Television sleeping pill, American addiction to crime fiction

This is a doubleheader. Two articles.

ARTICLE ONE: Using television as a sleeping pill

Some years ago, I realized I could use television as a sleeping pill.

I experimented with the news. The results were mixed. If I were watching a story about the need to vaccinate millions of people, I would come fully awake and mutter curses at the screen. Vile curses. But if an anchor intoned, “An administration spokesperson told…” I was out like a light.

All in all, the news was a bad bet.

Of course, no matter what I was watching, the volume had to be low. I found just the right level. I could hear some but not all words. It was effective.

Around 2AM, certain channels switch to infomercials. The best sleeping pills were pitchmen selling coins to collectors and Cindy Crawford dealing her skin rejuvenation potions. However, sometimes the pitchmen suddenly came on too loud, and the light in Cindy’s studio was too bright and harsh. I thought the sun was out and it was time to roll out of bed.