Date:         Sat, 26 Jun 1999 03:02:07 -0700
Reply-To:     Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Poor Visibility in Fog (Friday)
Comments: To: Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Interestingly, this joke used to have "IBM headquarters" as the punchline years
ago. A great commentary on the positions of the two companies - and their
reputations over the years.

The variation I heard was:   ."The microsoft tower - because the answer we got
was technically correct and conveyed no useful information."

Regards,

Todd
'88 Westy

Marshall Ruskin wrote:

> Hi Volks:
>
> I was in a helicopter as a passenger, the pilot was flying over the
> Northwestern US.
>
> Suddenly, we flew into a deep, thick fog. No way could we see a thing, and
> the helicopter was not equipped for night flying!
>
> We saw a small light in the distance, so without any better ideas, we flew
> towards it.
>
> As we got closer, we realized it was rectangular light, closer still when we
> realized we were flying right towards the illuminated window of a large
> office tower.
>
> Hovering outside, and looking through the window, we could see a middle aged
> man, lazily typing at a computer keyboard. Finally, he looked up, saw us
> hovering there, and then went back to the keyboard.
>
> We were astonished at this. My pilot got an idea, with a fingertip, he wrote
> in the mist on the cockpit window: "Where am I?" and revved the engine to
> attract the office person.
>
> Finally, the guy looked up, and read the message. He got a large piece of
> paper, and wrote something on it quickly, then held it up for us to read:
>
> "In a helicopter"
>
> Then he went back to his computer.
>
> My pilot, read the message, swore a couple of times, then set the helicopter
> down EXACTLY where he needed to.
>
> I was completely amazed at this, so I said, "Gee Whiz, how did you know
> where to land?"
>
> The pilot said, "Well, judging by the help we received, I determinded that
> we were at the Microsoft Tower."
>
> Marshall Ruskin, MCSE, BScEE
> 84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
> Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"