Karen writes in to say

Hello!
I’m always amazed at what my fellow college students will say. I once heard a young woman telling her boyfriend: “I like you; you’re nice to conversate with.” After that I started hearing “conversate” everywhere. What’s wrong with “converse”? Or even just “talk”? I also want to know why “sleepy towns” are always “jolted awake” by crimes; and why my coworkers have to “touch base” with each other. And here’s the best one: an “over-used cliche”. As opposed to…?