Violence is out of control in Syria – now Russia says it's sending planes to Beirut to evacuate Russian nationals. 

Nothing’s quite as sure as change – once the biggest name in video games, Atari today filed for bankruptcy.  They're most remembered for Pong, the early video ping pong game, one of the first such games to reach commercial success.

The latest listed victim of the hostage-taking in Algeria – 57-year-old Victor Lynn Lovelady, a graduate of Nederland high school south of Beaumont, Texas.

President Obama took the oath of office again this morning, in that most unique American ritual, the presidential inauguration.  Then Obama spoke specifically to his supporters rather than to all of America.  As the Washington Post put it today, the president that liberals were waiting for is finally here.  The accompanying message is he’s the president of liberals, leaving the rest of America wanting.  In his speech today, there was precious little for the millions who have no job, no hope for a job and only some home for part time work. The unemployment rate is the same now as it was when he took office. He paid tribute to events of the last century that for many of us seem like ancient history.  He dissed the Tea Party, saying government programs do not make us a nation of takers -- he promised to address climate change, an issue not settled in the minds of many, and gay marriage, and defending abortion on demand, he spoke glowingly of the collectivist approach to public policy and called on the constitution to condemn the rich getting richer while the poor grow.  In this most divided time in America politically, this is the Obama administration’s way.  Then there’s the highway. 

As the Rev. Martin Luther King put it, "We must learn to live together as brothers, or parish together as fools."

This was the most depressing day of the year -- worldwide, according to Wales psychologist Cliff Arnell.  The combination of cold weather, a long stretch of days with little or no sunshine, Christmas bills coming in, difficulty keeping new years resolutions sinking in, spring seems a long way off – the confluence of these make January twenty-first most depressing, Arnell says.  But now, look on the bright side, January twenty-first is over!  Now of course, there's always April fifteenth...

Hostages taken in northern Africa – the two dead during the kidnapping are now said to be French and British nationals who were working at a natural gas facility deep in the Sahara desert, on a bus headed for an airport when they were attacked by terrorists.  At least 24 others, including an unknown number of Americans, were taken hostage too. 

The al-Qaeda related terrorists are said by Reuters to have taken control of that gas field, which supplies energy to Europe, so – it boils down to this:  Because France is deeply concerned that Islamic terrorists are taking over the nation of Mali, putting terrorists dangerously close to Europe, France and other nations sent in air fighters over the weekend, and troops who arrived today, intervening in Mali’s civil war.  In retaliation, Islamic extremists sent groups of Islamists into the nation of Algeria, where they took hostages this morning.

And the hostage-takers make it clear, there are demands to be made – and hostages are at risk if those demands are not met.  Now Paris, Washington and London are in something of a dilemma:  How to get that gas field back to producing much-needed energy during this cold winter – and how to save hostages that could be killed any time – without negotiating with terrorists who appear intent on turning what was once an obscure civil war in Mali into an international incident...

...President Obama is "frustrated with our republic," with the way it works.  That’s the estimation of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, commenting on Obama’s speech this morning calling for more control on guns and gun owners.  Rubio said this afternoon that when Obama made 23 executive orders instead of allowing the gun control debate to fully go to Congress, Obama was abusing his power and ignoring the constitution.  But there are analysts on Capital Hill who say Obama’s challenge to Congress to ban certain weapons is being met with little enthusiasm by members of Congress – and may indeed by dead on arrival in the House of Representatives. 

It’s the biggest thing in the universe.  The Royal Astronomical Society says an international team of researchers has found the largest known structure in the universe – a big clump of quasars – which are the center of galaxies – quasars that are lumped together in a mass so big it’s mind boggling even to astronomers.  So big, seriously, that if you wanted to cross this mass of outer space matter in a starship  -- travelling at the speed of light – it would still take you about 4 billion years to cross it. 

Here in the United States, what are people in general concerned about? Gun laws?  A new Gallup poll says people are worried about the state of the economy in general – then the budget deficit second – dissatisfaction with government third.  And then, fourth, unemployment; fifth, lack of money; sixth, taxes – then gun control.

New York’s Governor has signed a new law, the toughest gun control law in years.   Obama is set to announce his gun control plans any time now.

An Atlanta man named Larry Ward has designated this Saturday as Gun Appreciation Day.   He says it may be coincidental that it's just hours before the president’s inauguration. Word is spreading fast and gun appreciation events are being scheduled nationwide. 

Fitch’s rating service says the US will see a credit downgrade if Congress and Obama don’t raise the debt ceiling.

Dell computer is treading water on the markets – stock down 40-percent over the past five years – now the company based near Austin is talking with investors about going private.  Investment houses are skeptical, though, that that will turn the company’s fortunes around.

The Golden Globe awards Sunday night had a turn of fortune – ratings way up.  The consensus is it was an entertaining show – humor writer Howard Levane notwithstanding.  Levine called it "Useless statues given for unimportant movies presented by people of modest stage talent."  Yeah, but did you like the show, Howard?