5) Words to write right: its, it’s, who’s, whose, their, there, they’re
The saying used to be, “On the Internet, no one knows if you’re a dog.” (Cats are obvious, though; they always fall asleep on the keyboard.)

Likewise, when you’re talking, no one can tell if you screw up whose and who’s, its and it’s, and there, they’re and their. But when you’re writing, watch out. Screw these up and you’ll look like a fool.

But don’t despair. Or, as grandmothers say, “There, there.” You can expand your mind on this front by understanding contractions.

If what you’re really saying is “it is,” “there is,” or “who is,” then use the apostrophe version. So, it’s, there’s, and who’s.

Use its, whose, and theirs for possessives. How do you remember this? Just remember that possessive pronouns have everything–except apostrophes.

Likewise, I have another goofy little trick for keeping their straight from they’re and there. Their is a possessive. It has an i in it. I like owning things. Therefore, the one to use there is their. (more…)

My favorites:

The 10-Year Old Rule. Pretend you had to teach everything in your course to a ten-year old. Could you do it? While advanced theoretical physics might not be comprehensible by a young child, the idea is that you should be able to simplify your subject into easily understandable pictures and metaphors. If you can do this for yourself, it will make your job far easier for remembering later.

Set Daily Study Times. Set periods of time that you will spend studying each day. Once you spend a month reinforcing these learning periods, it will become automatic. Regular studying times prevent the need for cramming and can give you consistency in your schedule. (more…)

1. Web Design from Scratch - Your Complete Guide to Web Design.
2. Learn to Crochet - From the Lion Brand yarn company.
3. Learn to Draw Portraits - I couldn’t draw my way out of a paper bag. I still can’t after watching this. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
4. Bartending 101 - The American Bartending Association is offering a free instructional DVD.
5. HomeDecorating.com - Lists simple tutorials on how to hang wallpaper, decorating within your budget, color misconceptions, laying tile and more.
6. Learn Spanish - Online courses, quizzes, games and more.
7. Learn to Juggle - Might be fun.
8. Learn to Waltz - A nice way to spend a romantic evening at home.
9. Learn how to script Microsoft Windows.
10. Learn to Play Craps - I still don’t get it. (more…)

A list of the top ten universities offering free online instruction:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (mit.edu)

Free MIT Courses Online
If you are looking for a wide range of free courses online, MIT is your best option. There are more than 1,800 free courses offered through the school’s OpenCourseWare project. Courses are in audio, video and text format and can be translated into a number of different languages. People from all over the world use OpenCourseWare and 96 percent of visitors say they would recommend the site to someone else.

2. Open University (open.ac.uk)

Free Open University Courses Online
The Open University is the UK’s largest academic institution. The school’s OpenLearn website gives everyone free access to undergraduate and graduate level course materials from The Open University. Courses cover a broad range of topics, such as arts and history, business, education, IT and computing, mathematics and statistics, science, health and technology.

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1. w00t
2. facebook
3. conundrum
4. quixotic
5. blamestorm
6. sardoodledom
7. apathetic
8. Pecksniffian
9. hypocrite
10. charlatan

Click to original article for definitions.
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year 2007

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