Topic: Black Plague

The historical context of the Dutch Tulip Craze of the 1630s is re-examined, highlighting that the crash was driven by the invention of contract-based trading rather than the flowers themselves. The peak of the speculation coincided with the Black Plague, which killed many primary traders and left the market in the hands of inexperienced successors. This led to a 1637 bailout where trades could be unwound for a 10% fee.

A report in the Journal of Environmental Law suggests that the European Union may require cats to be tethered outdoors to protect biodiversity. This leads to a discussion on the historical role of cats in controlling rodent populations, specifically during the Black Death. One host shares an anecdote about a neighborhood mouse infestation that occurred after a local feral cat colony was removed.

A significant outbreak of the plague in Madagascar has reportedly spread to several African nations, including South Africa and Kenya. The discussion links the timing of the outbreak to shipping routes on the "New Silk Road" and predicts a familiar media cycle involving TSA warnings and vaccine development. The Marburg virus is also mentioned as a related concern in the region.

Former Dutch central banker Nout Wellink compared Bitcoin to the 17th-century "Tulip Mania" bubble. Historical analysis suggests the tulip crash in 1637 was exacerbated by the Black Plague, which killed many primary traders and left the market to inexperienced successors. The comparison focuses on the shift from trading physical commodities to trading speculative contracts.

Reports from Ukraine suggest a highly lethal respiratory illness, referred to as N1N1, is causing widespread fatalities. The hosts link the outbreak to the presence of a Baxter International research and development lab in the country. They suggest the situation in Ukraine represents a true pandemic compared to the milder H1N1 cases elsewhere.