A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and
spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, "Excuse me, can
you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know
where I am."
The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering
approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north
latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist. "I am,"
replied the woman, "How did you know?" "Well," answered the
balloonist, everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea
what to make of your information, and the fact is, I am still lost. Frankly,
you've not been much help so far."
The woman below responded, "You must be Al Gore!" "I am,"
replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where
you are going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot
air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to
solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in
before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault."
