5 November 2008: Afternoon

Black man given nation's worst job.

Prop 8 passes by slim margin in California; Obama acceptance speech still said to be "a defining moment for gay people."

Sullivan: This is heart-breaking news, but I am not shattered.

Part 1 of Newsweek's "How He Did It" series, uncovering fun election secrets (Palin shopping sprees, secret-service code-names for Obama daughters, etc.).

New Republic article from 2002 predicting the emergence of a new democratic majority and the end of Rove-style politics.

Fox News finally let Juan Williams talk---and it's a wonderful, emotional, eloquent moment.

Letters from an Earth Ball.

Big Boston Globe pictures of our new president; newspaper scans from this morning.

See also: All our presidents, including the newbie, illustrated.

Review of potential contenders for Obama's cabinet.

Review of Bush's final-stages harmful environmental policy changes.

How the Heritage Foundation would like to get going in the Arctic.

Nature on what the Obama win will mean for American science.

Gingrich: "If scientists wrote their House member and their senators, they would have an impact."

Researchers baffled by giant "rogue" waves that ripped out Maine docks.

Remembering Michael Crichton, who died on Tuesday of cancer.