Dear Readers:<br><br>

   This issue marks the ten year anniversary of Cipher.  We have had
five editors: Carl Landwehr was the founder and first editor, followed
by Paul Syverson, who was joined by Avi Rubin as co-editor, then Jim
Davis took the reins, followed by me in 2003.  The readership has
grown steadily during the 10 years, even as the research community has
changed and the industry has matured.
<p>
   Cipher started as a paper publication, but Carl then turned it to a
pioneering effort in its combination of email and web presence, and
also via its online calendar of events and the calls-for-papers page.
It is an all-volunteer operation, and we depend on contributions.
Conference reviews are particularly valuable; if you have attended a
conference and have notes to share, please your article to
cipher-cfp@ieee-security.org and become a published contributor.
<p>
  If you are interested in helping to redesign Cipher's web page
appearance, please contact me.  Some member of the technical committee
have expressed a desire for more pizzazz.  Ideas most likely to be
welcomed are those that are consistent with Cipher's fuddy-duddy
insistence on using html without scripts and without reliance on
composition tools other than a simple text editor.
<p>
  The Department of Homeland Security has released its long
anticipated announcement of funding opportunities in the area of
cybersecurity research and development.  The R&D community has
many important ideas that can only be brought to fruition with
funding of this sort.  The schedule for applications is an
aggressive one, and potential bidders should look immediately at the
solicitation described in this Cipher issue.
<p>
  May the pages of your research proposals turn golden like the leaves
of autumn.
<p>
Hilarie Orman