thanks echo red. you got my brain moving in the right direction.

it's solved...sort of...

i tried the '+' before and nada.

i created a new file, dropped a sphere in, checked the manipulator and it was fine. then i opened the file i am concerned about and the original problem with the manipulator was still going on. i ended up just importing the file into a new file and all is dandy...

i did not want to reset my prefs because i have sunk too much time into customizing them. it would have been way too depressing to bring them back to where i like them.

if anyone knows what the bug is or has a more direct fix, please respond.

cheers.