Having been through the "mascot" process recently with the Midori Linux Project
(http://midori.transmeta.com/), I thought I'd add a word or two.

I had serious misgivings about using a human as a mascot, and a horrible dread
of what sort of animal representation might be chosen.  (Think, "GNU Make".)
Some sort of abstract shape or inanimate object, I thought, might be better.
But then, I was also in favor of the arctic ptern (the sea gull, not the
penguin) for the Linux logo... so we know how proficient I have been at picking
logos.  :-)

Whatever gets picked, I hope it has the full endorsement of the language
authors.  Eventually, it'll grow on folks.

-Rick