How Do I Use Keychains Properly?

Hello
I'm considering making more use of Keychains instead of an old fashioned paper notebook. I've tried reading the on-line help in the Help Viewer but I don't fully understand it all. I think that I'm missing some conceptual context. I was hoping that I could get a few answers to my questions here.
1. I routinely use many web based application services that require me to log in before I can use them. One example is these Discussions Pages. Can I store my password in the keychain somehow and have Safari automatically fill in the form for me so I can just click the login button or even by-pass this step entirely? If so how?
2. I am considering storing sensitive personal data such as bank account numbers, access codes etc. Secure Notes seem to be the right place to do this. Just how secure are they? The keychain seems to get backed up to my .Mac account. Is the information stored in an encrypted way there? I'm aware that any encryption can be cracked given a powerful enough computer and sufficient time but would like to get a feel for the risk I'm taking.
3. There is a note in one of the help pages about allowing applications to access your keychain. It says: "IMPORTANT: If you select "Allow all applications to access this item" for an item in your keychain, you make it easy for a computer virus or other software to read the password.". My .Mac account and Mail synchronises on a regular basis often when my computer is unattended with the screen lock on. If I don't allow the applications to always access then they will stop unless I'm there to click the button and authorise it. Am I taking a big risk by selecting Always Allow for these individual applications involved in synchronisation?
4. If I back my keychain up to a CD or USB drive using the .Mac backup utility. Is the data encrypted?
5. Is there any way to access the data in your keychain without a Mac? I'm unfortunate enough to be compelled to use Windows at work. It would be handy to have the keychain on a USB stick just so I could look it up. I'd be surprised if Windows could automatically exploit the content but if there is a way, please let me know.
6. How vulnerable is a keychain to corruption and what can you do to protect yourself against it? If I put loads of data in there without keeping a hardcopy record, I can just imagine something breaking and losing the lot. Is that likely?
Apologies if these seem like dumb questions. I'm happy to be pointed at some overview material if it exists somewhere.
Many thanks
Ian
PS sorry about the long post and thanks in advance to anyone who takes time to properly answer all this.

Good question. I hadn't thought about it before. I so notice that on very dark photos I get better results moving the right level indicator to the left than I do when when using the shadows adjust. The shadows adjust really gives me a grainy/noisy appearance whereas the levels a much smoother and cleaner effect. Other than that I just play with them till it looks good to my eye.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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