simple and easy, but seems to work (Score 1)

I started reading this thread hoping to pick up a new password strategy. I guess I did this based on the assumption that my system/strategy was fairly weak, but honestly, after reading through some of the hopelessly complex, overly simple systems, or PDA dependent (working on breaking my 3rd Palm now) systems listed here, I think I'll stick with what I have.

Ok here's what I do:

I use a set of names that have meaning to me, and intersperse them with alphanumerics. I then rotate all passwords through this system so that all of them are on the same system. In order to keep my life simple, I also keep one single, simple password for all of those things that need a password, but aren't really life or death.

I don't think that the explanation above made a hell of a lot of sense so here is an example. I was a real Francis Ford Coppola (FFC) run a while back, so all my passwords dealt with him, his work, or his personal life.

Whenever I needed a password, I would take something FFC related, such as Apocolypse Now, and "password-ize it". Apocolypse Now would become a8pocolyps8en8o8w. Probably not susceptible to dictionary cracks, but it does follow a pattern that has meaning to me. All I have to remember is the "key" (not a totally accurate term, but you know what I mean: Francis Ford Coppola), the pattern (where I insert the alphanumerics), and the correct alphas (8).

At worst, using this system, I have had to hit one of the big movie sites to look of FFC's filmography and then cycle through the list of movies.

If I thought I needed something really obscure (i.e. for anything work or finance related), I might take someone who worked on the film, such as the editor, and work their role and name into the password.

The trickiest part is remembering everything that I have a password to, and figuring out when I signed up for it so that I know which system I was using at the time. This is why I try to update everything at once in a single, super boring password update fest...

The topic that I honestly haven't seen covered very much that is probably just as important is the remembering of usernames. As more and more people come online, it is harder and harder to get be the first person to sign up for a service using your 'nick. I try to keep a couple, and then hope that I can get one of those to work.

Anyone found anything better?