November 17, 1999

Survey by Catalyst shows number of women who are chief executives at Fortune 500 companies has doubled in last five months, from two to four; finds women at Fortune 500 companies make up 5.1 percent of so-called clout positions--chief executive down to executive vice president; they also account for 11.9 percent of all corporate officers, modest improvement from 11.2 percent in 1998 and 8.7 percent in 1995; women account for 3.3 percent of top-earners--five best-paid executives, almost triple 1.2 percent reported four years ago; only 1.3 percent of minority women are employed in upper ranks of companies surveyed; graph; chart (M)

Mark Bittman comments on making a real onion dip, as a diversionary starter while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner; describes some other Thanksgiving appetizers; recipes (M)

When Tony was 7, he was a grinning Cockney optimist from the East End of London, spouting plans to become a jockey and cavorting exuberantly at the playground. Now he can be seen as a 42-year-old who dodges sour glances from his glum-looking wife, a woman who was once filmed by Michael Apted as Tony's beaming young sweetheart. ''I must say, it's not easy being married,'' says Tony, with the boyish scrappiness and joy long gone from his face. About his life as a cabby with a fenced-in suburban backyard, he acknowledges: ''I think this must be the limitations for me now.'' It's impossible to watch Michael Apted's ''42 Up,'' the latest in the series of milestone documentaries that began with ''7 Up,'' without more complex and piercing emotions than those prompted by previous installments. When this hugely ambitious project began, it was a longitudinal study of class divisions among English schoolchildren. But time and persistence have turned it into much more.

Fund-raising success of Salvation Army, nation's largest charity, which raised $1.2 billion in 1998, reflects its clearly defined social service mission, its accountability for carrying out mission and using funds for purposes for which it was raised and its superior marketing skills; most donors are unaware that Army is evangelical Protestant denomination, not just social service agency; Army's military command structure promotes accountability; table of financial data; photos (M)

It has been two years since Latrell Sprewell attacked Golden State Warriors Coach P J Carlesimo, but his lingering resentment over how team handled incident, and his expectations of hostile reception has Knick guard savoring his first return to Arena at Oakland on Nov 20 (M)