Ever since I was caught downwind of an overzealous teacher's pet slash chalkboard-eraser clapper when I was in elementary school, I've preferred dry-erase whiteboards. You know, the kind whose cleanup doesn't involve sending a thick cloud of fine white dust directly into my lungs.

That's why as appealing and novel as this Chalk Mug looks and sounds, with its writable blackboard surface and included piece of chalk for "easy-wipe messaging," I'm going to have to keep my distance.