World:  Algerian forces today were still defusing mines and booby traps at a remote desert natural gas complex in eastern Algeria. The final special forces assault ended with at least 23 hostages and 32 Islamist militants dead over a four-day incident.  An Algerian official said the number could be revised upwards. Seven hostages are reported killed by militants during the last attack. The US State Department says at least one American died. Algeria’s swift military action has upset the leadership of some countries, including the US, whose citizens were among the hostages.

National: President Obama will be officially sworn in to his second term just before noon today in Washington. The public ceremony at the capitol is tomorrow. Vice President Joe Biden was sworn in at about 9am EST.

Would God Listen?:  The speaker of the Kansas House, Mike O’Neal is taking heat for sending out an Email calling for the death of President Obama. He forwarded a copy of Psalm 109 from the Bible. One of the operative phrases of the prayer for the President: “Let his days be few; and let another take his office. 

Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.” Nice.

Cold Dead Hands Dept.: Crowds described as numbering in the hundreds turned out in several cities across the US for  “Gun Appreciation Day.” The event was planned to take place in 49 states by a group called Guns Across America to protest President Obama’s new gun control proposals.

Meanwhile at gun shows in in Indiana, Ohio and North Carolina, a total of five people were injured in accidental shootings.

NFL: The 49ers meet the Falcons at noon, PST and the Ravens go against the Patriots at 3:30 today. Winners go to the Super Bowl.

Passing: Baseball great Stan Musial, “Stan the Man”, who played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals has died at age 92. Musial won seven batting championships and hit 475 home runs during 22 seasons. The NY Times quotes Brooklyn Dodger manager Leo Durocher as having once said, “There is only one way to pitch to Musial — under the plate.”

Not Monty Python:  Twenty-one Burmese pythons have been captured so far in the Python hunting contest in the Florida Everglades. The pythons have yet to score a point in the game.

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