DEAR SUN SPOTS: You mentioned that your “in box” was getting thin. I have a couple of questions that I wanted to ask you but felt they were too inconsequential to take up your valuable time and space in Sun Spots just to satisfy my curiosity. Since you requested letters, I’ll ask them, but if they are too trivial, don’t bother with them.

Two of my questions concern Channel 6 WCSH-TV. The first of November, Lee Nelson and Todd Gunther (both on the morning news and weather) announced that they weren’t going to shave during the whole month of November in order to bring about awareness of pancreatic cancer. Todd grumbled a bit and said that his wife would not approve, but he’d go along with it. Their beards seemed to be coming along nicely.

Sometime about the third week of the month I missed the program for various reasons for about three days. Guess what! When I started watching again (before Thanksgiving) no more beards with no explanation! I wonder why they didn’t finish out the month which still had a couple more weeks to go. Did they get too itchy, did Todd’s wife complain too much, or what?

When there are commercials on the news, Channel 6 broadcasts several different videos of animals — goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, and hens — doing comical antics. The video of the hens shows hens going in and out of 10 boxes lined up stacked one on top of the other with five across. In the upper-right-hand box and the lower-left-hand box, there is some other creature in each. I have tried to figure out what they are. One has a large beak and huge eyes (it’s not a hen!), and the other is something white. Both move around a bit in its respective box but don’t come out. Perhaps you can find out what they are. I surely can’t decipher them.

And finally, since television went digital a few years ago, I have not been able to get TV reception, even trying most every kind of antenna. It hasn’t bothered me much because I really care only about the news and weather which I can get (most of the time) on my computer and besides, I have the Sun Journal to read every morning.

See what I mean about silly, trivial questions! However, I would really be grateful to know the answers!

I hope that you and Mr. Sun Spots had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will have a blessed holiday season. — M.E.P. via email

ANSWER: As readers can probably tell my M.E.P.’s closing, he sent this letter long ago. Sun Spots has been emailing back and forth with Debbie at WCSH who said she didn’t know the answers but would try to get someone to answer, but alas, Sun Spots fears she will never get a response. Perhaps one of her readers, who undoubtedly watch more network news than she does (none!), will remember these events and be able to help.

As to the second part of the question about TV reception, Sun Spots guesses that M.E.P. has an older, analog TV. If so, he needs a digital converter box to allow his analog TV to display the digital signals coming over the airwaves. These converters are available in electronics stores/departments and online. 

When the conversion to digital first took place, the government offered a discount, and Sun Spots got her box then. She is not sure what they cost now, but eBay might be a good place to look for a deal. A new digital TV should net the same result — if her guess about the problem is accurate.

Sun Spots does not think M.E.P.’s questions are too trivial. If they were trivial, they’d be easy to answer, and she struck out on at least two of them!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A ladies’ rhinestone pin in the shape of a “C” was found in the parking lot of Central Maine Eye Care. The phone number there is 207 784-1814. It is waiting at the front desk for the owner’s retrieval. — Receptionist via email

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected].