The story of the “outbreak” aboard the MV Hondius has had international repercussions. In short, two passengers died aboard, a third one dying shortly after disembarking, from what authorities think is Andes Hantavirus. This disease is normally contracted by touching something contaminated with rodent feces and then ingesting the contaminated residue, similar to food poisoning. 

Alan Greenspan’s death at the age of 100 brings to mind another economist who was born in the same year as Greenspan, but who died in 1995. I of course refer to Murray Rothbard, and the contrast between these men of similar backgrounds is striking. In brief, Rothbard was a person of integrity and Greenspan was not.

I may be reproached for violating the maxim to speak only good of the dead, but about this maxim, Laurence Sterne had some apt words: