Drop a line through the middle of the "8" and spin the number around on this axis.

My office (at work) consists of a poor, overburdened desk, an older four-drawer wooden file cabinet (also burdened with papers), and a small bookcase upon which my computer (and more papers) sits. On the wall are framed diplomas and other pieces of amusement, including a rubbing of Shakespeare's epitath and an icon of Michael the Archangel. I have a six-shot, single action, nerf gun in a desk drawer; it was given to me by my staff as a birthday present and it provides amusement for children. My office is L-shaped; down the other leg of the L are kept what we laughingly call "the archives", which include the police records from 1916 to 1991.

There are no weapons there; they are not needed. I can dominate by sheer force of will, as a young man (18) found out today -- and then I lightened up when he apologized to my staff for calling them nasty names. I was supposed to be intimidated when he said, "I'm going to get a f-----g lawyer" but I said, "Go ahead...and watch your language." He was also put off-balance when he said, "But what do I tell my friends?" and I replied immediately "That's not my problem." To get the full impact of this (which I admit was acting on my part) imagine trying explain to John Wayne, playing a Marine Corps Drill Instructor, why your rifle isn't yet white-glove clean.

As for my staff being stifled by me -- today they convinced me not to bar said young man from the building for six months, told me that we were going to get a new on-line service, and in general tell me to go to hell on regular basis (when they aren't doing something themselves and will let me know what was decided later. Remember, last July 13 I walked DOWNRANGE, unarmed, with six of my supervisors, armed with pistols, behind me.

They wouldn't have DARED....