A study in the US shows that women are far less likely to reach top leadership positions in some of America’s biggest corporations than their male counterparts.

Even though women now hold top positions in IBM, Archer Daniels Midland and Pepsico – considered among the biggest corporations in the US, it is a different story at the second tier of big companies.

Georgetown University researchers found that women only made up 4.5 percent of the top leadership in mid-cap companies during 2010 – which is significantly less than results in larger firms that show 14 percent of women in executive positions.

Georgetown business professor Catherine Tinsley who led the study says she is concerned about the invisible barriers that prevent women from advancing to executive positions. Women still suffer from discrimination – an issue which has been raised decades ago and continues to linger even today.

Former US education secretary Margaret Spellings attributes the lack of gender equality to lack of scrutiny among corporations not included in the fortune 500. She says midcaps tend fly below radar and that nobody has really cracked the nut.

Though statistically insignificant, a study in 2010 showed top female executives averaging around $2.2 million in potential compensation per annum as opposed to $2.5 million for their male counterparts. Previously, women executives only saw an average of $1.3 million compared to $1.9 million for men in the years 2000 to 2005.

According to government statistics, women only make 81 cents for every dollar that men make across all occupations.

The study is set to be unveiled at the Chamber of Commerce at an event on women in business. It offers a comprehensive snapshot of how female executives now fare at the second-tier of top US companies.

In other news, a recent poll conducted in over two dozen countries showed that people believe money can buy happiness.

The survey conducted by market research company Ipsos showed nearly two-thirds of the twenty thousand respondents saying that they need to live better and 89 percent said that a stronger economy in their country was very important in achieving this – the top response.

84 percent believe that better living conditions and stronger family relationships contribute to happiness while only 56 percent listed romantic partners and 49 percent believed in prayer and meditation.

French respondents say that living better is now more difficult than ever despite ample social services and annual leaves mandated by the federal government.

Walt Disney is expecting a loss of $200 million from its latest movie John Carter. The movie which features a military captain transported to Mars to fight a war and a horde of alien monstrosities is set to become one of the biggest flops in cinema history.

The making of John Carter is said to have cost a whopping $250 million and rough estimates say another $100 million was spent on promoting the film.

A review of the movie by Mark Kemode was featured on BBC 5 in which he stated that the story telling was incomprehensible for a movie that lasted two hours and fifteen minutes. He also says the characterization is ludicrous.

The film is said to have taken $184 million at box offices worldwide, half of which will go to cinema owners. Disney shares were also down nearly 1% in New York’s early trading.

While it is difficult to tell which movie is the biggest flop ever, Disney’s will have set the record for 2012.

2011’s biggest flop is said to be Mars Needs Moms, a film that cost $150 million to make and only made $39 million at the box office.

Disney has other big budget movies set to release this year and will be hoping for success.

In Formula 1 news, McLaren say they are confident their car can compete on all circuits. This after McLaren driver Jenson Button won the opening of 2012’s season in the Australian Grand Prix.

The recent years have not been kind, as their cars struggled on tracks with more demanding corners than that of Melbourne’s.

Paddy Lowe, McLaren’s technical director says testing during pre-season demonstrated their new cars’ versatility.

Lowe’s confidence in the new machines came from pre-season testing and getting strong performance results at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunay – the most demanding track in terms of a car’s capabilities.

According to Lowe this week-end’s grand prix to be held at Sepang, Malaysia, does not worry him too much even though the track is said to favor world champion team Red Bull.

McLaren’s other driver, Lewis Hamilton managed to grab third place in Melbourne even though he started from pole position and ahead of co-driver Button.

Button may have lost pole position but immediately drove away after snatching the lead from Hamilton at the start of the race.

According to BBC F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson, Button’s preparation throughout the week-end was what allowed him to beat Hamilton, even though

Hamilton is said to be the better driver.

They wore their tires out at the same pace, said Anderson, even though

Button’s race pace was significantly faster.

He added that Button had set up his car and his plan just right and was able to balance speed and his looking out for his tires.

In Anderson’s analysis of the race, Red Bull was more competitive during the race than qualifying, stating the fact that the track had by that time more rubber and offered more grip during the race.

mercedes showed poor performance during the race even though they showeda rather strong qualifying run. Last year’s fundamental problem is perpetuated this year, as the cars use up their tires far too quickly.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished fifth overall even though he qualified twelfth.

Jenson Button, after pulling off a stunning victory admitted to BBC sports that he was more nervous than perhaps any other race he had driven.

After his stunning getaway at the start, Button shifted too early to 2nd gear, delaying his charge into the first corner. Fortunately, Hamilton was off to a bad start which allowed Button to take the inside line, the corner and eventually the victory.

British actor Jamie Waylett who played bully Vincent Crabbe in Harry Potter was sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted of violent disorder during the London riots August last year.

The 22-year-old was allegedly part of a gang of no less than four people. Security cameras captured Waylett on a number of occasions during the Chalk Farm riots while carrying a petrol bomb and throwing a stolen bottle of champagne.

Waylett, originally from West Hampstead, admitted to stealing the bottle of champagne from a supermarket. He told the police that he was fascinated by the civil unrest though he denied taking part in the violence.

He was later cleared of intending to destroy property with the petrol bomb.

Judge Simon Carr sentenced him to two years in jail.
On other news: Oprah Winfrey started her own network a while back called OWN or the Oprah Winfrey Network. The low-cost network replaced Discovery Health in January 2011 but ratings continue to average lower than that of its predecessor.

As a result, Winfrey had to lay-off some 30 full-time employees, losing a fifth of its workforce which is now down to 90 from 150.

Oprah admitted to having difficulty making the decision since it would affect many people’s lives. She insisted, however, that her decision will help the start-up cable network achieve long term success and that it was her responsibility as CEO to plot a course towards achieving that goal.

In news from Australia, Ed Hardy swimsuit model Simone Farrow stands accused of being the boss of drug rings operating globally.
She was arrested after almost a month on the run as she fled from her $150,000 bail.

Upon arrival at the Sydney Airport, Farrow broke down and pleaded her innocence and denying accusations of trafficking ice in bags of bath salts.

Farrow, said to have at least 19 aliases claims she was running for her life because someone was trying to murder her.

Farrow is now back in custody on charges that includes the alleged 2009 drug operation.

In a bail hearing held last February Farrow tendered court documents that she had legally changed her surname to Lawson back in

November. Police thought this was simply a ruse in order to flee the country after being charged of importing ice into Australia. Police also think that she is the brain behind an ongoing criminal enterprise that includes seven other people excluding her.

One of the syndicate members is said to have committed suicide in a Hollywood motel.

Bass fishing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States and one of the most popular recreational sports among the growing number of enthusiasts. The fame of the sport is mainly because unlike other professional sports, anyone regardless of gender can participate in it on a pro level.

There are also many career possibilities in the bass fishing industry, including retail of gear specifically designed for bass fishing. It is so popular nowadays; you can’t really go wrong by investing in it.

Seasoned veterans decide to become guides of chartered fishing trips. Others share their knowledge and experience by lecturing.
Black bass, which has several species including largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and Guadalupe bass, is the second most popular North American game fish. Catching largemouths, or just about any type of bass for that matter, can prove quite a challenge as they put up a strong resistance once they are hooked, adding to the thrill and excitement to the sport.

For those planning a fishing trip with their families, bass fishing offers the perfect opportunity to spend a weekend together and bond. Fishing instructors and guides often refer to testimonials from kids and their families about how much they’ve enjoyed the experience. One instructor says “seeing the expression on the kids’ faces as we reel in a catch is priceless”.

Here are some of the prime locations for bass fishing in the United States:

Florida:

* Lake George
* Lake Okechobee
* The Everglades

Texas:

* Lake Fork
* Sam Rayburn Reservoir
* Lake Amistad
* Falcon Lake
* Toledo Bend

California:

* Castaic Lake
* Lake Folsum
* Clear Lake
* Casitas Lake
* The San Joaquin Delta
* Lake Amidor

Michigan:

* Fletcher’s pond
* Lake Erie
* Detroit River
* Lake St. Clair
* Saginaw Bay

Georgia:

* Clark’s Hill Lake
* Lake Lanier

You may also want to consider Lake Champlain in New York, Pickwick Lake in Alabama, Bull Shoals in Arkansas.

Bass Fishing locations outside the U.S.:
* Gulf of Mexico for Black Sea Bass (also found in New York)
* Chilean Sea Bass – found in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Antarctic waters
* Australian Bass – found on the east coast of Australia
* European Sea Bass – Found in Norway and all the way down to Senegal in Africa.
* Japan – Lake Biwa
* South Africa – Cape Town

No matter which destination you decide on, Bass fishing is sure to provide you and your family with hours of quality time together.
On a professional level, the B.A.S.S. or Bass Anglers Sportsman Society offers a chance to compete with other bass fishing professionals for recognition and a hefty cash prize.

The ocean is a huge part of our globe that supplies the bountiful of fish of assorted type. Bass fishing is the activity of catching fish for the North American game fish. This fascinating sport is also known as the black bass.

Bass fishing is a principal method of sport fishing. Likewise, commercial fisheries use angling methods such as trolling otherwise known as long lining. One of the methods applied for bass fishing is the catch-and-release fishing that is increasingly practiced by recreational fishermen.

In many parts of the world, there is a law that governs size limits being applied to certain species. The regulations simply mean fish below or above the stipulated size must be released.

Bass fishing evolved into modern concept and the sport has driven the growth in the manufacturing all manner of fishing gears. The evolution prompted concerned fishing enthusiasts to develop fishing rods, reels, lines and lures. Modern fishing now use electronic depth and fish-finding instruments, drift boats, float tubes, and dedicated bass boats.

In the early years of this sport fishing, rich sport anglers in the United States focused themselves to trout and salmon fishing using fly rods.

Freshwater bass techniques made a great enticement in bass fishing. Moreover, in today’s bass fishing popularity, this sport became common for sustenance anglers using poles and live bait.