Day June 13, 2008

Senators got special low cost Countrywide loans

Senators Dodd and Conrad are among the government officials who scored V.I.P. loans from C.E.O. Angelo Mozilo. Countrywide CEO Mozilo personally ok’ed the loan terms too and the senators (and other politically connected people) received better deals than ordinary homeowners.…

Ireland rejects EU treaty

Irish voters have rejected the EU’s Lisbon Treaty which must be ratified by all member states. In a bizarre coincidence, Ireland was the only country to call a referendum on the treaty. Um, and why didn’t the other countries allow…

Iowa. Black Swan flood

“We are seeing a historic hydrological event taking place with unprecedented river levels occurring,” said Brian Pierce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Davenport. “We’re in uncharted territory — this is an event beyond what anybody could even…

Ethanol from landfill waste

This BlueFire Ethanol video is maybe a bit heavy on the self-promotion, but explains clearly how ethanol can be produced from landfill waste, which is a double win because you get the ethanol and it frees up space in the…

Cellulosic ethanol plant opens

A demonstration cellulosic ethanol refinery capable of creating 1.4 million gallons a year of ethanol from sugar cane waste has opened in Louisiana. It’s built by Verenium who plans new plants producing 20-30 million gallons a year.