At a convention in California about 20 years ago, I found myself with some free time. The sessions were over, and the cocktail party wouldn’t take place for another two hours. I turned on the TV in my hotel room.

A local channel was focused on a slow-speed car chase in the City of Angels. The suspect traversed freeways and local roads, weaving in and out of lanes, being pursued at a distance by several police cars moving slowly.