I don't care if you call yourself a hacker even if you haven't ever hacked anything but promise me that if you do, you do so with an open mind, heart, you stay curious, question everything and one day you join us to HTP. Even if it's for a minute.

We'd love to have you.

To those who felt blindsided or attacked by recent commentary saying bad hacking behavior in one's youth disqualifies you, it does not. Where do you think the good folks learned how to protect from the bad folks? FROM YOU. If you learned from that, grew from it, you are one of us

Every time one of you did something you may have regretted those of us who weren't like you, studied what you did and you taught us how to keep someone like you OUT.

We owe you a debt we can't repay. They won't say that though.

And, if I'm being honest, you kept me EMPLOYED, kept many of us in our jobs because without you then or now, we would have nothing to defend AGAINST.

I thank you, hackers all, of every stripe, every creed, color.

Remember that they badmouth us in media and here on Twitter but they don't mind hiring us when they need us, eh?

Don't let the bastards get you down.

You're all smarter than them on the best day they ever lived.