I am a freelance journalist who has been 'lurking' on your list for about six months now. I have a great interest in cryptography and the mathematics behind cyphers. I write a weekly column about computers and the Internet in a small town newspaper in Brantford Ontario. I was particularly interested in the SSL crack that took place recently and I wrote an article about the feat and talked about some of the implications of this use of the Internet. In previous articles I have spoken about the need for widespread, strong, cryptography to both protect personal privacy and to aid secure business communications. I have been following the debate about a Cypherpunk spokesperson with some interest and I thought that I would throw in my two cents worth (2.5 cents Canadian! :-}) It is always difficult to get a group of strong individualists to agree to a common cause or to allow one person to become a spokesman for the group. Such a position grants a certain amount of 'power', for lack of a better word, to such a person. I think that there is no need for such a person. Each of us has a different point of view that, while sharing some common ideas, cannot be reconciled with any 'official' position. I think that the accomplishments of the group speak volumes and have no fear, the public is listening. I do, however, detect some small amount of smugness attached to comments about 'Joe Sixpack'. While it is true that the average citizen is not interested in esoteric subjects such as cryptography, do not underestimate the importance of communicating with them. Their votes and elected representatives will control the future legislation regarding cryptography. It is vital that they understand just what is at stake in this debate, and that they make decisions based upon knowledge and not upon fear. Therefore, it is important that we ALL do our share of communicating with the press and the public. Without our input, the scaremongerers will carry the day. In the meantime, keep up the good work. If anyone wants copies of the articles that appeared in the paper, E-mail me and I will send them. If there is enough demand I will post them to the list. Don't worry, they are only about 700 words each. Regards, Tim Philp Brantford, Ontario Canada -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6 mQCNAy/KL1MAAAEEALIrcJLNr3LTauphCzkU1SNtZkUPCEH14xIxVaiSM/7850/y 6qkA17N0/4E20RiyQIZ7TZf2vpbaTHs88+jU4Lvb/fBWBnL1AZBdW7I1+vNSMGzG ljBzU9X+BXrBFYi4CzpWhqOo+a2IQaJx4sZ7w/GG59gdFIyps3seeMISF+fVAAUR tCBUaW0gUGhpbHAgPGJwbGliQG5pYy5ob29rdXAubmV0Pg== =6Rrp -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----