Like most of California's penal system, the death penalty procedure is in trouble. The first commission to conduct an in-depth study of the state's death penalty since it was enacted legislatively in 1977 gave the California electorate clear choices: spend more money – about $100 million more per year – to make sure the death penalty is adequately administered; reduce the number of crimes subject to the death penalty – there are about 21 circumstances calling for the death penalty under state law; or abolish the death penalty altogether.

Sen. Barack Obama is borrowing an idea from President George Bush. And, luckily, it happens to be one of the president's better ideas. Obama said this week that, if elected, he would build upon Bush's faith-based initiative and use churches and religious organizations to deliver social services.

There are controversies so ridiculous you can't believe that folks actually get worked up over them. But they do. Take, for example, what is happening in Terrebonne Parish in Louisiana, where some are upset about the fact that two Vietnamese-American cousins, co-valedictorians at Ellender High School, delivered part of their commencement speeches – one sentence each – in Vietnamese.