Why do so many restaurants have televisions these days? Partly, I blame the flat-screen TV. The logistical challenge of mounting numerous cathode-ray television sets has been overcome by the shape and weight of the newer versions. Still, this trend of no-diner-left-undistracted precedes flat screens. Have you noticed nobody truly watches them? Often, mercifully, the sound of the televisions in public houses will be muted, which just leaves a flickering screen on some random channel, broadcasting meaningless images. Still the meaningless images are difficult to ignore—at least for infants and for me. It’s the worst of both worlds.