basic subD, dynamics, soft/rigid body tutorials

global illumination tutorial: (low poly count, LESS than 50,000 faces)
http://www.tokeru.com/t/bin/view/Maya/GlobalIlluminationIllustrated

subDs:
http://gsappmaya.blogspot.com/2009/02/fun-with-subds.html

dynamics:
http://ucbugg.berkeley.edu/files/IntroToSoftAndRigidBodyDynamics.pdf
http://www.getatutorial.com/tutorials/Maya/Dynamics-and-Fluids/Surface-Emitted-Particles-on-SoftBody-Tenticles_2294.html
http://www.getatutorial.com/tutorials/Maya/Dynamics-and-Fluids/how-to-create-and-animate-flag-with-soft-body-_230.html

Instancing geometry to particles:
http://www.getatutorial.com/tutorials/Maya/Dynamics-and-Fluids/Instancing-animated-geometry-to-particles_2280.html