Google becomes Topeka
People across America who went to Google to search for something today found instead a screen that says “Topeka” where it normally would say Google.
Could the company with the most successful search engine on the planet actually change its name, which has become synonymous for searching for something? The answer: No.
It’s an April Fool’s Joke and a publicity stunt.
The city of Topeka, Kan., offered to change its name to Google. So for April Fool’s Day, Google has become Topeka.
But it is not without some background. Ever since Google announced it plans to build — at no charge — an ultra-high speed broadband network for 50,000 to 500,000 customers in one or more American cities, city leaders across the country have been vying to be the first city with that fast network.
Starbucks is getting in on the April first fun, too. The coffee giant announced on its company blog that there will soon be two new drink sizes. “Plenta” is a hefty 128 ounces, while “Micra” is a tiny two ounces. Starbucks suggests once a customer is finished with a Plenta drink, the cup can be used for a rain hat or a lampshade. It says a Micra cup can be used as a milk dish for kittens or a paper clip holder.
That’s why Bill Bunten, the mayor of Topeka, Kan., issued a proclamation renaming his city Google for the month of March.
And, now, Google has responded in turn by saying that as of this morning it is now Topeka and that people who would normally say that before a date they “Googled” the man or woman they were going out with, should instead say “I did a Topeka search” on the person.
