Shattered Silk, 1986

This isn't really "dated death" (although there is much from 1986 that doesn't exist today, and vice versa) but I just thought this was interesting.

On page 162 of the paperback edition.

She was relieved to be able to settle for the late news. Forest fires in the Western states, drought in the Northeast, tornadoes in the midwest; breakdown of the arms talks, plane crashes, riots, and murders. But the giant pandas were making love. Thank God for the pandas.

Substitute floods for drought, and what was going on in 24 years ago is still going on today.

We don't hear much about the Giant Pandas today, though...but perhaps Kung Fu Panda 2?