A Programmer and an Engineer are sitting next to
each other on a long flight from LA to NY. The
Programmer leans over to the Engineer and asks if
he would like to play a fun game. The Engineer
just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines
and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.

The Programmer persists and explains that the game
is real easy and a lotta fun. He explains "I ask
you a question, and if you don't know the answer,
you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if
I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $5.".

Again, the Engineer politely declines and tries
to get to sleep. The Programmer, now some what
agitated, says, "OK, if you don't know the answer
you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer,
I'll pay you
$50!"

This catches the Engineer's attention, and he
sees no end to this torment unless he plays, so he
agrees to the game. The Programmer asks the first
question. "What's the distance from the earth to
the moon?"

The Engineer doesn't say a word, but reaches into
his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands
it to the Programmer. Now, it's the Engineer's
turn. He asks the Programmer, "What goes up a hill
with three legs, and comes down on four?"

The Programmer looks up at him with a puzzled
look. He takes out his laptop computer and
searches all of his references. He taps into the
Airphone with his modem and searches the net and
the Library of Congress. Frustrated, he sends
e-mail to his co-workers - all to no avail.
After about an hour, he wakes the Engineer and
hands him $50.

The Engineer politely takes the
$50 and turns away
to try to get back to sleep. The Programmer, more
than a little miffed, shakes the Engineer and
asks, "Well, so what's the answer?"

Without a word, the Engineer reaches into his
wallet, hands the Programmer $5, and turns away
to get back to sleep.