The Excess Of Success

Tiger Woods
The Excess Of Success

Exceptional people, be they superstar athletes, politicians, celebrities or CEOs, are driven to be the very best at what they do.

To that end, Tiger Woods is no exception.

We shouldn't be surprised, then, when that zeal carries over to the rest of his life, several psychologists and therapists said.

"How do you become Tiger Woods? It's not just talent," said Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington. "It's very coherent with who he is that, in the rest of his life, he can tell himself, 'I have a bigger drive than other people do, in every category. I can deliver bigger than other people can, in every category. And I can keep everybody happy.'"

Add in that many of these high achievers have been celebrated for many years ? all the way back to childhood, in some cases -- and it can be a combustible combination.

"That's what leads them to cross the line, whereas the rest of us common people would be more wary, more mindful, more thoughtful of dangers that might happen," said psychologist Stan Teitelbaum, author of "Sports Heroes, Fallen Idols."

"There's a sense of invincibility that goes with that picture that makes them think they can do whatever they want."

By now, the salacious details of Woods' "transgressions" are well known. The public has gotten over its shock at the shattering of his pristine image, with new revelations of alleged indiscretions almost becoming background noise.

There still is that one, persistent question: With a beautiful wife, two small children, more money than some royals and the adoration of millions, what was he thinking?

"They just want to know why, and he hasn't told us that. And he might not know why," said Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of radio's "Love Line" and VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and author of "The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America."

With Woods, it could be a combination of things.

He is famous for his intensity and focus. This is, after all, a man who won a U.S. Open on a broken leg and shredded knee. In a playoff, no less.

But as highly driven people achieve, their success can breed an arrogance and sense of entitlement, said Herbert Samuels, a professor of human sexuality at the City University of New York and president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

"Bill Clinton probably said it best. His answer was, 'Because I could,'" Samuels said, referring to the former president's explanation for his affair with Monica Lewinsky. "I think there are some men in positions of power who... have a sense of entitlement that the rules of the game don't necessarily apply to them."

Consider the star-studded names who've faced sex scandals: talk show host David Letterman, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Nevada Sen. John Ensign and former presidential candidate John Edwards, to name a few.

"People say, 'Do you think celebrities and governors and CEOs are different?' And I go, duh!" Schwartz said. "Who has the drive, the thick skin, the energy, the desire at the level these guys, and some women, have to create the lives they had?"

Sports' special place in society can elevate that. Sports are the source of some of our biggest dreams and fondest memories and, in an increasingly fragmented world, is the shared language that binds us together.

"In some ways, the very same quality that allows you to reach Herculean heights can also work to destroy you," said Teitelbaum, who has coined the term "toxic athlete profile" to describe the mix of arrogance, grandiosity and entitlement that some athletes possess.

"It can be used in the most constructive of ways, but it can also be destructive."

Even their own success can work against them.

"I think they get into the mode that, 'Everything works out OK for them, so this will work out OK for them, too.' I think they do have some guilt about it, but they just go ahead," said Emily Brown, a marriage and family therapist in Arlington, Va., who said she sent her book "Affairs: A Guide to Working Through the Repercussions of Infidelity" to Woods' agent.

For whatever Woods' failings are, the public isn't blameless, Teitelbaum said.

"We used to enjoy a parade," Teitelbaum said, "and now we're very invested in enjoying the trainwreck."

source: askmen

Career As A Company Secretary

jeanene-fox


Career As A Company Secretary
By Dr Amita Ahuja



CAREER AS A COMPANY SECRETARY is not only prestigious and financially rewarding but also carries with it a high level of job satisfaction.

Employment Prospects

* A qualified company secretary has openings in Employment and can also practice as an Independent Professional
* Pursuant to section 383A of the Companies Act, 1956, companies with a paid-up share capital of Rs. 5 crores or more are compulsorily required to appoint a whole time Company Secretary who must be a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India.

· All companies seeking listing on Stock Exchange are required to appoint a whole time company secretary

· Almost every kind of organization whose affairs are conducted by boards, councils or other corporate structures, be it a company, trust, association, federation, authority, commission or the like, finds it useful to appoint a person who holds the qualification of Company Secretaryship in key administrative position.

· Membership of the Institute is recognized for appointment to superior posts and services under Central Government.











Self-Employment/Practising Company Secretaries



· After obtaining a ‘Certificate of Practice’ from the Institute, Members of the Institute can go in for Independent Practice.

· Every company having a paid-up share capital of Rs. Ten Lakhs or more but less than Rs. five Crores is required to engage the services of a Secretary in Whole-Time Practice for issue of Compliance Certificate.

· Pursuant to Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement, Practising Company Secretaries have been authorized to issue Certificate regarding compliance of conditions of Corporate Governance as stipulated in the Clause.

· Practising Company Secretaries have also been recognized to appear before various Tribunals such as Company Law Board, Securities Appellate Tribunal, Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, Competition Commission of India, Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal, Consumer Forums, Tax Tribunals etc.

· Recently, the Reserve Bank of India has recognized the Practising Company Secretaries to undertake Diligence Report for Banks.



“The Institute of Company Secretaries of India” (ICSI) is a premier National Professional body established by Act of Parliament to develop and regulate the Profession of Company Secretaries.



ICSI imparts training in Company Secretaryship by Distance Learning (by correspondence) enabling students to qualify as Company Secretaries. The Institute provides “Course Material” for all the subjects at the time of Registration. There is also provision for Optional Oral Coaching classes.



The Company Secretaryship Course: A course that transforms students into corporate professonals

Stages to become a Company Secretary:



The student who would like to join the Course after 10+2 has to undergo three stages to pursue the Company Secretaries Course i.e.



Foundation Programme

Executive Programme

Professional Programme



The Student who would like to join the Course after passing the Graduation has to undergo two stages of the Company Secretaryship i.e.



Executive Programme

Professional Programme



Foundation Programme which is of eight months duration can be pursued by 10+2 pass students of Arts, Science or Commerce stream (Excluding Fine Arts)



Executive Programme can be pursued by a Graduate of all streams except Fine Arts.



Professional Programme can be pursued only after clearing the Executive Programme of CS Course.



Training Requirements

A student has to undergo 16 month Training in a company or under a Practising Company Secretary after passing the Executive Programme or Professional Programme. Students who possess prescribed practical experience can seek partial or total exemption from Training. Sponsorship for the Training is made by the Institute. The companies and the Practising Company Secretaries pay stipend during the training period. In addition every student is required to undergo 15 days Training in a specialized agency and 15 days Secretarial Modular Training Programme.



After qualifying the CS Professional Programme and on successful completion of Training, a candidate is enrolled as an Associate Member of the Institute and can use the descriptive title “ACS” after his/ her name.











ADMISSION TO THE CS COURSE is open throughout the year. Examinations are held twice a year in June & December. There is no minimum pass percentage requirement for admission.



Cut off dates for admission to CS course:



For Foundation Programme


31st March for appearing in December Examination in the same year

30th September for June Examination next year

For Executive Programme


28th February for December Exams in the

same year year

31st August for June Exam next year



For details website www.icsi.edu queries can be e mailed to info@icsi.edu



The CS Course is:

· recognized by the various Universities for admission to PhD Course

· appointment of Lecturers in Commerce & Management



SUBJECTS FOR CS PROGRAMME

There are 4 papers in CS Foundation Programme
There are 6 papers divided into 2 Modules in CS Executive Programme

There are 8 papers divided into 4 Modules in CS Professional Programme



SUBJECTS
Foundation Programme

( 4 papers)


* English & Business Communication

* Economics & Statistics

* Financial Accounting

* Elements of Business Laws and Management

Executive Programme [6 papers]

Module I

(3 papers)




* General and Commercial Laws

* Company Accounts, Cost & Management Accounting

* Tax Laws

Module II

(3 papers)






* Company Law

* Economic and Labour Laws

* Securities Law and Compliances


Professional Programme [8 papers]

Module I

(2 papers)


* Company Secretarial Practice

* Drafting, Appearances and Pleadings

Module II

(2 papers)


* Financial, Treasury and Forex Management

* Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency

Module III

(2 papers)


· Strategic Management, Alliances and International Trade

* Advance Tax Laws and Practices

Module IV

(2 papers)


* Due Diligence and Corporate Compliance Management

* Governance, Business Ethics and Sustainability









ICSI Introduces 24X7 Study through E-Learning: (http://elearning.icsi.edu)

In order to facilitate students, e-learning portal is available for the Company Secretary Foundation Programme which will also be extended to Executive Programme and Professional Programme in due course. Students through out the country including rural and semi-urban areas as well as from other countries can avail this 24x7 hours on-line study facility as the portal has global reach.

Under e-learning, students can have continuous access to studies and guidance of faculties on-line. The e-learning module will enable the students to have access to learning and faculty support at any time as per their convenience. Interactivity will be established by modules such as Discussion Boards and Online Chat. After the proposed virtual classroom facility under e-learning portal starts, students will be able to interact live with the faculty. This will take the CS course studies virtually into the space age.

Undergoing of e-learning is in addition and not in substitution to compulsory postal tuition. E-learning is designed to provide a virtual contact between the teacher and the taught. Students intending to join e-learning are therefore, required to pay additional fees as determined by the Institute from time to time.



ICSI - IGNOU MOU:

Specialised B.Com & M.Com courses for students & Members of Company Secretaryship

The Institute has been continuously endeavouring towards capacity building of its students and members. It is in this direction, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Under this MOU, IGNOU offers a specialized B.Com Course with major in Corporate Affairs and Administration and specialized M.Com Course in Business Policy and Corporate Governance exclusively for the students of Company Secretaryship and Members of the ICSI.



MOU with ICSA, London

The ICSI and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, UK (ICSA) after satisfying the high standards of examination and appreciating each others activities in promoting the best practices in Company Secretaryship and professional education & administration signed an MOU which provides for reciprocal exemptions on mutual basis. Members of ICSI are exempted from passing 14 out of 17 papers and are required to pass the following three core papers to acquire the membership of ICSA:

• Corporate Law

• Corporate Secretaryship

• Corporate Administration

Members of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, in good standing for a period of two years, can avail of the benefit of the MOU.

MOU between ICSI & SII,

source: employment news

Is there plastic in your metal water bottle?

Is there plastic in your metal water bottle?
How safe is your reusable water bottle? That's a question many consumers are asking thanks to a recent announcement from Sigg, the manufacturer of trendy aluminum water bottles.

Some consumers switched to the brightly colored metal bottles in an effort to avoid bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that interferes with the female hormone estrogen. The controversial chemical has been linked to a long list of health concerns including early onset of puberty, neurotoxicity, and some cancers.

BPA can leach from polycarbonate plastic bottles when it comes into contact with hot liquids and from regular wear and tear. Parents and other concerned consumers thought they were doing a good thing for their family's health and the planet's by choosing metal over plastic.

However, all metal bottles are not created equally. Aluminum bottles typically have epoxy liners, which may contain BPA and other unwanted chemicals. In the past, Sigg would not reveal the ingredients in its liners, claiming that it was "proprietary."

Now, the company admits that the epoxy liners in its bottles used to contain trace amounts of BPA. Sigg says it switched to a new "EcoCare" liner in August 2008, but angry consumers wonder why the company wasn't upfront about the fact that BPA was in its liners.

Sigg says its old bottles didn't leach any BPA. But, how safe are they? "It is possible that very low levels of BPA will leach from the bottle, especially when something hot or acidic is placed in there," says Sarah Janssen, a staff scientist the Natural Resources Defense Council. "As the bottle ages and the resin begins to break down, there will be more leaching. It's the same process as with any other BPA containing containe
If you own a Sigg bottle, the first thing you should do is check to see if you have an old liner or a new one. Even if you bought it after August 2008, you still may have an older bottle that was shipped to the store before the company made the switch. The former lining has a shiny copper bronze finish. The EcoCare liner has a dull yellow coating.

If you have an old liner, then you can trade in your old bottle for a new one. Sigg's voluntary exchange program is available through October 31, 2009. You can pay to have your bottles shipped back to Sigg, or check to see if a local retailer will take it back.

You'll have to decide for yourself if you want to support a company that wasn't completely transparent in the first place.

There's also no guarantee that Sigg's new epoxy liner is completely safe. “Just because a bottle is labeled ‘BPA-free’ there is no guarantee that another toxic chemical wasn’t used as the replacement,” says Janssen.
What kind of water bottles should you look for?

Stainless steel is your best bet if you're in the market for a new reusable bottle or just want to choose the safest option around. "I would recommend going with a stainless steel bottle and avoiding any questions about what the new chemical is," says Janssen.

In general, all aluminum bottles have epoxy linings and just because Sigg has changed its lining doesn't mean other manufacturers have changed theirs. "Consumers should be wary of buying any aluminum water bottle as many are still made with an epoxy resin lining that contains BPA and can leach significant levels depending on the quality of the product," says Janssen.

Luckily there are plenty of safe choices for consumers. Kleen Kanteen, ThinkSport, and Nalgene all sell stainless steel water bottles that are BPA-free and, most importantly, don't have any liners (so there aren't any potentially dangerous secret ingredients to worry about).

For small children, there's a growing array of "sippy cups" made from stainless steel. They're less expensive than Sigg's Kids Bottles, but pricier (yet more durable) than plastic versions. Learn more about buying safe baby bottles.

source: yahoo

life is now - this day - this hour

It is good to appreciate that life is now. Whatever it offers, little or much, life is now - this day - this hour - Charles Macomb Flandrav

TOP 10: The World's Most Powerful Celebrities

TOP 10: The World's Most Powerful Celebrities

1. Angelina Jolie
2. Oprah Winfrey
3. Madonna
4. Beyoncé Knowles
5. Tiger Woods
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. Steven Spielberg
8. Jennifer Aniston
9. Brad Pitt
10. Kobe Bryan

source: Forbes

Social networking out, streaming video in

Social networking out, streaming video in
Hulu was praised for giving web users what they were after — on-demand TV shows — without having to turn to illegal file-sharing.

“Determined not to let what happened to the music industry happened to Hollywood, NBC and Fox teamed up,” TIME said of the site’s creation.

“If it aired recently on NBC, ABC or Fox, you’ll probably find it archived on Hulu.”

Hulu is unavailable in Australia due to licensing restrictions, but most local networks have launched similar sites since the success of ABC’s excellent iView service.

SBS, Seven, Nine and Ten now all stream full episodes of key shows — All Saints, Sea Patrol, Rush to name a few — on their websites.

The other trend on TIME‘s list was towards websites promising to save users money.

The magazine included sites like ConsumerSearch, Yelp and Kayak that help users find the best deals or read other people’s reviews of companies and products, as well as cut-price auction site Shop Goodwill and budget calculator Mint.

Another one, Supercook, offers recipes based on the ingredients you already have in your pantry, while CouchSurfing hooks travellers up with a (really) cheap place to stay.

Social networking sites, a few years ago the craze of the web, seem to have fallen from favour with no mention of previous inclusions LinkedIn, MySpace, Digg or Meebo.

However Twitter and Facebook both made this year’s list — the latter for the first time ever.

“If you’ve been avoiding Facebook because you’re concerned about privacy issues or worried you’ll lose your life to social networking, you’ve already spent too much time thinking about (it),” said TIME.

“Although it’s desperate to be more, Facebook is really just a phone book.”

source: news

How 20 popular websites looked when they launched

blogger.com - launched in 1999

How 20 popular websites looked when they launched (telegraph)