Unbridled joy or opportunism? Probably a little of both. The Post mentions one shy-guy who mustered the courage to ask a stranger watching the election results, "Can I have a kiss? For Obama?" And shared optimism can hardly explain the rash of November 5th "Missed Connections" seeking to recapture the ephemeral magic of the night before the morning after.

But whereas romantic ops may have been fleeting, the merch gravy train's just pulling into the station. Street vendors are selling more Obama tees, mugs, dolls, cards and pop art than ever. Obama web sites are booming, as people all over the world scramble onboard. The Los Angeles Times cites the multitude of Obama-themed books publishers are rushing through, including "The Obama Menu: Dinners With Barack Obama" and "Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme." As one editor tells the LAT, "It's the biggest thing for publishing since Harry Potter."

If likening the president-elect to a magical boy wizard seems both worrisome and significant, well, it makes sense: evoking middle-aged politicians doesn't normally get dorks laid. Whether this bonanza can keep up when the boring business of governing takes hold is an open question: economic policy doesn't make for great t-shirts or for much of an aphrodisiac. But people can take heart from one thing: Obama's already helping the economy, and, presumably, the population: how many baby Baracks will we be seeing come early July? (Well Newsweek's on that one!)

Remember Me? The One With the 'O' Button? [Washington Post]
Americans clamoring for all things Obama [Los Angeles Times]

I wrote a story for the Times over the summer about a blogger on a site named Living Oprah who decided to live her life based on Oprah's counsel for a full year. Living Oprah, aka Robyn Okrant, told me that women "want [Oprah's] personal help, because they think she has the secret…She has a private plane and she came from nothing. If she’s lifted herself up from the horrible background she came from, she’s got the key. When she gives advice it’s sort of like doling out some of that.” And just like American women, Saudi women long for Oprah's personal touch. A Saudi woman named Nayla who was interviewed for today's Times article sends the big O-racle a letter once a month, and even though she has yet to receive a response, Nayla says, “I feel that Oprah truly understands me…She gives me energy and hope for my life. Sometimes I think that she is the only person in the world who knows how I feel.”

Oprah's influence has even inspired some Saudi women to stand up to their husbands in the incredibly male-dominated Saudi society. One woman interviewed tells this story: "I have a friend whose driver touched her in an inappropriate way. She was very young at the time, but she felt very guilty about it — and Oprah helped her to speak about this abuse with her mother.”

It's been pointed out by many, myself included, that Oprah's show has threads of materialism that are deeply problematic. However, articles like today's about Winfrey's positive impact on women from all walks of life are some of our favorite things.

Saudi Women Find an Unlikely Role Model: Oprah [NY Times]
Life In The Time of Oprah [Oprah]