I often hear about troubles people have with their passwords. They can’t remember them and lock themselves out of their account for the day. Or they are trying to do something else and get so frustrated they can’t do what they really want.
If this sounds like you, I’m not surprised. There’s a couple of basic things that will help. First of all, WRITE your password down when you set up the account, exactly as you have entered it. While you’re at it, write down the your user name, the account name, the name of the service, maybe a description of what it does, the date, and anything else you might need. Before you even consider trotting out the words “it’s boring” or “I don’t have time” or anything else silly like that, consider how much time and energy you spend dealing with the consequences. Keep going, write down all you passwords in a special place. Don’t share, unless you trust the other person/people, even if they are your life partner of 3o years.
If you move around a lot, write your passwords down in a document and password protect that document. Yes, there are other ways to do this. And if you know a better one, let me know.
If you are having a lot of trouble, prevail on the tech type in your family. Or if you have a friend that offered to help, accept. Together, you’ll work through the issues to hopefully resolve the problem.
Have I said exactly what to do? No, can’t do that. I won’t know writing this what exactly you have to deal with. Once you do get things working, write down your new password and account details, and save yourself a little effort.
ew Year’s for Trees, Tu B’Shevat. The name of the holiday is the calendar date, but was a real inspiration today. As everyone created a branch for our Tu B’Shevat tree at the 
am giving a Photoshop workshop called “Make it Real: A West Coast Portrait” in December 2010. The goal is to provide some basic, and not so basic techniques for placing objects in a scene, so they look like they belong there. I have also incorporated pattern fills and some other effects to add a little fun, as long as being a Photoshop geek is your idea of fun.


his is a proof of concept for a tribute card, sent to recognize accomplishments, express sympathies and extend support when others most need it. People who send and receive this are roughly between 60 and 90 years old and relish a certain courtesy and consideration that has been transformed by today’s technologies. The design brief is based primarily on my notion of the purpose and audience.




