I first met Oliver Rist four years ago in New York, where he introduced me to the Brazilian rum cocktail known as the Caipirinha. Things get fuzzy after that, but I do remember that Oliver was every bit as droll... I first met Oliver Rist four years ago in New York, where he introduced me to the Brazilian rum cocktail known as the Caipirinha. Things get fuzzy after that, but I do remember that Oliver was every bit as droll in person as his writing would lead you to believe. If there had been any doubt, I became certain that InfoWorld was lucky to have one of the funniest guys in IT in its stable of contributing editors. About a year ago, Oliver decided to leave IT consulting and freelance writing behind to get a day job. We were crushed. His Test your geek IQ had launched not long before and remains one of the all-time greatest InfoWorld hits. Don’t get me wrong, we have other funny writers on our team — does the name Robert X. Cringely mean anything to you? — but Oliver has his own special brand of humor gleaned from the day-to-day absurdity of working in IT. So when I learned that Oliver was changing jobs, right around the time Test your geek IQ launched last year, I saw an opportunity to get him back for an encore performance: The 2008 Geek IQ Quiz. I didn’t have to twist his arm, perhaps because Oliver is about to join an organization where humor is not tolerated. His sequel is just as funny as the first, complete with a few actual brain teasers to make you feel like you’ve accomplished something. Which is fortunate, because there’s no prize for getting 100 percent unless you count self-satisfaction. One day, I hope that Oliver will emerge again as a regular contributor, when he can no longer stand having his wacky sensibility curbed. Meanwhile, you’ll just have to take The 2008 Geek IQ Quiz and savor the experience. Technology Industry