The Buzz: Bumper to bumper

Published 11:29 am Sunday, April 19, 2015

Next time, take the boat: Thanks in large part to the nightmares of the U.S. 2 trestle, Lake Stevens rated No. 8 on a personal finance website’s list of the worst commutes in the Puget Sound region.

No. 1 on the worst list was Vashon Island, where commute times are long because most 9-to-5 folks ride a ferry to and from jobs on the mainland. Obviously, the list didn’t take into account the fact that freeways don’t offer rest rooms, a snack bar that sells beer and wine, and a pretty view from the upper deck.

Geeks on the couch: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson of “Cosmos” fame launches a science-themed talk show Monday night on the National Geographic Channel (Short Takes, Page B4).

Tyson says he doesn’t intend to use the series as a forum to debunk scientific misconceptions. So much for The Buzz’s hope of watching Jerry Springer-style brawls with climate change deniers.

Happy holiday: Today, April 20, is 4-20 day, which is an unofficial holiday for recreational marijuana users.

It may be unofficial now, but future Sen. Willie Nelson, D-Hawaii, will have something to say about that.

— Mark Carlson, Herald staff