In Galatians chapter five, the Bible talks about nine specific fruits of the Spirit. These are spiritual qualities that manifest in our lives when we allow Him to work in us. The more we invite God to move in our hearts and follow His Word, the more those attributes will be displayed through us. Kindness and goodness are two of those qualities. The Bible tells us that His kindness leads people to repentance. Kindness advances the kingdom of God. The more kindness and goodness we show other people, the more we are acting like God.

The Bible tells us that what we sow, we shall reap. When we seek to do good for others, we will reap goodness in our own lives in return. I encourage you today to look for ways to show kindness and goodness to the people around you even when they arent kind to you. Dont repay evil for evil. Take the high road. Bless those who wrongfully use you. Seek to do good, show kindness, and you will see it come back as blessings in your own life in return.

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Last Season: 3rd
Prediction for 2008/09: 3rd
Notable Signing: Samir Nasri (£15.8m, Marseille) - along with Hatem Ben Arfa one of the finest young French players from the new generation, and not given enough opportunity to strut his stuff at Euro 2008
Notable Departure: Matthieu Flamini (free, Milan) - quietly became a key player for the Gunners last season, and with Gilberto and Diarra also gone, leaves them without adequate cover in the defensive midfielder position.
Most Important Player: Francesc Fabregas - perghaps the best all-round central midfielder in the world currently. Nuff said.
The This could be his year Player: Theo Walcott - carefully introduced to the first team over two years and now surely due to blitz the Premiership with his pace.
Arsenal remain my favourite of the Big Four teams, partly for their non-profligate values (which would soon fall by the wayside if they suddenly had cash to blow) but mainly because theyre so much fun to watch. Arsene Wenger has produced team after team that plays such good football its hard to believe that less than fifteen years ago they were the dourest bunch you could ever pay good money to see.
They are marked victims of their own success. Running a thin squad that is long on quality has its virtues, yet it means that when injuries bite, the Gunners can run out of answers. Last season, they romped to the top of the league table and looked like stopping there before the fixtures in all competitions started mounting up and they ground to a halt. Its at times like these that the very best sides call on a talismanic figure, a who can galvanise the squad into a unit thats prepared never to stop bleeding for the cause. Arsenals roster, stuffed with talented youngsters lacked such a totem and paid the price. Alan Hansen might have been proved wrong once, but you dont necessarily win anything with kids; Arsenal are living proof of that.
Traditionally, summer at the Emirates is a time for other clubs to hove in to view, chequebooks in hand and attempts to prise Wengers best stars from him. These might not always work, but they are unsettling to the morale of the team and undermine the managers atttempts to build his squad. Emmanuel Adebayor now looks like going nowhere fortunately, and Arsenal suffered the lesser loss of Alexander Hleb, who took a £11.8m transfer to Barcelona. Its easy to forget that Hleb was a minor player in the sides fortunes before the middle of 2008/09. They ought to be able to compensate for his departure.
Wenger has noted that, given the clubs debts, he has to sell in order to buy, a familiar refrain around the Premiership that appears to be biting at all levels. As such, Arsenal have lost one and recruited one, the latter being young French international, Samir Nasri. A midfielder of undoubted talent, Nasri didnt have much of a chance to impress at Euro 2008, Raymond Domenech preferring his less than golden oldies, but he will here. Nasri aside, M Wenger doesnt seem to think the harsh lessons of last year need to be learned. He has off-loaded Gilberto Silva to Panathinaikos, leaving his side short on experience. The free transfer of Matthieu Flamini to Milan is a rare example of an Arsenal star not going for a fat profit - theyll miss him. Perhaps the rumours about the Gunners going for either Gareth Barry or Xabi Alonso are true, which would go some way towards balancing things in midfield, and its in the role that they must make their big remaining splash.
Then again, you always get the impression that Wenger knows a lot more than he lets on, and that there is probably a West African prodigy waiting to burst onto the scene. Perhaps however this is the point when Cesc Fabregas is expected to make his mark, pull the team together and add a Premiership title to the clutch of accolades that his talent deserves. He certainly has the ability to lead the line, and its hoped that he has added degrees of maturity that make him a genuine commander. Arsenal need it. William Gallas, whilst a fine centre back, is no true captain, and the players will no doubt look elsewhere for inspiration.
More of the same for the Gunners then. They havent done anything like enough to bridge the gap between themselves, Chelsea and Man Yoo, but things could have gone a lot worse if the mass exodus of players that had been predicted actually took place. Finishing off the pace will be frustrating, yet considering the millions Arsenal have not been able to spend their achievements are considerable.

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COLUMBIA Pursuing a deal to advertise South Carolina as so gay, tourism officials in the state hosted a visit to showcase gay-friendly hotels, bars, and beaches, two European executives told Q-Notes.
A three-day visit was arranged for me, said Andrew Roberts, CEO of the gay travel agency Amro Worldwide. The visit included free hotel stays and escorting by tourism representatives, at least one of whom was reimbursed for mileage.
Impressed by what he experienced during his April trip, Roberts gave the go-ahead to Out Now Consulting, the gay marketing agency selected to execute the ads.
South Carolinas Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) initiated and approved the campaign at every step, according to Roberts and Out Now CEO Ian Johnson.
But SCPRT refused to pay its bill for the campaign after Gov. Mark Sanford and other state politicians reacted to a post on The Palmetto Scoop, a conservative blog.
This guy was right up thereOut Now certainly had no indication prior to July 10 that anyone at SCPRT was in the slightest way at all uncomfortable with our strategic gay marketing approach in this particular ad campaign, Johnson told Q-Notes. Which makes sense since they were aware of it, and had approved it, at a high level, long before the campaign began. They signed off on it all the way through the launch process.
Johnson provided to Q-Notes a copy of a confidential marketing memorandum dated May 27 that explains exactly how and why the so gay slogan would be used in the ads.
This attached document went out a full month beforehand, Johnson said. SCPRT received it I have the emails and so far as I know the decision-maker signing off on this was far above a low level employee. Based on the CCs I saw on emails this guy was right up there, really quite near to the top people in that organisation.
The employee, Randolph Romaine, was an international sales manager responsible for the U.K. market and others, a class three economic development manager according to other state documents.
Marion Edmonds, spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) told Q-Notes that Romaine was no longer employed by the department and that his position, while not senior management, could at least be considered mid-level management.
SCPRT has never released the name of the employee who resigned immediately prior to a high-level management meeting following the outbreak of the advertising controversy. However, as late as Sat. July 19, Romaines name, position and contact information was available on SCPRTs website. On Monday, July 21, Romaines name had been scrubbed from the department directory and his office phone number reached only a general South Carolina government voice mail system message.
Johnson also said in a joint July 22 release with Roberts, That person who approved the So Gay advertising campaign, and was later forced to resign by SCPRT, is the International Sales Manager, responsible for the UK a person with more than a decade of management experience and an immense amount of respect within the global tourism marketing community.We received supportive recognition coming down the line from SCPRT all the way through the process right up until that blog decided to blow this story up as a political issue, said Johnson. It was at that moment that the politicians stepped in, and then suddenly everything changed.
Edmonds countered Roberts claim regarding the blog and ensuing controversy. He said it was Roberts and Johnsons press release that originally brought the advertising campaign to public light.
Q-Notes efforts to reach Romaine by phone on July 22 were unsuccessful.
Not an obvious destination
Roberts told Q-Notes that a South Carolina official initiated contact with him at the Rhythms of the South tourism expo Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2007, in New Orleans. He said he entertained inquiries from many other U.S. destinations, including West Virginia, as he planned advertising posters to be mounted along an escalator in the London subway to be placed during Pride season in June and July 2008.
Roberts said he sealed deals with five American cities and was proceeding with his plans in February 2008 when South Carolina again approached him and asked to join the campaign. Kirsty Dillury, a U.K.-based contractor for SCPRT made that contact, he said.
My response to that was, Great, fine, but that was not an obvious destination for international gay tourists, said Roberts, so he stated that he would have to make a visit in person to South Carolina to see if it was appropriate to recommend to his customers.
Roberts claimed that a three day visit was arranged for him, but that he paid for the travel expenses to and from the U.S. Once arriving in South Carolina during the weekend of April 19, however, Roberts received an official welcome letter from the City of Charlestons Convention and Visitors Bureau. He also claimed that employees of the Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island convention and visitors bureau hosted him in his visits in those cities.
I was met on Sunday morning by someone from the local chamber of commerce tourist department, Roberts said.
He added that the employee drove 68 miles in her car to take him on the tour of Myrtle Beach and that he remembers her writing that number down on a form to be reimbursed for mileage.
He said he was shown gay-friendly hotels, one gay bar and another building that had rainbow flags.
Roberts also said that the Myrtle Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau employee also showed him what she called a gay beach.
She did point that out to me and said, If you go down there thats where the boys go, he said. It was certainly not a cruisy area. That is not what the community would call a cruisy area. There were two women together and quite a few guys together.
He added, I saw no indication of sexual activity. The area is overlooked by one of Myrtle Beachs nicer hotels.
Roberts also visited Hilton Head Island, where he was met by an employee of the local visitors and convention bureau. He was told that a new gay bar, Twist the Bistro, had recently opened and later went to visit. He also said he visited what was described as a gay beach, an area close to one of the hotels that was the area that the boys went to.
Visits confirmed
Charlie Clark, vice president of communications with the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Visitors and Convention Bureau confirmed to Q-Notes the visit by Roberts. She said that Jack Reed, the organizations director of sales, met with Roberts when he arrived in the area.
Clark said tourism is Hilton Heads number one draw and the bureau will welcome all visitors regardless of race, color, age, sexual orientation or whatever difference.
Nancy Gray, media communications manager for the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, also confirmed Roberts visit to that area. Andrew Roberts visited Myrtle Beach April 19-20, 2008, read a written statement emailed to Q-Notes. On April 20, 2008, a staff member met with Mr. Roberts during his visit to Myrtle Beach.
Gray also said that the Myrtle Beach Chamber first learned of Amro in 2006 at the Rhythms of the South trade show, that time in Atlanta, Ga. Gray said her organization was never made aware by SCPRT that any advertising campaign was planned or under consideration and that their involvement with Amro was limited to showing the destination and arranging tours of select hotel properties.s Edmonds also confirmed Roberts visits.
We were aware of that as an agency, said Edmonds. We do host international tour operators from time-to-time.
No rules broken
Edmonds said that SCPRT is continuing to look into how the advertising campaign was approved.
We are looking into all of the emails and correspondence and the information we have related to the campaign, he said. m not sure how much correspondence we have with Amro Worldwide. Well have to see what we have and when we received information and what the nature of that information was.
Edmonds also admitted that SCPRT never had a written policy prohibiting expenditures on niche marketing to groups such as LGBT travelers. When asked if the unwritten rule existed and if it pre-dated the current controversy, Edmonds responded, In the past there have been occasions where public state grants couldnt be used to fund events or promotions that involved tobacco or alcohol. What we do have to do is conform to the annual advertising marketing plan.
State tourism officials also advertise to niche markets such as those interested in golf or fishing. One niche campaign, Girlfriend Getaways is targeted toward women.
Further, LGBT activists in South Carolina found a U.K./Ireland marketing plan from SCPRT that mentioned numerous times. Some said the plan perfectly described the So Gay advertising campaign.
The marketing plan, which listed Romaine as the lead, stated, Develop and update advertisement creative to showcase the diversity of the states tourism product (new creative will continue to support the traditional up-scale market with a broadened appeal to the middle-income family market; additionally, new creative will continue to include South Carolinas developed product of golf, beach and sun while simultaneously highlighting additional product niches such as entertainment, shopping, outdoor adventure, historical sites, state parks and Heritage Corridor as relevant to each market; where appropriate creative will support the overall advertising campaign of the agency).
Agency unpaid
While recent news reports have said Amro Worldwide has gone unpaid for their services, Roberts clarified the situation in the joint statement with Johnson.
Amro Worldwide has received full payment from the London representatives of SCPRT a company called Travel and Tourism Marketing TTM World who have acted in the utmost good faith at every stage in the advertising approval process, Roberts said in the release. Amro Worldwide is currently considering reimbursing TTM World for their loss, but we think it quite disgraceful that an official State government body would behave in this manner.
Roberts added, Not paying representatives and forcing a senior manager to resign seems out of all proportion with our simple but effective gay travel marketing campaign. On top of all that, it saddens me that the hard working folk in the SC tourism industry who this campaign was designed to help, look set to suffer loss for years to come due to the reaction of their elected representatives.
From the outside in
Roberts thinks the reaction from South Carolina politicians has put a sour taste in the mouths of the British public. I dont think South Carolina as a tourist destination, after this, comes over very well to the British public.
He also said he think the controversy reflects negatively on the entire U.S.
I was disappointed with the reaction. Were in 2008. Im very disappointed and very surprised. I travel fairly extensively in the U.S. and I thought that was left behind, Roberts said of the anti-gay reactions. ve been through that here in the U.K. 25 to 30 years ago.
Numerous papers and The Associated Press have reported on how the South Carolina controversy might hurt the tourism market, especially from gay travelers.
In 2006, a tourism market survey showed extensive travel by Europeans and Canadians to South Carolina. Although absent any major international airport, the majority of foreign travelers entered the state via car from Atlanta, Raleigh and Charlotte. Their destinations were Myrtle Beach and Charleston.
This looks like a simple case of political interference, pure and simple, said Johnson in the joint release with Roberts. In an election year, in a red State, you have politicians thinking there might be a few votes in a bit of gay bashing. Not a good look for the majority of South Carolinians who judging from the many supportive messages received by both Out Now and Amro Worldwide are appalled by the conduct of their elected representatives. Additional reporting by Matt Comer, Q-Notes staff.

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Maybe someone can explain this to me...

If you ever bring up the fact that the Bucks were screwed in the 2001 ECF vs Philly and site the crazy FT differential, people will quickly point out that the Bucks were a jumpshooting team. All they do is shoot jumpers. Your not going to get to the line when all you do is shoot jumpers and dont drive inside. The media created the perception that the Bucks were a soft team and shot jumpers and as we all know perception is reality.

SO givin the fact that the Bucks are soft and only shoot jumpers and dont go inside can anyone tell me why they shot more free throws in the first round of the 2001 playoffs than any other team? Were they a dominate inside team just for that round but then they decided to pull a 180 and go a complete other direction in the East Finals? They averaged 37.5 free throws a game in the 4 games vs Orlando. 150 total free throws shot. In the 7 games vs Philly the Bucks only shot 120 free throws (by the way thats the all time NBA record for fewest free throws shot in a 7 game series). Thats only 17.1 free throws a game. So our free throws per game went from 37.5 in the ORL series down to 17.1 in the Phl series. And in the series vs CHR we shot 156 free throws (22.2 a game). So the next time someone says the Bucks were only a jumpshooting team and thats why they got no calls ask them to explain the below chart.

Heres a chart of the FTs for each team in the 1st round of the 2001 Playoffs:

TEAM - TOTAL FTS - GAMES - FT PER GAME

BUCKS - 150 - 4 - 37.5
CHR - 102 - 3 - 34
SAC - 120 - 4 - 30
DAL - 143 - 5 - 28.6
LAL - 86 - 3 - 28.6
PHL - 113 - 4 - 28.3
POR - 78 - 3 - 26
UTA - 129 - 5 - 25.8
TOR - 126 - 5 - 25.2
ORL - 98 - 4 - 24.5
NY - 117 - 5 - 23.4
PHX - 91 - 4 - 22.8
MIA - 58 - 3 - 19.3
IND - 75 - 4 - 18.8

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