BBC News just posted an article from a complex database analysis revealing the 10 most irritating cliches. Unfortunately, I am so guilty of using many of these - particularly in business situations!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newst … n-irritating-phrases.html

Here’s the top 10 from the Oxford study:
1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It’s a nightmare
8 - Shouldn’t of
9 - 24/7
10 - It’s not rocket science

So, BBC Magazine did an online survey that revealed some more:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7733264.stm

1. Basically
2. To be fair
3. To be honest
4. Going forward
5. The fact of the matter is
6. Let’s face it
7. Touch base
8. 110%
9. In the pipeline
10. Reason being
11. I’m not being funny but
12. You know
13. By the end of play today
14. Singing from the same hymn sheet
15. Can’t get my head around it
16. Raft of proposals
17. To roll out
18. Don’t just talk the talk, you got to walk the talk
19. Lesson to be learned

and

20. Actually

How many of these are you guilty of?

Dan

Hey - I don’t which category to put this in the 3:9 Galaxy, but hey - grilling is like a universal language, right?!?

I love me a good Rib Eye or NY Strip - but the price usually keeps me from buying.

I found this article on the Washington Post today that points out 9 overlooked and affordable cuts of beef suitable for grilling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/ … eaks/?sid=ST2009051902591

Here they are:
-Hangar
-Flat Iron
-Flank
-Flap Meat
-Tri Tip
-Skirt
*Chuck-Eye
*Chuck-Shoulder
*Top Sirloin

The last three are particularly great choices to look out for! Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day! Pray for our Troops.

Dan

I have to admit that I am something of a technophile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technophilia) in that I love to read and study about the future applications of technology in everyday life.  I think that is what appeals to me about SciFi as well…the convergence of reality with possibility.  I read a great article today that talked about the potential for the recently enacted Stimulas Bill to advance the influence of technology in our aging infrastructure.  It was truly facinating.  Here is the link to the article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12344 … 31779255.html?mod=djemTMB

It is amazing to consider at the unique applications of our modern technology.  As instruments get smaller and smaller (even to the point of nano-sized components) and wireless connectivity gets more pervasive it seems that there are limitless ways to implement technology.  Certainly one of the drawbacks to such pervasive use of sensors and communication devices is the sheer volume of information.  I recently read somewhere that there is more “new” data/information generated in the past year than in all of human history before that…wow - that is exponential growth for sure.  The biggest challenge is how to make use of the data.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the convergence of traditional mediums/industries with modern day technologies…

It may be only February, but it’s never too early (or too late) to create a little momentum in your life by removing the clutter.

As a confession, I’m a packrat - but slowly, ever so slowly - I’m simplifying. I spent last year removing a ton of junk, but from the looks of it - it has multiplied a little…go figure. I’m beginning to think “stuff” just spontaneously duplicates - like in Star Trek “Trouble with Tribbles.”

My real problems are with guitars, books, and because I work out of my house…paper. I’ve recommended David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD) as a way to be organized in the real world - and it has done wonders for my productivity. Sometimes, when you’ve got a big mess, brute force is the answer.

Here’s an article on how to declutter a room in one go. Basically…quarantine two areas and start sorting….

http://zenhabits.net/2009/02/how-to-d … an-entire-room-in-one-go/

Dan