WHAT IS SOWPODS?
Mike posted a Scrabble-related word list. I had to correct him, because I am a Scrabble nerd. As a Scrabble nerd, I am familiar with the following (very important and confusing) information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tournament_Word_List
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOWPODS
To sum up: Scrabble amateurs use random dictionaries; Scrabble hobbyists (and most computer programs) use the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary (OSPD); American tournament players and Scrabble nerds use a list which is basically the OSPD + some swear words and racial slurs; British Scrabble nerds use a different list which includes a bunch of silly British-isms; International tournaments use a list called SOWPODS that combines the American and British lists.
All of the lists are somewhat arbitrary. They include super-goofy words, and exclude some comparatively reasonable ones. The important thing is that you agree upon the word list before you start playing.
“Important.”