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In the course of Powell's career, it has become more and more a visual world, but no matter whether the medium is pictures or words, the ability to spur laughter, thought or both is a rare gift. So value this guy. If his model's being made any more, I don't know where.

Ann T. Berry

Raleigh

Ann T. Berry is a former editorial writer at The News & Observer.

Two people of talent

Dwane Powell's cartoons are the first thing I read each day. They are right on the mark. Thank you for printing his fine work. (Also, a big thanks for A.C. Snow. We readers are fortunate to have these two talented people on your staff.)

Judy Elzinga

Apex

Keep him safe

Dwane Powell is a genius. His cartoons are wonderful. Don't let anything happen to him.

Cy King

Raleigh

Charity as gift? No thanks

I found it interesting that The N&O ran in the Dec. 24 Q section, "What gifts do the most good?" about giving to charity on someone's behalf instead of giving a store-bought gift. Then, a week later, The N&O ran the Miss Manners column in which Judith Martin commented on the practice: "(T)he fact remains that your friends did not give you a present. They got a twofer out of their philanthropy by merging their gift list with their charity list."

The Q didn't touch on this, nor on the politics of charity gifts. What happens when a donation is made to a pro-life organization in the name of a pro-choice in-law?

The article also didn't touch on the fact that older relatives -- such as ol' "Aunt Edna" -- might actually need that blender and not be able to afford it on their fixed incomes. Or is it only acceptable to help people in other countries, not in your own family?

Charity-as-gift can also suggest that your friends and relatives are insensitive, uncharitable scrooges themselves and that you are the sainted Santa forcing them to be better human beings. I've been guilty of such holier-than-thou thinking, and I'm not proud of it. It's not in the spirit of Christmas.

Unless you have discussed it with your friends and relatives, and they're in complete assent, I agree with Miss Manners. Keep the philanthropy and the gift-giving separate. Gifts are about honoring the people we care about, not promoting our personal agendas.

Jen Hilton

Raleigh

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