Estimates......New York style.......

Three contractors are bidding to fix the White House fence. One from
Chicago, another from Kentucky and the third, Florida. They go with a
White House official to examine the fence.

The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some
measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well," he says. "I
figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my
crew and $100 profit for me."

The Kentucky contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then
says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my
crew and $100 profit for me."

The Chicago contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to
the White House official and whispers: "$2,700."

The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the
other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"

"Easy," the Chicagoan explains, "$1,000 for you, $1,000 for me and we
hire the guy from Kentucky."