Hey, chez Briscoe readers! I've implemented password protection on the blog. For an explanation and instructions, scroll down on this page. For the quick version, just click the Register link below the blue box and create an ID for yourself. I'm not blocking or questioning anyone, so lurkers are welcome to register and continue to lurk.
Remember back in January when I said that I was going to password protect the blog? Then things imploded: my hard disk crashed and I realized that my password strategy wouldn’t work for a number of reasons that I won’t bore you with. However, I have a new solution, which I hope you’ll tolerate…
Thanks to Angsuman’s plugin, I’m going to put up a login screen for the blog. First, let me apologize. I detest keeping track of all the passwords required by Life on the Internet, and I deeply regret that I’m making all of you have a new one. However, the benefit is that after you create a user name and password, you can save it on your computer and never see the login screen again. My old method would have required that you click OK a few times every time you opened the blog, so this really is better in the long run.
Each of you will have a unique user name and password for the blog (not the universal name and password that I sent in January). Your user name will automatically be displayed when you comment; no more typing in your name and e-mail address every time. Be warned, however, that the system allows only one user name per e-mail address, which is sort of stupid. Those of you who share an e-mail address should probably create a user name that makes sense for both of you and then just “sign” your name at the bottom of the comment.
I plan to turn on the password protection on Tuesday. (If you’re so inclined, you can register early by opening the blog, scrolling down to the bottom of the right sidebar, and clicking Login under Meta.) When you see the Login window, click the link to Register.
After you enter you user name and e-mail address, the system will send you an e-mail with the password. Follow the link in the e-mail to return to the Login window. After you log in (and check Remember Me if you don’t want to enter this in the future), you’ll see the Profile and Personal Options window.
I don’t really care if you fill out much on this page. I know most of you anyway. However, if you’d like the change your password to something memorable, you can do it here. And you can change your display name in this window by entering a first and last name and then updating the profile. That will give you name choices in the display name dropdown list.
When you’re happy with your profile, update it and then click View Site up in the very top of the page. It’s in parentheses after chez Briscoe in the banner. The next time you go to the blog, you should be able to bypass all of this nonsense and drop directly on the main page (as long as you checked Remember Me on the Login window).
If you have questions, drop me an e-mail. I don’t want to lose anyone over this!