Fisher Capital Management Strategies: Mining scam ends BS Yeddyurappa innings as Karnataka chief minister

http://fishercapitalmanagementstrategies.com/2011/08/17/fisher-capital-management-strategies-mining-scam-ends-bs-yeddyurappa-innings-as-karnataka-chief-minister/

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-31/news/29835710_1_bs-yeddyurappa-mining-scam-bookanakere-siddalingappa-yeddyurappa

BANGALORE: Rocked by a spate of scams and in the wake of a damning indictment by a Lokayukta report on illegal mining, the 38-month tenure of Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa as chief minister of the first ever BJP government in the South came to an abrupt end on Sunday.

Sunday’s resignation brings the curtain down on the rule of Yeddyurappa whose term in office was marked by intermittent rebellion from his own party men seeking his ouster and opposition protests demanding his resignation over allegations of corruption, nepotism and favouritism.

An ardent RSS activist, Yeddyurappa dragged his feet over putting in his papers initially, but gave in to the diktat of the party high command, after it took a serious view of his defiance.

Credited with playing a pivotal role in installing the maiden BJP government in the South, Yeddyurappa began his innings on a controversial note facing huge public outcry for the police firing on farmers in Haveri, a north Karnataka district town, within ten days of assuming office in 2008.

Yeddyurappa faced a political coup staged by Bellary mining magnate G Janardhana Reddy in September 2009, after he ferried more than 60 BJP MLAs to Hyderabad and Goa seeking his ouster at a time when most parts of North Karnataka was devastated by floods following heavy rain.

The BJP high command’s intervention managed to defuse the crisis and helped him stay in power but he had to bow to the demand of rebels to sacrifice his trusted aide Shobha Karandlaje from the ministry and also a key official in his secretariat.

Even as Yeddyurappa began to consolidate his position, the opposition JDS accused him of nepotism and favouritism by denotifying lands and allotting lands in favour of his sons, son-in-law and other family members.

Unfazed by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s attack on him, Yeddyurappa also hit back at the JDS leader’s family levelling similar allegations against them also.

The 68-year-old Yeddyurappa faced yet another threat to his chair when 11 BJP rebels and five independents, who supported his government, shot off a letter to Governor H R Bhardwaj on October six last year, withdrawing support.

Yeddyurappa had to face floor test twice in a gap of three days between October 11-14. The Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah’s order disqualifying the rebels, was ultimately set aside by the Supreme Court during this May.

Fisher Capital Management: Market Performance – US Economy

Fisher Capital Management Report, Part 1 - Output growth exceeded what were once considered lofty expectations during the third quarter, as real GDP (inflation adjusted Gross Domestic Product) rose by a 3.5% annual pace from the previous quarter. To be sure, this was the first gain in economic activity after four consecutive quarterly declines in GDP. While technically this indicates an end to the recession, we point out that on a year-over-year (YOY) basis, economic activity has still declined 2.3%, yet it represents an improvement from the -3.8% YOY in the second quarter, the worst annual drop in seven decades.  The components of GDP were led by growth in personal consumption, which increased 3.4% as stimulus programs such as “Cash for Clunkers” allowed consumer spending to increase by the largest amount in two years. Home construction surged at an annual rate of 23%, spurred on by the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. Another decline in business inventories also added to output, as did the growth in government spending (2.3%). Though businesses increased spending on equipment and software, fixed investment remained weak.

Market Performance, US Economy: Fisher Capital Management Report - As the positive effects of federal stimuli diminish, we continue to project an economic recovery that is “less spectacular” than in previous experiences. While output growth has improved as government programs spurred consumption relative to housing and autos, our concern rests on the economy¹s ability to sustain these rates of growth as government programs wane. Indeed, personal spending fell 0.5% in September after the “Cash for Clunkers” program concluded in August. Consumer confidence also weakened in October as the unemployment rate approached 10%. Until we experience a sustainable floor in housing and a ceiling on the unemployment rate, we suspect output growth will rely on exports, inventories, and government outlays, areas that we characterize as “cushions” for growth.

Market Performance, US Economy: Fisher Capital Management Report - As the unemployment rate lingers within the range of 10% and Fed policymakers remain committed to keeping interest rates low for an “extended period,” we look for real GDP to expand at an average rate of approximately 2.5% in 2010.

Fisher Capital Management, Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world.

As a full service company Fisher Capital Management, Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

U.S. Equities: Fisher Capital Management Reports

As mentioned previously, stocks finished a volatile month in October with a volatile final week of trading, as investors began to question whether the market¹s impressive rally had surpassed the economy¹s ability to generate growth in output and profits.

To be sure, throughout the market’s impressive rebound, the technical picture for stocks gathered steam, as excess liquidity helped drive the market higher.

Fisher Capital Management, US Equities Reports: As one technical achievement passed another, we began to postulate that the market’s technicals appeared significantly better than its fundamentals.

Some of these concerns may be coming to fruition over the near term, as a few technical strengths appear to have softened in recent weeks. Indeed, as the S&P 500 Index approached the 1,100 level during the middle of October, the market ran into strong resistance, falling by approximately 5% from that high by month-end.

Fisher Capital Management, US Equities Reports: This may prove to be an important development because at 1,100, the S&P 500 was within about 20 points of achieving a 50% retracement, whereby the market could have recouped 50% of the loss from the October 2007 high of 1565 to the March 2009 low of 666. Given all the cash parked in money markets and shortterm Treasury bills, another surge or two above 1,100 is certainly possible. Yet 1,121 is a number that should be on the radar for all investors, because if it is achieved, very little technical resistance exists on the path to 1200.

In addition to the strong resistance, stocks failed to hold a key support level on the last day of October. The market’s 50-day moving average (DMA) was 1,052 heading into Halloween weekend, but investors were spooked by poor readings on personal spending and consumer confidence, resulting in a close (1,036) below the important 50- DMA level. An important test will be in the first several trading days of November to see whether or not the market can sustain its rally above this key support level.

Fisher Capital Management, US Equities Reports: This weakness was exacerbated by a surge in the market’s “fear gauge” toward the end of October. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, or VIX, which measures the cost of using options as insurance against declines in the S&P 500 Index, surged in the final few days of trading last month.

While the VIX had been at a 14-month low in the middle of October, the 25% jump at the end of the month suggests investor skittishness about market direction over the next several weeks, particularly as the catalyst of earnings season draws to a close.

Fisher Capital Management, US Equities Reports: Fortunately, the fundamental picture has brightened. Better than expected economic data suggests the possibilities for an improvement in corporate performance. Interest rates and inflation remain low, providing a healthy backdrop for corporations that have been very aggressive cutting costs from their expense structures.

Indeed, recent earnings news has been somewhat positive, with 70% of the companies in the S&P 500 Index having reported an average decline in earnings per share (EPS) of 12% for the

third quarter, exceeding expectations.

Fisher Capital Management, US Equities Reports: Given our projections for a “less spectacular” economic recovery in 2010, though, we continue to believe that consensus estimates for corporate profit growth of up to 35% next year are too high. Consequently, our operating EPS projections remain more than 12% below consensus expectations ($75.00) for 2010.

Businesses can’t cut costs forever, and at some point we believe revenue growth is a necessity to help justify valuations for a market that is already trading at a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 16 to 17 times our $65.00 estimate for next year. Until we begin to see an improvement in the longer-term trends for housing, employment, credit, sales, and profits, we suspect the market will be unwilling to pay anything more than historically average P/E multiples (16 to 17 times) for a dollar of earnings. Therefore, we continue to believe the market, as defined by the S&P 500 Index, will likely be fairly valued within the current range of 1,050 to 1,100 over the next six months.

Fisher Capital Management, Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management, Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Fisher Capital Equipment Management - Significant Progress on Dulles Metrorail

Avoid internet scams; get the latest news update from Fisher Capital Equipment Management. Construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Extension project, which is being built near Washington, D.C., is moving forward above and below ground. Crews have made significant progress on the elevated guide way structure that will carry the Metrorail over I-495, the region's primary highway, as well as Tyson’s Corner, one of the area's most congested business and retail districts. At the same time, a 2400-foot tunnel is being built under the intersection of Route 123 and International Drive as the traffic continues through Tyson’s Corner, and as the businesses and residents are going about their daily routines.

The progress of the project was highlighted on W-USA 9, a Washington, D.C. area TV station. The report featured interviews with Bechtel construction managers. Watch the video.

Construction of the project began in March 2009, with the signing of a $900 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The project is being constructed by Dulles Transit Partners, a team of Bechtel and URS, and will include five new Metro stations and 11.5 miles of new track. The project is owned and managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Fisher Capital Equipment Management - Significant Progress on Dulles Metrorail - Bechtel (BEK tl) is the world's No. 1 choice for engineering, construction, and project management.

Our diverse portfolio encompasses energy, transportation, communications, mining, oil and gas, and government services. We currently have projects in dozens of locations worldwide, from Alaska to Australia. No matter how challenging a project or how remote its location, chances are Bechtel can handle it. That's because we bring an unmatched combination of knowledge, skill, experience, and customer commitment to every job.

We have had record revenues for the past five years, and Engineering News-Record (ENR) has named Bechtel the top U.S. construction contractor for 12 straight years.

While we work for governments and commercial customers, our projects have helped grow local economies and improve the quality of life for communities and people around the world. Time and again our work has demonstrated that the only limits on human achievement are those that we place on ourselves. 

Privately owned with headquarters in San Francisco, we have offices around the world and 49,000 employees. In 2009, we had revenues of $30.8 billion and booked new work valued at $20.3 billion.

What We Do

Airports and seaports; Communications networks; Defense and aerospace facilities; Environmental cleanup projects; Fossil and nuclear power plants; Mines and smelters; Oil and gas field development; Pipelines; Roads and rail systems; Refineries and petrochemical facilities

Ethics 

Bechtel's culture is grounded in integrity and respect. This means adhering to the highest standards of ethics. Our reputation as an ethical company is one of our most valuable assets. We stand by everything we do.  

Quality

At Bechtel, quality means doing the job right the first time.  We've always delivered quality work, and we are continually striving to improve our performance through Six Sigma and other initiatives.

Safety 

Bechtel has a world-class safety program, and it pays off. Nearly 90 percent of our projects complete each year without a lost-time accident. Our philosophy is simple—every accident, and therefore every injury, is preventable. 

Fisher Capital Management Strategies: FBI Scam Alert: Online Car Sales

http://strategies.fishercapitalmanagementstrategies.com/2011/08/17/fisher-capital-management-strategies-fbi-scam-alert-online-car-sales/

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/autos/fbi-scam-alert-online-car-sales

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — The FBI issued a national scam alert Monday, warning consumers to beware of online fraudsters trying to sell them used vehicles or enrollment in a vehicle protection program.

According to the alert, the fraudsters advertise that they have a vehicle for sale on a popular website like Craigslist or eBay Motors, well below its book value. They say they are selling the vehicle for such a low price because they are in the process of moving for work or are being deployed by the military. The impending move is not only meant to justify the low price, but also the seller’s inability to meet the buyer in person and/or to refuse a vehicle inspection. Instead, they ask that the buyer wire full or partial payment to a third-party agent using Western Union or MoneyGram and to fax the payment receipt to the seller as proof of payment. However, as with other scams that involve a wire transfer, the seller pockets the money and never delivers the vehicle.

RELATED ARTICLES

FBI Scam Alert: Online Car Sales
Scam Alert: BBB Not Tied to Mystery Shopper Scheme
Grandparent Scam Gets a 2011 Update
Top Consumer Complaints of 2010
How Online Retailers Rip You Off
To make the scam appear more legitimate, fraudsters will also say that the sale is covered by a vehicle protection program offered by a legitimate company, most commonly referencing eBay Motors.

In a new twist, criminals use a live-chat feature in e-mail correspondence and electronic invoices to answer a target victim’s questions and assure them the deals are safe. They falsely assert that their sales are protected by liability insurance coverage up to $50,000.

The FBI said that while eBay Motors does offer a legitimate vehicle protection program, it does not, as cited by the scammers, cover an auto transaction conducted outside that company’s site.

The agency also said that people shopping for vehicles online should be wary of sellers who try to move the transaction from one platform to another (for example, from Craigslist to eBay Motors), transactions in which the seller and vehicle are in different locations and those where vehicles are advertised at well below their market value.

“Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” the FBI said in a press release.

Old school scams with a twist seems to be a trend amongst modern-day scammers. Earlier this month, the BBB warned consumers to beware new variations on the grandparents scam and mystery shopper scam.

The FBI has asked anyone who believes they have encountered or fallen victim to this latest scam to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Fisher Capital News: European Union Combats Pollutant Emissions from Non-Road Mobile Machinery

With such close scrutiny on pollutant emissions from road vehicles, what measures are in place to regulate emissions from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM)? Get educated, avoid scam and learn from latest news update from Fisher Capital Equipment Management Leasing.

NRMM refers to any transportable industrial equipment or vehicle with or without bodywork that is not intended to be used to carry goods or passengers on the road, in which an internal combustion engine is installed. This includes any vehicle fitted with a diesel engine and covers numerous construction vehicles and equipment such as excavators, front loaders and compressors.

Do NRMM contribute significantly to pollutant levels?

NRMM are not currently subject to as tight controls as road vehicles and investigations undertaken by the European Commission estimate that off road machinery accounts for approximately a quarter of the emissions of oxides of nitrogen and a third of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter)  emissions of mobile sources in 2000.

Oxides of nitrogen and particulates are the most significant pollutants emitted by diesel engines and are the two pollutants of most concern to the United Kingdom in terms of air quality. Oxides of nitrogen can have adverse effects on health, particularly among those with respiratory problems. In addition, they contribute to acidification, and to ground level ozone formation. Particulates are also damaging to health, particularly those suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory complaints.

What has been done to control these emissions?

Directive 97/68/EC was passed by the European Parliament and the Council of 16 December 1997 to approximate the laws of Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery. Several amendments have been made to this directive including, 2001/63/EC, 2002/88/EC, and 2004/26/EC to include technological advancements and to extend the scope of the directive to cover agricultural and forestry tractors, small spark ignition engines, locomotives and inland waterway vessels. The directive identifies the necessity to control emissions of air pollutants that have recognised health risks such as nitrogen dioxide, particulates – black smoke and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide.

How does it work?

The directive approximates laws of the Member States with regard to emission standards and has established a ''type approval' procedure for engines intended to be fitted to NRMM.  Type approval is a procedure whereby a Member State certifies that an internal combustion engine 'type' or 'family' meets the minimum technical requirements specified in the directive with regards to its level of emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants. Through certification, engine 'types' or 'families' can be approved with the assumption that, as a result of similar design, the expected exhaust emissions will comply with requirements of the directive.

What does this mean for the Construction Industry?

The Mayor of London’s 'Best Practice Guidance' already recommends minimum standards for off-road vehicles associated with increasing numbers of construction sites in London and large high profile demolition and construction sites, more commonly being asked by local planning authorities to specify exhaust emission controls for NRMM within their Construction Environmental Management plans.

In instances where the existing poor air quality exists upgrading NRMM to the latest engine 'type' or 'family', where budget allows,  can not only reduce the impact construction activities have on local air quality but also have climate change benefits through efficient / clean engine technologies.  As an alternative a range of exhaust after-treatment technologies is also available as a retrofit or as an original equipment option. Where upgrading to the latest technology or retrofit is not possible, other simple changes to on-site operations can be made to reduce the impact of NRMM. Such changes as using ultra low sulphur equivalent diesel and routinely maintaining/servicing an engine can hugely reduce levels of pollutants. Moreover, careful consideration of where to locate stationary construction plant equipment such as generators and cranes can also minimise the impact of exhaust emissions i.e. away from pedestrian walkways or areas where members of the public may be exposed for any length of time. A cost effective way that companies with sizeable stocks of NRMM can minimise their impacts on air quality at the most sensitive sites would be to distribute only there newest NRMM to sites with existing air quality issues.

With ever increasing pressure on the construction industry to tighten up their environmental practices, emissions from NRMM should not forgotten and through planned equipment renewal and on-site management companies can help protect the general public and employees against recognised health risks from air pollution and improve their environmental credentials. 

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - Stocks closed lower in October for the first time in seven months, as investors questioned whether the huge rally off the March lows had exceeded the economy’s ability to generate growth in output and profits.

Indeed, equities capped off a volatile month (the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experienced triple-digit moves in ten trading sessions!) with a volatile week, as the S&P 500 Index experienced its worst five-day span since early July.

For the month, the DJIA eked out a fractional gain, while all the other major equity market indices suffered losses. Small cap stocks, which had been among the performance leaders of the seven-month rally, experienced the worst hit, with the Russell 2000® Index falling by almost 7%. In another sign that the market may be growing skeptical of the “higher risk, higher reward” strategy, the NASDAQ Composite Index, dominated by technology holdings, declined 3.6% for the month.

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - Yet perhaps emblematic of the struggles experienced in the markets recently, growth stocks outperformed value in October, contradicting the idea that the pursuit of “risk” had become out of favor over the past several weeks. Moreover, the weakness in U.S. markets failed to extend beyond our borders last month, as developed markets (MSCI EAFE) experienced just a fractional loss, while the emerging markets (MSCI EM) managed to rise by up to 1%, adding to their impressive year-to-date (YTD) returns.

From a sector perspective, two of the three leading performers off the March lows (financials and materials) declined by the largest amounts in October, as investors appeared to lock in gains of approximately 150% for the financials sector and 75% for the materials sector. Despite the weakness in the technologyladen NASDAQ Composite last month, the higher-quality and larger-cap tech names comprising the S&P 500 Index’s information technology sector simply dropped fractionally. Rising oil prices pushed the energy sector higher by 3%, and the “defensive trade” was still evident within the consumer staples sector, which held on for a 1% gain.

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - In other asset classes, fixed-income was mixed last month. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note backed up by seven basis points, as traders likely moved funds elsewhere as the Federal Reserve concluded its $300 billion Treasury purchase program. The dollar continued to weaken, hovering near 14-month lows, which helped drive up the prices for oil, gold, and most commodities.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

New Options in Guided Boring, Fisher Capital Equipment Management Update

 The Akkerman team, continually committed to increasing the versatility of our products, recently launched several new components for our GBM line of equipment.

Fisher Capital Equipment leasing news update from different suppliers. Fisher Capital Equipment Management leasing gives you fresh events and updates on Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others to keep away from scam from Unsolicited, "Pre-Qualified credit line" mass mailings

The Powered Reaming Head (PRH) upsizing kit for its Guided Boring Machine (GBM) system was released. This GBM accessory allows owners to bore multiple pipe diameters with just one set of 11” OD (279 mm) thrust casings and augers. The base 14” (356 mm) OD PRH unit features 16” (406 mm) and 20” (508mm) OD increaser kits and corresponding pipe adapter rings to accommodate up to 20” (508 mm) OD pipe. All PRH components rest on a customized rack for ease of transport and orderliness on the job site. The PRH front and rear sections can be launched separately to accommodate minimal diameter shafts. The PRH kit performs well with all Akkerman power packs and jacking frames.

The P150Q Power Pack provides hydraulic power to the GBM jacking frame and Powered Cutter Head for smooth and efficient operation. The P150Q houses a 154 HP (115 kw) diesel engine. Its three load-sensing variable displacement axial piston pumps independently operate the jacking, rotation and PCH. It also features a 100 gal (378 L) fuel tank and 50 gal (189 L) hydraulic oil reservoirs.

The Jetting and Lubrication pump underwent a design reconfiguration for enhanced compactness. It features independent hydrostatic flow connections, bulkhead connections for pressure and return lines and an easily serviceable open/close valve on the tank outlet. Customers may choose the 3,000 rpm, 30 HP (7 kW) diesel engine or 1,750 rpm, 30 HP (7 kW) electric motor. Each 325 gal (1,230 L) tank is positioned side-by-side on a pallet-like base. The 2,500 psi (17,237 kPa) high-pressure jetting pump assists the GBM system’s excavation process by lubricating cutter bits and spoils. An in-line suction filter protects the pump from contaminants in the water. The 150 maximum psi (1,034 kPa) lubrication pump flows at 4gpm (15 L/min) and features an agitator which mixes the lubrication quickly and keeps it consistent throughout production.

For more information on these and other GBM products, please contact our friendly sales staff or an international representative.

Akkerman Inc. is positioned for sales in new markets with recently established representation in the Middle East, India, Russia and Singapore. Agreements with Trenchers Land Digging & Filling LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates, Asia Contech Ltd. of India, Intertorg Russia and ICE Far East in Singapore pioneer exciting prospects for Akkerman Inc. worldwide. Trenchers Land Digging & Filling LLC of Dubai recently facilitated the sale of a complete Guided Boring Machine (GBM) system for a Kuwait contractor. This sale denotes the first GBM system sold in the Middle East as well as the most powerful pilot tube micro tunneling configuration available. The 4812A jacking frame with 200 tons of thrust, 275T power pack, Powered Cutter Head and Jetting and Lubrication pump will install DN 300-1,000 mm pipes for drives up to 150 m long. Asia Contech Ltd. of New Delhi, providing sales and service of Akkerman equipment in India, also represents trenchless companies American Augers, ASTEC and Trencor. ICE Far East of Singapore, a south East Asia office for International Construction Equipment (ICE) will represent Akkerman in this region. Intertorg of Moscow, a US based company with expertise in the Russian trenchless market, has been a longtime dealer for Ditch Witch and previously represented Lovat, Soltau and MTS equipment.

Akkerman welcomes these organizations into its community of sales representatives. Tunnel Engineering Services in the United Kingdom, Ditch Witch of Australia, Virtual Engineering of Columbia and the Alinea Group of Mexico have been agents of Akkerman for many years. Additional representatives have been appointed in Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland, Brazil, Italy and Pakistan. For a full listing of equipment representatives, please review the “Contact Us” page on the Akkerman website.

Fisher Capital Management News: Steve Jobs pitches new Apple 'spaceship' campus to Cupertino City Council

http://www.1888pressrelease.com/fisher-capital-management-news-steve-jobs-pitches-new-apple-pr-317226.html

(1888PressRelease) July 09, 2011 - Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed plans for a new headquarters for the company that "looks a little like a spaceship" at a City Council meeting in Cupertino, Calif., on Tuesday.

In his trademark black turtleneck, jeans and gray New Balance running shoes, Jobs said at the meeting the new building would hold 12,000 employees, and even house its own green-energy power plant.
Apple's current headquarters can only hold about 2,800 people, Jobs said, according to a YouTube video of his presentation posted by the council.

"We've got almost 12,000 people in the area," he said of Cupertino. "So we're renting buildings - not very good buildings, either - at an ever-greater radius from our campus and we're putting people in those. And it's clear that we need to build a new campus."

The new facility, as Apple envisions it, would be built on about 150 acres of land that the tech giant owns down the street from its current headquarters.

Jobs said Apple's plan would involve demolishing buildings now on the site and constructing a new ring-shaped building that would be four stories tall, with four floors of parking underneath.

In the process, the project would increase landscaping to make up about 80% of the site, which is only about 20% trees, plants and grass now, he said.

On Monday, Jobs was on stage in San Francisco, revealing Apple's new iCloud service at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference. Public appearances such as the two Jobs has made this week have been rare this year as the Apple co-founder has been on a leave of absence for medical concerns since January. He also announced the iPad 2 in March at an Apple event.

"It's a little like a spaceship landed," Jobs said of the planned facility. "It's a circle, and so it's curved all the way around. As you know if you build things, this is not the cheapest way to build something. There's not a straight piece of glass on this building, it's all curved.

"And we've used our experience in making retail buildings all over the world now, and we know how to make the biggest pieces of glass in the world for architectural use."

The proposed campus wouldn't rely on Cupertino's power grid for energy. Instead, it would run from an on-site power facility.

"I think what we're going to end up doing is making the energy center our primary source of power, because we can generate power with natural gas and other ways that can be cleaner and cheaper, and use the grid as our backup," Jobs said. "We think that makes more sense."

Mayor Gilbert Wong said in a statement that Cupertino is excited that Apple is moving forward with a new campus, an idea first mentioned to the city in 2006.

"When Apple submits their building plans later this year, we know that we will be looking at a state-of-the-art facility and all the challenges and opportunities that go along with that," Wong said.

The review process for the new Apple campus will be the same as any other construction project, with evaluations of environmental impacts, air quality, traffic and other matters, he said.

"The project will come to the City Council for approval in the fall of 2012," Wong said. "Following approval, Apple can submit building permits. Construction will follow, and Apple and the city expect the new campus to be completed by 2015."

Fisher Capital Management Strategies: FBI Scam Alert: Online Car Sales

http://strategies.fishercapitalmanagementstrategies.com/2011/08/17/fisher-capital-management-strategies-fbi-scam-alert-online-car-sales/

Posted on August 17, 2011 by fcmstrategies

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/smart-spending/autos/fbi-scam-alert-online-car-sales

NEW YORK (MainStreet) — The FBI issued a national scam alert Monday, warning consumers to beware of online fraudsters trying to sell them used vehicles or enrollment in a vehicle protection program.

According to the alert, the fraudsters advertise that they have a vehicle for sale on a popular website like Craigslist or eBay Motors, well below its book value. They say they are selling the vehicle for such a low price because they are in the process of moving for work or are being deployed by the military. The impending move is not only meant to justify the low price, but also the seller’s inability to meet the buyer in person and/or to refuse a vehicle inspection. Instead, they ask that the buyer wire full or partial payment to a third-party agent using Western Union or MoneyGram and to fax the payment receipt to the seller as proof of payment. However, as with other scams that involve a wire transfer, the seller pockets the money and never delivers the vehicle.

RELATED ARTICLES

FBI Scam Alert: Online Car Sales
Scam Alert: BBB Not Tied to Mystery Shopper Scheme
Grandparent Scam Gets a 2011 Update
Top Consumer Complaints of 2010
How Online Retailers Rip You Off
To make the scam appear more legitimate, fraudsters will also say that the sale is covered by a vehicle protection program offered by a legitimate company, most commonly referencing eBay Motors.

In a new twist, criminals use a live-chat feature in e-mail correspondence and electronic invoices to answer a target victim’s questions and assure them the deals are safe. They falsely assert that their sales are protected by liability insurance coverage up to $50,000.

The FBI said that while eBay Motors does offer a legitimate vehicle protection program, it does not, as cited by the scammers, cover an auto transaction conducted outside that company’s site.

The agency also said that people shopping for vehicles online should be wary of sellers who try to move the transaction from one platform to another (for example, from Craigslist to eBay Motors), transactions in which the seller and vehicle are in different locations and those where vehicles are advertised at well below their market value.

“Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” the FBI said in a press release.

Old school scams with a twist seems to be a trend amongst modern-day scammers. Earlier this month, the BBB warned consumers to beware new variations on the grandparents scam and mystery shopper scam.

The FBI has asked anyone who believes they have encountered or fallen victim to this latest scam to file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Fisher Capital News Update on Highway Equipment Company Achieves NTEA’s MVP Status

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – October 6, 2010 – Highway Equipment Company (HECO), the manufacturer of Hi-Way® road maintenance equipment and New Leader® crop nutrient applicators is pleased to announce the achievement of the National Truck Equipment Association’s (NTEA) Member Verification Program (MVP) status. MVP participants distinguish themselves by embracing the knowledge that is necessary to provide a high level of quality while meeting certain regulatory requirements.

Fisher Capital News Update: Keep updated on recent events, press releases and latest machineries to avoid scam. FISHER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others.

The NTEA MVP recognizes distributors, manufacturers and up-fitters for implementing quality business practices and for complying with specific government safety regulations. Criteria to meet the MVP standards can involve liability insurance, warranty programs, vehicle and employee certification, safety policies and quality assurance. By qualifying for the MVP, members can gain an even higher industry designation by verifying their commitment to excellence. MVP companies attest that their firm operates at a defined level of professionalism through the use of quality-minded business practices. “HECO’s status as an NTEA MVP demonstrates our on-going commitment to safety and professional excellence in the work place,” said Ingrid Livingston, executive director – marketing. “It is our dedication to these factors that allow us to manufacture high-quality products that increase our end-user’s return-on investment."

Since NTEA launched the MVP in 2005, a total of 416 distributor and manufacturer members have qualified for MVP status.

Highway Equipment Company is the leading manufacturer of New Leader crop nutrient applicators and Hi-Way deicing spreaders and road maintenance equipment. The company is committed to building innovative equipment and delivering superior customer service to ensure consistent and reliable experiences for our customers and business partners. 

Highway Equipment Company is the leading manufacturer of Hi-Way deicing spreaders and road maintenance equipment, New Leader agricultural spreaders and Flow Boy processed road building material transportation equipment. Our customer base ranges from municipalities and contractors to agricultural custom applicators and growers. We also produce products for many original equipment manufacturers.

For nearly 70 years, our goal has been to build the highest quality equipment to the most exacting specifications and expectations. Every component of every product we offer is carefully designed to last. By using heavier gauge steel, high end components, a superior paint system and consistent manufacturing processes, our quality shines through in everything we produce. And, most of the products are designed and modified by our in-house engineering department.

Our philosophy of "building the best" also extends to our large network of dealers. Each authorized dealer has been fully trained to provide a total sales and service experience for the customer. An on-site training center is dedicated specifically to sales and service training.

For more information, please contact your local dealer or company representative.

Established in 1939, Highway Equipment Company is a leading manufacturer of New Leader® crop nutrient applicators for the agricultural industry, and Hi-Way® deicing spreaders and road maintenance equipment for state, federal, and municipal entities, as well as for private contractors. New Leader and Hi-Way products are distributed through more than 200 dealers throughout North America and around the world. Highway Equipment Company is a privately owned business located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information please visit our web site at www.highwayequipment.com.

Fisher Capital: Save with eLease Construction Equipment Leasing

Leasing construction equipment for your company is a superb choice. Recent industry statistics tell us that well over $3 billion worth of construction equipment are leased each year by companies in the United States alone. Business managers choose to lease construction equipment or get commercial truck leasing because of the inherent advantages offered by leasing, such as superb flexibility, custom payment structures, better asset management, stable cash flow, easy upgrades and flexible end of term options. Not to mention the short processing times, which are generally much faster than that of bank loans? At eLease Equipment Leasing, we have helped thousands of construction companies and contractors lease the necessary equipment for their businesses to succeed. We also offer various forms of business auto leasing as well. Contact us immediately to get experienced advice on financing. Avoid possible scams on equipment lease applications, learn from us.  

Construction Equipment Lease Types

We lease a variety of heavy and construction equipment to our clients. These items have included products as diverse as: Backhoes/Bulldozers; Cranes; Cement Trucks; Compactors; Excavators; Jackhammers; Lighting; Surveying Equipment; Trucks and Tractors

Construction Equipment Leasing Facts

Leasing enables you to customize a financing program to address your business' cash flow issues, including budgeting, transaction and cyclical fluctuations. Many of our construction company clients require seasonal leases, as an example, which help them to slot payments into their busiest months, and avoid payments during the off-season.

Equipment leasing is an excellent way to grow your business without significant out of pocket expenses. Leasing offers real advantages including better value, more convenience and greater control. In most cases, the full amount of the equipment, as well as the service, shipping, installation costs and maintenance can be included in the lease. This spreads the cost out evenly over the term of the lease freeing up your money to work harder for you. Currently, 35% of all equipment is leased. Learn more about equipment leasing and how it can help your business.

Founded in 1995, Paragon Capital began as a traditional leasing company focused on the high tech industry. Born of a desire to provide a faster, more comprehensive cost effective solution for businesses equipment leasing needs, eLease is a combination of the most powerful leasing brand, the best-of-breed leasing technology of Lease Exchange, and the industry experience of Paragon Capital. eLease's web interface empowers corporations of all sizes to increase the efficiency of their business with instant approvals, documentation and administration using a common Internet browser interface. eLease's application suite provides unprecedented sharing of information and services between leasing parties increasing the time to funding.

eLease's online application enables customers and vendors to dynamically enter an application, receive an instant approval and manage documents online completing the leasing process in minutes instead of weeks. Created on a commitment to speed and service, eLease's technology constantly innovates the leasing process using technology to evolve and improve the services available to businesses in need of equipment finance.

Rockland Equipment for Crawler Tractors

Fisher Capital News Update: Keep updated on recent events, press releases and latest machineries to avoid scam.

FISHER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others.

Rockland equipment for crawler tractors is specifically designed for special applications. This enables you to get more work done and add more value to the bottom line every day. Rockland Manufacturing Company offers more equipment for crawler tractors than any other attachment manufacturer. There are special dozer blades to increase machine efficiency for such diverse applications as pushing coal, land reclamation, dozing woodchips, and landfill dozing. In addition, special size Angle Blades and Semi U-blades are also available when OEM blades are not the right size for your application.

A Rockland wheel tractor attachment is the Rockland Scoop Dozer. The scoop dozer is ideal for continuous dozing applications such as coal and woodchips. Both Rockland Coal Scoops and Rockland Woodchip Scoops have increased dozer productivity on job sites around the world.

Rockland land clearing equipment for dozers is famous for both productivity and years of trouble free operation. Whether it would be land clearing blades or land clearing rakes, Rockland land clearing equipment gets the job done and has proven itself on every continent. If you are clearing land with a Rockland Dozer Blade, a Rockland land clearing rake, Rockland Shear Blade, or a Rockland V-Blade, we will turn your crawler tractor into a true land clearing machine.

Fisher Capital News Update: Keep updated on recent events, press releases and latest machineries to avoid scam.

FISHER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others.

In the early 60's, Rockland designed and built the world's largest dozer blade. This was a joint venture between Gulf Oil Company, Fiatallis, and Rockland. This sixty foot monster was designed for a reclamation project and was pushed by two powerful HD41 Fiatallis crawler tractors! Click here to see a photo of it leaving our factory.

For over sixty years, we have designed and manufactured construction equipment for dozers, loaders, excavators, and motor graders. Every Rockland product is designed for a specific application and is guaranteed to improve machine productivity.

During those sixty years, Rockland made several unique contributions to the construction equipment industry. We helped prove that wheel loaders could handle shot rock by designing and manufacturing the first spade nose rock bucket ever put in a quarry.

The unique Rockland RF-3 Rake was proven and patented in the late 50's. This was the first land clearing rake to have both reversible and adjustable teeth. We then amazed the construction equipment industry by offering the first lifetime guarantee. We guaranteed the RF-3 for life against any failure from defective design, materials, or workmanship and that even included bent teeth! Click here for a picture of one of our first rakes!

Soon after introducing the RF-3, we introduced lifetime warranties for both HDS and HDV rock buckets with the same powerful lifetime coverage against defective design, material, or workmanship.

In the early 60's, we designed and built the world's largest dozer blade. This was a joint venture between Gulf Oil Company, Fiatallis, and Rockland. This sixty foot monster was designed for a reclamation project and was pushed by two powerful HD41 Fiatallis crawler tractors. Click here to see a picture of it leaving the factory.

We were the very first allied equipment manufacturer to provide a toll free 800 number for our customers. Today, it's accepted practice.

In an industry plagued by broken promises and late deliveries, Rockland was the first, and is still, the only construction equipment manufacturer that puts cash on the line and guarantees ship dates!

During the past decade, Rockland set the standard for excavator thumb design. We were the first to offer narrow thumbs for common sense 3-point pickup. We were the first to offer thumbs ready to install - all that is needed is to weld the mounting plate to the bottom of the stick. We were the first to offer lubricated and sealed pivot points. Then, we were the first to offer a hydraulic thumb with a cylinder rod guard. These were followed by the patented Rockland Thumb Lock that eliminates down drift.

As thumbs for backhoes became more popular, we introduced the Smart Thumb - the world's only rigid strut thumb with hydraulic clamping action that is easily removed or installed in less than a minute.

We also proved to the world that stump splitters don't need to be expensive - we proved that you can split stumps without an expensive auxiliary cylinder, and that all it takes is to use the tremendous force of the curl cylinder to split wood.

This all adds up to the fact that we are a can-do company that has been "doing" for over sixty years. We built our business with an old fashioned commitment to quality and customer service. These comments sum it up:

"We have over forty years experience with Rockland. Their pricing is fair. We've always been amazed at their consistency and dependability. Their after sales support and warranty policies are excellent." - Alabama Dealer

"We insist on Rockland log grapples. We've been using them for over twenty-five years. We tried a few others and found out real quick that low price is really a caution light. We know that Rockland grapples work and if something goes wrong, we can depend on Rockland to give us the support we deserve." - Tennessee Logger

"We've sold Rockland rock buckets for the past several years. We've never had a weld fail or a bucket problem because of poor fit or misalignment. Rockland buckets prove themselves, our customers are well satisfied." - Pennsylvania Dealer

"If a Rockland product doesn't fit, there is something wrong with the machine! - South Carolina Distributor

FISHER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT NEWS DIRECTORY

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Fisher Capital Management News Directory: Internet Explorer IQ study was a hoax

09
AUG 2011

Fisher Capital Management News

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/08/internet-explorer-iq-study-hoax.html

August 3, 2011 |  2:43 pm

A study that suggested Internet Explorer users were not as smart as those using other Web browsers is apparently a fake, according to the person that initially distributed it.

In a statement on its website, Aptiquant said it “was set up in late July 2011 by comparison shopping website AtCheap.com in order to launch a fake ‘study’…. The main purpose behind this hoax was to create awareness about the incompatibilities of IE6, and not to insult or hurt anyone.”

The company, Aptiquant, doesn’t exist, according to a separate statement on its website.

A man identifying himself as the owner of Atcheap.com said he was behind the hoax. “It was just a joke, and I didn’t really mean to insult anybody,” he said.

On Wednesday, BBC reported that images of the company’s staff were copied from another website: “Thumbnail images of the firm’s staff on the website also matched those on the site of French research company Central Test, although many of the names had been changed,” the BBC said.

The BBC said readers raised questions regarding the study, and the news organization had a security consultant inspect source material after questions arose. “It’s obviously very easy to create a bogus site like this — as all phishers know it’s easy to rip off someone else’s web pages and pictures,” Graham Cluley, a senior security consultant at Sophos, told BBC.

The study was widely reported by numerous media outlets, including this one.