Saturday, February 22nd .....

We were at a Quiz Competition last night, helping to raise money for the local Folk Museum. We had a team of 6 and three others joined us before the event began. We had to select a category for which we would get double points; we chose General Knowledge which had the advantage that it was the last round so we could come from behind to win. Everything was fine for the first few rounds and we were holding our own. It was difficult communicating around a group of 9 especially as the scribing was being done at the other end of the table and those of us at the foot felt a little marginalised. However, that turned out not to be the biggest problem.

Because it was a fund-raiser, the organisers were willing to sell us an answer for $2. By the time we woke up to this, another team was putting up $20 to get every answer in a round. Some of our team also got into the act and were buying as many as five per round. It got to the point where they were buying an answer just to check that we were right.

We ended up coming second by just half a point, beaten by a team called Nobby's Nuts. Coming a distant 3rd, 4th, etc, were the ethical teams who tried to play fairly - losers! The Folk Museum made heaps of money but it wasn't much fun. I'm sure there's a philosophical point to be made about the corrupting influence of money or that you can only be a success in life if you're rich. But I'm too disenchanted to even think about it.

Local news last night led with the story that Malcolm Turnbull is considering continuing the NBN runout in Tasmania with fibre to the premises as promised prior to the election. It was bad news for us that he had reneged on that promise months ago and the Premier has been lobbying for months, sending letters, visiting him in Sydney and Canberra, all to no avail. However, the Liberal leader, realising that this could change the results of the March election, called on Malcolm on his way to a cricket match in Sydney and, lo and behold, it's sorted. The taxpayer will foot the extra expense, of course, but that's OK.

I'm in two minds about it. Having the fibre to the premises roll-out is important but the blatant use of taxpayers funds for a political end is disgraceful. If the Federal Government sincerely believes that their hybrid program is the best solution, they should stick to it, and not indulge in regional pork-barrelling where they can see a political advantage. Sadly, I thought better of Mr Turnbull, but it seems he is no better than the rest.