~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SANDY SANDFORT Reply to: ssandfort@attmail.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cypherpunks, At the Bay Area physical meeting on Saturday, I gave a slightly longer version of the following presentation. Please make sure you read the "call to arms" at the end. Uncle Sandy wants you. S a n d y

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Please send e-mail to: ssandfort@attmail.com <<<<<<

* * * A CYPHERPUNK VISION We are fond of saying, "Cypherpunks write code," but what does that really mean? "Writing code" isn't just programming. To me, it is a metaphor for direct, personal action. That's what Phil Zimmermann did when he wrote the code for PGP. But, it is also what John Gilmore did when he sued the NSA. Cypherpunks don't wait for other people to grant them freedom or privacy; they do it themselves. They use their wits and talents to create innovative defenses and bold counter-attacks. Cypher- punks are the ultimate practitioners of "self-help." So what should YOU do, to be a "real" Cypherpunk? The answer is: Whatever interests you. Are you good with electronics? How about breadboarding a voice compressor/encrypter. Can you write code? Maybe you can make a Windows shell for PGP. Mathematically inclined? Tweak the algorithms. Find the weak- nesses; find the improvements. Do you have a flare for writing? Write articles or stories that popularize the Cypherpunk world-view. Is business or law your cup of tea? Start a privacy consultation business and make a buck while fighting the good fight. Whatever you WANT to do, is what you SHOULD do. There is more work to be done than Cypherpunks to do it. Any area of the struggle that is important to you, is also important to others. The battle for freedom and privacy is a target-rich environment. As Marine general "Chesty" Puller said when he was told that the North Koreans had surrounded his position, "Great, we've got them right where we want them. We can fire in any direction!" So where have I decided to fire? As many of you know, I have a background in the law and offshore business. Naturally, I want apply that training and experience to fighting the technological threats to freedom and privacy that gave rise to the Cypherpunks. To that end, I give you my vision: A Bank in Cyberspace. A BANK IN CYBERSPACE Protecting one's privacy is nothing new. For hundreds of years, people have protected their wealth and financial privacy by transnationalizing themselves. In today's world, this means "offshore" banks and other international techniques. In simple terms, by diversifying internationally, you can "forum shop" for the best deals offered by each country's laws. Since all nations are in competition for foreign capital, one can be played off against another. Low taxes and banking secrecy are two services even the poorest of countries can offer. As a result, tax, banking and privacy havens are quite numerous and affordable. Take your pick. The trouble is, tax haven banks are often located in the world's backwaters. Using them just isn't convenient for most people. The obvious answer is technology, but bankers, being conserva- tive, have failed to plumb its enormous potential. It's time for a change--a Cypherpunk change. To that end, I am introducing The Internet Digital Security Bank and Escrow, the first bank founded in cyberspace. The Bank would offer interest bearing checking accounts to the 10-15 million Internet users, plus anyone else with access to e-mail. Unlike traditional banks, there would be no paper checks. All checks would be written as encrypted and digitally signed e-mail messages. In the future, digital cash would also be made available to Bank customers. The escrow services of the Bank would be used to protect both parties to electronic business exchanges. The escrow services would facilitate a wide variety of anonymous transactions. A team of entrepreneurs, computer programers, lawyers and financiers is currently being assembled. If you would like to participate in this project, please contact: Sandy Sandfort, ssandfort@attmail.com. Please include your resume or other info about your education, skills and interests. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~