Platform 9 3/4

Platform 9 3/4 .. a famous hidden place towards Hogwarts in Harry Potter. Here, you can look around the wizardry world and find out about the ways in which to travel.

"All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it, that's very important. Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous. Go on, go now..."

In order to catch the Hogwarts Express train to Hogwarts, students must board at Platform Nine and Three Quarters at Kings Cross Station. This Platform is not visible to Muggles. In fact, you get to it by running toward the solid barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten, full tilt. Instead of hitting the wall, you'll find yourself passing under a wrought iron sign that says "Platform Nine and Three Quarters." A guard sits there, monitoring the comings and goings through the portal, making sure that too many people don't do it at the same time and alarm the Muggles. On days when the train is set to leave for Hogwarts, the Platform is filled with Witches and Wizards saying good bye to their children. Cats and owls are a common sight among the crowd.

.....

This platform is quite interesting for a fanatic fan of Harry Potter, like me :-)
It's great finding this memorabilia in Kings Cross Station, London..
When I pull my chart towards the platform.. there I go.. Harry Potter's world..

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

Author : John Perkins (2004)

John Perkins tells of his own inner journey from willing servant of empire to impassioned advocate for the rights of oppressed people. Covertly recruited by the United States National Security Agency and on the payroll of an international consulting firm, he traveled the world- to Indonesia, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other strategically important countries. His job was to implement policies that promoted the interests of the US corporatocracy (a coalition of government, banks, and corporations) while professing to alleviate poverty-policies that aliniated many nations and ultimately led to September 11 and growing anti-Americanism.

Perkins' story illuminates just how far he and his colleagues - self-describes as economic hit men - were willing to go. He explains, for instance, how he helped to implement a secret scheme that funneled billions of Saudi Arabian petrodollars back into the US economy, and that further cemented the intimate relationship between the Islamic fundamentalist House of Saud and a succession of American administrators. Perkins reveals the hidden mechanics of imperial control behind some of the most dramatic events in recent history, such as the fall of the Shah of Iran, the death of Panamanian President Omar Torrijos, and the US invasions of Panama and Iraq.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, which many people warned Perkins not to write, exposes the little known inner workings of a system that fosters globalization and leads to the impoverisnment of millions of people accross the planet. It is a compelling story that also offers hope and a vision for realizing the American dream of a just and compassionate world that bring us greater security.



comment:

Such a sin-confessions from an old man :-)

First snow in Brummiesadventure

Yea..... Snow is coming....

I remember the time during my childhood, I ran down and played with my friends when the heavy rain pouring for the first time in rainy season. We were doing the rain-dancing, just like Indians dancing in favour of raining. We were so wet, cold, and shivering.. and my mom shouted at me and ordered me to go back inside. The memory was still clear in my mind.

It's been 20-years now when I experienced this similar moment on my brummiesadventure. The first snow came in Birmingham this afternoon, and quite a heavy snow. When I first saw the snow falling from the sky, I got out from Priorsfield (my department) and ran down towards the snow. Several friends followed me and we played snow-throw along the way. It was so damn cold but so fun. I feel like I was a little girl playing in the middle of the snow with bunch of friends. But this time, no mommy shouted at me (hurraayy).

Having played that, I was amazed by this beautiful god-creation. Well, this is the first time I've ever seen such a beautiful and cold snow. Hence, it is so white, just like my imagination of "snow white".