Re: manual cryptography

One can create quick pencil and paper ciphers in a wide varity of
ways, for example using a optional key word say 'cypto' that lacks any
repeating letters you can form a sustitution alphabet as follows. 
First you lay it out, in rows of arbitrary length starting with the
key word/phrase.  Then, omit the key word/phrase letters from the
regular sequence.


       c r y p t o a b d e f g 

       h i j k l m n p q s u v 

       w x z

Next, take it up by columns to form the substitutions.

      a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
      c h w r i x y j z p k t l o m a n b d q e s f u g v

Voila, your cipher!  You can add numbers at the end, the beginning or
interspaced.  You can create more than one cipher and alternate
substitutions.  The possiblities are limited only by your imagination.

Cheers, 

Cyber Vagrant
"Homeless on the Net"