What goes up... Thomas Morgenstern of Austria competes in the ski jump at the Alpine FIS World Cup Four Hills competition in Bischofshofen, Austria Picture: AFP The Big Picture The feel good factor A good cause: The gift that gives Picture: Irish Charity cards Alain, dont get depressed about receiving one of those charity donation cards. If theres one day that should let you indulge and drink and laugh and forget about the wrongs of the world, its Christmas day, so of course its depressing to receive a card reminding you of the poverty some people are experiencing. Ive worked for a charity in the past and learned that its a business, a business that does good things but also gives something to the people who donate that warm nice feeling you get when you feel youve done something good. If you donated on behalf of some unassuming friend or family member, youre the one with the idea and the initiative, so youre the one who feels good about themselves. If you are going to make a donation on behalf of somebody next Christmas, tell them before they go tramping through town in the freezing weather looking for the perfect gift for you, allowing them the option to get the same for you and feel good about themselves too. Otherwise, you get a gift that you get to unwrap and enjoy and the other person gets a card telling them that they get nothing and youre a great person who donates to charity! Bren Dear drivers of Ireland, I know most of you want to be careful in the bad driving conditions at the moment, but remember the rules. Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroherald.ie with a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Opera Telecom, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Violated: I was forced to go through an experimental body scanner before and the lad running it clearly saw too much. On TV I saw an image from the machine showing as much naked detail as the crack of a mans ass! I feel my right to dignity has been violated, but complaining at an airport is a no-no unless you want to be violated further. And apparently, these body scanners would not even have prevented the eejit with explosives in his pants! I need to travel, but why should innocent people have to be subjected to this abuse? Modest Woman Disgrace: Well what do you know, Bertie Ahern has been given tax-free status on earnings on his autobiography as he is an artist. He sure is, hes an artist at turning things to suit himself and ruining this country. Hes a national disgrace! Kevin Be sensible: I read that 100 years ago they used aughts and teens to describe the first two decades of the century. I sincerely hope Metro Herald will keep it sensible and use the phrase teens and not encourage another decade of awkward conversational silliness. Alan H In Brief On dual carriageways and motorways, you stay on the inside lane if you feel the need to drive so slowly. Stop hogging the overtaking lanes and allow more capable drivers to pass using them! The standard of driving ability in this country is a sad reflection on the training drivers receive: dont drive if you cant drive! Darren R Rick, does it matter what we call 2010? You ask has there been any decision and, if so, by whom? Are people so incapable of making their own decisions that you are asking this? Its a year, it doesnt matter! You also ask what the last decade was called, and then proceed to say dont say the teenies some people call it that, so what? For the next ten years you can call it the last decade! For the record, Im calling it twenty ten, and no one is gonna change it for me, even if there is a referendum needed for some people to figure out what to call it! Make your own fecking decisions! Mel, D13 Sendusyour txt Tim, would you have guffawed at the poor soul from England who lost his life after slipping on the snow and banging his head? Grow up, its not funny in the slightest! PD Rick, I believe the President said its twenty ten. And think about it, did you call 1985 one thousand nine hundred and eighty five? G-guy Are we the only ones who it has occurred to that in order for a year to be considered part of the teens, it must end in teen? Only 2013 until 2019 would be eligible for such a decade name. Lisa and Amy I like the new Metro Herald. The business section is a good addition, keep it up! Young Entrepreneur Cheers to Dalkey Garrett in the Lexus who kindly gave myself and two other stranded strangers a lift from Leeson Street bus stop and even stopped to pick up my brother on the way. Thank you! Nicole, Blackrock Snowman or snowperson? I suppose it depends on... snowballs! Damien txt MAIL to 53131* The best pictures are in Metro Herald 12 mail Friday, January 8, 2010 D index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html