Column 1
FOR those who came in late: The Column One Quiz is an annual event that runs from March until November – or until the mental effort required proves too much for our readers, not to mention the undersigned.
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GOOD morning. Last week, we promised to address Quiz 08 today, so here we are. To those of an acquisitive nature, be warned ... there are no prizes. That’s a badge of honour – we think it’s great to be able to have what is often a very large number of readers responding via e-mail with no earthly reward – or heavenly, to the best of our knowledge – in sight.
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THE Quiz began as a bit of fun in the dim distant days of November 1995, and the Editor willing, remains with us. We are a tad nervous in this 13th year of quizzing, but never let it be said that we failed to rise to the challenge. Now then, what happens? A question is asked in the Column and oodles of time given for our readers to respond.
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OODLES freely translated means a week or so. Furious correspondence from aggrieved post-answer Quizzers is actively encouraged – and publicly shared. The shape of French explorer D’Entrecasteaux’s waistcoat buttons, for example, has never before attained such earth-shattering importance as it once did in your Column.
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E-mails answering the current question are then sent to DeeNesenolis@hotmail.com where your frazzled columnist deciphers them while swearing at the brooms and buckets that share the Column’s broom cupboard office. Those glittering Mensa members in disguise who answer faultlessly will find their names immortalised in a subsequent Column.
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THE questions all have a connection to PNG. No, they do not strictly follow the animal, vegetable or mineral categories, oh dearly beloved; they trundle through current events, tug the forelock in salute of PNG history and flirt with such subjects as politicians, monsters, philately, floral arrangements and rugby league.
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LATE entries are treated in the manner of late income tax returns – with suspicion. From long standing Columnites, excuses such as hip replacements or failing eyesight are occasionally accepted. Tomorrow, the curtain lifts on Quiz 2008 and the first question. Cheers!

– Dee Nesenolis
Editorial