An irritating word

From time to time a word, or more accurately a word usage comes along that drives me nuts.  For a long time it was the word utilize.  I didn't understand why people insisted on utilizing the word utilize when they could simply have used the word use.  I haven't noticed this much lately so maybe it has run its course.  However, recently I have notice another word fad.  It seems like so many people I hear interviewed on TV shows start every sentence with 'so'. Now 'so' is a perfectly acceptable and useful word (see the sentence above) but seldom necessary at the beginning of a sentence.  Listen for it and you'll hear what I mean.