By being both a student and the occasional lecture giver I have the pleasure of noticing new trends for note taking. The once expected note pad and paper that I used in '99 has now been replaced by laptops. yes my students sit behind their own personal screens and pretend like I don't know they're playing games and emailing friends or fandango-ing.

Tonight as I sat in front of my own screen contemplating how in the world I was going to complete my own work I looked down and there HE was. He's been with me since 1999 and he's a good pal. He has provided plenty of notes and the occasional doodle and for that I will always love him. He is my Dr.Grip and I carry him with me always. I have underlined more books, noted more thoughts, and graded more papers with him than any other pen. I may go as far as to say I could have gotten through my undergraduate without a computer but not without my Dr.Grip. This good Doctor is always in...