Welcome to Kansas

On the off beat of April fools day Mayor Bill Bunten of Topeka Kansas decide to rename the city for the month. to what you might ask? GOOGLE. yes he decided to name it after the search engine. Google decided to get in on the action and has changed its name to Topeka. Im not completly sure when google will return to its old and popular name but its allways funny to see what google is gonna do next. I wounder if you type "google" into "topeka" maps will it pull up a city in Kansas or a company hedaquarters? interesting :)

Batter UP!

A presidential tradition that dates 100 years will continue by President Obama. He will throw the first pitch before the Washington Nationals v. Philadelphia Phillies. William Howard Taft was the first to throw an Opening Day pitch in Washington in 1910.

This shows even the presidents get to have a little fun in their day. This gives him a chance to relax and step back from all the chaos.

Recovery from Rhode Island flooding could take months

Rhode Island residents were finally able to survey the damage as the flood waters started receding. Officials were saying saying the long-term recovery could take months.
"The Pawtuxet River, which impacts our community, crested," said Fire Battalion Chief Joseph Greenwell. "But at this point, there's widespread damage throughout the city from the river, which overflowed its banks." Rhode Island was hit hard with many of the schools remaining closed."Our sewer plant, for one, is submerged. Interstate 95 has been closed down from the impact of the flood," Greenwell said. "(There are) some serious issues for the community, both in time and expense." The storm dumped 8.75 inches of rain in East Providence, 7.6 inches in downtown Providence and 5 inches in Cranston, all in Rhode Island. Earlier in the week, President Obama extended a state of emergency for the entire state, freeing up federal dollars to help with relief efforts.

This was the 100 year flood they had been waiting for. Thankfully Obama is going to send money thier way. RI has been struggling fincaially in this encomomy with a 13% unemployment rate. All the damages to buisnesses and homes may further hurt thier fragile economy. Hopefully the damage isnt too extensive and wont hurt the small state.

FIXED?

President Obama sealed a victory on the new health care reform law. The so-called "fixes" bill expands health insurance subsidies for lower and middle income families while watering down tax on expensive policies. The measure also changes the national college student loan system by shifting government funding from commercial banks to new education initiatives. the bill increases the over all cost of the health care reform legislation to $940 billion over the next 10 years. Republicans argue that each issue deserved its own debate and not to be rolled into one fix all.

So to the Dem's. you win you got your health care. But why is the student loans in there? do loans for students effect the price of medical coverage? I Agree with the republicans that this should be separate and not something that should be tossed into the mix in haste or it can cause even more problems in the future...

Russia is our friend?

The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) will last 10 years, and builds on the previous agreement that expired in December.
Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign the agreement April 8 in Prague, Czech Republic.
The new treaty limits both nations to "significantly fewer strategic arms within seven years" of its signing. One of the limits: 1,550 warheads and limits on launchers.
"With this agreement, the United States and Russia -- the two largest nuclear powers in the world -- also send a clear signal that we intend to lead," the president said. "By upholding our own commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we strengthen our global efforts to stop the spread of these weapons, and to ensure that other nations meet their own responsibilities."
The new START would be the first treaty related to arms control since the end of the Cold War.

This is a monumental achivement. In times where it seems every country for thier own we are about to alli with the russians so there is no threat of attack. I'm sure this will make Gwen VERY happy so she might be able to go there and put her russian into action.

I OBJECT!!!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid mistakenly called out "no" Thursday when asked for his vote on the health care reconciliation bill, which caused all sorts of laughter in the chamber.
Reid voted the wrong way when the clerk called for his vote, realized his error and quickly changed his vote to "yes."
Reid, who spent months persuading fellow senators to vote "yes" on President Obama's top domestic priority, made the same mistake December 24 when voting on the original health care bill.
The final vote was 56-43 for approval, after which it was sent to the House, which also passed the measure.

Alls not well in D.C.

Democratic congressional leader demanded Republicans join them in condemning the threats and vandalism that has followed Sunday's vote on a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. health care system.
More than 10 Democrats have reported trouble since the weekend vote, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. Windows have been smashed at Democratic offices in at least three states, and federal agents were investigating whether a cut gas line at the home of a Virginia congressman's brother was related to the lawmaker's yes vote.
Democracy "is not about violence," Hoyer said at a news conference with South Carolina Rep. "I've made statements that I understand people are angry, but violence and threats are inappropriate and irresponsible," the Ohio congressman said. "If people are angry, they ought to register to vote and get involved in a campaign."
"Not only is it completely nuts and wrong, it's exactly what they want," Beck said. He told viewers, "They are begging for it. You are being set up."

I DO NOT SUPPORT THE VANADLISM AND THREATS!
although i think it is kind of funny that people are doing this but all i can say is i told you so....
this is a HUGE reform bill and im suprised that they are taking this so well. Think about it, with the passage of black voting people were murdered all over the place. At least the have the commonsence to not kill anyone. The republicans are not gonna rush out and say stop. This is what they want they want the proof that this is not a good thing for america but i agree its not the right way to do it.