"You'd think I know what I am doing..."

This is the punch line (sort of) when someone is muddling along cluelessly and the audience is wondering what the hell is going on, where is he going with this thing...

This happens a lot in real life too, the only difference being that people don't admit that they don't know what they are doing. When I was a kid I used to think that grownups had all the answers and that they were always correct; it almost seemed like they were following a book of instructions that had a list of things to do under all conceivable circumstances. Little did I realise that life was never that simple. Sometimes (perhaps most of the time) we just have to play things by the ear and trust that things turn out well. We must put on a confident and brave face even if we are internally beset with uncertainties. The best part is that things do turn out well most of the time (provided our actions are guided by noble intentions -- but let me not venture into karma territory). When they do not, we just have to learn the lesson and move on.

To end the post on a less somber note, the Iraqi defence minister has threatened to invade Iran unless Iran stops meddling in its affairs. The words 'ant', 'rape' and 'elephant' spring to mind.