Still obsessed

Even after a mudslide in the United States that may have killed more than 100 people--apparently in a place built by people with knowledge that a massive landslide would one day likely occur in the area--the nation's news organizations are still obsessed with the mystery surrounding one disappearing plane.

BREAKING NEWS: MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT 370

NEW 'OBJECTS' IN NEW FLIGHT 370 SEARCH AREA

Change based on radar analysis

After the search for Flight 370 debris moved 680 miles to the northeast, a plane takes images of "objects." Those will be analyzed in Australia. FULL STORY

• Brother's text back to airline: F--- you
• Still mystery in 1977 Malaysia crash
• New search is closer to Australia  
• Partner: My world is upside down  

Of course I understand why this story is "newsworthy" but the level of coverage has been nothing less than astounding, especially considering how many people die (and are killed) from other causes that never make the news.

This is a reminder of one of the main points of the book: The media focus on some things and not others, directly impacting the things that people think about, worry about, and fear (and the things they don't).