A couple of days ago, Web AddiCT Rafiq decided to greet us interns with a salvo from his side.

Two questions posted to the two newbies from a fellow blogger. Our egos were on the line. Would we confirm the inevitable suspicions regarding our lack of savvy, or would we reaffirm our colleagues' faith in us? As seems to be the custom here at Quirk, bets were placed in record time.

Well, let us put our intense four days' experience to use:

Question 1: "What is this http://juice.quirk.co.za/client/editmention.q? Somewhere at the bottom of awstats' Links from an external page (other web sites except search engines) this keeps popping up. What/Why/how do you use this and how does it apply to emarketing at Quirk?"

You are a cunning man Rafiq, for figuring out Quirk's latest top-secret project. I am unfortunately not at liberty to disclose what it is that we're doing. It could be spyware software tracking your illicit web browsing. It could be a new form of orange juice Quirk is about to sell to the Bolivian military. It could be collaboration with the government, identifying rogue bloggers. Either way, we commend you for sniffing us out. Unfortunately for you, the scent ends here. Only a prodigy can discover our secret. Are you the chosen one?

Question 2: "Why does the Quirk blog not accept pings/trackbacks from other blogs? There are 3 trackbacks coming Quirk’s way with this post just to demonstrate how they are used. A seasoned Quirk blogger/comment moderator should be able to show you where you are able to view, moderate & approve the trackbacks sent your way."

Before we can answer you we need to know the exact URL that you used for the trackback and the query string it created. For now, if you plunk that into your address bar it should give you some kind of response. Let us know and we'll get on it quicker than a sumo-wrestler at an all you can eat buffet.

Two interns in unfamiliar territory. Two questions from a blogger scenting new blood. And now, two answers to round it off.