An electric Rose Parade

How quickly people forget!

Electric-powered parade floats are not new to the Rose Parade.

Southern California Edison/Edison International sponsored electric powered floats for about 10 years, beginning in 1991. I know this is true because I was VP Corporate Communications for Edison at the time, and proposed the idea to John Bryson, who became CEO in 1990. The company’s sponsorship of an electric-powered parade float continued through 2001, but was dropped in 2002 due to financial problems at Edison.

The drive train for these floats was taken from a General Motors EV1 (early EV sports car), which had four motors (one for each wheel) and lead acid batteries. Edison technicians designed a switching system that allowed transfer of power from one battery set to another, in case of a battery failure (which never happened). The float had enough battery power to drive itself all the way to San Bernardino. The underlying concept for the floats was to promote electric vehicles. Edison International was trying to get into the EV charging business at that time.

The floats were all built by Fiesta Floats in Irwindale. Tim Estes, owner of the business, probably has a lot of photos of these floats, but since his business closed earlier this year it may be difficult to reach him. The floats were designed by Raul Rodriguez.

In 1998 Edison had a Christmas tree ornament made to commemorate the float from that year.

— Lew Phelps, Pasadena

Ideological certainty

Religious or ideological certainty held in one hand means a club in the other. That club may be small, in the form of self-imposed ignorance with attendant prejudice against doubters, or it may be larger, as in laws restricting freedom to criticize.

The belief that one owns the truth in such important matters has fueled some of the most dangerous people who ever lived. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, those behind the Inquisition, and numerous murders committed in our own time are good examples. Think of The Twin Towers. The people who destroyed them were not insane; they deeply believed without the slightest doubt that they were doing God’s will.

Thus, I tend to be critical when religious or ideological doctrine is preached with unrelenting certainty to everyone within earshot, even on Christmas Day.

If you find inspiration in a religious doctrine, and it makes you a better person, that’s great! But don’t be judgmental. You might be wrong! The odds of being born into the right religion is but a roll of the dice at best. Popularity, feeling “right,” testimonials, and authoritative proclamations “prove” all major religions and ideologies, therefore none.

The beautiful Christian, and there are many such people, radiates goodness, not a superiority complex and prejudice based on a false sense of certainty.

— Dave E. Matson, Pasadena

Joe College

Larry Wilson’s column last Sunday inspired this reflection. I’m older, but share his graduation from the University of California. His from Cal Berkeley, mine from UCLA. I also believe that four years of university education to gain a bachelor’s degree is a vital means of obtaining a successful life.

That said, it’s not exclusive.

I believe trade schools, internships and “learning on the job,” military service (for all), etc. are equally beneficial.

Equally contributory was my interaction with other students including my fraternity brothers, having conversations, discussions, disagreements and arguing with one another on the veracities and realities of life.

I was a “College Joe.” And much better for it!

— Joseph F. Paggi Jr., Pasadena

A heartwarming story

Today’s paper (Dec. 26) had some horrible stories, from Russia continuing its massive bombing of civilians targets in Ukraine, well-off union workers allowed to raid Social Security from us poorer people, and monsters like Matt Gaetz, a known sex pervert, allowed in by voters to the U.S. Congress and protected by his fellow politicians in Washington.

But on Page 3, there was the heartwarming story of Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez celebrating Christmas Mass for the prisoners held at L.A. Men’s Central Jail.

Those inmates, even though they did breaks laws, are still human beings with worth and feelings, still loved by God, and by their families, and hopefully most of them are redeemable.

Also hats off to Sheriff Robert Luna and his top staff who were present at the service, obviously supportive in this grand gesture of caring for his inmates.

This more than offsets all the cruddy news around us. God bless them all!

— William Stremel, South Pasadena

Kudos to Kiwanis

Kudos to the Monrovia Kiwanis Club distributing toys to school kids. Which reminded me that the joy of Christmas is in giving. The last line in O.Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” reads, “They are the magi.”

— Bob Ginn, Arcadia