AA 587
used to be, when i'd hear a report of a major plane crash, i would almost involuntarily go into Breaking News Mode: intensely focused, thinking about nothing but gathering up all of the elements for the story at hand, and keeping an eye and an ear on everything possible relating to said story.

i heard about the crash of american flight 587 when i got in the car to come to work this morning. listened for a few minutes, felt myself going into Breaking News Mode. listened a minute longer, determined, "hmm, that sounds like an accident" ... and then punched the button for ESPN radio. they were talking about mark mcgwire. i left the radio there.

i wonder if i'll ever go into Breaking News Mode ever again.