PM Note: ABC / WaPo Poll on Guns, Obama on Deadbeats, Dine-n-Dashers and Debts, Clarence Thomas Breaks 7 Year Unspoken Streak

George H.W. Bush Discharged from Hospital - http://abcn.ws/UZtbQs

Justice Clarence Thomas Speaks, but What Does He Say?- Nearly seven years since he last spoke up during oral arguments, Justice Clarence Thomas cracked a joke today. Unfortunately, it's unclear exactly what he said. http://abcn.ws/VWFlLG (Ariane de Vogue)

ABC / Washington Post Poll - Most Support New Gun Restrictions - Gary Langer reports: With Vice President Joe Biden set to present recommendations that were prompted by the Newtown, Conn., school shootings last month, this latest poll shows overwhelming support for certain moves: Eighty-eight percent favor background checks on firearms buyers at gun shows; 76 percent support checks on buyers of ammunition and 71 percent back a new federal database that would track all gun sales.

Sixty-five percent also support banning high-capacity ammunition magazines, a high in three ABC/Post polls to test the idea since early 2011, and up by 6 percentage points since just after the Newtown shootings.

58 percent favor banning the sale of so-called assault weapons,

55 percent support the National Rifle Association's call for armed guards in schools

51 percent would ban semi-automatic handguns.

The Full Poll - http://abcn.ws/UZMb1x Why Mali is in the News and Why You Should Pay Attention to It - The U.S. today pledged to aid France's widening aerial assault on al Qaeda-linked rebels in Northern Mali, as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. would provide the French with intelligence and airlift support and the State Department said it would send civilian contractors to the region as early as this week to train an African-led military force. http://abcn.ws/13wAILC (reporting from Dana Hughes, Bazi Kanani and Luis Martinez)

President Obama Can't Get a Republican Date - Rick Klein points out that when President Obama said at his press conference today that he was sitting up at that big lonely house, he had a point of sorts? There is precedent for Republicans rejecting White House invitations - http://abcn.ws/ULKyCS

Maybe more Republicans will be enticed to call on Obama now that he put out there that: 'I Like a Good Party' http://abcn.ws/VFYpi0 (Mary Bruce)

Deadbeats and Dine-n-Dashers - Obama's Metaphors - Fielding reporters' questions for nearly an hour today, President Obama repeatedly warned how failing to raise the nation's debt limit would negatively impact the economy, and he tried to put it in terms people could understand - like "deadbeat" - we're "not a deadbeat nation," he declared. And he compared failing to raise the debt ceiling to skipping out on the check. Those were tame compared to his gun-to-the-head metaphor. http://abcn.ws/UZHKDF (Mary Bruce)

Here's Devin Dwyer's full wrap of the Obama press conference, which was heavy on the debt ceiling - where he still won't negotiate and which he said squarely would be Congress's decision not to pay IT's bills. He was less definitive on guns, where he doesn't hold as strong a hand and where he was talking about "starting points", not lines in the sand. http://abcn.ws/VFQGAv

President Obama Mulls Gun Control Steps - President Obama held the final press conference of his first term the day before Vice President Joe Biden is set to present his task force's recommendations for curbing gun violence in the wake of the deadly Newtown, Conn., shooting. http://abcn.ws/VaZyNc

Boehner, GOP Ready for Fight With Obama, Dems Over Debt Limit - House Speaker John Boehner openly challenged President Obama to another battle over the country's mounting deficit today, answering Obama's declaration that "America cannot afford another debate" over the debt limit by saying that Americans "do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time." http://abcn.ws/WH1rhM (John Parkinson)

Military Suicides in 2012 Tops Military Deaths in Afghanistan - The number of suicides among active duty service members, across all four military branches, reached a record high of 349 in 2012, compared with 301 in 2011. http://abcn.ws/RU7cfc (Luis Martinez) From Univision / ABC The Napolitano Connundrum - Janet Napolitano has overseen 1.59 million deportations at DHS, so see why immigration advocates are cheering her decision to stay: http://abcn.ws/ZQEvP6 (Jordan Fabian)

Immigration Group Bashes Deferred Action, Other 'Amnesties' - http://abcn.ws/ZQEoDr (Emily DeRuy)

Ann Romney Says No to 'Dancing With the Stars' - It looks like Ann Romney's dancing partner will still only be Mitt. Despite an offer from "Dancing With the Stars" to dance for the mirror ball trophy in the upcoming season, she turned the show down. http://abcn.ws/SzSiMO (Shushannah Walshe)

U.S. Constitution to Be Read Aloud in House Tuesday - For the second time ever, the U.S. Constitution will be read aloud in the House chamber Tuesday morning. http://abcn.ws/Ukmrgb (John Parkinson)

Inauguration Apps: Obama Swearing In Goes Mobile - Welcome to the age of the iPhone, inauguration. http://abcn.ws/VWcQ0G (Sarah Parnass)

Maryland Gov. O'Malley Backs Gun Control Bill - BALTIMORE-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley announced today that he will bring legislation to his state's legislature that would become one of the nation's most expansive responses to last month's tragic school shootings in Connecticut. http://abcn.ws/UL4XrK (Matthew Larotonda)

Emanuel Wants Chicago Pension Funds to Divest Gun Makers - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Monday he would ask the city pension funds to divest from any investments in companies that manufacture guns and will "lead a charge" among all mayors to tackle the issue. http://abcn.ws/ZPt9eh (Arlette Saenz)

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pm-note-abc-wapo-poll-guns-obama-deadbeats-232337016--abc-news-politics.html

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Groupon Payments now available for Merchants Android app

Businesses with Google OS devices will now be able to accept card payments via mobile.

Groupon added its Groupon Payments feature ? Square-like card transactions ? to the Groupon Merchants iOS app back in September, but has now updated the Android app to offer the same function.

That means companies using Groupon's daily deals service will also be able to accept credit/debit cards via their Google OS-powered mobile devices, rather than purchase an iPhone to gain access to the platform.

Groupon claims Payments for Android can be activated within minutes, while the other features replicate those of iOS; a support team is available everyday, digital analytics and transaction history, ROI tracking, and more.

Gene Alston, GM of Groupon Payments, said: "We're thrilled to bring the powerful features of the Groupon Merchants app and the cost savings and convenience of Groupon Payments to more merchants with smartphones. This app is an effective tool for merchants looking to process payments and track customer growth."

Source: http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/groupon-payments-now-available-for-merchants-android-app/020301

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NH gas prices stay stable in past week

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Gas prices have stayed the same in New Hampshire over the past week.

The average retail price for a gallon of gas averaged $3.40 on Sunday.

The national average has fallen slightly, to $3.26 a gallon.

The website Gasbuddy.com says prices in New Hampshire were 3.5 cents per gallon higher than the same day a year ago, and 4.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

The national average is 8.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, and 1.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nh-gas-prices-stay-stable-162510362.html

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NFL: Colin Kaepernick leads 49ers past Packers; sets NFL playoff rushing record for QBs

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs for a 56-yard touchdown past Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) and inside linebacker Brad Jones (59) during the third quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.

Photograph by: Tony Avelar , AP Photo

SAN FRANCISCO -- Colin Kaepernick ran for a quarterback playoff record 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw two scoring passes to Michael Crabtree in leading the San Francisco 49ers back to the NFC championship game with a 45-31 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

Playoff first-timer Kaepernick outshined reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who never got in sync for the Packers (12-6) in finishing 26 of 39 for 257 yards with two touchdowns.

Kaepernick ran for scores of 20 and 56 yards on the way to topping the rushing mark of 119 yards held by Michael Vick. Crabtree caught TD passes of 12 and 20 yards in the second quarter and wound up with nine receptions and 119 yards for the Niners (12-4-1) in the NFC pisional matchup.

San Francisco had 579 total yards, 323 on the ground.

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Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/Colin+Kaepernick+leads+49ers+past+Packers+sets+playoff+rushing+record/7812640/story.html

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Qatar renews call for Arab military intervention in Syria

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said in an interview with Al Jazeera television that if current diplomatic efforts by international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi fail, Arab forces should intervene to end the 22-month-long conflict in Syria.

Al Thani also said, "It is not a question of intervention in Syria in favor of one party against the other, but rather a force to preserve security after over 60,000 people dead due to ongoing civil war."

The Qatari foreign minister made reference, in his proposal of an Arab military intervention, to the decisive intervention by the Arab League in 1976, shortly after the outbreak of civil war in Lebanon. Arab nations dispatched a force of 30,000 soldiers and peacekeeping forces to try to restore peace in Lebanon.

In September, Qatari Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said, during his speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations, that Qatar called on Arab countries to intervene militarily in Syria because the UN Security Council is incapable of formulating a common position on the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

At that time, Syria's foreign ministry rejected any foreign intervention in any name, adding that the Syrian people would oppose any attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Syria and the integrity of its territory.

Meanwhile, more than 50 countries urged the UN to refer the Syria crisis to the International Criminal Court in a joint letter released by Switzerland's ambassador to the United Nations on behalf of dozens of countries including Britain and France, two of the Security Council's five permanent members.

"Horrendous crimes have already been committed during the conflict in Syria, but there have been no consequences for the perpetrators," the letter said. "In view of the grave concerns mentioned above, and the lack of prosecution in Syria, we call on the UN Security Council to urgently refer the situation in Syria to the ICC."

On the ground, Local Coordination Committees of Syria said Saturday the Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces in 114 points inside Syrian territory, during which a warplane was downed near the military airport of Mezzeh in Damascus.

SANA news claimed that Syrian troops have captured most of the town of Darya, seven kilometers south of Damascus, after it was taken by terrorist mercenaries fighting against the government of President Bashar Assad. The Free Syrian Army said this is not true and that their forces are still there. They said their troops fought with regime forces, which withdrew after losing a number of tanks.

Opinion:

Qatar's call for Arabs to intervene military in Syria is a repeated call, which will be obviously rejected by Syria. If it were approved, which Arab country would send its troops to Syria? Is Saudi Arabia ready for this? Based on which plan will the Arab forces work? Will they be peacekeepers only?

The Qatari minister has to remember that during Lebanon's crisis Syria intervened, not for peacekeeping in Lebanon but to occupy Lebanon, which is considered by the Syrian people as part of their territory. The occupation continued until 2005. It was only a UN resolution that forced Syria to leave Lebanon, on the impact of the assassination of Rafik Hariri, otherwise they would have stayed there.

I think the Qatari minister should provide his time and effort to help the Free Syrian Army militarily, instead of issuing invitations that will not be accepted by any Arab leader.

As for referring Syria to the ICC, I consider this a waste of time. It is better for the international community to think of a way to help the Syrian people militarily instead of condemning the regime and calling for Assad to face trial. He is known to be criminal and murderer, but he is extending his power from Russia's and China's support. Therefore, no one can make Bashar pay for his crimes.

The Syrian people do not need money or food. What they need are missiles, in particular American stinger missiles or French milan missiles, for the Free Syrian Army to impose no-fly zones on the freed areas. This was evident through the Syrian opposition statements on their websites, in addition to my Syrian friends' confirmations on this regard.

I think the Syrian opposition's requirements are nothing compared with the support provided to the Libyan opposition. I hope the international community will pay more attention to these demands, which will help the Free Syrian Army heroes get rid of the regime that kills hundreds of civilians every day.

Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com/qatar-revives-proposal-send-arab-force-syria-180457155.html

http://www.gulfinthemedia.com/index.php?id=630173&news_type=Political&lang=en

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4331407,00.html

Source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/13796943-qatar-renews-call-for-arab-military-intervention-in-syria

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Kojutsukan: Professional Combat Sports Amendment Act 2011

The Professional Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2009 was passed by Parliament in October 2011. This new legislation establishes broader regulatory coverage of combat sports in WA and ensures that all combat sports contestants enjoy the same level of health and safety controls that have been enjoyed by professional contestants under the Professional Combat Sports Act 1987.

The new legislation was to come into effect on 1 July 2012 however some delays have been encountered with the finalisation of the regulations and the approval of rules. At this time the current unamended version of the Professional Combat Sports Act 1987 is still in effect with the new legislation coming into force in the coming months.

It should be noted that this new legislation only applies to actual combat sport contests as defined by the legislation. The legislation does not apply to training sessions, in gym sparring, martial arts classes or fitness classes with a combat sport feel.

The Department of Sport and Recreation and the Professional Combat Sports Commission (PCSC) will work with the industry to ensure that all parties are educated, informed and supported through the transitional phase leading up to the roll out of the new legislation.

Should you have any queries regarding the legislation please contact Greg McGuire at the Department of Sport and Recreation on 9492 9746 or via email at combatsport@dsr.wa.gov.au

I have a question for Mr McGuire. Does the Commission actually know what they are doing?

Don't get me wrong. I am no anti government, big brother, conspiracy theory type. I simply object to ignorance and stupidity.

The Commission's 2012 annual report states that 'the structure of the Commission is a vital enabling element of the broader governance system. The structure refers to the size and composition of the Commission, including independence, the presence of commissioners and has regard for the balance of gender, cultural diversity, skills and experience.' Apparently actually knowing anything about the safety of combat sport participants is secondary to the Government mandate for political correctness and equality.

The 2012 annual report lists the Commission representatives. What is the one position that is vacant?: Nominee of the medical of the Australian Medical Association. There is not one member on the Commission that has any detailed knowledge of possible injuries.

The Chair is a lawyer. He specialises in criminal law. The previous Chair was a lawyer who likewise specialised in criminal law. I met him and he is simply an ambitious lawyer using the Commission for ambitious purposes. How is it that lawyers insinuate themselves into the nooks and crannies of everyday life? They are like rats. At the very heart of their profession is disingenousness. They do not argue a position because they believe in it, they argue it for the sake of arguing it.

We then have a representative from the WA Police Force. Why? Surely the legal aspect of governance is covered by the lawyer.

Next we have the Nominee of the Director General of the Department of Sport and Recreation. Fair enough. You have to have a department representative, even if they know nothing about the actual thing that is attempting to be governed.

Next we have industry representatives. Seriously?!? The martial arts and combat sports are bereft of understanding of the 'why' of what they do. They are very good at the how, but the physiological or anatomical effects of their techniques, they haven't a clue. All you have to do is reference the literature associated with these activities to see the desert that is the knowledge associated with these activities. Even scratch the surface of the literature that has attempted to explain the physiological or anatomical effects of these methods and you will see that they are uninformed.

Of the many, many questions the Commission should be considering is the use of neck holds/shime waza. If forensic pathology and law enforcement authorities around the world consider these techniques to be lethal force, how can they be sanctioned in competition. It is illegal to use lethal force in competition. And please reader, do not simply refer to the ignorant public who influence policy. If you read the research and literature on this subject you'll understand their stance is not influenced by public opinion.

Do not get me wrong, I am not arguing for or against the use of these techniques. What I am arguing is that this is an obvious quandary that any proper Commission should be considering, but because of the uninformed nature of this Commission, they don't even recognise it is an issue.

Good luck combat sports, for you are now governed by an uninformed Commission.

Source: http://kojutsukan.blogspot.com/2013/01/professional-combat-sports-amendment.html

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Texas military assault scandal prompts congressional hearings

HOUSTON - About 4 percent of female service members experience some form of sexual assault each year compared to 1 percent of male service members, according to information gathered for a report discussed Friday by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

In fiscal year 2011, the Armed Services completed 2,353 investigations of reported sexual assaults, a "small fraction" of the total estimated sexual assaults, according to the report, which is still being compiled.

Of those cases investigated, fewer than a quarter, or about 489, were referred to court-martial, according to the report, and for those convicted of sexual assault, 78 percent served time in prison.

As part of their work, the commission also gathered testimony Friday amid a widening sex scandal at a Central Texas Air Force base that has prompted congressional hearings later this month.

Philip D. Cave, a Washington-based military lawyer and retired Navy commander, testified that he's seen military sexual assault cases where commanders have refused to assist the defense because they feared they would be punished.

"You lead to this lack of trust in the system," Cave said.

Nancy Parrish, president of the Burlingame, Calif.-based victim advocacy group Protect Our Defenders, told the panel that between 2010 and 2011, commander-initiated action on sexual assault decreased by 23 percent.

"Victims will tell you there has been command influence, undue command influence when they come forward to report," Parrish said. "They, the victims, are investigated. They are put in psych wards, on psychotropic drugs and investigated other than for the sexual assault."

Parrish called for an audit, noting that sexual assaults are believed to far exceed official reports.

"That's why we're here today, because unpunished sexual assault in the military is an epidemic," she said.

Maj. Gen. Gary Patton, director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, testified that military officials are attempting to address the problem, but that the recently reported numbers of sexual assaults were "unacceptable."

"Sexual assault is a crime and has no place in the United States military. It is a violation of everything that we stand for and it is an affront to the values we defend," Patton said, also noting that, "significant underreporting" of sexual assaults "prevents victims from receiving care and prevents us from holding offenders appropriately accountable."

After Friday's briefing, the commission will accept public comments for about a month for the final report, which is expected next fall.

Military sexual assaults sparked public outcry last year after a scandal erupted at the Air Force's training center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Parrish and other victims advocates as well as 78 members of Congress demanded hearings on Lackland, as did 15,000 people who signed an online petition. So far, 30 instructors at the base have come under investigation for improper relationships with 56 victims, according to Lackland spokesman Brent Boller.

Later this month, the House Armed Services Committee is expected to hold hearings on the Lackland sexual assaults.

On Friday in Texas, a Lackland military judge concluded preliminary hearings to decide whether Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jaime Rodriguez will be court-martialed on charges of rape, forcible sodomy and pursing illicit relationships with 18 women, Boller said. If convicted, the Houston recruiter assigned to Lackland could face a life sentence.

Ten others are headed to court at Lackland, including Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford, who waived an evidentiary hearing this week, and faces up to 22 years in prison is convicted on charges sodomy, adultery and giving a false official statement, Boller said.

Last week, Staff Sgt. Christopher Jackson, 29, became the sixth basic training instructor convicted of sexual misconduct since April. Jackson received 100 days in jail, 30 days' hard labor and was demoted to airman first class, Boller said, but was allowed to remain in the Air Force.

A dozen more airmen are still under investigation at Lackland, Boller said.

Advocates hope the congressional hearings later this month and the commission report will result in more prosecutions and a reduction of sexual assaults within the ranks.

"The deference and patience Congress has shown the Pentagon in regard to ending this crisis has come at a great cost to service members who are victims of rape, assault and harassment within our military," Parrish said.

Source: http://www.stripes.com/news/us/texas-military-assault-scandal-prompts-congressional-hearings-1.203631?localLinksEnabled=false

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