IT MIGHT BE. SOMETHING is interfering, periodically, with Radio Valencia's ability to provide continuity in presenting its shows. Of course, in the case of Ask Dr. Hal! there can be no continuity, because there are no shows. Only reruns, like this one from back in March 24th, 2017. But what afflicts SAM? (The SAM Computer that rules "RV" these days, not poor old Republican-infested "Uncle Sam.") Perhaps, indeed, computer-loving mites just might be the culprits. We're just sayin'. If only the late Pete Goldie were still around-- a specialist in such matters. It's too bad he "bugged" certain volatile members of the Secret board of Directors. What Mite be a computer-loving might? Remotely diagnosing this arthropod Apocalypse, we have a possible malfeaser. This would be a species in the family Acaridae, genus Tyrophagus. These aren't Hemiptera, aren't insects at all, actually-- more like extremely miniaturized spiders. One of the most common mites found in homes or other buildings, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, sometimes called the "mold mite," will feed on a wide range of organic materials. They tend to be a pallid white, somewhat oblong in shape, and have long, stringy body setae. They can be part of the normal "house dust fauna" and may be a minor source for House-Dust Allergy (HDA). They’re fairly desiccation-tolerant, as mites go. Their little bodies can be quite moist. Inside a computer's housing, well, their wee persons and their excreta and wee-wee can cause micro-short-circuits-- and macro-disruptions-- of the hardware. Just like in the revised THX-1138. We can accept this as an excuse without being mad at anybody for being recalcitrant about getting the Station out of Limbo. Yeah... put the blame on "bugs."