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Gordon Quinn
Dallas, Texas

Dr. Baseball

Interesting that just three paragraphs after the writer says that "Andrews knows exactly what he's doing" ("The Most Valuable Player in Sports Is This Doctor," September) and that no one would like to play chess with him because "he'd be 10 moves ahead of you," Dr. Andrews claims he had no knowledge of HealthSouth's illegal practices. Ironic that someone who prides himself on relationships could be distanced enough to be "shocked" by the corporate fraud that was financing his yacht and private jet.

P.J. Gillard
Allen, Texas

Real Show

I was perplexed at Tina Dupuy's banal assessment of Quiksilver's rather forward-thinking experiment, SiteLA ("Quiksilver's Spice Girls," September). SiteLA seems like an initial (and spot-on) step in creating a rich dialogue between an empowering brand and those who share similar values, beliefs, and dreams. In my experience, brands with the courage to invest in these meaningful interactions are the ones that successfully shape a destiny and thrive. They are pioneering. They transcend transactional relationships. The real question for Quiksilver will be the internal commitment to scaling these rich approaches for connecting (versus defaulting to conventional advertising tactics). Perhaps if it chooses the latter, then Dupuy could recommend some good billboard rentals.

Jonas Brickus
Cambridge, Massachusetts

What's your beef with Quiksilver? This article is pocked with cynicism and sarcasm. Why can't you just present the story and let us make up our minds whether or not this is a folly?

Bob Cramblitt
Cary, North Carolina

Diet and Diabetes

As the mother of a 17-year-old with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes, I was extremely disappointed to read Eduardo Sanchez's comments about pediatric diabetes (Fast Talk, September). Sanchez, the VP and chief medical officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, says, "In trying to tackle pediatric diabetes, the clear issue is childhood obesity." Yes, obesity is responsible for type 2 diabetes. But that's not the case for the million-plus kids that have type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that results from the body mistakenly attacking the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. The best nutrition in the world would not prevent diabetes in these kids, since obesity is not a factor in this form of the disease.

As exasperating as it is to see these comments from a man who has been a state health commissioner as well as the chief medical officer at a leading insurance provider, it's unfortunately not surprising. For several years, we were covered by a different Blue Cross/Blue Shield affiliate that regularly sent mailings to my daughter that focused on issues specifically intended for type 2 diabetics. Luckily, there are medical providers who know what the key issues are for our kids -- even if they're not clear to Blue Cross of Texas.

Linda Popky
Woodside, California

Recycling by the Numbers

The author of "Plastic Potion No. 9" (September) finds fault with free enterprise making a decision not to pursue a line of business that isn't profitable. If no one were willing to pay her enough to live her desired lifestyle as a writer, she'd choose a different trade. And she lost total credibility with the statement that she provided "more than you ever wanted to know about the convoluted and inefficient world of plastics." This is an enviro-radical view. Oil is used in a wildly efficient process to make plastics of all types. The material is pervasive because it is incredibly efficient and utilitarian.

Tony Schy
Charlestown, Indiana

Deceiving Data

The heaths' mutual-fund data points (September) look at only a few periods. I could prove just about anything by picking the right data periods. I do agree the "average" mutual fund has disappointing results and investors consistently make bad decisions based on fear and greed. But a diversified and disciplined mutual-fund strategy with skilled, active managers produces better results than an index fund. Fees matter, but after fees, performance matters more.

Eric W. Bennett
Dallas, Texas