Mike's World News

Quote of the Moment

michaelcox — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 07:21:12 +0000

“Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia…”

Tenche Coxe

The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788

New Kid, New House, New Host

michaelcox — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:18:25 +0000

A lot has happened since I last blogged.

I now have a daughter, Hannah! She is just about 3-weeks ago. The Wife did a nice post called “Here’s Hannah“.

We moved about a week ago from one side of town to another side.

If all that isn’t enough, I just moved my blog from an old self-hosted server to a new web host. There have been a few problems, but I hope to work though it all soon. Please be patient. If I don’t get it working as fast as you’d like, please see the other two items I posted on…

What would happen?

michaelcox — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:44:23 +0000

Mikey, being a 4-year old, likes to ask lots of questions. He asked a question several hours ago that, to me anyways, really jumped out. He started asking about why grownups still have parents. But then he asked what happens to kids if the grownups both die and go back to live with Heavenly Father. “Who would help us?” he wanted to know. Amanda and I explained that we have set it up so that if something happened to us, they would go live with one of their aunts & uncles. “What if something happened to them too?” Then you would go live with a different set. What if something happened to all of them? Then you would go live with someone else we know. “What if everyone we know would die?” We told them that he would then be adopted by someone he didn’t know and they would take care of him. Even though he didn’t know them at first, he would get to know them.

Pretty serious thinking for a 4-year old. I’m glad that the wife & I have some of these plans in place already. I hope we never need them.

Come Quickly

michaelcox — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:09:14 +0000

I’ve been having some pretty late nights working on a house the last couple of days. A few nights ago, I was listening to Coast to Coast AM. The guest said something about hopefully the Savior comes soon. The Host, George Noory, said something to the effect of “If He is there, I hope He comes soon”. I though “Come Quickly Lord Jesus, I’ll always be watching”. The spirit came over me very strongly, perhaps stronger than I have felt it in sometime. In my soul I felt the Lord saying “I come quickly. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” I was left not knowing if quickly was 2 minutes, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, 2 years, 2 decades, or even 2 millennium. But I was left with the renewed knowledge that I know that He is coming. Ultimately, the most important thing in this life is to prepare ourselves and those around us for His ultimate return.

Quote of the Moment

michaelcox — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:03:11 +0000

That war [American Civil War]…was nothing, compared to that which will eventually devastate that country. The time is not very far distant in the future, when the Lord God will lay his hand heavily upon that nation. “How do you know this? inquires one.” I know from the revelations which God has given upon this subject. I read these revelations, when they were first given…What then will be the condition of that people, when this great and terrible war shall come? It will be very different from the war between the North and the South,…It will be a war of neighborhood against neighborhood, city against city, town against town, county against county, state against state, and they will go forth destroying and being destroyed and manufacturing will, in a great measure, cease, for a time, among the American nation. Why? Because in these terrible wars, they will not be privileged to manufacture, there will be too much blood-shed—too much mobocracy—too much going forth in bands and destroying and pillaging the land to suffer people to pursue any local vocation with any degree of safety. What will become of millions of the farmers upon that land? They will leave their farms and they will remain uncultivated, and they will flee before the ravaging armies from place to place; and thus will they go forth burning and pillaging the whole country… A time is coming when the great and populous city of New York—the greatest city of the American Republic, will be left without inhabitants. The houses will stand, some of them, not all. They will stand there, but unoccupied, no people to inherit them. It will be the same in regard to numerous other cities, or, in the words of the Lord, “I will throw down all their strongholds, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.” It will all be fulfilled… the heathen will be spared longer than these Gentile nations who have had the scriptures in their midst, but would not obey them

Elder Orson Pratt
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 20, pp 151-153
Delivered at the London conference, March 9th, 1879

QST, QST, QST

michaelcox — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:37:04 +0000

Tomorrow, I will be Net Control for the Southern Nevada MARA net, which is a ham radio group. I’m excited. I’ve only had my ham radio ticket just under 6-months, and I will be running the net tomorrow.

If any one is interested, the net meets on Saturdays at 8:30 am and Mondays at 9:00 pm on VHF 147.27+ and is also linked on UHF 447.30- (PL 100).

Quote of the Moment

michaelcox — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:28:22 +0000

I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world.

Ezra Taft Benson
October 1988 General Conference

Philosophical questions

michaelcox — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:36:30 +0000

We were on our way home from Grandma’s house when Mikey, my almost 4-year old, started asking some pretty good philosophical questions. My two favorite are:

Daddy, when will Jesus come out of Heaven?
Daddy, if I do something bad, will I not be able to live in heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus?

I’m glad that I know the answers to these and, therefore, was able to help him better understand.

Christmas Letter 2009

michaelcox — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 05:56:52 +0000

Dear Friends & Family;

Well 2009 has been a fun year. Sometimes we wonder if life will ever slow down! We got our Ham radio licenses this year and Michael, at least, is enjoying talking to people on the air.

Mikey is finally potty trained and is learning to put letters together to make words. He loves Geotrax trains, Thomas the Tank Engine, the movie Cars, and any cartoon on TV. Mikey will be turning 4 in January and is excited to be a Sunbeam at Church.

Josh is slowly starting to talk and loves to do whatever his big brother is doing. He is becoming Mr. Independent and doesn’t want anyone’s help in doing things. He will be turning 2 in March.

Michael has finally earned an Associate’s degree and is still working hard at fixing computers. In February, he started working as the Director of Information Technologies for an INC 500 company here in Las Vegas. He still manages his computer repair business, Las Vegas Geeks, as well so he stays busy.

Amanda was released from the Relief Society Presidency this past year and has been in Nursery ever since. A few months later, Mike was called to teach in Nursery as well so it’s a great team. She is a wonderful Mother and Wife. She loves couponing and we are all impressed by her savings.

Love,

Michael, Amanda, Mikey, and Josh Cox

How to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 12-days

michaelcox — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:39:44 +0000

How to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 12-days

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this week. Over the last decade the only requirement to win the prize was that the nominee had to be critical of George W. Bush (see Al Gore, Mohamed El Baradei and Jimmy Carter).
President Obama has broken new ground here. Nominations for potential winners of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize ended on February 1. The president took office only 12 days earlier on January 20.
Let’s take a look at the president’s first 12 days in the White House according to his public schedule to see what he did to deserve a Nobel Peace Prize:

January 20: Sworn in as president. Went to a parade. Partied.
January 21: Asked bureaucrats to re-write guidelines for information requests. Held an “open house” party at the White House.
January 22: Signed Executive Orders: Executive Branch workers to take ethics pledge; re-affirmed Army Field Manual techniques for interrogations; expressed desire to close Gitmo (how’s that working out?)
January 23: Ordered the release of federal funding to pay for abortions in foreign countries. Lunch with Joe Biden; met with Tim Geithner.
January 24: Budget meeting with economic team.
January 25: Skipped church.
January 26: Gave speech about jobs and energy. Met with Hillary Clinton. Attended Geithner’s swearing in ceremony.
January 27: Met with Republicans. Spoke at a clock tower in Ohio.
January 28: Economic meetings in the morning, met with Defense secretary in the afternoon.
January 29: Signed Ledbetter Bill overturning Supreme Court decision on lawsuits over wages. Party in the State Room. Met with Biden.
January 30: Met economic advisers. Gave speech on Middle Class Working Families Task Force. Met with senior enlisted military officials.
January 31: Took the day off.
February 1: Skipped church. Threw a Super Bowl party.

So there you have it. The short path to the Nobel Peace Prize: Party, go to meetings, skip church, release federal funding to pay for abortions in foreign countries, party some more.