The Tyranny of Passwords

Every month or so I update my user name and password master list, which I keep in hard-copy form at the computer in case a visiting burglar needs the information to break into my bank accounts etc. while he's loading up his goody bag with loot. The last update revealed I had reached a milestone: I have more than 150 "accounts" that require a user name and password. What's silly about this is that many of these are once a year or so sort of things but the Web site involved requires that I set up an account in order to access the information I think I so desperately need at the moment. For example, if I want to occasionally place an order online, I am required to have an account. So, in order to make my twice-a-year car and homeowners insurance payments, I have an account with the insurance company. And, in order to occasionally order something from Amazon.com, I have an account with them. So on and so on. The problem is that none of these accounts can agree what a valid user name and password should contain. Some require a minimum of four letters/numbers, others five, other six, etc., and some require uppercase, lowercase or passwords of various types. What you end up with an enormous variety of user names and passwords. There's no way you can remember them all. So you end up with a very unsafe printed list that has just topped 150 entries. And don't even get me started on those ridiculous "security" questions, such as "what is your favorite movie?" Well, today it might be "Mister Roberts" but tomorrow it might be "Suddenly, Last Summer," and the day after that it might be "Fargo." I just hope that when I arrive at the Pearly Gates (or the Other Place), there won't be a computer screen requesting that first I type in my name and password.