For us hacks, the great hope is that the weekly First Minister’s Questions will provide a decent story something that matters.
Unfortunately, that often seems about as likely as Alex Salmond declaring this independence lark has been a practical joke.
But even with suitably low expectations, the topics raised at FMQs this week showed a lack of imagination.
Iain Gray decided to quiz the First Minister on corporation tax, which parliament was already scheduled to debate that afternoon.
Tory leader Annabel Goldie returned to the subject she had bored everyone senseless about last week the euro.
It was left to Cowdenbeath MSP Helen Eadie to steal the show with a rant about Alex Salmond ”misleading” parliament and refusing to answer questions about the future of sterling under independence (link).
She may have got her wrist slapped by the presiding officer, but she made her point and won the gratitude of those in the cheap seats looking for something to write about.