Calm after the storm, part II: Perspective

Seems like it's going to be link salad morning. There are a number of articles I want to point out, some of which you may already be aware of, some of which I just want to note for myself.

I've been a longtime supporter of Best Friends Animal Shelter, the country's largest no-kill shelter and an organizational leader in the no-kill movement. When they heard that the Obamas planned to bring a puppy to the White House, they petitioned the new first family to adopt a shelter dog rather than going to a breeder. Looks like the Obamas have agreed. I'm delighted. It sets an excellent example, and will give at least one dog (probably many) a chance at a new life.

Salon spoke to a number of Thinkers about the elections, including folks like Sherman Alexie, Todd Gitlin, Dan Savage and more. Some good thoughts here.

The New York Times covers the Bush administration's scramble to ram through as many harmful, pro-business policies as possible before their time is up: So little time, so much damage. I'm not surprised. I am alarmed. And I'm unsure what a citizen can do about it. (For the record, I don't think that pro-business policies as a rule are harmful. I do think that those cited in the article, however, are potentially disastrous.)

Obama and his people are setting expectations with regard to how quickly they can affect change. I think this is a really wise move. I just hope people hear and absorb what they're saying.

In other political news, looks like we'll have three new Jews but no rabbi in the upcoming Congress. It also notes that we won't be sending the first Jewish Latina or Chinese Jew to office. The piece is a round-up and provides a different perspective on the election.

io9.com turns up the first of what may become a wave of right-wing protest fiction. It's a new way to appeal to the fears of the base. I guess they haven't quite figured out yet that the base is a dwindling group and that fear-mongering isn't the most effective way to persuade people in this country any more.

And lastly, more than half the babies born in a hospital in Kenya the day after the election were named for Barack or Michelle Obama. I'd bet money that not a few new babies in America found themselves with those names as well.

The Tuba Man

grubbstreet and the Seattle PI report that Seattle's beloved Tuba Man is dead as a result of injuries received in a mugging. My last memory of him is playing "My Sharona" on request, and making me and ironymaiden just giggle like crazy (that's when I took this picture). I hope they prosecute the perps to the fullest extent of the law, the bastards. They've reduced the overall joy quotient in Seattle by a significant degree.

Mr. McMichael, you'll be truly missed.