My No. 1 anti-fan strikes again!

The leader of the "I Hate Mariel" club, sent another missive. Here it is:

I'm curious why you run columns written by Mariel Garza this section.
The obvious answer would be you want different view points; but can't
you please up the standards a bit? Recently she wrote a shallow and
moronic opinion that the Salsa dance is the solution to our social
ills. Now she tops that with her sappy, syrupy, and delusional views on
the "Sex and the City" show. I would assume this person may be a young
intern that you're trying to give a break to, except she appears to be
35-40 by her photo. Regardless, her columns seem more appropriate for
the comics section. Letters from your readers are much more intelligent
and inciteful.

Thank you,

Rich Dunchak


I do NOT look 40. The nerve!!!

So long to "Sex and the City"

Here's my ode to the series.

Only one reader comment so far: "At least Ozzie and Harriet had a moral objective. Selfishness and egotism are not values.'' It will make sense after your read the column.

News flash

Oh, also -- for those of you living in the Los Angeles city limits. The Daily News now has home delivery over the hill. Imagine the joy of waking up to the glaring headlines each morning, such as "Valley Lawmakers on Top"! Can't beat that.

It's a new column!!

Sorry for the tardiness!

Click HERE for the lastest column on "glitzy schmooze campaigns" funded by public dollars to affect public opinion. Just a tad creepy!

Also, for more fun, check out LaObserved.com, and scroll down to Sunday. There is a an item on the column titled "Garza takes a stand." Indeed. For even more fun, click on the comments to see what kind of nit-pickers make up the LA media punditry.

Stay tuned for next Sunday's column on the end of Sex and the City.

Ohio (hearts) salsa

The Daily News sends stuff out on the NY Times wire. Occasionally my stories, and now columns, are picked up by papers in odd places across the country, like Houston and Gallup, N.M. Apparently the salsa column was picked up by the Cinncinnati Enquirer according to Cincinnati reader Dr. Mitch Shapiro. He wrote me to tell me about a salsa-related workout craze sweeping his hometown called Zumba.

Salsa saves the world
Here is a link to my lastest column about salsa dancing. In case you don't get it, as the reader who sent me the nasty note below, this is supposed to be light and whimsical.

I get a lot of notes from readers, most are nice and complimentary, sometimes offering tips or making suggestions for other columns. But sometimes I guess I hit a nerve, even though my columns are generally light and meant to inspire chuckles. Those generally verge on the "you're-just-a-stupid-girl" or "you're-just-a-stupid-ethnic-person" rants. Sometimes I even get both!

Here's the most recent one:
"I'm guessing your silly, simplistic article was meant to be humorous,
or else a plug for some of your friends' local bars.

If you were the slightest bit serious then you are incredibly naive,
which doesn't surprise me. You see, first generations born here from
immigrants are just so damn happy to be here they believe any major
problems can be "solved" by getting boozed up and going dancing. Much,
much easier than diversity training and cultural sensitivity seminars!

I'm speaking from experience. I grew up back east and all the Slavs and
Poles used to think the same way about the Polka back there. They'd get
boozed up and dance through the wee hours all weekends. Then it was back
to their non-thinking jobs in the mills and the mines, much like your
people out here in the fields. Your implying that dancing can be more
beneficial than education is truly shallow and ludicous.

Keep your article for your children or grandchildren to read. I think
they'll find it as amusing as I did!

Rich"

Ha! My people in the fields?

Another column on the super bowl is here.