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Makeover Madness

There are so many valuable business and personal lessons to learn from this story, regardless of your opinion of Al Gore ("Al Gore's $100 Million Makeover," July/August). But I do not see in any way that he has "engineered" a brand makeover. His makeover is a by-product of his obsession with environmental causes. He has been rallying behind these causes most of his life. It just so happens that when he left the political arena, people started to pay attention to his message, were inspired by his cause, and rallied behind him. You don't "engineer" that kind of branding.

Denise Corcoran
Burlingame, California

It always brings a smile to my face (and hope for mankind) when I read about an "against all odds" comeback like Gore's. I really hope that he does not return to politics. It's a brutal business. Many business leaders are picking up the mantle and achieving greater success in driving important social, environmental, and economic programs.

Ngoni Simelane-Chiketa
Johannesburg, South Africa

I find it interesting that Gore--environmental and technological visionary that he is--requires a house in Virginia, a house in Tennessee, and a condo in California. Doesn't technology and the Internet allow us to work from anywhere at any time? No worries, Al. It's all about you, baby.

Brian Brunkow
Bellingham, Washington

I often wonder if Gore genuinely has vision or whether he is simply privileged enough to run with the visionary crowd and sponsor their ambitious agendas and businesses. Frankly, it doesn't matter. Possessing and recognizing genius are one and the same when it comes to providing leadership.

Corrie Jagger
Indianapolis, Indiana

This recent issue regarding Gore came very close to being tossed in the wastebasket.... Thankfully, I read the article. It was not only compelling and well written, but also provided solid content.

Jonathan Grubbs
Birmingham, Alabama

Not So Fast Now ...

The notion that the St. Louis area--which has produced countless icons such as Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, T.S. Eliot, Sheryl Crow, and Yogi Berra, among others--is choking on Midwestern blandness ("Fast Cities 2007," July/August) is belied by so much evidence to the contrary that we issue a challenge: We invite your editors and hipsters of all varieties to take a firsthand look at this city. If they're not impressed by our cultural ferment--and by the quality and profusion of the arts and the way they permeate life in this city--we'll eat a baloney sandwich for them, on white bread, of course, with mayonnaise. Then maybe we'll wash it down with a nice glass of milk and some apple pie with vanilla ice cream. While they're here, we hope they'll note our economic turnaround, including a nationally lauded $4 billion--plus center-city revitalization. Be brave. Dare to experience at close range what you've been flying over. We promise that confronting outworn stereotypes will be weird and wonderful.

David Robertson
Music director
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Joan Lipkin
Artistic director, playwright, director
That Uppity Theatre Co.

Paul Ha
Director
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis

In "Fast Cities 2007," you say that Mayor Rocky Anderson is "radically redesigning Salt Lake City's downtown [for] more green space and the return of the City Creek." The mayor is merely benefiting from a plan designed, funded, and actioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church is funding the redevelopment of the city center, all through private funding--no public money, no tithing from church members.

Wayne Scholes
Salt Lake City, Utah

What About Dad?

It's incredible that two educated women debating the child-care issue (Open Debate, July/August) had the gall to ignore the role of men in helping resolve that issue.

It's long past time to recognize that the care of young children should be a shared male-female responsibility.

Peter Bearse
Fremont, New Hampshire