President-elect Barack Obama’s executively adorable promise to daughters Malia and Natasha could mean the Obama family will adopt the next First Dog rather than purchase a purebred — shelter pets are crossing their paws — while voters on both West and East coasts passed Humane Society-approved initiatives, making animal rights the sleeper hit on Tuesday’s ticket.

Though they failed to protect rights of the equal variety, voters in California passed Proposition 2, a landmark ballot item for animal rights in the state.

And in Massachusetts, voters passed a ban on greyhound racing, effective in 2010.

And somewhere, a wolf marksman shed a tear on a mid-flight helicopter.

All photos by Jonathan Bachman

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In which I take all the best news, quotes, pictures and everything else Saints-related toss it together and serve it up for our readers. This week we’ll be tackling the Saints (4–4) week 10 matchup against the Falcons in the Georgia (not to be confused with “Super”) Dome in Atlanta. It’s a fight to go from dead last in the division to tied for last in division with a win. So strap in, hit the jump and get ready for some football talk.

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There’s terrible irony in the fact that Ryan Plattsmier, bassist for local rockers the Public, apparently took his own life on Oct. 29 — the same night the band was scheduled to perform in the Masked Ball as Joy Division, another outfit felled by suicide. I didn’t know Ryan, but after reading Travis Shuler’s incredibly moving eulogy on Facebook, I now feel like I did. More than just an eloquent tribute to a missing friend, it’s a terrific explanation of the complex relationships that form between band mates, and a tragically familiar story of depression seizing a gifted artist far too soon. The Public celebrates Ryan Plattsmier’s life tonight, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., at One Eyed Jacks.         Read the rest of this entry »