RE: How to avoid the '500 worst passwords of all time'
I looked at the list of PWs and I thought that 1q2w3e4r5t6y would have made it up there. But oh well.
But going on how to avoid passwords. Try to think of the two most random things and stick them together.
EX: tvtree, windowbag, phonestick, etc
Also another thing is to add random #s and Caps inside of it.
EX: TvtReE, wiNd0WBag, pH0NEsT1ck, etc
One more things is to spell them in a different way.
EX: tveetrie, whinndoowbaag, foonstiic, etc
So all together and you got a hard password.