By Patrick McNamee
Realtor, Century 21 Rainbow Realty
Laguna Woods Village, California

We have both types of homes in Laguna Woods Village, but very interestingly, they are many times the same floor plan!  So you can buy a “Casa Linda” home as either a “Condo” or a “Co-op” but what are the differences in ownership?

Good Question!  In Laguna Woods Village, a Co-op is not any easier or harder to sell than a Condo, it appriciates - or in this current market - depriciates - at the same rate as a Condo.  You get the same benefits tax wise from ownership of either a Condo or a Co-op (i.e. - you can write off your mortgage interest and property taxes).  The only difference is in Laguna Woods Village is the fact that you can only rent out a Co-op for 6 months out of the year, and you can rent a Condo year around.  So if you are an investor, you would want to buy a Condo so you could rent it out.  If this was going to be your primary residence, then purchasing a Condo or a Co-op would not be as big an issue. Please see my web site: www.leisureworldre.com to find out more information about our California Senior Community and the homes for sale here.

What exactly is a Co-op?  The full term is ”Stock Cooperative” and they are a lot more popular back east where they have the brown stone buildings, in New York as an example.

The problem came up in the early to mid 19th century, how can we sell the units in a building? The question comes up, well who owns the land underneth the building? So what they did, was come up with an idea where the Corporation buys the building and then each apartment in the building gets stock in the Corporation based on his/ her ownership share.  To make it simple, see the diagram above, if you have 4 apartments in the building, each apartment/ home would get 25% stock in the Corporation (4 x 25% = 100%)

What you actually get when you purchase a Co-op is a Stock Certificate instead of a Deed of Trust.  Rest assured, it is just as valuable as a Deed of Trust and you can even get a loan on them - or do a reverse mortgage!  Just like a Deed of Trust - getting financing is no problem!

As any good bartender knows, keeping up with the latest fashionable drinks is part of the job. And yet, even with customers clamoring for the latest fashionable cocktails, there are a group of traditional and popular favorites that have stood the test of time.

Ironically, many of these classic cocktails seem to experience a rebirth every few years. For example, twenty years ago many bourbon drinks were rarely ordered as bourbon itself was relegated to the shadowy, dusty shelves. Now, these and other time honored drinks are back to the forefront. Here’s a list of ten all time favorite classic cocktails, including a handy recipe for each.

Here they are, listed by the main alcohol ingredient …

Rum Drinks

Daquiri: Typically made with a gold rum, although countless variations have been created. Best served in a martini glass, combine equal parts lime juice and sugar syrup along with the rum. Shake with ice, strain, and serve.

Mojito: You see this one everywhere now, but it’s a timeless drink. Combine the juice of 1/2 lime, 1 tablespoon of sugar syrup, muddled mint leaves, club soda, and a jigger of rum in a tall glass filled with crushed ice. Then, start the party!

Cuba Libre: With a nod to Cuba, this drink is particularly popular along the eastern seaboard. It’s easy to prepare as well, just take the juice of one lime and add it to a glass 3/4 full with ice and cola. Add white rum and top with cola.

Vodka Drinks

Screwdriver: A straightforward stalwart, combine orange juice with vodka over ice.

Harvey Wallbanger: Famous since the 1940’s, this is a personal favorite. It’s made with orange juice and four parts vodka to one part Galliano, a sweet Italian liquer. Add the orange juice and vodka to a highball glass filled with ice. Float the Galliano on top and put some good jazz on the jukebox.

Black Russian: Another simple standard, it’s two parts vodka to one part Kahlua, served over ice.

Gin Drinks

Gin Fizz: This one’s making a comeback, probably because it’s just such a good drink. Start with a tall Collins glass. Add a jigger of gin, two tablespoons of lemon juice, and one tablespoon of sugar syrup. Shake the ingredients with ice, strain into the glass, and top it off with the fizz, which is soda water.

Alexander: You don’t see this drink much these days, but it’s delicious. Combine one shot of gin, 1 shot of Creme de Cacao, and six ounces of light cream with ice. Shake, strain into a tall glass, and garnish with a cherry.

Others

Mint Julep: The mint julep isn’t just a Derby Day tradition, they’re being served everywhere. Muddle fresh mint and 3 tablespoons of sugar syrup in the bottom of a julep glass. Discard the mint leaves and fill the glass with crushed ice. Add a jigger of bourbon and refill the glass with more crushed ice. Garnish the drink with fresh mint sprigs, dusted with powdered sugar.

Pimm’s #1: We’d love to see this great summer drink catch on again. Pimm’s #1 is an English specialty liquor. Add four shots of Pimm’s #1, a shot of gin, and lemonade to a tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and serve.

Even if your favorite classic cocktail isn’t on this list, these 10 are sure to be a hit with your customers or guests.

You’re at a job question. You’re doing great, answering interrogations left and right. You’re enthusiastic, upbeat, positive. Then they ask, “Why did you leave your last job?”

An ikon of your former boss, red-faced and wild, pops your head. He was such a buck! You desperately want to air out your defeats and tell them why you HAD to quit, but you waffle, guessing… is honesty the easiest policy in THIS position?

There’s no greater way to present yourself as a whiner than to complain about a former boss or job. Even if you leftover a job because your boss was an egomaniac who took credit for all of your hard work, verbally exploited you in presence of others, and poisoned the plant on your desk, don’t say anything awful about him/her during an interview.

If you do, the interviewer may think you have a problem with authorisation or cant get along with others. After all, they don’t acknowledge you. And as an authority form, they may more easily discover with your traduced former boss than with you.

It’s greatest not to number on them thinking YOUR side of the tale, even if it IS the truth.

So alternatively of saying “My boss was an awful idiot,” select one of these sample responses, whichever fits your careful situation best:

“My director and I both incorporated that my advance chances were off-limits there and receiving another situation was the best option for me and my career destinations.” Be inclined for a attainable review question such as “What ARE your career goals?”

“I preferred more thrilling grants.” This is a nice way of saying you were tired out of your mind. Prepare to follow it up by saying something about being eager to undertake challenges associated with the place for which you are using.

“I’m looking for an organization that puts up its people.” This could spark the “Can you blow up on that?” question, so be careful to have a response planned, such as “There weren’t many preparation opportunities.”

“My career destinations have changed.” This is a great response if you are going into a new area. However, parties want people who can hit the ground passing, so be set to explain how your past feels make you a good candidate for this new task.

One or all of these may be variations of the real story, so you won’t really be lying about why you left your last job. You just won’t be giving them the whole truth!

Getting through college without student loans is impossible for many people. If your parents don’t have the means, it may be difficult to pay for tuition, housing, food, entertainment, and books. Since many colleges cost upwards of $10,000 per year, the costs are insurmountable for many.

Loans can provide much needed relief for those who are in need. The federal government has some amazing programs in place that help students. Stafford loans are available to those in need, and are secured by the federal government. This means that the loans are available to even those who have bad credit.

With Stafford loans, there is a set amount of money that you can borrow. While this increases each year, it isn’t enough for every student. If you go to an expensive college or university, Stafford loans may not provide enough resources for you. If this is the case for you, you may need to turn to private student loans.

Securing loans from private lenders won’t be too difficult if you have good credit. These loans will cost more in interest than loans that are guaranteed by the federal government, but are generally worth it. Do what you have to do to get your education, it will be a great investment.

If you have bad credit, you won’t have as many options when you try to find a private loan. Most lenders will see you as a pretty large risk. Most students don’t make much anyway, and bad credit will most likely disqualify you altogether.

If you’re a student who has maxed out Stafford loans or bad credit, here is your most basic option: get a cosigner. The truth is that you just don’t have that many other options. Why would a bank take a risk on a person that isn’t employed and has a reputation for not paying bills?

A cosigner will take away the risk from the bank, providing them with the security they need to hand you the funds you need. This may be your only chance, so let’s hope that you have a decent relationship with someone who has decent credit.

Parents, other family members, and close friends are the best people to ask when you’re looking for a cosigner. Your parents may or may not want to do it, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. You never know until you try. Many parents really want their kids to get an education and if they say yes, you’ll have your student loan.

Upon completing your legal secretary training and gaining your qualifications you can now start applying for positions in law firms. But it is important that before you do start applying for any legal secretary jobs you find out some more about the kind of duties you will be tasked with. Below we look at just what some of these duties are and which will be carried out by either legal administrative assistants or a legal secretary.

1. Planning and Organizing Schedules ? All lawyers and attorneys are very busy people and they need someone to ensure that their diaries and schedules are well organized for each and every day. Because most lawyers and attorneys charge by the hour for their assistance they need a legal secretary who can create the best organized schedule that they can.

2. Preparation of Documents ? There are all kinds of documents that will need to be prepared both used internally and externally within the firm. It is often your responsibility as the secretary or legal administrative assistant to prepare such documents and what is produced may well vary from one law firm to the next.

3. Filing of Legal Documents ? If the case in which the lawyer or attorney you are working for is going to court then there is going to be a large amount of paperwork involved. It is generally the secretary?s responsibility to produce and then submit these forms for the lawyer or attorney they are working for. It requires meticulous attention to detail and also need to be very accurate indeed. Plus the lawyer needs a secretary he can rely on and who they can trust to ensure everything is filled in correctly and filed on time.

4. Preparing for the Trial - Much of the research that is required and involved in trial cases will generally be carried out by the lawyer, but they still need their secretary or assistant to put it in to some order. So they prefer people to work for them who have a basic understanding of the law and who are willing to learn more about it. This may well mean a secretary actually taking say online paralegal programs and then obtaining some paralegal certificates.

5. Research - As precedent work is crucial to any legal process a lot of very good quality comprehensive research needs to be completed. It is because the lawyers or attorneys time is of a premium that their secretary or legal administrative assistant will be tasked to carry out this work instead.

6. Typing of Correspondence and File Maintenance - Along with the more exciting tasks a legal secretary will have more menial tasks to complete as well. But those who are good typists and can organize themselves effectively will be in high demand. In fact a major part of any legal secretary’s day is generally taken up in typing and file maintenance to ensure that all legal documentation is completed and to keep the clients abreast of what is happening.

As well as the tasks we have mentioned another thing that many a legal secretary will need to carry out is greeting the lawyer’s clients. So a legal secretary be able to interact easily with the clients and make them feel at ease as any legal proceedings can be a very stressful time for these people.

Generally, when you present yourself as a prospective nominee for a rising work opportunity, your information will trickle through the Human Resources section. Since all company has their own renting work, understand that you cannot always see when HR will call you. Our philosophy is that a ready candidate will have a higher chance of succeeder than an unprepared candidate.

Here are a few affairs to maintain in bear in mind if HR does call:

1.Remain steady: Very few HR sections will get the time or try to call candidates they are not concerned in. Regardless of the tone or tenor of their voice, a call from HR should be seen as a step forward in the form. Even if it is only telephone touch, you do have a opportunity to make an greatest opinion. Be positive, sound interested, and engage the person on the other end. You only get one chance to make a first effect. Make it consider.

2.Always be ready: Yes, it could turn over out that the HR interpreter knows nothing about your acquisition set or area of expertise. Really, that is the case more often than not. Take this in footstep and make certain you answer all their questions as appropriately as possible. We mostly advocate staying put away from questions relating your salary history or wished-for compensation. Rather, keep this item open for discussion at a future time, preferably the face to face interview. Always maintain a copy of your resume handy, preferably next to the phone.

3.Call For contact information and matters of discussion: If not during the call, do this at once later. Write down all applicable information including questions or topics wrapped. Be sure to get the name and other contact information from the person you spoke with. Ultimately, if they did not determine what the next step was, make certain you do. Ask directly what the next step in the process will be and when it will occur.

4.Provide supplemental information: For candidates that commonly sustain additional career information such as coding samples or art portfolios, make certain you pass to supply these as further evidence of your skills and concern. Do not take that the HR person knows to ask for this. Offer it. It will generally benefit you in the end.

HR departments, and their spokespeople, are generally the first chance a candidate has to make a great impression. Knowing how to grip calls from HR will help you in the procedure from start to stop.

The euphoria of starting a new job can sometimes be get over by misgiving about what comes future. After all, you’re “the new kid on the draw a blank,” and there’s much to learn–about your new job duties and much more. But here are some things you can do to make the process go easier.

1.Costume for achiever. You’ll want to look professional. Dress on the reasonable side for the first week. Once you’ve got a good idea of what’s appropriate and what isn’t, you can adjust your fashion.

2.Be on time. You never want to start out your new job by being late, so make careful you allow enough of time for your exchange. Project the most direct route, but be aware of switches in case of an accident or other traffic tangles.

3.Get to know people. Be civilized and well-meaning to everyone you meet, whether it’s the receptionist or the general manager. Introduce yourself, smile and make eye touch. Make a positive first effect. Ask about your coworkers’ interests.

4.Ask queries. From “Where’s the bathroom?” to “Which tool do I use for this project?” It’s OK to ask for help! Your coworkers will feel good about doing whatever they can to assist you. Let them. It’s always better to have to ask the right way to do something than to try to see it out on your own, mess up, and have to do it all over again.

5.Remember your place. You may feel “qualified” to tell your new coworkers that there’s a better way to do something, but be diligent. Every work has its own way of doing things. Never say “That’s not how we did it at my old companion!” (You’re coworkers may invite you to return to your old company!) Be patient and become an received member of the team before you make hints for advances.

6.Be careful about office politics. Get care to the grapevine, but don’t impart to it. Do not accept at face appraise what one employee says about another; figure your own opinions based on your own interactions and opinion. Never complain about anyone at your old job or your new one. Figure out who has the real authorization to give you work to do, and who is trying to take advantage of your newness.

Preceding all, keep a confident attitude, do your work to the best of your ability, and observe an open brain. Before you know it, you’ll be climb the career ladder and giving advice to freshmen!

Companies may wonder why they should hire an hr consulting firm, i.e., a temp agency, to locate quality employees.

In a highly competitive corporate world, knowledgeable help can mean the difference between a constant influx of clients and bankruptcy. Statistically speaking, every disgruntled customer that leaves your establishment equals seven or more people who won’t give you a chance based on word of mouth.

That is why it is very important to locate individuals who are not only skilled technically but have a great work ethic and understand the value of supplying quality service.

When a company endeavors to locate these people themselves as opposed to hiring a human resource consulting firm, they have a hard time finding quality workers. The reason for this is multifaceted, but can often be attributed to.

- Lack of time - when a company looks for “grade A” assistance, it is often because they needed them yesterday. This can make them hire on someone who may have certain skills but could be lacking in other valuable traits, like interpersonal skills.

- Inexperience - although you may realize what you want, you may not have the ability to acquire it. People will say just about anything to obtain a job, and resumes are often padded to make them sound better than they really are. To truly screen applicants, you would need to do an in depth assessment that you may not have time for, especially if you are in a fast paced work environment.

- Hiring family members or acquaintance - It can be very tempting when we are in a pinch to hire on people you know. The problem with this is that our affection or relationship with the individual makes it impossible to be objective as to their suitability for the job. This can also lead to a ticklish situation if you need to fire them for their ineptitude.

What a reputable temp agency can offer

On the opposite end of this spectrum, an experienced temp agency knows how to expand the job pool. They usually have a team of specialized recruiters who weed out potential employees by a highly stylize criteria. By having a larger pool of candidates and a selective process, you are more assured to find a qualified match for your job.

Temp agencies can also provide:

- Greater productivity - because you are not taking time out of your valuable day to interview all potential hires, you can get more work done. This increased productivity will greatly aid your business growth.

- Employees who are tried and tested - when businesses try to hire employees they have no real way of seeing how well the applicant truly performs in a work environment. Recruiting agencies do, with tailored skill assessments, like WMP or ten key punch tests for data entry that can reveal a workers strengths and weaknesses. They also offer training facilities for applicants to improve their abilities and learn new skills that will help them in the job market.

- Employee resource - No matter how organized an office is, if someone leaves or get sick, it can disrupt the office routine. Temp agencies can replace sick individuals, those on maternity leave or who don’t work out. You can also hire on temps for seasonal work, as many organizations see increased workloads around Holidays or summer months depending on the nature of their business.

It can end up costing you more in the end to not go with an established recruiting agency. If you start weighing the pros and cons of looking into human resource consulting, remind yourself that the time you spend working as opposed to worrying over the exhaustive hiring process is more time spent building your business up. When one considers the above facts, then the benefits of hiring workers through a temp agency is worth its weight in gold.

Well, it is time to plan that family vacation again. Family vacations can bring members together in a lasting bonding experience. Family fun brings everyone closer and can create memories for a lifetime. One fun activity that the whole family can enjoy is wakeboarding and it is as simple as going online for lessons.

Wakeboarding fits in perfectly to any camping trip or vacation at the beach. Often times there are places just for activates such as this. This activity is great because of the ease of learning how to do it. People are learning to get up on their wakeboard in as little as thirty minutes.

Be extremely careful when you attempt to wakeboard with out the proper instruction because you can hurt yourself if you are unsure of the proper techniques. So, be sure you learn to wake board on land with your family before even getting near the water. Find a site that offers free online videos so you can get all the important information before getting in the water. Try Google and search for “learn to wakeboard in 1 hour.”

It is important for everyone in the family to know how to obtain the correct posture and poise when holding on to a tow rope. By viewing a good set of instructions online, you will learn about the keeping your shoulders, the ameat hooka, and keeping your knees loose.

This method of learning on land before going in the water applies to most other water sports as well. Whether you are wake boarding or water skiing, you need to learn the basics on land first. Then you can move on to the water, but not by being pulled behind the boat.

No matter where you decide to take your fun water adventures, you will usually need a water ski boat for the activity. A barefoot boom or waterski boom is recommended for the beginners getting onto the water for the first time. This will allow the new wake boarder to refine his or her skills without taking a fall.

After you have practiced with a barefoot boom and feel comfortable relying on it for support, you can attempt to use the tow rope. Just remember that it is imperative for safety that you use the same techniques with the rope that you used with the water ski boom.

Your family will enjoy trying something new like learning to wake board. Also, remember that training videos are easy to find online. These videos are available for free and can teach you step by step how to wake board in less than an hour.

There’s an obvious appeal to the bartender. He or she is, at any given moment, a social director, a friendly ear, or simply the person who delivers your drinks with a smile. A great bartender is one of a bar’s greatest assets, often bringing in a consistent crowd of regulars who enjoy stopping in and adding to the bottom line.

Bartenders themselves have a unique advantage, all things being equal. In the right establishment, an effective bartender can earn full time wages working part time hours. It’s not unusual for these hardworking barkeeps to take home several hundred dollars per shift. As a result, the bartending profession is viewed with great respect and is a desired occupation for many.

Breaking In To The Bartending Profession

Very frankly, the best way to land a bartending job is to have direct experience as a bartender. Of course, this is a classic Catch 22. Most establishments strongly prefer to hire experienced bartenders since the bar business brings in the most profit. But much like any other profession, there is an educational alternative that might help certain individuals land their first bartending job, or even advance their career.

We are, of course, referring to bartending schools. These schools are located in most major cities, and function as a means to acquire practical experience without actually working on the job.

Bartending Schools 101

Here are some of the things you can expect to learn after you enroll in a bartending school:

- Understanding the bar culture and how to deal with customers.

- Exploring relationships between bartenders, servers, and bar support personnel.

- Education and certification for state requirements, such as alcohol awareness programs.

- Comprehensive mixology modules to learn how to mix drinks.

Typically, these and other course elements are completed in 6 to 8 weeks. Costs vary, although a student should expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars up to a thousand dollars to complete the course.

Are Bartending Schools Worth The Time And Money?

Those who enroll in a bartending school and expect to land a six figure bartending job upon graduation will be sorely disappointed. It’s safe to say, though, that completing a program will help you land your first job. Bartending is a profession where personal characteristics and on the job performance mean everything. A diploma won’t help you when you’re behind a busy bar with demanding customers clamoring for drinks.

We do recommend reputable bartending schools as a means to get your first bartending job or as a refresher course for career changers. However, expectations should be limited. Personal characteristics and experience are key in the bar business. Use a bartending school to help you determine whether or not bartending is a career that matches your skill set.