It’s a long held cliche that there’s too much knowledge in the world, and that the situation is getting worse. Combine this with the new technology and associated skills we have to deal with in an ever-changing world, and we’re all supposed to be heading for information overload.

So, how do we cope, and avoid the inability to learn new things that seems to come with age? Perhaps the solution is to clear some vital mental space in advance, to avoid developing a congested mind in later life. If we start early, we’ll have plenty of capacity left when it comes to learning how to master the controls of a home nuclear generator or, more frighteningly, the controller for a PlayStation 6.

So, instead of committing to remember to do lots of worthy things in 2005, why not instead decide to forget some useless stuff this year? For my part I’m hoping to let the following bits of long-redundant information melt away:

The geography of Uxbridge. I’m never going back, so I don’t need to know.

Everything about the TV sitcoms ‘Friends’ and ‘Frasier’. Good while they lasted, but gone now – and inherently disposable.

The Russian Civil War. As much as they may want to, my tutors can’t take the degree back now.

How to use WordPerfect. Crushed by the MS monopoly. Do they even produce WP anymore?

The songs of Billy Joel. Well, most of them. I doubt even a drill through the skull could get rid of ‘Uptown Girl’.

Those are mine, but with so much useless knowledge in the world, I’m sure everyone has good ideas. Email them to me, and we’ll add the best ones to the site.