2600... 2006... 2060

This is a very special year for us as 2006 happens to be an anagram of our name.  This has never happened before and it won't happen again until 2060.  And who knows where we'll all be by then...

This promises to be an interesting year for us and our readers for a number of reasons.

First, let's outline some changes taking place right here in our pages.  As of this issue we're introducing several columns which will be appearing regularly in addition to our usual reader submitted articles.  Two of these columns ("The Telecom Informer" and "Techno-Exegesis") will represent perspectives on emerging and existing technologies, specifically issues related to telecom and all sorts of other advances and regressions in technology - all from the keyboards of a couple of our regular writers.  In addition to this, we are also debuting a guest column ("Hacker Perspective") which takes a different look at the hacker world from the eyes of someone who is well known in the community.

The idea behind these columns is to expand the material covered in our pages and to do it in a more timely fashion by aggressively pursuing stories and opinions, instead of simply waiting for them to come to us.  We will still rely primarily on reader contributions to set the tone of our pages and to ensure that we continue to be the digest of the hacker community.  It's these voices that make the rest of the world see what's interesting and relevant about all of the stuff that fascinates us so much.

2006 is also the year of HOPE Number Six.  For the numerologists out there, this is also a bit of fun because it's the only time the number of our conference has coincided with the number of the year.  It's unlikely such a conjunction will ever occur again.  So Six will definitely be a prevailing theme at the festivities this year.  Read into that what you will.

As for the conference itself, we expect it to be even more fun than the last time we did this in 2004.  We'll be in the traditional space at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City with plenty of room for all sorts of speakers, demonstrations, computer setups, vendors, and whatever else we can come up with.  As always, we want your input in order to make HOPE Number Six as good as it can possibly be.  That means not only telling us what you would like to see but helping to figure out ways to make amazing things happen.  We love it when outsiders inform us that some goal or project is impossible only to watch as the many people behind the scenes make it happen anyway.  This kind of thing is par for the course when you get a few thousand hackers together thinking constructively.

It's because of our volunteers that all of this has been possible and has grown so much over the years.  In the corporate world, a conference like HOPE (apart from being impossible for a variety of reasons) would easily charge attendees anywhere from a hundred dollars to a couple of thousand.  Why?  Because that's how the corporate world works.  It's all about making a profit and not doing a single task unless you're well compensated.  And we don't have a problem with their believing this since so many of them clearly aren't getting anything else out of what they do.  But when putting on a conference in our community, we gladly work our fingers to the bone, stay up for days at a time, deal with all sorts of challenges and problems, and charge the bare minimum so we don't lose a ton of money putting it all together.  We could easily become more corporate and make a real killing.  People suggest this to us all the time.  They even try to win us over with their offers.  But the spirit of HOPE would evaporate in such a setting.  Ask anyone who's volunteered to be a part of one of our conference teams.  There is no better feeling than to know that you played a part in making such magic occur.

There is still time for you to get involved on a number of levels.  Just check the website (www.hope.net) to see the latest.  We'll be needing network experts, audio/visual people, artists, and a setup crew, just to name a few.  Simply email volunteers@2600.com to get the ball rolling.

And of course, speakers and panels are what make the conference truly memorable.  Over the years we've had some truly phenomenal presentations.  As always, we're opening the doors to the community to get involved.  Email speakers@2600.com if you have a talk or presentation you'd like to give or if you have an idea for an interesting panel discussion.

We also would like to have more vendors at HOPE this year.  If you think you have something that would interest thousands of hackers, send an email to vendors@2600.com with details and we'll help set you up.  The sooner the better though as space is limited, huge as it may be.

Finally, a word to those of you on the fence.  We know all the excuses for not bothering to come.  "New York City's expensive."  "It's hot in the summer."  "Your country wants to take my fingerprints."  All valid statements.  But there are remedies for each.  You can cut down on expenses dramatically if you're smart and follow the tips on the HOPE web pages.  It's not that hot in New York, and, if it is, it's nice and cool at the conference.  And as for people who are timid about coming to the States, we sympathize.  But not coming here because of the erosion of various liberties negates anything positive you may have gotten or cones during your encounters with so many like-minded individuals.  We've seen bonds forged at our conferences that will last a very long time and stand a real good chance of changing society in a most positive way.    So even if you see potential inconveniences, consider that we would never have made it through the first HOPE if we had let them detract us from what we really wanted to do.

We think that 2006 has a lot going for it insofar as potential for positive change.  People are waking up, joining forces, speaking out, and actually making a difference.  While things have admittedly gotten bad on a number of fronts, the tide will eventually turn.  And free thinking intelligent people who have an understanding of the tools around them will play a significant role in moving that tide.

But enough about this year.  What will the real future bring?  What developments will occur between now and the next anagram year of 2060?  It's hard to even imagine.

Society changes very quickly and when technology is a factor it can move at lightning speeds.  Just look at the monumental changes that have taken place since we began publishing.  But there are always fundamental values that, while under constant attack, never really stay away for long.  People will always want to be free.  Creative types will always find a way to express themselves.  And dissidents will always emerge, no matter how hard the authorities try to stamp them out.

Being an individual is still one of the hardest jobs on the planet.  Whether or not to conform to one useless standard or another, to compromise your beliefs in order to make your life easier, or to face derision for going against the tide... these are the challenges we face on a daily basis.  But an individual is never alone.  Throughout the world, and throughout time, independent thinkers are the ones who make a difference and the ones who eventually triumph.  And while few of us may be able to recognize the world of 2060 on many fronts, we can guarantee that the free thinkers and misfits will continue to exist in abundance.  And hackers will be among them.

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P.S.  One more thing for you numerologists: Add all of the numbers in the headline together.  Enjoy.  (2600 + 2006 + 2060 = 6666)