‘Fidel Castro Killed by Rumors, Again’

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Go ahead, Google this: ‘Fidel Castro,’ ‘rumors” and ‘death’ and see what pops up.

Yes, the Internet, that virtual bastion of unverified dispatches, is once again frantically aflutter with “news” that the ailing 83-year-old former Cuban president may have died.

“Rumors of Fidel Castro’s Death Swirl Around Miami,” says one headline. Oops, that’s from 2007.

“Rumors of Castro’s Death May or May Not Be Greatly Exaggerated” says another. Argh, 2004.

“Fidel Castro’s Death Rumor Denied.’ Wait. Right year, wrong month — January 2009 — but at least it attempts to set the record straight.

Finally, one posted yesterday on Discovery News, “Fidel Castro Killed by Rumors, Again,” displayed a refreshing amount of skepticism as it ran down present and past reports of Castro’s rumored death all the way back to 1986.

“With so many crying wolf for so long,” wrote Talal Al-Khatib on the Discovery News site, “when the former Cuban leader finally passes away, will anyone actually believe it?”

-- Valerie J. Nelson