Was he my first virtual friend? I think he was. This photo is from the summer of 1996 when I came to the Bay Area for a visit before I moved there. Bruce used to send me emails about what he thought about iranian.com soon after it was launched. And if you've followed Bruce's writings in the past decade and a half, you know he does not mince words. He'll tell you exactly what he thinks. But he's most sincere and that's why I always listened to him. I didn't always agree, but I listened. He was always helpful. Still is. Talk to him one afternoon and he'll give you a hundred original ideas many of them very good. His Rostam comic book series were just the tip of this man's iceberg. And he lovvvvves chelokabab. I think we've met more times at Iranian restaurants than anywhere else.