_________________________________________________________________ FROM THE VIRTUAL DESK OF SANDY SANDFORT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Punksters, AT&T: CO-CONSPIRATORS At the last physical San Francisco meeting, I mentioned a curious conversation I had with an AT&T representative. I had called him for info about the ATT Secure Phone 3600. What I reported to the meeting was that while the representative would not "confirm or deny" that the 3600 had a backdoor, his demeanor suggested to me that it did. Now in reviewing the conversation in my memory, I realize that what I was hearing from him was a SMUGNESS. It had the flavor of the cat that swallowed the canary. He obviously knew about the upcoming announcement. In retrospect, I see that he was playing with me by dropping hints such as: "If the NSA were to ask us to put a backdoor in the 3600, of course we would have to cooperate." Talk about your "secret government." Where are Slick Willie's "town hall meetings" when you need them? SUITS ME Let a hundred flowers blossom. Those of us who wish to fight the good fight in suits, should do so. Likewise, those who wish to remain long-haired, maggot-infested, dope-smoking hippies, should follow their hearts. I have no problem with the "Cypherpunks" moniker. It hasn't hurt us, and it has brought us some favorable publicity. I think Perry is being an alarmist. In one point, though, Perry is right. He said people will listen to unconventional folks who present reasonable ideas. But it appears that Perry thinks our support of freedom and privacy is somehow unreasonable in the eyes of Joe Lunchbucket. I respectfully disagree. I think we represent the essence of American values. All we have to do is put it in terms the are immediate and personally relevant to the average American. For the record though, as Tim May can attest, I am bi-cultural. I have gotten in touch with the Suit inside me. If Cypherpunks ever needs a spokesperson in a "dress for success" suit, I'll be glad to volunteer. There is one condition, however. I will only do it if I'm teamed with someone not in a suit; preferably with long hair and wearing tie-dyed. Think of the photo op! S a n d y _________________________________________________________________ PLEASE RESPOND TO: ssandfort@attmail.com (except from CompuServe) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~