Dear Readers,
This edition marks the second birthday of the Xerostar Times. The first edition was published in December 2000. That's not very long in "real" time but apparently it's "ages" in the cyberworld.

I can highly recommend publishing your own Ezine. It's amazing just how many useful new things you can learn and how many great people you get to know from all around this little planet.

One difficulty that arises in publishing anything world-wide is trying to remain neutral or at least not to offend people of another race, religion or country.

Inevitably when an editor expresses his opinion, he will appear to align himself with certain factions whether by his statements, the articles published or even by his or her omissions.

It' a delicate balance when you try to be fair towards everyone, however some readers are very sensitive and the slightest insinuation or apparent insult can have them declaring a Fatwah on you.

In contrast, another faction has decided that I am an unsuitable person to deal with. Scurrilous rumors circulated about my apparent political leanings has resulted in a very effective stonewalling. This has severely limited my ability to conduct normal business on the internet or in my locality.

I declare myself to be an agnostic humanitarian and  I never have or will exhibit racism and bigotry, no matter what others have written about me.
I'm not desperate enough to follow any dogma, apart from the Australian one that encourages fun, freedom, happiness and goodwill to all.

I think celebrities from around the world experience similar disagreeable treatment when untrue stories are written about them. Many learn to hate media representatives because of this.

Freedom of the press (or media) is one of the cornerstones of democracy. However, editors have a duty to inform their readers of the truth as best they can and avoid spreading falsity for any reason.

Peru is our country of the month. A truly fascinating country in every aspect.

Please take a few moments to rate the XT. 
See the Cumuli.com ad at the foot of this page.

Wishing you all the compliments of the season 
(how's that for neutrality ..)

Dr John K. Flynn B.D.Sc.
The Xerostar Times Editor 
Caring for Creative People
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It's the multiple layers of great civilizations which makes Peru so fascinating. You can wander around colonial cities which have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquistadors, visit the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, explore the lost city of Machu Picchu and ponder the enigma of the Nazca Lines. You don't have to be in Peru too long to realize that the 'New World' had a rich and complex cultural life thousands of years before Pizarro turned up wearing funny clothing.

All of this exists in a country with some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in South America. The Peruvian Andes are arguably the most beautiful on the continent and the mountains are home to millions of highland Indians who still speak the ancient tongue of Quechua and maintain a traditional way of life. The verdant Amazon Basin, which occupies half of Peru, is one of the world's top 10 biodiversity 'hot spots' - a species-rich area of tropical rain forest that will make your head spin when you start to learn about its ecology. And the coastal deserts, with their huge rolling dunes, farmland oases and fishing villages, are under appreciated by travelers but offer the opportunity to get off the Gringo Trail in a big way. But you don't have to be a zoologist, an anthropologist or a mountain climber to enjoy Peru, all you need is a keen eye, a love of landscape, an interest in history.

Full country name: Republic of Peru
Area: 1,285,215 sq km (501,234 sq mi) 
Population: 27,012,899 (1.9% growth)
Capital city: Lima (pop 8 million)
People: 54% Indian, 32% Mestizo (mixed European and Indian descent), 12% Spanish descent, 2% Black, Asian minority
Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Religion: Over 90% Roman Catholic, small Protestant population
Government: Democracy
President: Alejandro Toledo
Prime Minister: Roberto Dañino

GDP: US$111.8 billion
GDP per head: US$4,300
Annual growth: 1.8% 
Inflation: 6.7%
Major industries: Pulp, paper, coca leaves, fishmeal, steel, chemicals, oil, minerals,cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding
Major trading partner: USA, Japan, UK, China, Germany, Columbia

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Peruvian cuisine is one of the best in South America and it's known not only for its exquisite taste, but also for its variety and ability to incorporate the influence from different times and cultures. The culinary history of the Peruvian food dates back to the Incas and pre-Incas with its maize, potatoes and spices that later was influenced by the arrival of the Spanish colonies, and throughout the years it incorporated the demands of the different migrations and "mestizajes". Such groups included Chinese, European, African and Japanese immigrants. 

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Legal scholar Peter W. Huber writes about the
difficulty courts face in distinguishing serious science from junk when scientists themselves often have their doubts: "'Our freedom to doubt was
born out of a struggle against authority in the
early days of science,' Richard Feynman once wrote. 'It was a very deep and strong struggle: permit us to question -- to doubt -- to not be sure.' Science does search for absolute and immutable truths.
The search does progress. But it does not end.
"For just that reason, no one quite knows exactly what it is that science confirms or denies. We therefore have no precise definition of 'junk science,' or 'pseudo science,' 'quack,''crank,''crackpot,' or 'snake oil.' Nor, for that matter, is there a precise definition of 'snake.' As Martin Gardner points out in
'Science: Good, Bad and Bogus,' there is 'no exact way to define anything outside pure mathematics and logic, and even there some basic terms have extremely shaggy edges.' "Many a modern
philosopher is so intrigued by the shag that she will deny the existence of the carpet entirely. There is
simply no meaningful line to be drawn between pseudo science and science unprefixed, she will assure you, or at least nothing that can be rigorously
demarcated and defined. Are there then any real
differences between astronomy and astrology, chemistry and alchemy, immunology and clinical ecology, pharmacology and homeopathy, mathematics and numerology? 
The zealous agnostic doesn't believe that she or anyone else can ever really know for sure.
Read the book: 
Peter W. Huber's "Galileo's Revenge: Junk Science in the Courtroom"

For more info please Click Here

When it comes to creativity, the word discipline can present problems. Webster defines the word in these terms: controlled behavior; a systematic method to obtain obedience; a state of order based on submission to rules and authority; punishment intended to train or correct.  For many of us, discipline is like taking a dose of castor oil. Admonishing ourselves into action, we “force it down” in order to accomplish our goals. 

Discipline is born of resistance. In itself, resistance is not negative, and is certainly not a character flaw.  In fact, it is an inherent link in the chain that comprises ones creative process.  We all must work through varying degrees of resistance in order to create momentum, which carries us into that delicious natural high we call, “flow.” 

Why then, does discipline fail us?  Why does it often bring on a tangle of inner conflict, stress and guilt that hinders momentum and flow, or even stops us in our tracks?   I think the reason is that discipline is too often applied in opposition. When we oppose our resistance, we compound tension and perfectionism. We get so focused on outcomes that we miss the joy of creating in the moment. The discipline that was intended to bring mastery, in fact, brings reluctance and disappointment. 

Since this word “discipline” is so highly charged in relationship to the creative process, I prefer to use the word “willingness.” Willingness can be cultivated, as long as we are patient as we strive to learn a new way of approach. It takes a little time, but the rewards are great, indeed. 

Here's how it works:

Like meditation in motion, the awareness mind accepts resistance with no struggle.  The inner eye simply observes the resistance non judgmentally, creating a soft “container” for it.  Then the mind gently shifts its focus back to the task at hand, wasting no time in a draining struggle. Ironically, gentle acceptance loosens and melts resistance.  Put another way, normal resistance is now prevented from devolving into a pesky demon that gains control over our endeavors. 

As we practice this dynamic, we will notice resistance floating off more easily and more often. We push nothing away.  Resistance is simply allowed to dissolve on its own. Conflict, stress and guilt begin to fade.  Starting becomes easier.  Resistance is replaced by more and more calm.  We begin to feel long lost pangs of excitement when we wake in the morning.  We are willing to take action, to focus, to let go of outcomes, to surrender and create moment by moment. If we stay loyal to this practice, one day we will notice that our discipline has become our willingness.

Barbara Bowen is a professional writer/photographer. She is also the founder of GATEWAYS, a coaching service for Arts Professionals. 718-596-8339. 
Bownarro@erols.com 
For more info please Click Here
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Radiologists and pathologists at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, examined the ice maiden during the summer of 1996. A traditional autopsy would have destroyed the frozen remains, so the doctors relied on computed tomography (CT) scans with three-dimensional x-rays as well as several small tissue samples. The resulting virtual autopsy of this extraordinary body offers clues to the girl’s health, last hours, and death. 

The ice maiden is currently at Catholic University of Arequipa, where studies continue under the direction of professor José Antonio Chávez, Reinhard’s colleague and co-director of the High Altitude Sanctuaries of the Andes Project.

Read about the more recent expedition to retrieve the
500 year old frozen human sacrifice atop Peru’s Mount Ampato volcano.

To go there, please Click Here
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The Amazon River is the largest river on earth and home to one of the most dangerous fish in the world; the red bellied piranha. 
Don't be fooled by the size of this fish, they are small but very savage and have exceptionally sharp teeth. Fishermen have lost fingers and toes removing hooks from their mouths. 

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Creative announced immediate shipment of the world's thinnest digital camera: Creative CardCam. At just 6mm thick, the slim form factor used by Creative has been officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records® as the thinnest in the world. Weighing in at just 1.3 ounces and the size of a credit card, the Creative CardCam fits into any pocket, and is priced at only $99.99.

The Creative CardCam takes still images at up to 1.3 Megapixels, and with 8MB of internal memory, this tiny camera can store up to 26 photos at 1280 x 960 resolution or up to 101 photos at 640 x 480 resolution. Incorporating the revolutionary AutoBrite™ technology, the Creative CardCam clearly captures scenes with widely varying light levels, extending the dynamic range of a scene up to 500 times better than many conventional digital cameras, accurately capturing images the way the eye sees them.

The Creative CardCam connects easily to the PC via the USB port, and with the included software, users can transfer, view, edit and send photos with ease. The built-in lithium ion battery is automatically charged through the USB port. There are no batteries to buy or lose, and for added convenience, the Creative CardCam comes with a carrying pouch and neck strap.
...

Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa writes:  "In effect, novels lie -- they can do nothing else -- but that  is only part of the story. The other part is that, by lying, they  express a curious truth that can only be expressed in a furtive  and veiled fashion, disguised as something that it is not. 
Put  this way, it seems something of a rigmarole, but, in fact, it is  really very simple. 
Men are not content with their lot and almost all of them -- rich and poor, brilliant and ordinary,  famous and unknown -- would like a life different from the one  they are leading. Novels were born to placate this hunger,  albeit in a distorted way. They are written and read so that  human beings may have the lives that they are not prepared to  do without.
Within each novel, there stirs a rebellion, there  beats a desire." 
from:Mario Vargas Llosa's "Making Waves: Essays" 

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How about someone starting a discussion and make use of this forum!

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