States and identified several bank accounts involved in the scheme. Financial records show that from February 2012 through 2019, the network received over $15.4 million in illicit proceeds.

As part of his plea agreement, Bowles also agreed to a money judgment in the amount of $5 million and the forfeiture of three real properties.

U.S. District Judge George Hanks Jr. accepted the plea and set sentencing for Nov. 16. At that time, Bowles faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. 

Six others have also pleaded guilty to their involvement in the organization. Ratchanee McAuley, 50, also of Phoenix; Thirawat Athikulrat, 42, and Chuanphit Srithongrung, 44, both of Downey, California; Frank Gonzalez, 60, and Ernesto Salazar, 34, both of Mesa, Arizona; and Don Jessop, 52, Salt lake City, Utah.

McAuley, Athikulrat and Srithongrung each admitted to maintaining warehouses to manufacture the synthetic cannabinoid products. As part of their pleas, Gonzalez and Jessop acknowledged being call-takers, while Salazar admitted to assisting with manufacturing the products and travelling across the county to pick up the proceeds.  

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. These chemical compounds can be applied to carrier mediums such as plant material and ingested using rolling papers, pipes, vaporizers or otherwise taken orally. Synthetic cannabinoids are usually sold in small, foil or plastic bags containing dried leaves (resembling potpourri) and are marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is commonly sold and known on the street as synthetic marijuana, fake weed, legal and by its popular brand names such as Spice, K2, Kush, Klimaxx and many others.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Brain Freeze with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and sheriff’s offices in Zapata County and Maricopa County, Arizona. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graciela Lindberg and Lance Watt are prosecuting the case.

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Charleston, South Carolina --- Acting United States Attorney Rhett DeHart announced today that James Thomas Bramlette, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah, pled guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax Fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 26 U.S. § 7202, before United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel.  Bramlette will be sentenced at a later date.

The following evidence was presented at the guilty plea:  this investigation involved Melrose Resort on Daufuskie Island, S.C.  Bramlette was a real estate developer in Salt Lake City, Utah.  In 2011, he borrowed $17.5 million from a Dutch investor to purchase the resort out of bankruptcy.  This loan was a short-term bridge loan with high-interest rates.  Bramlette did not put any of his own money into the purchase.  Bramlette thought he could resale the resort soon after the sale, but his attempts to refinance or sell the resort failed repeatedly throughout the case. 

In addition to the Dutch loan, Bramlette and a co-defendant raised more than $10 million from individual investors by issuing promissory notes with high-interest rates.  The promissory notes were not secured by the resort.  Most of the investors resided in the West.

The investment in the resort was difficult from the start.  Bramlette could not make the mortgage payments to the Dutch lender, which led to a $27 million foreclosure judgment in 2014.  Bramlette lost further control of the resort in October 2014 when he pledged ownership of the property to secure a separate $700,000 loan, which he later defaulted on.

Bramlette and his co-defendant struggled every month to raise money from new investors to pay the Dutch lender not to foreclose, to pay previous investors, and to pay employees, utilities, and taxes at the resort.  From 2013 through 2017, Bramlette repeatedly told investors that the resort was on the cusp of being refinanced by a private equity firm.  While several firms considered investing in the resort, none of these deals came to fruition.

After he lost control of Melrose Resort in late 2014, Bramlette was allowed to remain as manager of the resort due to his operational knowledge of the property.  Part of his duties as manager included paying the property taxes for Melrose Resort. 

Concerning the wire fraud charge, in September 2016, Melrose Resort owed $502,759 in past due to property taxes to the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office.  As a result of this tax delinquency, the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office notified Bramlette that Melrose Resort would be auctioned at a tax sale if the property taxes were not paid. 

On September 20, 2016, an employee of Bramlette emailed this notice and stated that “we have a week from this Friday, September 30th, 2016 to pay these taxes, which total $502,759.40 or the properties go up for sale on Monday, October 3, 2016.”

It was part of the scheme to defraud that, in order to prevent the resort from being sold at this tax sale, Bramlette created a fake wire receipt that falsely represented that Melrose Resort had wired $502,759 to the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office to pay the property taxes.  In reality, Melrose Resort had only $121.07 in its bank account at this time, and these funds were not wired as Bramlette represented.

It was further part of the scheme that Bramlette emailed the fraudulent wire receipt to one of his employees, and he caused this employee to send the fraudulent wire receipt to the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office, in order to have Melrose Resort removed from the tax sale.  After receiving the fraudulent wire receipt, the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office removed Melrose Resort from the tax sale. 

As to the tax fraud charge, Bramlette was required to collect and pay over federal payroll taxes from the wages of all employees at Melrose Resort.  Bramlette collected payroll taxes from the Melrose employees, but he failed to turn over these taxes to the IRS.  In total, Bramlette collected but failed to turn over to the IRS approximately $1 million in payroll taxes.

In addition to the fraud above, Bramlette used at least $1.8 million from investors for personal use, which was not disclosed to investors.  Bramlette lived a lavish lifestyle, and he spent money on himself even when he failed to pay employees, vendors, and subcontractors.  The accountant at his company urged Bramlette to draw a salary and not use investor money for personal use.  Bramlette ignored this advice and failed to report this income to the IRS or even file income tax returns.

This case was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Rhett DeHart.  It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Los Angeles.

Source: FBI

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There are three types of perception by the divided opinions of mankind about creation and the source of their existence and sustenance. One school of thought believes in the evolutionary trend whereby matters only evolve perhaps from micro to macro size.

Most of what the almighty God declares in the Holy Bible and Holy Quran in terms of good conduct are usually visibly displaced.

The only thing left is to identify with the scripture that represents the voice of God. A belief, therefore, not in the existence of God as the source of all power could be described as idolatry.

Another set of people that display traits of idol worship are the ones who adopt effigy as their God, some of the times they may regard this god as an interventionist between them and the almighty God.

They would, therefore, resort to worshipping such effigies and mythically animate it as an object that answers their prayers.

Whenever there is a problem in the land, they would believe in the atonement of preparing propitiation or using fellow human beings to appease such gods, they would believe he is angry because of some human shortcomings.

Matthew 4: 10 int the Holy Bible states, ''10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.''

The Holy Quran 16: 51-52, ''Allah said: Take not for worship two gods: for H is just One God. Then fear Me and Me alone. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth and to Him is the religion always: then will ye fear other,-then Allah ?''

From the religious perspective, idolatry may reflect not only is lesser gods with God but may reflect when the believers depart from the holistic approach of worshipping God the almighty Allah.

Such believers would not only be regarded as anti-scriptural but as hypocrites or apostates when they exhibit such characteristics as living by falsehood or telling lies, propaganda that may be attributed to deceiving people from the actual truth of nonperformance. Above all, occultic power is an aberration in every religion of God.

It is pure idolatry, therefore, when believers take to magical practices, witchcraft, sorcery, as well as dining with groups of people who deal with the worship of idols and source power from the principalities of darkness.

A situation in which the identity of a particular religious persuasion is taken to gain favor other things of interest when in actual fact the culprit's belief in doubt, may result in non-performance in public offices on assumption.

Identity theft is not only a sin but also a crime.

The Holy Quran 6: 108 refers, ''Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they, out of spite, revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus, we have made it alluring to each people its own doings. In the end, will they return to their Lord and He shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.''

Letus remember that idolatry goes beyond erecting effigies and worshipping the same, it also involves human thoughts, words, acts, and deeds in whatever spiritual state of an individual.

It is, therefore, imperative for every man to, without ceasing, ask God to reveal the truth of any matter to him for the needed conviction to be able to practice a belief in a sustainable realm.

                                                   Who owns the land?

                                                   Who owns heaven?

                                                   Who owns the stars?

                                                   Who owns the people?

                                                    Everybody wants to know

                                                   to be able to worship God

                                                   aright and to be able to do

                                                   things without adulteration

Just as the almighty God is all-encompassing, with the creation of the heaven, earth, and all that are therein contained even though we are unable to see Him, He is all-seeing and all-hearing.

Also, reflect and meditate on Psalm 53: 1, ''1(To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.''

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MEDFORD, Ore.—A former Klamath Falls police officer pleaded guilty today in federal court after stealing methamphetamine and fentanyl from an evidence room.

Thomas Dwayne Reif, 28, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.

According to court documents, on or about November 27, 2020, Reif is alleged to have entered the Klamath Falls Police Department’s temporary evidence room using an unauthorized key and removed an evidence item containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. Reif briefly left the evidence room before returning the evidence item to the evidence locker and leaving the facility.

Shortly thereafter, Reif overdosed while operating his police car. The car jumped a median, travelled into oncoming traffic, and caused a multiple-vehicle accident. Reif was rushed to the hospital and successfully revived by medical personnel. Toxicology reports showed that Reif was under the influence of substances including methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Investigators searched the personal locker assigned to Reif at the Klamath Falls Police Department. Inside the locker, investigators found that Reif had concealed an evidence bag containing methamphetamine.

On May 20, 2021, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a two-count indictment charging Reif with possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge.

Reif faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. He will be sentenced on November 23, 2021 before U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. McShane.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Klamath Falls Police Department cooperated and provided assistance throughout the investigation.

Source-FBI

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Goal is a celebrity word that every creature and system must appreciate for the dynamic of their existence.

In this process value worth comes into being to be able to keep up with the expected standard and quality. This is why improvement is a requisite for every existing value.
When the expected is achieved the system is progressive and if it is the contrary the system is retrogressive.
Every curriculum, therefore, sets the goal which the teaching/learning cycle must revolve around.
The technology revolves around set goals. Research has advanced into various successive improvement methods of collecting data has ensured improved value for goal getting.
In the religious sphere,  the goal is to build faith for adherents to attain a near-perfect God/man relation while the scripture remains constant in values and goals.

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Every man, therefore, must strive to identify his goal in life through the readiness to meet up with the goals of integrity as s his or her culture, professional ethics in his or her place of work, Town and Gown pledge is his educational pursuit, God and Godliness spiritual value worth in his religious exercise. In politics, those in positions of authority must vigorously work to better the lives of the people by exhibiting exemplary leadership values of classical and astute management and good governance without blemish.
In order to avoid failure in life an individual must be humble enough to be rightly guided by mature mentors who believe in the fact that one is not successful until one grooms an outstanding successor who would be able to build upon the set standard.
The goal is, therefore, a universal concept that applies to values such as growth, child-rearing, courtship, marriage, education, justice dispensation, governing through equity, product development, setting up of institutions, etc.
When we fail to plan, we plan to fail. Develop a positive mindset to achieve your goal as you go about your daily activities.

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A group, Concerned Igbos Forum, recently called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, to follow the steps of the Deji of Akure, Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, who abolished the title of Ezendigbo in his domain. However, in this interview with Poverty Line, the Ezendigbo of Ibadan and Oyo state, Eze(Dr.)Alex Anozie counsels that Igbos should be allowed to choose their leader anywhere they reside. Excerpts :

What is your reaction to the call by a group to the Olubadan of Ibadanland to abolish the title of Ezendigbo?
My brief reaction to that is that the group mentioned is unknown to Igbos in Ibadan and Oyo state. And we are sure that they were sponsored by those who lost out in the court.
Thirdly, our Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, is a king whom God has bestowed with wisdom as God bestowed on King Solomon in the Bible. Let us all remember the story of the Bible about the two women who went to King Solomon for the resolution of their problem. The woman with the dead child requested the King to cut both the dead and living child into two equal parts. And God gave King Solomon the wisdom to handle the matter justifiably.
So, the people behind the call to the Olubadan and their sponsors are assured that the Kabiyesi, Olubadan is very much wiser than them all, and they should be ignored completely. As law-abiding citizens, we have always preferred to patiently abide by the rule of law, hence we have used the court and the court has given several judgments in favor of myself and my people.

And very interestingly, Kabiyesi, the Olubadan is a very law-abiding King who believes so much in truth and justice. Also, all the courts' judgments are in his possession. Kabiyesi so much believes in the rule of law. We want to appeal to all Yoruba leaders, Obas inclusive, to remember the very cordial relationship the Igbos and Yorubas have had for centuries. So let them guard against the antics of any group which desperately, out of selfish ambition, seek to cause confusion and misunderstanding between the Igbos and Yorubas. We so much appreciate the cordial relationship that exists between the Igbos and Yorubas and we pray fervently that it shall remain so forever. 
Igbos should always be allowed to choose their leader wherever they reside.

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Free and compulsory education from the Primary and Secondary levels is a step in the right direction for those who know the value of education.
The renovation of dilapidated structures in public schools, the building of new classrooms, the provision of functional toilet facilities, water, and fencing all contribute to ensuring that pupils and students have quality education. 
Sadly, the stoppage of the payment of WAEC and NECO fees by some state governments, most especially in these times of insecurity and economic downturn, has denied indigent students the opportunity to be educated.

Indeed, the educational system in Nigeria is in deep crises, while vital, literacy indicators point to a deplorable condition.
Most of the schools, in the public and private sectors, have become breeding ground for criminals, trailed by an ever-increasing rate of school drop-outs.
The quality of education has fallen significantly at all levels, just as cultism, gangsterism, ritual killings, and the use of hard drugs have taken over space.
A number of teachers have contributed negatively to the sorry situation, even as the absence of adequate teaching aids and recreational facilities have worsened the troubled state of education in the country.
Poor management, the multiplicity of agencies with duplicated functions, and inadequate coordination are stumbling blocks to available, relevant, accessible, and affordable education, to all irrespective of social and economic status.
Considering the fact that illiterates constitute the majority of the population, immediate and long-term social and economic returns from education remain a mirage.
The question Nigerians have continued to ask is-Do state actors know the value of education?