"Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 Home" - Staples®

I was familiar with this software and had made a note that I wanted to buy it at some point.

Yesterday, I saw a commercial on MSNBC promoting the normally $100 product for about 75. I went to the website - givedragon.com - and started to order it, only to learn that I could not download the software and would have to pay 10 to have it delivered. That made 85.

While trying to do that, I checked on the web and found that it was available on Amazon for 65 with free shipping.

I called the first vendor - seemingly the manufacturer - and she could not give me any compelling reason to buy through them. They offered a free something in addition they claimed was worth 30 but I did not see real advantage for me even with that freebie. There was also a promise of support, but I was not convinced. She did not try to make a strong case, and I thought that a signal that I should go with the cheaper option for the same product.

So I bought it from Amazon.

Just now, I see a tweet from Staples offering me the same version et al for 50! Only for two days, today and tomorrow. I could get it for that price delivered to the store. I imagine that with tax it would be 55 there.

That was enough to consider canceling the Amazon order, but when I checked, I was told that it was being prepared for shipping and could not be changed.

I post it here because it's a great example of how, if you work at it, you can buy locally for the best price. I missed that chance.

"A Map of American Slavery" - NYTimes.com

"A Bicycle Lane Built for Few in New York City?" - NYTimes.com

"In PISA Test, Top Scores From Shanghai Stun Experts" - NYTimes.com

It seems to me that we ought to know exactly where students in our Chapelboroham schools are ranking compared to China and why and what would be needed to decrease the expected gap.

Made in America

The President today, speaking in Winston-Salem, said that we need to work toward a lot more products that bear "three words....Made in America".

Exactly what products and services do we make in Chapelboroham today and what are the prospects for growth? That's not limited to industrial production; it's any product or service. Surely, someone has done a list?

"In Kentucky, Noah’s Ark Theme Park Is Planned" - NYTimes.com

In Chapelboroham, what could we add that would bring us a lot more visitors? Surely, creative minds and good business planning could produce something that is consistent with the diversity of the area, its heritage, etc. It would have to be fun, too. A technology theme park? An educational theme park?

"Some Retirees Opting for Campus Life" - NYTimes.com