tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:52:01 +0000http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/Lance TaylorBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-4194955638705370879Fri, 18 Apr 2008 05:33:00 +00002008-04-18T00:41:24.645-05:00If you live in Texas or New York you can save money on your energy bill. New customers will receive a free 3-day/2-night hotel stay in your choice of one of 25 cities. Earn additional travel rewards by using energy and earn them even faster by referring other customers. Five customer referrals can earn you a cruise! http://energy.diakonos.comhttp://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/04/save-money-and-earn-free-travel.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-7327025744777465213Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:35:00 +00002008-03-10T07:45:23.011-05:00A new book, "The Three Trillion Dollar War", by Nobel prize-winning economist, Joseph E. Stiglitz, says that the war in Iraq will cost the U.S. about $12 BILLION per month and estimates that the total cost will reach about $2.7 TRILLION by the year 2017.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/three-trillion-dollar-war.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-3758078556384012674Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:26:00 +00002008-03-10T07:35:06.807-05:00The Marine Corps hired some professional hunters to design a training course. The leadership recognized that two of the main skills in hunting are observation and deduction—being able to position yourself properly so that you are able to pick out your prey before it spots you. These skills are also very important to a Marine that is trying to fight against an irregular who tries to blend into a http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/marines-go-on-hunt.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-4825886340342293844Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:19:00 +00002008-03-10T07:26:36.918-05:00On February 29th it was announced that, General James Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, had halted purchasing of the new Modular Tactical Vest (MTV) after numerous complaints from Marines in the field. The problem is with weight and practicality, not the safety of the vest.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/commandant-halts-purchases-of-vests.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-6795860085035551323Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:01:00 +00002008-03-08T09:08:28.783-06:00 Later this year, the Marine Corps will begin distribution of a new lightweight, reflective, moisture-wicking, anti-microbial running suit. The Marines that have tested the new suit prefer it to the heavyweight cotton sweat suits. Marines will be given one suit initially, but will be responsible to purchase replacements from their own pocket. The cost of the suit will be around $112 retail.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/cool-running-suits.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-1827876525404690965Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:31:00 +00002008-03-07T07:33:39.023-06:00October 1, 2008 will bring a change to the maximum number of days of leave that a Marine can carry over. Marines will be able to have up to 75 days of leave instead of only 60. The change is necessary because Marines have a higher operational tempo and many were starting to lose days that they had earned.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/new-maximum-limit-for-leave-accrual.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-3155212276593643536Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:24:00 +00002008-03-07T07:27:08.500-06:00On Friday, February 29th, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel John Bolt, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Aivaz, and Lieutenant Colonel James Quinn were all awarded the Bronze Star for their actions while recruiting and training Iraqi security forces.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/03/three-marine-officers-awarded-bronze.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-1524112866465264821Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:23:00 +00002008-02-02T18:29:46.238-06:00 This is something that should NEVER happen! Congress, what will you do to fix the problem? "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." -- James 4:17, Holy Bible, New King James Versionhttp://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/02/sgt-carmelo-rodriguez.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-3695512455737438410Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:40:00 +00002008-02-01T11:43:23.514-06:00In resolutions passed January 29, 2008, the City Council of Berkeley has declared that United States Marine Corps recruiters are "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" within city limits and applauds those who choose to "impede" the Marines in their recruiting mission. The justification presented by the Council for these obnoxious and misdirected resolutions is that the Council objects to the http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2008/02/sign-petition-against-berkeley.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-7371943869257900896Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:05:00 +00002007-12-19T00:20:47.788-06:00When www.tun-tavern.com first opened to the public on November 10, 1999, the most popular feature was a database called the Marine Registry. It was a section of the website that was interactive and allowed Marines to enter as much of their service information as they wanted to. This database could then be searched to help Marines find buddies that they served with. Over the years the database http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/12/marine-registry.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-1705294635829521853Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:24:00 +00002007-12-18T23:31:44.025-06:00The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed 'round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/12/different-christmas-poem.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-4078055266701615170Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:37:00 +00002007-12-17T18:19:01.475-06:00On October 23rd, 1983 my father was taken from my sister and me. Early one morning while all the men slept, a truck with explosives and terrorists crept. We don't remember because we were too small, we know nothing about him, no, nothing at all. We got all the help from the United States Gov. but nothing replaces your own father's love. He died for our freedom, thats all that I know. But one http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/12/remember-beirut.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-4631856343443814726Mon, 19 Nov 2007 04:41:00 +00002007-11-18T22:43:03.409-06:00You stay up for 16 hours He stays up for days on end. You take a warm shower to help you wake up. He goes days or weeks without running water. You complain of a 'headache', and call in sick. He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward. You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends. He still fights for your right to wear that shirt. http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/11/perspective.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-3611474311693576309Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:39:00 +00002007-03-29T08:47:01.937-05:00Charlotte Winters was a Civil War buff who fought for the right for women in the military. She even met with the Secretary of the Navy in a face-to-face meeting to talk about the subject. She was one of the first to join the Navy in a support role when it was opened up in 1917. More than 11,000 women had joined by the end of 1918. She retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1953 at the rank of http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/03/last-american-female-wwi-vet-dies.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-3950303871153391567Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:25:00 +00002007-03-28T22:34:58.972-05:00General James T. Conway has announced a new policy regarding tattoos on Marines. Large tats are now a no-no. For those Marines that already have large ink designs, they will be photographically documented and any new additions can bring disciplinary action. The Commandant says that large tattoo designs, especially the tattoo "sleeves" do not conform with the professional image that the Marine http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2007/03/commandant-raises-stink-about-ink.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-5097343826824837652Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:10:00 +00002006-12-21T10:19:19.287-06:00It was 17 years ago today, on December 20th, 1989, that Operation Just Cause was launched in Panama to apprehend the military leader Manuel Noriega. President George H. W. Bush outlined four main reasons for the invasion: 1) to protect American lives in Panama, 2) to defend democracy and human rights, 3) to combat drug trafficking, and 4) to protect the integrity of treaties that were signed http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/12/operation-just-cause.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116447683070749793Sat, 25 Nov 2006 17:25:00 +00002006-11-25T11:47:10.976-06:00The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is drafting a plan to allow regular visits to Midway Atoll on a limited basis. The visits could possibly begin in the summer of 2007. Right now the only way for the public to get to the island is to ride with a government worker, get on a cruise ship in Asia, or volunteer to do environmental work for three months. The World War II Battle of Midway is known as "http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/midway-may-open-to-tourism.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116429169607546083Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:20:00 +00002006-11-23T08:21:36.096-06:00I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all Marines wherever they may be! Stay safe, and Semper Fi!http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/happy-thanksgiving-marines.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116417674294496646Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:19:00 +00002006-11-22T00:25:42.953-06:00A tornado touched down at Camp Schwab on Okinawa last Saturday injuring three Marines. None of the Marines were seriously injured, but one had to be transported to the hospital for lacerations. The Japanese rarely have to deal with tornadoes. However, this latest incident happened only 10 days after the deadliest tornado in Japanese history when a tornado hit Hokkaido and killed 9 people.http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/tornado-at-camp-schwab-injures-three.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116368204515592107Thu, 16 Nov 2006 12:45:00 +00002006-11-16T07:00:45.163-06:00One of the "Pendleton 8" pleaded guilty to lesser charges of to charges of assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice and was sentenced to 18 months in custody. PFC John J. Jodka III is one of the seven Marines and a Navy corpsman accused of conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder of Hashim Ibrahim Awad, a 52-year old Iraqi from Hamdaniya. As a part of the plea deal Jodka will be required to testify. http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/pendleton-8-marine-sentenced-after.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116333645610638402Sun, 12 Nov 2006 05:58:00 +00002006-11-12T07:00:56.116-06:00Thank you. Thanks for coming. Secretary Nicholson, thank you for your kind words and for your leadership. Members of the Cabinet, Members of Congress, members of the United State military, all veterans, all volunteers who have sworn to uphold the security of the United States, I thank your families for being here and I thank our veterans. I am proud to join you on this day of honor. On this day,http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/president-bushs-veterans-day-speech.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116317321080691898Sat, 11 Nov 2006 06:05:00 +00002006-11-10T22:42:37.346-06:00Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose in deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family. Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my sharehttp://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/marines-prayer.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116322012391066865Sat, 11 Nov 2006 06:01:00 +00002006-11-10T22:42:03.920-06:00If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a veteran!http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/thank-veteran.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116318906204817473Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:54:00 +00002006-11-10T14:04:22.056-06:00Cpl Jason Dunham was leading a patrol in Iraq in April 2004. While they were stopping a convoy of cars, one occupant started fighting with Cpl Dunham hand-to-hand. Cpl Dunham yelled for his fellow Marines to watch out as the attacker dropped a grenade. Cpl Dunham then put his helmet over the grenade and his body over the helmet to protect his men. He died from his wounds eight days later after http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/president-bush-names-new-medal-of.htmlLance Taylortag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31987991.post-116316914292631148Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:14:00 +00002006-11-10T08:32:22.940-06:00On November 10th, 1775, our Corps was born as the Continental Congress raised the "First and Second Battalions of American Marines." Each year as we celebrate our birthday, we pause to reflect on the Marines of yesteryear who fought in our touchstone battles and forged the modern Marine Corps with their courage, integrity, and undying commitment to their fellow Marines. Each of our storied http://www.diakonos.com/tun-tavern/2006/11/commandant-hagees-marine-corps.htmlLance Taylor