Inauguration digest

WASHINGTON — Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., 76, who had surgery for a brain tumor in June, was hospitalized Tuesday but quickly reported feeling well after a seizure at a post-inauguration luncheon for President Obama.

"After testing, we believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue," Dr. Edward Aulisi, chairman of neurosurgery at Washington Hospital Center, said. "He will remain ... overnight for observation."

Robert Byrd, 91, who was seated next to him at the lunch, grew emotional and left the room after his colleague was taken out, aides said. That led to rumors that Byrd, D-W.Va., might have suffered a health problem, but staff members said he was fine.

Medical experts said a seizure in a brain-cancer patient was not unusual and ordinarily had no serious consequences.

Senator delays vote on Clinton's job

The Senate on Tuesday swiftly approved seven of President Obama's Cabinet-level appointees but put off for a day the vote on his choice to be secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Senate confirmed all six with a single voice vote; Clinton's confirmation was sidetracked when one senator, Republican John Cornyn of Texas, objected, saying he had concerns about foreign donations to the foundation headed by Clinton's husband, former President Clinton. Senate leaders agreed to have a roll-call vote on Clinton today after three hours of debate.

Those confirmed were Steven Chu as energy secretary; Arne Duncan at education; Janet Napolitano for homeland security; Eric Shinseki to head veterans affairs; Ken Salazar for interior; Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary; and Peter Orszag as head of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Web site switch made right on time

At 12:01 p.m. EST Tuesday, the White House Web site was updated to reflect President Obama's assumption of office.

"The White House. President Barack Obama," reads the top of the new home page, which went live even before Obama finished delivering his first speech.

The Web site was completely redesigned, with more than two dozen new pages about Obama's agenda, from civil rights to women's issues. The address: www.whitehouse.gov.

Techie profits from timely Web buy

Web developer George Huger, of Raleigh, N.C., said he turned $5 into $35,000 when he bought the expired Internet domain name for former President George W. Bush's presidential library and sold it back.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Huger noticed two years ago that www.GeorgeWBushLibrary.com was about to expire. He bought the rights to the Web address for $5 and waited.

Huger said he recently sold them for $35,000 to Yuma Solutions, which the Bush Library Foundation says is in charge of Web site care.

Sorry, wrong number in Obama's speech

It didn't take long for Barack Obama to make the first mistake of his presidency. In the third sentence of his inaugural speech Tuesday, he said, "Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath."

While there have been 44 presidential administrations, there have been 43 presidents; Grover Cleveland served two nonconsecutive terms in the late 1800s.

Seattle Times news services