Monthly Archives: January 2013

The Irish Independent,today reports that the Government may sell Irish Life to the owner of Canada Life Insurance, Great West Lifeco, “within months”.

You may recall a previously planned sale to Great West Lifeco, which bid €1.1billion for Irish Life, was called off in November 2011.

The collapse in talks was largely blamed on market volatility in the eurozone at the time.

But of course potential buyers had raised concerns surrounding the implications of any investigation into Irish Life’s role in the €7.2billion ‘window dressing’ loans between Irish Life Permanent and Anglo Irish Bank.

Loans which, it is understood, were approved by the former secretary general at the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff (above), who is now working at the European Court of Auditors.

So presumably the purchasers are satisfied there will be no legal action arising out of these loans. And Kevin can go back to his waffles in peace.

Anyone?

Previously: Kevin’s Gate: The Back To Back Loans

(Mark Stedman/Photocall ireland)

The Dead Pigeon On A Branch That Looks Like Ireland (Tadhg O’Halloran)

Today marks the first day of production on the Broadsheet Book Of Things That Look Like Ireland (New Island).

We hope to have it unsold and existential on all good bukeshelves by March 17.

We have chosen Aware as the recipient of any proceeds should the book make anything that looks like money.

Aidan Coughlan, whose US election night bike wheel theft moved many of our readers last year, and researcher Elaine Herbert, a keen student of cartography, head up the book’s editing and publication team.

If you have any last minute unspecified things that look like Ireland Aidan and Elaine would love to hear from you. Images to  ireland@broadsheet.ie

Previously; So, We Had This Idea For A Buke


Some of the more eye-catching concepts generated by an industrial design competition in the US organised by Hankook Tyres, which invited students to re-imagine the role of tyres in automotive design.

The winning entry by University of Cincinnati student Ben Zavala was the three-part Tiltread tyre, which adapts to roll into corners at an angle.

awesomer/wimp

PaleoBarefoots by Gost, whose managing director Jörg Peitzker believes that ‘because the feet contain many nerve endings, they are an important part of our sensory system that has been nullified by stifling modern footwear’.

The minimalist shoes cost €200, offer protection from sharp edges, rocks and twigs and are apparently quite comfortable for, you know, metal booties.

likecool/gizmag