I’m reading 1984 and a line that is the book reads,
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
I was caught a bit alarmed by this philosphy and I wasn’t sure why. Then as I was thinking about the words a song that remember listening to as a kid by Nine Inch Nails called Happiness is Slavery came to mind.
Is happiness slavery?
Is war peace?
Is freedom slavery?
Or is ignorance strength?
I couldn’t help but think about the adversary’s plan and his attempt to have us believe that losing our agency or ability to choose would be better for us than the opportunity to grow and develop by making mistakes.
The ability to choose and not be forced to do things against our will is the ultimate way for us to grow and develop.
This is an excellent book to allow us to see what happens to a world that doesn’t offer choice or encourage differences.
Well since he doesn’t have a name yet, we’re calling him Spencer Jr at our house. We had the opportunity to go to the hospital to see this newest member of the Scoville Family. He was so small; yet he was over 6 pounds. I don’t remember our kids being that small but they were. It is amazing what you remember from the events that go on in your past; at least for me because I don’t remember the past too well. I think I’m having early onset Dementia.
We were so happy to see this little boy. Spencer and Jonene were happy to have him here. Good luck on the decision making process. I think my vote goes with Eli. We absolutely love Eli Stone. Hopefully some pictures get posted soon. I think Sarah took a camera last night and maybe Spencer will get something up sooner than later.
UPDATE: I’m hoping that they’ve made it home by now. I’ve also heard his name is officially Spencer Luke (or Lucas?)Scoville
Since we own our home now, we decided to get our kids a dog for Christmas because they’ve been asking and so has Marlene. We have been looking for a few months and seen many cute little dogs on KSL for sale, but we finally decided that we’d go to the North Utah Valley Animal Shelter at nuvas.org. We got a little miniature Schnauzer. Her name was Krystal and she answers to it but we don’t like it.
The jury is out on the new name for her. We are thinking Trixy or now Mazie.
Where does your vote stand? Let us know.
Marlene will be pleased to know this; if she didn’t already. Well maybe Senator Clinton will now be the Secretary of State for Obama. We’ll have the Clinton’s in our lives for yet a while longer.
After I returned home from my trip to Little Rock to present the results from a research project I was involved with over the last year at the 70th Annual National Conference on Family Relations (NCFR), I found out that the journal article that had been accepted for publication was finally in print. It was from one of my elective courses but also a really pragmatic and efficient method to work together in a group and complete a journal article ready for publication and also to present the research at a National Conference.
We had a great time presenting in Little Rock. I enjoyed the Clinton Presidential Library; even if I don’t agree with his political or moral views, he did a lot for the country.
The take home message is that companies that allow their employees flexible work arrangments have employees that are generally healthier, happier in life and marriages, and more satisfied and loyal to their jobs. This suggests that the benefits are not only to those that actually use the workplace flexibility, but also all the rest of the employees that don’t use it, just by the perception of their being workplace flexibilty.
Toward the bottom of the linked page you’ll see the journal article. For convenience, I’ve included a PDF of the journal article for your reading pleasure. (Perceived Versus Workplace Flexibility.)
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