While a friend and I were visiting Annapolis, we noticed several students on their hands and knees assessing the courtyard with pencils and clipboards in hand.

"What are they doing?" I asked our tour guide.

"Each year," he replied with a grin, "The upperclassmen ask the freshmen how many bricks it took to finish this courtyard."

"So what's the answer?" my friend asked him when we were out of earshot of the freshmen.

The guide replied simply, "One."