sa国际传媒

Dear Editor:

I actually own an EV. There, I鈥檝e admitted it. I was motivated by the carbon problem, and I like cars. And I am really tired of the stone wall of derision and ignorance out there trying to discourage anyone who would like to join me and others in the enjoyment and satisfaction of the experience.

I鈥檓 over 80. So it seemed reasonable and sensible to me and my wife to test the car out on a longish cross-country trip, driving from sa国际传媒 to Thunder Bay and back this summer.

There were relatives and friends to visit along the way, including a recently added great grandson, but we wanted to find out if the doom and gloom crowd is right, and change for the better is impossible.

Guess what: that crowd is wrong.

Yes, we had to learn how to operate the charging stations, which are unnecessarily complicated. Nevertheless, one company is rolling out a system that makes charging pretty much as simple as filling up with gas.

You have to find the charging station. Many of them are tucked away in obscure places. There are Tesla chargers all over, but they are of no use to cars from other companies, like my car. However, there are maps for that, and the vehicles themselves handle the after-market maps -- Android and Apple -- really well. And the sites provided by the oil companies are at the company service station. Itsa国际传媒 a pretty minor problem. Yes, you need to be handy with a mobile phone.

We did hit one town -- in Alberta -- where the dozen chargers promised by the map were all useless, because of slow speed, negligence, vandalism, or operator failure, (that would be me). But I spotted another EV, and its owner, who turned out to be a local car dealer, sent us to his dealership, which had a charger.

Yes, we lost a few hours, but on the whole trip we did not miss a motel reservation or really any unreasonable amount of time.

And, on the return journey, the first EV charger I pulled up to in that town was just fine, high-powered too, and we were on our way in no time. I was learning.

Yes, there was a learning curve. But that return journey was basically worry free. Itsa国际传媒 a bit like learning to use a mobile phone -- daunting at first, but eventually it becomes second nature.

But the payoff is worth it.听

First, no carbon.听

Second, we spent about one quarter of what gas would have cost.

And third, driving an EV is an absolute pleasure.

They are powerful, responsive, with a beautifully smooth delivery of power.

And when you need it, they can be fast, as my 20-something relative would attest. When I put the car in Sport mode and floored it, once he settled down afterwards, his reaction was, 鈥淒o it again.鈥� And that performance was equally true of the same companysa国际传媒 smaller, cheaper model that I tested.

Maybe another time I鈥檒l talk about the issues of charger availability and of having 鈥渆nough鈥� electricity. I鈥檓 satisfied that the free-enterprise system will be up for it, though big petroleum will fight it all the way, the way big tobacco still promotes smoking.

There are a number of 鈥渃lean鈥� techniques out there, constantly improving.

The renewable energy industry is booming in the rest of the world. So letsa国际传媒 not let the anti-crowd get in the way.

Letsa国际传媒 not wind up slamming the door on change and handing China the future.

Bob Lemon,听sa国际传媒

Thank goodness for Tina Lee

Dear Editor:

Politics is a tough game and the application process to get the job of representing your constituency is like no other job application.

This evening I had, with family and friends, the distinct pleasure to attend an open house on agricultural issues with Tina Lee, who represents the NDP. Her knowledge of the issues was both impressive and open.

Whether questioned about the recent gravel pit proposal in Summerland, the urban/rural divide, the closure of the Tree Fruit Cooperative, maintaining the integrity of the ALR, supporting farmers, shopping locally and a host of other issues, Tina responded respectfully and knowledgeably.

Politics is a tough game, and Tina is a tough contender.

WIlliam Laven,听Penticton

Motorcycles are too noisy!

Dear Editor:

As a grumpy old man, I have ranted about noise pollution on a few occasions, particularly when it comes to motorcycles.

Why are owners of these obnoxious machines permitted to ignore noise bylaws by running exhaust systems with no mufflers?

Most other modes of transportation adhere to common sense regulations.

Interesting article in the Sept. 11 edition by Ron Seymour reporting on sa国际传媒 Coun. Gord Lovegrovesa国际传媒 initiative to investigate the idea of noise cameras.

Revolutionary!

What an excellent idea, as maybe we can get these 鈥渓ook at me鈥� folks to stop disturbing the peace.

Paul Crossley,听Penticton

No peaches in the Peach City

Dear Editor:

Here in Penticton, Naramata, and Summerland we are very fortunate.

We have an experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated candidate for MLA, running in the election that will take place on Oct. 19.

She is Tina Lee, chosen in a strong vote of confidence by the local NDP. Please inform yourself about her, and consider giving her your vote.

Tina brings important, directly relevant experience to her candidacy: She has a degree in political science and womensa国际传媒 studies. She has deep experience working on the running of the NDP at the provincial, federal, and local levels -- she understands the system and will hit the ground running.

She brings to her candidacy a strong background in years of international work for human rights and social justice. She has worked closely with local indigenous leaders and has their support.

Especially important is the fact that she is a committed, well-informed advocate for the environment and climate justice. We are facing an extreme, worsening climate emergency.

Here in Penticton, Peach City, there were no peaches this year because of extreme weather. Vineyards, our economic mainstay and important tourist draw, were severely damaged and will take years to recover. Several wildfires right here on West Bench and the PIB lands came terrifyingly close to peoplesa国际传媒 homes. Tina brings a deep understanding of the causes of climate change, and of the actions needed to reverse this and to offer a safe and healthy future for our children and grandchildren.

Please inform yourself about Tina Lee and give her your vote in the BC provincial election on Oct. 19.

Elizabeth Lominska Johnson,听Penticton

Pontifications and postulations

Dear Editor:

Since the dawn of history, or since time immemorial, we have experienced events, both good and bad, as well as individuals, good and bad, that have brought us to the present day. Without recapping history, I would like to focus on the here and now. Much of the recorded past has been seen or heard by almost everyone. The past is the past.

Presently, we are experiencing a new era of significance. We are dealing with the likes of one Donald J. Trump.

Trump carries a myriad of persona derived, concrete adjectives attributed to him. The list of these seems to grow on a daily basis and might be likened to the playing of an LP recording that is stuck.

Trump raves on about his business acumen. Nowhere does he mention the fact that he has had at least six business bankruptcies. There have been several 鈥渘ew business ventures鈥� that have hit the financial floor running, but later fizzled out. Among these were Trump University; a TV show 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� which Trump shut down after declaring that he had made $215 million from; selling his version of the Bible to offering copies for $59.95 which he earned $300,000 (but owes $100 million in litigation). These are but a few of the schlocky ventures that Trump has been involved in. The latest one that he is involved in is Truth Share a social media format that had share pricing rise to almost $70 but todaysa国际传媒 price seems to be lower than a snakesa国际传媒 belly in a wagon rut, at a paltry $17.49!

Trump has written some books, none of which reached national prominence or best sellersa国际传媒 lists.

However, I am going out on a limb in thinking that Trump may yet have a book that might dazzle the world. I am even going to suggest a topic for that book. Seeing that Trump is so full of himself, wouldn鈥檛 it seem fitting that a title for such a book might be 鈥淭he Pontifications and Postulations of Donald J. Trump!鈥�

Ron Barillaro, Penticton

sa国际传媒 does things right

Dear Editor:

Can you imagine bringing 2,000 new residents to our downtown core. This is what sa国际传媒 city council has accomplished over the last five years.