I was so intrigued by Bruce Carter's terrific review of The Floating World at the Figge (see "Startling, Fleeting Moments," River Cities' Reader Issue 637, June 13-19, 2007) and curious about Sara Jones' letter published in the July 3 issue that I need to respond. I find it hard to understand the opinion of anyone who would end their letter with the line "It's not worth a special trip to the museum" in reference to Carter's review and their personal feeling about their visit to the Figge.

Over the past 14 years, the Reader has had its detractors, especially in the form of competitors, who have tried to pigeonhole this publication and dissuade readers and advertisers. Every criticism imaginable has been thrown our way - from too liberal to too conservative, too artsy to too literary, anti-development to anti-lower-income-groups, and from too diverse to not diverse enough.

Steve Banks' review of the Figge's Comics, Heroes, & American Visual Culture ("A Comic Evolution," River Cities' Reader Issue 640, July 3-10, 2007) draws attention to the maligned art of cartoon illustration, as does the exhibition itself, but they are both not without their considerable flaws.

Jeff Speck doesn't expect to be a popular person among government officials.

"It will be a little bit controversial," Speck said of his July 9 lecture at the Figge Art Museum. "I will attack your public-works department and your fire chief - never having met them."