Note to self

Do not carry your swiss army knife into a government building; the security guards do not take too kindly to that sort of thing.

If a security guard starts to tell you about possible penalties in the future for silly infractions to his rules, the best way to stop his train of thought is to interrupt him, asking where to find the elevator. This causes him to forget which role he is supposed to be fulfilling, guardian of the building rules or greeter and information dispenser.

* Disclosure: My employment experience includes service as a security officer, but that was before small pocket knives were perceived as a general threat to the well-being of society.