We not only complain about but endure out-of-control fuel prices, knowing we need to drive our vehicle to support our lives.

Every week, readers post about 1,000 comments in response to articles that appear on napavalleyregister.com, many sounding off about how they hate the decisions of politician A or public figure B. How often, though, do these bloggers do more than just vent their frustrations via keyboard?

Getting a neutral assessment of Napa Valley governance is no mean feat.

The Fifth District Board of Supervisors election is the most important local election in many years. Sixteen years ago American Canyon took charge of our own destiny: Forming a city and electing a council.

Boo to you, Rep. Mike Thompson.

This is the right direction for the city of Napa. The strategies used for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system will pave the direction for the way we build and design our future developments. Raising the standards with environmentally sustainable responsible building designs. The costs of green buildings save: 40 percent in water use, 30 percent in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, 50 percent to 75 percent of construction and demolition waste going to landfills, $58 billion of sick time from work annually and green buildings add $180 billion in increased worker productivity annually. Why would anyone not want to build green? The rating system provides the design and performance systems you need to have an immediate, measurable impact on key concerns like energy conservation, climate change, and occupant health. The programs the U.S. Green Building Council has through their LEED rating system will help build our county and help other organizations such as Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency with the strategies they have drafted.

Saturday while browsing around a local bookstore, I found a paperback near the front of the shop titled “Nightmare in Napa” -- the cover photo featuring a model’s ruby red lips sensuously parting in anticipation of a sip from a glass of what looked to be a deep, sanguine syrah or merlot.

When George Washington announced on September, 19 1796, that he wished to hand over the presidency and return to being a gentleman farmer, it not only marked the first time in modern history that the power of a nation was transferred civilly -- without bloodshed, inheritance or coups d’etats -- but it also quite possibly heralded the last recorded act of election-year humility in American presidential politics.

My wife is full on board with John McCain at this point; in fact I have been forced to wear a McCain t- shirt and cap around the house just to get along this week. Myself, I still reserve my judgment and may go with either Barack Obama or McCain. Obama did take a beating the last two weeks, but he appears to have taken a lickin' and kept on tickin'.

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