[shadowfox]

Just want to add that there are other shorthands which are pretty solid (and more easily available). For example, Pitmans: http://www.long-live-pitmans-shorthand.org.uk/

[danohuiginn]

I'd advise against Pitmans, unless you plan to take it very seriously. Pitmans is one of the more complicated forms of shorthand, and relies on differentiating between hard and gentle lines.

I found Teeline, for instance, much easier to get going with.