THE prospect of shopping discounted under the banner of post-Boxing Day sales was a powerful attraction as people hit the streets in search of a bargain.
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Overheard in one shop was a woman in her autumn years, shall we say, who said she was in a queue in one clothing store and she was number 92 in the order for service.
Tough for the shopper, but hopefully good for the business which employs the staff, who earn the money to go shopping themselves.
Obviously getting a bargain is worth more than the apparent stress of mingling with the crowds, otherwise people wouldn't respond to the offer of discounted stock.
If you like people and you like seeking out new possessions, then a day like yesterday was the ideal way to be in the right place at the right time. If you don't then make a choice based on your likes and dislikes.
That's why some people shop online.
ABOUT 10 years ago the Howard government introduced some strategies to counter what was seen as the rising tide of terrorism.
One facet was a fridge magnet (not seen or heard of much these days) and another, a security hotline.
Yesterday marked a decade since the hotline was established to collect information.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the hotline received almost 170,000 calls over the past decade.
It began following the Bali bombing in which 202 people, including 88 Australians, were killed.
Unfortunately the nation's security agencies say terrorism continued to present the most immediate threat to Australians. This country has yet to see terrorism acts like in the UK, the US and Spain and it is our fervent hope we will not.