field circus [a derogatory pun on `field service'] n. The field service organization of any hardware manufacturer, but especially DEC. There is an entire genre of jokes about DEC field circus engineers:

Q: How can you recognize a DEC field circus engineer with a flat tire?

A: He's changing one tire at a time to see which one is flat.

Q: How can you recognize a DEC field circus engineer who is out of gas?

A: He's changing one tire at a time to see which one is flat.

[See Easter egging for additional insight on these jokes.] There is also the `Field Circus Cheer' (from the plan file for DEC on MIT-AI): 


     Maynard! Maynard!
     Don't mess with us!
     We're mean and we're tough!
     If you get us confused
     We'll screw up your stuff.



   (DEC's service HQ is located in Maynard, Massachusetts.)