Well, The News & Observer learned one thing today: the tried-and-true cute animal picture only goes so far.

We've been deluged with phone calls from readers less than heart-warmed by the front-page photo of a Santa-garbed woman and an orangutan sharing what looks for all the world like a French kiss. A sampling:

Larry Allen, Raleigh: "I am thoroughly disgusted by the color photo at the top of the front page."

Ira Vail, Cary: "This is really over the top. This is in poor taste. You look at it and say, 'gee, I think I'm going to throw my cheerios up.'"

Boyd Byrd, Bunn Level: "I've seen some stupid things in this paper, but this is the stupidest."

John Hammond, Rocky Mount: "I've been reading The News & Observer for 40 years, and I really appreciate what a good paper it is. But I can't abide such a picture on the front page. I don't know what service is being rendered by you doing that."

Anonymous: "Appalling, disgusting, beyond disgusting."

Okay, Okay. We get the message. It's hard to find anyone at the paper who defends the picture. One explanation: There were a lot of dreary stories of death and mayhem on the page, and this offered a light-hearted break. Also, some editors never noticed the tongue -- or was it a carrot? -- being passed between animal and human.

The good news? We haven't heard from any orangutans.

12/22/05 at 11:41
Apparently the opponents have never experienced the love and complete devotion of a beloved pet of any species. How sad.

12/22/05 at 12:19
Oh good grief people - lighten up!

12/22/05 at 13:52
Helps to explain where Democrats come from!!!! ...or at least liberals...anyway, back toi the high road.....Merry Christmas to all, and to all species, whatever their lifestyle!

12/22/05 at 15:24
I had uglier blind dates in college.

12/22/05 at 15:46
why would the N&O put an orangutan french kissing a human on the front cover of their paper for everyone (children) to see. That orangutan has his tongue in that lady's mouth

12/22/05 at 16:07
Looks like a closed mouth kiss to me. Its a frickin' organutan. They stick their tongues out. People are might repressed if this sets them off. Where were their minds this morning?

12/22/05 at 16:16
Look people. People kiss their dogs. People kiss their cats. People kiss their snakes, their{sometimes) fish. CRY ABOUT IT.

12/22/05 at 16:17
Oh. And the woman has her mouth closed. She is NOT making out with the orangutan. Get over yourselves people.

12/22/05 at 17:38
I guess I can see why this might have made front page news. After all, there was much murder and sadness and I guess this was a way to lighten the mood! I must say that I would not have kissed the orangutan, but I would not have gotten so worked up about this photo!

12/23/05 at 06:46
Ease up folks... It's better than having to look at that waste of oxygen Clay Aiken on today's cover!!!

12/23/05 at 11:45
I think orangutans should have the right to kiss anybody willing to kiss them back.

12/23/05 at 11:46
I am thoroughly disgusted! Who ever heard of an Asian Mrs. Claus? Everyone knows that Santa is white!

12/23/05 at 12:09
kinda puts the Kong thing in perspective. (I think this is a carrot, by the way...that's probably how she got him to kiss her in the first place.)

12/23/05 at 12:12
Goodness gracious! Think of the children.

12/23/05 at 13:32
My guess is that some Republicans got upset because of the Darwinian overtones. Why, if this goes beyond kissing, they could end up with a libertarian!

12/23/05 at 13:37
Ted, these folks complaining need to get a little holiday spirit. It's a cute animal photo - what's so offensive about that?

12/23/05 at 14:32
i give up -- which one is the orangutan?

12/23/05 at 15:17
Why don't readers get this upset by the murder and mayhem reported on the page?

12/23/05 at 15:29
WHAAAAAAAAT?!!!!

12/23/05 at 15:43
Note to self: Don't forget to nominate Raleigh next year for the "Pinhead Capital of America" Award.

12/23/05 at 16:06
AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!Toby!

12/23/05 at 16:58
I should be so lucky!

12/23/05 at 23:28
You guys are all too sensitive. The woman is just showing affection to the orangutan just like many people show affection to their cats or dogs. It is common for orangutans to use their tongues for multiple tasks. If you look, you will see that the women is not reciprocating. Don't read too much into a cute photo. If it was a photo of a dog licking a little girl on the lips there wouldn't be nearly as much ado made out of the photo.

12/24/05 at 07:48
Do the editors at the Charlotte News & Observer have any "intelligent design" there??

12/24/05 at 12:48
Note to Craig who was disgusted with an Asian Mrs. Claus - you're racist. Same to the person who couldn't tell who was the orangutan. Those comments need to be taken down from this page. Those same comments would not be made about black people or any other group of people and left on this page.

12/24/05 at 17:33
Those weren't racist comments. The writers clearly were joking to make the point that the people freaking out about the picture are reading way to much into this photo. Take a chill pill. All of you.