Some readers' comments come via Gazette Web page By JIM SCHUH of The Gazette Over time, I have learned that people actually read The Gazette, and a few even do so on the Internet. I think they find it by going to a search engine and misspelling "gazelle." Jack Bryer of Grafton, Vt., related that his wife and son recalled seeing an ad somewhere for a compact disc player you could use in the shower. Jack said they thought it might be "the coolest Christmas gift of all time." They just couldn't remember what it was called. So Jack got onto the Internet, pulled up a search engine, and typed in "CD player NEAR shower." Up popped a column I had written about useless appliances and sure enough, it included the name of the place to get one. (My column also mentioned digital toasters.) Jack wrote, "Thanks to you, we found out the thing we were looking for was called a 'CD Shower Companion' and was available through Sharper Image. As a result of your column, we are $200 poorer and my son's musical life is, arguably, that much richer." He added, "We'll report in a few months to tell you if the thing violently shorts out." I had to wait only 'til the day after Christmas to hear from Jack again. "As my son opened up his gift yesterday, he had a glazed look (even more glazed than the one I expected from a college kid/night hawk who had not recovered from his finals and who had been rousted from bed at 6:30 by his kid sisters to go look under the tree). I knew immediately that my wife and I had wasted two C-notes on a gift that was destined to gather dust in the bottom of his bureau. He smiled at me awkwardly. Several hours later, I asked him if you had been right, after all. He said, 'Well dad, college is kind of funny. We have this big open common shower area. It's just not exactly the kind of place where you hang out while the music's playing. I try to get in and out as fast as I can.' Good point. I wonder if he needs to toast bread." * * * I've also heard from Gene Mueller, one-half of the popular morning broadcast team "Reitman and Mueller" at WKTI in Milwaukee. Gene worked for Gary Wescott and me in the WSPT radio newsroom back in the 1970s, during and after his UW-SP days. I have said many times that Gene has the sharpest wit of anyone I've ever met. He also is a very good journalist. Gene wrote a while back to say he's been keeping up on things via the online Gazette, and in his inimitable way, commented on my rantings about local TV news: "I, too, think television people are media vermin and that the only true electronic journalists (who) reside in radio (are) ... those who earned their reportorial chops at WSPT in the mid to late 70s. The rest aren't worth (much)." He used a different word. Gene also added a few jabs at a couple local luminaries, asking, "Is Gary Wescott still Mayor for Life? Is Gene Kemmeter completely bald, or is he still sporting that half - comb-over?" But he's not totally acerbic. After George Rogers received an award this past summer from the St. Michael's Hospital Foundation, Gene wrote, "Nice piece on George Rogers - I especially relate to my days as a cub reporter in Point, where sitting with George at committee meetings was as much a part of the deal as was (listening to) Jim Feigleson. George always took the time to clue the greenhorns in - even though it wasn't even close to being part of his job description. It's great to see him get what he so richly deserves, although I can't imagine he's reveling in the spotlight." Before his morning show traveled to Sydney, Australia, for the Olympics, Gene wrote, "I hope no one changes the locks around here while I'm gone. I hear they do that in radio." They often do, indeed. But they wouldn't dare do it to Gene. * * * If you have any thoughts to pass along, I'd love to hear from you. Write to me at the Gazette, Post Office Box 146, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Or e-mail me at jpschuh@excite.com. * * * What do people look for when they search the Web? Dirty pictures? A recent report says that while pornography is among the subjects, it's certainly not the main one. The top search last year was for information and pictures of singer Britney Spears. Then came Dragonball Z, Pokemon, the World Wrestling Federation and the pop group 'N Sync. Other top search objects include Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Lopez, Playstation 2 and Eminem (pronounced like M&M). If you have no idea what some of the topics are, you must be old like me. But the Super Bowl halftime producers were on top of things, when they featured Britney and 'N Sync. You may reach Jim Schuh at The Gazette, or by e-mail at jpschuh@excite.com.