Sorry if this has been posted. Been a little busy, and have some catching-up to do here. Anyway it did show up in Yahoo Y2K news, Binary Fusion. Something different... <:)=

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 1999-- In the '60s and '70s there was John Lennon and the philosophy of ``Give peace a chance.''

In the '80s there was Jesse Jackson and the philosophy of ``Keep hope alive.'' In the '90s and into the new millennium there is Beth Bridgman, author of the very first science fiction novel, ``Binary Fusion,'' and her philosophy of ``Don't get mad; get compassion.''

Bridgman, a self-proclaimed spiritual millennium adviser, believes that transcendent, or ``prescriptive,'' thinking is the key to settling the minds -- and hearts -- of all who are concerned about the Y2K crisis.

The book, ``Binary Fusion,'' is a novel that focuses on how human thought can determine the outcome of, not just the Y2K issues, but every perceived threat or natural disaster we encounter.

Bridgman insists that the millennium bug is merely the next sequence in the natural order of the earth's development. From the recent tornado in Oklahoma to the murders in Colorado, Bridgman's message is centered on the idea that compassion is the height of emotional intelligence.

``Emotional Intelligence (EI), or the coherent emotion of compassion, can be measured and practiced, allowing humans to alter the outcome of life's undesirable events,'' said Bridgman.

Compassion is measured by a simple biofeedback research tool developed by Eartheart LLC, called the HeartLink. The HeartLink, nicknamed the Love Bug, actually gives physical data that determines the degree to which a person is honestly feeling about any given subject. It is an emotional lie detector, of sorts, except that rather than revealing lies, it reveals levels of the truth.

The HeartLink is in direct connection with Bridgman's philosophy in that it enables us to ``see'' the emotions she speaks of. In establishing an actual visual image for her concept, people will have the ability to understand how positive, proactive thinking can determine the outcome of any of life's events, and why the new millennium should not send us into a state of emergency.

Bridgman and her partner, Raven Dana, have developed Heart Intelligence and Life Skills workshops in hopes of expanding their message to the school system. By teaching emotional intelligence combined with interactive strategies that develop clear distinctions between reactive and responsive behavior, this program empowers children by cultivating within them a clear sense of their own value.

This extends to their understanding of how diversity connects with all realms of life. Bridgman provides a safe context in which honesty and emotions can be fully expressed and enables each individual (children and adults alike) to take on the challenge of replacing automatic, reactive fear-based behaviors, with a compassionate, productive way of existing.

Beth Bridgman is available for an interview. She can discuss and physically demonstrate the process of compassion, as well as ``teach'' compassion using the HeartLink device and heart/mind strategies of prescriptive thought.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), May 15, 1999

Answers

Thanks, Sysman. Hey, are you still considering drivin' down I-95 to our little D.C. gathering on the 20th?

If "get compassion" becomes the mantra of the 21st Century this world would be all the better for it. My take is the human species would have to evolve spiritually very, very quickly for compassion to become commonplace.

As far as the HeartLink biofeedback research tool on which compassion is measured, well, I prefer to use the tool my Father blessed me with - the heart-center.

Is there anything more pleasing to the self than the love, the connection with another being, that true compassion engenders?

Compassionately Yours,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), May 15, 1999.

Yikes! Sounds like the plot of Atlas Shrugged.

A man who feels a small amount of compassion, but acts with logic, determination and skill is worth a thousand who feel compassion intensely, but haven't a clue about what action to take.

But wait! We could Clinton up to this contraption and find out whether or not he really does feel our pain!

-- Kay (hamilmk@highfiber.com), May 15, 1999.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

In the '90s and into the new millennium there is Beth Bridgman, author of the very first science fiction novel, ``Binary Fusion,'' and her philosophy of ``Don't get mad; get compassion.''

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Very first SciFi novel??? HHHMMMM

-- Brian (imager@home.com), May 15, 1999.

Sysman,

If the prophesies of the Mayans, Hopis, etc, are to be considered, then I think this whole concept of Binary Fusion is what will be the bedrock of the new social order of the next millennium, starting in 2012, according to so many predictions. So, an introduction into that type of living is certainly in order right now. Very interesting.

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), May 15, 1999.

I thought Shelly's Frankenstein was the first sf novel, I'm probably wrong,philosophy major,y'know.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), May 15, 1999.

First SciFi Novel?

Genisis, Ezeikel, The Illiad, Revelations for sure, Divine Comedy, a few from the top of my head.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), May 15, 1999.

IMHO, the root of compassion lies in being able to project yourself into the other person's shoes and imagine what it would be like to experience what they are feeling. It is part of the thing we call morality. In most western cultures, the "Golden Rule" is propounded as a moral maxim of compassion. However, one brings his/her own values to the process. One does not see that experience within the context of the other's value-system, nor the context of some vague concept of "global values." That is what makes it "compassionate."

There is a social price to embracing the concept of "moral relativity," and its strange companion, "political coreectness," as is currently being promoted in our public school system. Astoundingly, the movement is being promoted as a so-called celebration of our "diversity," when it actually seeks to universalize some preconceived concept of "global community."

Cultures and sub-cultures have underlying value systems that give a child a contextual world-view to frame and understand his experiences and to give guidance to appropriate response. IMHO, that yardstick of "appropriate response" is being shattered by the concepts of moral realtivity and "political correctness."

Children are being guided to "critical thinking" processes that carry some concept of "global values." It is one thing to intellectually question and rebel against the moral value system and beliefs of your parents - that is natural in teenage years. It is another to be raised under some State inculcated value system that has been interjected by "liberals" to socially engineer a generation into one "global village," or to get one's primary education in values from television. I see this in the consensus community-based process promoted by the government in my industry. The "community of interests" gets together and hammers out agreement about what an individual can or cannot do on his own property and actually plans how that property will be used and the "best management practices" to be used in development that will be of most benefit to the community. It comes from the same intellectual venue as "global community," which I identify with socialism.

My point is that Bridgman's concepts are fine for adults to ponder and debate. Adults are presumed to have the intellectual maturity to do so and are fundamentally grounded in the value system of their upbringing, filtered by experience and the ability to frame their own version of what is valid and good. Experimentation with children has produced a generation adrift from a firm sense of right and wrong. A generation without a conscience. You cannot carve a child away from his family and community beliefs, and replace them with a State value system without confusing and dehumanizing him, and undermining the disciplinary influence of his family and community.

I shudder at the thought of another value intervention at the school level, such as Bridgman proposes.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), May 15, 1999.

Your comments reminded me of a movie I recently sawed called "Hitler's Children".

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), May 15, 1999.

I wondered why on one particular episode of Star Trek TNG, when searching back to the late twentieth/early twenty-first century era for information, Mr Data announced "Records from that period are spotty, at best." Now we have the answer; the show's writer's knew about Y2K some five or so years ago.

WW:)

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), May 15, 1999.