The Electoral College

Joe Lizura on set for a Starbucks fundraiser

9/29/12.  My daughter asked me the other day about how the electoral college worked and why there was one.  Today I saw a nice explainer piece on Yahoo, so I thought I'd share it:

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND HOW IT WORKS

Presidents are elected not by national popular vote but by an 18th century constitutional compromise called the Electoral College.

HOW IT FORMED

When framers were drafting the U.S. Constitution, there were two competing ideas on how to elect the president. One group said Congress should do it; the other said it should be a national vote of eligible citizens. There also were disputes over how much slaves should count in representation in Congress and over how power would be distributed between small and large states. The compromise became part of the second article of the Constitution, although the words "Electoral College" are not included. The electors pick the president and vice president.

VOTE TOTALS

Each state gets one electoral vote for each of its representatives in the House and Senate. The District of Columbia gets three votes. All told, there are 538 votes in the Electoral College. A candidate must have at least 270 to win. Except for Maine and Nebraska, states award all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the state. In Maine and Nebraska, votes are apportioned by congressional districts. So in 2008, even though John McCain won Nebraska's statewide popular vote, Barack Obama won the 2nd Congressional District and earned one of the state's five electoral votes.

HOW IT WORKS

Each state's electors will meet on Dec. 17 in their home states and cast their votes for president and vice president. Congress will meet on Jan. 6, 2013, to conduct an official tally of the electoral votes. Vice President Joe Biden will preside and declare the winner.

PROBLEM AREAS

If no candidate gets at least 270 electoral votes, the election goes to the newly elected House of Representatives. Each state delegation in the House gets one vote, and a candidate must win a majority of the states to be elected president. This happened in 1824, when Andrew Jackson won the most popular votes and the most electoral votes, but four candidates split the electoral votes and no one received a majority. The race went to the House and John Quincy Adams, who came in second, was chosen as president. Three other times, candidates won the Electoral College even though they lost the popular vote — in 1876, 1888 and 2000.

This doesn't answer all the questions, so I'd also suggest going to Wikipedia and reading more as well, and that link is here: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_college

It's good to read and appreciate how our political system works - remembering that our system is actually a Republic for of governement - from the Pledge of Allegence:  "And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation ....."

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Joe lizura - Fire up the grill: 10 Easy Ways to Master the BBQ

Joe_Lizura. May 26, 2012.  It's the unofficial start to Summer this very weekend! (insert cheers here). And besides heading to the beach or to the pool, millions will be heading to the BBQ to cook up those burgers and those steaks.  So here is a story that has the top 10 ways to master the grill for perfect steaks!  Check it out:  http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/10-easy-ways-master-grill-174400239.html.  And don't forget - never mix cooked food with raw food waiting to be cooked, and don't use the same utensils for cooked and un-cooked food as well.  Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Joe Lizura

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Joe-Lizura_The Worst Traffic in America

Joe Lizura. 5/25/2012.  Yikes!  The list is out for cities with the worst traffic and I'm proud to say that San Diego is NOT on the list!  But I'm NOT proud to say that I've sat in more than one of the traffic jams.  The top 5 cities are:  Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Bridgeport (see entire list here: http://autos.yahoo.com/news/the-worst-traffic-in-america--it-s-not-los-angeles.html ).  What's interesting though is that I've sat in traffic jams in both the east coast and the west coast, and it never seemed to me that the west coast traffic jams were ever as bad as the east coast ones.  Regardless, books on CD make any traffic jam much more enjoyable!

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May 23, 2012.  Joe Lizura.  San Diego, CA.  So for two days now I've seen the photo of the "world's largest pool" featured on the Yahoo homepage but I didn't think about clicking on the story until just now and WOW!  This resort is the most amazing resort and swimming pool complex I have ever seen anywhere!  It's located in Chile on the coastline and it is the most amazing place.  Here is a link to the slideshow - you have to check out the photos!  Check it out:  http://news.yahoo.com/photos/world-s-largest-outdoor-pool-slideshow/largest-pool-photo-1337710429.html#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Fworld-s-largest-outdoor-pool-slideshow%252Flargest-pool-photo-1337710429.html


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Joe Lizura. May 20, 2012.  Once again, it's very sad news to learn that another talented individual has passed on.  Robin Gibb and the Bee Gees were such a big part the music scene during my high school years, that simply hearing one of their songs can bring back so many memories.  There was much more to the Bee Gees than disco, and this article highlights an amazing career - check it out at:  http://music.yahoo.com/bee-gees/biography/


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Joe Lizura. May 16, 2012.  This story really "Chaps My Hide" as they say.  Why are we paying $4.29 per gallon of gas when oil is at a 6 month low and inventories are at a 22 year high?!  What should the price of a gallon of gas really be? Try about $3.50 a gallon in the more expensive states like California, and $2.75 in the less expensive states like Arizona and Texas - this my friends is what people care about in election years.  Read for yourself about the status of oil:  http://news.yahoo.com/oil-falls-6-month-low-below-93-us-043211022--finance.html

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What an inspirational story!

Joe Lizura.  May 14, 2012.  I just saw this story and I had to share it!  Click this link and read what makes the United States of America the beacon of light for people around the world, and how a small boy made it here and is still so very grateful.  Here's the story:  http://news.yahoo.com/coast-guard-grad-rescued-sea-boy-162002706.html
Share it with a friend.

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More Big Changes Coming To a TV Near You

Joe Lizura.  More big changes being announced for shows this Fall and next Spring.  Some of the ideas actually look like they might make a difference - especially the changes planned for X-Factor.  Read all about the changes here:  http://music.yahoo.com/news/britney-spears-joining-foxs-x-factor-231452102.html




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When Betty White Speaks, People Listen

May 12, 2012.  Joe Lizura.  One of my favorite people of all time is Betty White.  So naturally when she speaks her mind, I absolutely love to hear what she has to say - and today she decided to say who she supports for the presidential race, here are her thoughts:  http://news.yahoo.com/betty-white-reveals-her-presidential-preference-071449210.html  It's pretty rare that Betty White talks politics, or policies so I thought it was interesting - now I'm off to do some yardwork!

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Tips to Better Networking

Joe Lizura. May 10, 2012.  Here is a nice article that should help you with networking.  Just remember that a good networking strategy will only work if you remember to "follow-up" after you make your connections.  Here are 7 key tips from an Entrepreneur Magazine article, including the important tip about arriving to your event early:  http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/networking-tips-that-really-work.html

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The passing of Vidal Sassoon

Joe Lizura. May 9, 2012.  I was saddened today to learn of the passing of Vidal Sassoon - he truly began a revolution in the Hair industry that took America and much of Europe into a wonderful phase of hair styling.  Only those who are a bit older can remember just how aweful hairstyles were before Vidal revolutionized the way they were cut.  I remember my mother and my older sister spending countless hours under the hairdresser before "seeing the light" of shorter and trendier hair - I even remember my sister's first "pixie haircut" (Yikes!)  But most of all I remember the commercials which sang ... "If you don't look good - we don't look good . . Vidal Sassoon"  Umm yeah, you might want to youtube search that one.  RIP.  Here is a link to a brief bio of his life:  http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/vidal-sasson-legendary-hairstylist-dies-84-205900070.html

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The Kentucky Derby

Joe Lizura. May 5, 2012.  Today was Kentucky Derby Day!  I love the Kentucky Derby, because you never know what will happen, and today was no exception.  If you don't know how it ended, check out this story:  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ill-another-wins-kentucky-derby-224922046--rah.html What a great race it was as a new horse racing star was born!




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May 3, 2012.  Joe Lizura.  Get ready for the brightest moon of the year!  During the next few days, you won't be able to miss it (unless it's cloudy), because the night sky will be bright enough to create shadows.  It only happens once or twice a year, when the full moon is extremely bright, but it will actually be bright enough to create shadows on the ground - normally this would be great news, but there is also a meteor shower this weekend, and because the moon will be so bright, it's likely that there won't really be a chance to actually see the meteors.  You can read all about both the full moon and the meteor shower here:  http://news.yahoo.com/supermoon-may-outshine-meteor-shower-weekend-201132286.html

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Flying with a home-made jetpack

May 3 2012.  Joe Lizura. Boy, I sure could have used one of these today when I was stuck in traffic for hours and hours and hours and ......  Check out the story it's awesome!  http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/watch-man-fly-across-rio-janeiro-using-jet-011336450.html

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A truly sad loss

May 3 2012.  Joe Lizura.  I've spent a lot of time yesterday and today thinking about Junior Seau and wish his family strength and understanding in this difficult time.  Having been a weatherman in San Diego for a great number of years, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jr. and covering some of the wonderful things he did in our community over the years.  His rise in the Chargers's organization was an especially wonderful thing to watch, his command of the game of football was amazing and every time the camera had a close-up of Jr. you could see the determination in his eyes.  He lived life that way as well, he was determined to help the city and the community he grew up in, and gave so much back to San Diego through his good deeds and his foundation.  Every elementary school kid who loves football should do a report on Junior Seau so they can appreciate what it's like when a player does everything right on the field and off the field. 

I'll never judge Junior for his final months, weeks and days, and wouldn't judge him because, although we never saw it on the outside, there must have been some unbelievable stress going on in the inside.  Folks in San Diego and all around the country will miss him.  R.I.P.

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Best wishs for Tyler Perry

May 2, 2012.  Joe Lizura.  I just heard about the big fire at Tyler Perry's production facility in Atlanta, and I thought I'd send out my best wishes - I know how hard he's worked to build that 30 acre studio lot.  Good luck Tyler - rebuilding is not easy, but you can do it!  Here is a link to the story:  http://www.examiner.com/article/tyler-perry-s-atlanta-studio-ablaze

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Joe Lizura

 April 27, 2012.  The newly revised http://www.joelizura.com/ website.  I don't usually write about my own website, because I've sort-of felt that my blog is the place to comment on those news stories that are either interesting or fun, but today I decided to talk about the Joe Lizura website.  I've been working on it for the last few days by adding photos from my last 22 years here in San Diego.  I'm quite certain that if you live in San Diego that there is a chance that you might be in one of the photos.

In particular, I would love to know the names of the gentlemen in the photo of me doing a live-shot at the KGB skyshow preparation back in 1990 - there are photos of me doing some live shots at the very first "Bikes for Kids" give-a-way from 1993, when the Salvation Army, Myself, and KNSD created a program to reward outstanding elementary shool children with brand new bikes for going above and beyond their capabilities.  At any rate, these are some of my favorite "Joe Lizura Photos" and I thought you'd like to see a few of them.  Be sure to visit the website and then click on the Joe Lizura Photo Gallery!

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Remembering Dick Clark

Joe Lizura. April 18, 2012.  There's a certain sadness in my heart with the passing of Dick Clark, one part of me wants to be greatful for the decades of television he brought into my life, yet the other side of me is very sad because an iconic man has left us.  There are many things we can count on every year, like fireworks on the Fourth of July, Turkey at Thanksgiving and the twinkle of Christmas lights in neighborhoods all around us during the Christmas season.  But now for many of us, a standard will be missing.  Dick Clark was more than just a man, he was a reason to stop and pause - just for a second each and every year as we counted the clock down on New Year's Eve.  Folks like myself grew up watching Dick Clark bring us the new year, and I'm afraid that things will never be the same for our generation on that one special evening every year.  In decades to come, we will talk about our fond memories of New Year's in the past, and no doubt that 10, 20 or more years from now we will say to our kids and grandkids - "That was great . . but when I was a kid we had a guy named Dick Clark ..."  So on behalf of our generation, thank you Mr. Clark, thank you very much.  RIP.

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Improving the work environment

Joe Lizura. April 17, 2012.  Not too much to write about here, just a fun story about a new philosophy in work environments. Finally folks realize that all of the problems in the world are solved in the bar; but seriously, it's a fun story, check it out:  http://news.yahoo.com/drinking-job-please-employers-190213885--abc-news-money.html

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My Dog "Happy"

April 3, 2012.  Joe Lizura.  It hasn't even been a week yet, but I thought it was time to write about the loss of a most amazing friend, my dog "Happy".  People often name their dogs after characteristics, and that's why we named him "Happy" - quite frankly, he was Always a happy dog.  Now it's true, those who knew "Happy" certainly knew that we could never give him the name of  "rocket scientist" because he never learned to fetch, catch a ball, catch a treat in his mouth, or even lift his leg in the yard to go potty.  But there wasn't a single day or even a minute that went by when "Happy" wasn't the happiest dog in the land! 

I remember the day we found him in the Mall petshop and how upset I was that they would have such a large dog (Burnese Mountain Dog) in a tiny little plastic cage.  So rather than arguing with the shop manager, we just brought him home and made him a part of our family even though we knew that as such a large dog that we would probably only see him for about 6 or 7 years before he would pass away - but nobody in our family ever thought that the time would pass so quickly, so last week when "Happy" passed away we were devastated.

"Happy" will live on in our hearts but this summer when we are swimming and BBQ-ing in the back yard, we will miss him dearly.  R.I.P. "Happy" - you'll be in our thoughts forever.

Joe Lizura
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