You're right, loose and lose are two completely different words.

I suppose that could just be a typo too. But I doubt it. I think, in those cases, you're just seeing an example of poor grammar.

Have the grammar skills of the general public really declined sharply over the last ten years, or has the advent of the internet just allowed us to see a more realistic cross section of the public?

Side topic discussion, inspired by the thread title. Bitt Faulk, please feel free to jump in:

"That" vs. "Which" in a sentence. I never understood the subtle distinction.

"He did something that caused something else to happen."
"He did something which caused something else to happen."

One is grammatically correct, the other is not. I don't know which is, um, which.