Ads used to be here

'Better Luck' This Weekend
April 2003

Old Memories, a New Museum
March 2003

'Twixt Teen and Michael Jackson
February 2003

In a Confused State of Mind
January 2003

In the Trenches with Trent, Jon Lovitz, and Johnny Rivers
December 2002

The Pioneering Performers of The Forbidden City
November 2002

A Letter to Writers, and How the Wiest was Won
October 2002

A Singing Career? I Think Not.
September 2002

Sheryl Crow: All She Wants to Do is Have Some Lunch
August 2002

Bruce Springsteen: Still the Boss
July 2002

Commencement Speech at Thurgood Marshall College
July 2002

A Senior Moment and a Reunion with a Pop Star
June 2002

We Love New York, Part 2002
May 2002

A Flick, a Rock Fantasy, and An Alternative to the Laptop
Apr 2002

March Madness, the Musical, and a Joint Effort with Willie Nelson
Mar 2002

Bringing in 4700 with a Parade of Wild Horses
Feb 2002

Taking a Q from Quincy Jones - It's His Party
Feb 2002

Asian American Males on TV: Old News is Bad News
Dec, 2001

Life's Lessons from a DJ and a Songwriter
May 2001

Gawk and Roll at the Hall of Fame
Apr 2001

Shakin' It Up at Harvard
Mar 2001

Creole Ladies and Crazy Times Down in New Orleans
Feb 23, 2001

A Parade of Dragons, Lions, Serpents -- and Strippers?
Feb 5, 2001

Subject: hi from taiwan
Date:3/30/2003 7:26:27 AM Pacific Standard Time
From: aiyo
To: fongtorres@asianconnections.com

Mr. Fong-Torres, Hi! I'm a senior in high school at Taipei American School and I'm in the middle of reading your autobiography, The Rice Room.

It is so easy to relate to, having lived the first ten years of my life in California and moved to Taiwan in 6th grade.

Like you, I hope to do something in college that is music-related (more in producing/engineering more than anything else) but may also probe into other fields. I really admire your success story, and actually there are other kids who have graduated from our school who have gone into the music industry (for example, the senior international marketing director for RCA Records).

Your recollections are so amazing in that they are written in such detail. Your book is so enjoyable, and it's hard to imagine how difficult it must be for you to open up about your personal life.

I'll be doing a presentation on your autobiography...so let's see how that goes!

Sincerely,

Austin

Previous Ben's Mail Bag:

To a Would-Be Writer
A Graduate's Thoughts