Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Day

2^nd Term, Day 1: President Obama was given a ceremonial swearing in at the Capitol this morning … he was officially sworn yesterday.  The President gave a speech edged with political content, speaking up for budget control, gay rights, equal pay, voting rights, and immigration. He said, “We do not believe in this country freedom is for the lucky or happiness for the few.” Mr. Obama said he had sworn, “An oath to God and country, not party or faction.”

  A flag-waving crowd filled the National Mall all the way to the Lincoln memorial. James Taylor sang “America the Beautiful.”

World: The number of dead hostages in that eastern Algeria gas compound is now at least 37 with others still missing. Three Americans are among the dead. Algerian authorities said they found more bodies Sunday in the Sahara Desert gas production compound that had been overrun by Islamist militants. That would raise the total death count of militants and hostages to roughly 60 people … numbers have been inexact.

 The terrorist behind it all is believed to be Moktar Belmoktar, an Algerian who lost an eye while fighting in Afghanistan. He is known as “the one-eyed”, for obvious reasons and as “The Marlboro Man” because he used to be a cigarette smuggler.

National: Five people were shot to death Saturday night in a house in Albuquerque, NM by a 15-year-old boy whose weapons included an assault rifle. Three of the victims were children. The dead include a volunteer chaplain and his wife. Police have identified the accused shooter as a member of the family.

NFL:  For the first time it will be brother against brother on the Super Bowl sidelines as the coaching Harbaughs go to New Orleans on opposite sides of the field. San Francisco (Jim H.) came back from 17 points behind to beat Atlanta to win the NFC. Baltimore (John H.) beat New England for the AFC title. You’ll be hearing about this brother v. brother thing ad nauseum until the Super Bowl is over.

 New England coach Bill Belichick, who’s grumpy win or lose, refused a post-game interview with CBS Sports. Analyst Shannon Sharpe said, “Bill Belichick makes it real easy to root against the Patriots. You can’t be a poor sport all the time. You’re not going to win all the time.”

Inscripto Cursi Electronici: The Pope has opened a Twitter account @Pontifex_in and is busily Tweeting … in Latin. He already has 9000 followers who don’t understand a word of what he Tweets.

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