Cross walkers

And it’s not a “Christmas tree” for funny cars: Our Street Smarts columnist unveils the answer as to why some traffic lights don’t turn yellow when the crosswalk timer counts down to zero.

Turns out those timers are meant for pedestrians, not motorists, so you can stop pretending it’s a countdown to blast off.

Along with presiding over the Senate, it’s one of his duties: A cluster of party balloons floated over the White House and resulted in a security alert when they landed on the grounds of the executive mansion.

“Very sorry. I was making balloon animals for a children’s party down the street and a few got away” said Vice President Joe Biden.

Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1984, Surgeon General C. Everett Koop issued a report that found “very solid” evidence linking second-hand smoke to lung disease in non-smokers.

Tobacco companies denied the link and also demanded to know why non-smokers were using their products without paying for them.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Dec. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Electric Time technician Dan LaMoore adjusts a clock hand on a 1000-lb., 12-foot diameter clock constructed for a resort in Vietnam, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in Medfield, Mass. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. local time Sunday, March 14, 2021, when clocks are set ahead one hour. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Editorial: Stop the clock on our twice-yearly time change

State lawmakers may debate a bill to adopt standard time permanently, ending the daylight time switch.

Schwab: Begging readers’ pardon, a defense of the ‘indefensible’

Considering the context of all that transpired, Biden’s pardon of his son is itself a pardonable sin.

Questions remain about new or refurbished home for AquaSox

I imagine I have read most of The Herald’s reportage on the… Continue reading

Sid Schwab back his opinion with facts, sources

The Herald recently printed a letter critical of columnist Sid Schwab. That… Continue reading

Black-and-white thinking: Choices and issues aren’t binary

A recent letter to the editor asked, “why are voters averse to… Continue reading

Comment: Musk’s DOGE plans can’t dodge Constitution

He and Ramaswamy think the Supreme Court will OK Trump’s usurping of Congress’ budget powers. It won’t.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Dec. 5

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

The Everett Public Library in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Editorial: What do you want and what are you willing to pay?

As local governments struggle to fund services with available revenue, residents have decisions ahead.

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Making your holiday shopping count for even more

Gifts of experiences can be found at YMCA, Village Theatre, Schack and Imagine Children’s Museum.

FILE — Bill Nye, the science educator, in New York, March 5, 2015. Nye filed a $37 million lawsuit against Disney and its subsidiaries on Aug. 25, 2017, alleging that he was deprived of extensive profits from his show “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” which ran on PBS from 1993 to 1998. (Jake Naughton/The New York Times)
Editorial: What saved climate act? Good sense and a Science Guy

A majority kept the Climate Commitment Act because of its investments, with some help from Bill Nye.

Tufekci: Without a law, your private data is up for grabs

Even location data from a weather app can be sold to police and scammers. Are you OK with that?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.