Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2007, No.01 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Beta Pi:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!: Announcing a new blog feature, "MOVIE REVIEWS FROM THE UIS NETHERWORLD." Although "netherworld" literally means "land of the dead" - this will not be macabre or sordid. It will be short, informative movie reviews, with a "thumbs-up" type endorsement. Here is the Netherworld rating system:

B B B B= Best. Top notch, knock-your-sox-off high quality movie. Highly recommend seeing

B B B= Very good, but not great quality movie. Recommend seeing.

B B= Average, but not a bad movie. Neutral recommendation.

B= Bad movie. Avoid like the plague.

I hope some of you will contribute reviews.

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MOVIE REVIEWS FROM THE UIS NETHERWORLD:

The Good Shepherd. B B B B

This movie, directed by Robert De Niro, is being promoted as " ‘The Godfather’ of spy thrillers" - and since the Godfather is one of my "all-time-favorite" movies (i.e., a movie that I never tire of watching, no matter how many times I watch it) - I went to see The Good Shepherd with high expectations. This movie is one of those great films that is sure to yield several Academy Award winners. I came out of the theatre feeling like I’d seen a truly great film, and it is. The big surprise for me was Angelina Jolie - she plays Matt Damon’s wife - and before I saw this film, I thought she was a "B movie" actress. Was I ever wrong! Her performance is one of the finest I’ve ever seen in a supporting actress. I predict she will win an Oscar. I give this film the highest Netherworld rating - four B B B B ’s.

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ARMS AYLWARD UPDATE: I had a nice chat with Bob Aylward by telephone, Bob and family live in Seattle, and Bob is the self-described "money man" - financial manager of the Seattle Mariners. His wife Elizabeth is a Medical Research Professor, and he is about to graduate his oldest daughter from college. I know I speak for all Tick-a-los’ when I say "Bob, we’d love to see you in 2010!" Bob acknowledged that he had not been back to VU for a Reunion since we graduated in 1975, and he admitted that our 35th would be "big fun" if he decides to come. I take that as a maybe. Great talking with you Bob.

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VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.70 - Merry Christmas & Happy whatever!

Beta Pi:

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR: I love and respect all of my ATO Brothers, and I wish each of you a happy and blessed Christmas, and a prosperous 2007!

As you know, Christianity is ensconced in the founding principles of ATO. We are truly a Christian Fraternity. No brag, just fact. I think of Alexander Wilson, how he and Laura loved us and cared for us. I have come to realize that the love Alex gave to us was the kind of spiritually pure brotherly love that I personally believe God gives. Just my personal opinion. I have met only a few men like Alex in my lifetime, and it means a lot to me that you and I were there together, being spiritually fed by Alex. And I know for a fact it really has meaning for some of you, because you’ve told me, both privately and in this blog. Its almost like "church."

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I am praying for all of you and your families. May God Bless you and keep you.

Hey, enough of my proselytizing - but you can let me have a little at Christmas time, already!

I enjoy doing Beta Pi Blog because I love to write, and I want to thank each of you for the nice comments and positive feedback. Face to face, almost without exception, you guys have thanked me for the blog, and said how much you enjoy it. You know, we were all trained as pledges to say "I love and respect all of my ATO Brothers." But lets face it, "love and respect" is truly distinguishable from "like and co-exist with" - when we were college kids, we each liked each other, mostly, and even openly disliked some guys - I did anyway. We are adult men now, and I dare say we all have gained much wisdom through life experience, which has deepened our understanding of what it means to love and respect someone, especially an old friend from the past, a brother. Our Brotherhood is our bond, and those are not just words - I really enjoy reconnecting. I think it affirms that we really did mean something, something more than just a great college social club. We are old friends. I am grateful to count you guys as friends, and especially grateful for my closest friends Buck and Vinny, who have kept up with me, and have been closer brothers to me than my own family.

TIME MAGAZINE "PERSON OF THE YEAR": When I heard about this - that Time Magazine has named "YOU" as its "Person of the Year", honoring all people who use theinternet, I thought of you guys and our blog. There are a lot of blogs out there!

BETA PI BLOG CONTINUES TO GROW: Thanks to the internet activity and contributions of the Brethren, this page now counts a readership of 60 bona fide Beta Pi Brothers. Let me know the e-mail address of a brother.

TICK-A-LOS WITHOUT BORDERS / BROTHERS WITHOUT E-MAIL: There are several brothers we "found" who do not have e-mail connections. J.D. Strickland (phone 256-739-4931) of Cullman, Alabama does not own a computer and does not have an e-mail address (it’s a protest of some kind). West Crafton, (office phone 615-868-0352) of Nashville, Tennessee, does not have an e-mail address. I submit that we should try to stay in phone contact, and continue to encourage these brothers to get online!

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VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Tags: Frank Biller http://journals.aol.com/lasimons4law/beta-pi-blog/entries/2006/08/03/beta-pi-blog-vol.2006-no.-15---honoring-steve-starr-and-frank-biller/526,

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.69 - Dr. Phibes & Professor Rizzilious

Beta Pi:

Yesterday, the Venerable, yet Abominable Dr. Phibes matt_hart@hilton.com weighed in with a comment which he attempted to post directly, under screen name DrPhibesHart. The comment contained information regarding a quasi-prurient matter involving Mark Darling, a/k/a/ The Rat, a/k/a Professor Ratso Rizzilious, a/k/a Biggie Rat mldarling@comcast.net , and certain young women. As fate would have it, as Phibes was posting his comment, there was a glitch of unknown etiology, so Phibes e-mailed me, asking for assistance in posting his comment, and he requested that a certain picture be posted with his comment.

Beta Pi Blog editorial staff assigned staff technical engineer, Lorenzo Bozino, who immediately began trouble-shooting, attempting to fix the glitch. Bozino contacted Officials at AOL today, who admitted AOL was experiencing technical difficulties, which resulted in a "system wide" problem - pictures posted on journals (blog sites) could not be "displayed." AOL said it is "a system problem on the AOL Journal Server due to system upgrade . . . we are working to correct the problem. . ."

In order to rectify the consequential damage done to Dr. Phibes, it is only fitting that Dr. Phibes’ comment be published herein, with the photo he provided. And now, without further obfuscation or rizziliousness, words herein below from THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES:

"Gentlemen ? what a great job Larry Simon has done in re-connecting the Tick-lor nation after all these years ? Bravo, Bozo.

"I had the great pleasure of visiting El Senòr, The Legend, Marc C. "Biggie Rat" Darling at his home in Colorado this summer. Attached you will find a photo of Hizzoner and the once venerable Dr. Phibes enjoying an afternoon of play with the Daughters of the Pi Phis ? the evening photos are not appropriate for distribution on the Internet. Tick-A-Lo!"

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VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72

Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.68 - GOD BLESS DAVID HOWE

Beta Pi:

GOD BLESS DAVID HOWE: I knew the day would come when this blog would bear sad tidings - that day has come.

I have very sad news, David Howe died yesterday. I received word this morning from David’s wife, Dara Howe. Dara sent me the obituary, which is printed here.

Obituary

David Vernon Howe, P.E.

Franklin, TN

Age 53. November 30, 2006, unexpectedly at the home of his mother-in-law in Nashville.

Survived by wife, Dara, son Alex of Nashville, stepson Aron Vaughn of Franklin and the world, sister Merry Howe (Little Rock, AR), brother Bob Howe (Key West, FL), mother-in-law Ollierae Greenwood (Nashville), brother-in-law Randy and Linda Greenwood (Littleton, CO) and other extended family. Preceded in death by parents Eugene and Martha Ann Hare Howe. Howe was a civil engineer and partner in Merville and Howe Engineering Inc., in Nashville. He was born and spent his formative years in Newport, Arkansas. He excelled in academics, graduating 2nd in his class at Newport High School (class of 1971), and as a musician earned All State honors playing the trumpet. He attended Vanderbilt University where he joined the ATO fraternity and received his BE degree in 1975. He began his engineering career with the TN Dept. of Transportation and later worked for Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon engineering firm in Huntsville and Nashville. In 1990 he joined Ron Merville’s firm as senior engineer and project manager prior to the partnership they established. Projects Howe developed include the site plans for the Metropolitan Nashville International Airport terminal, the Saturn Automobile plant in Spring Hill, the Nashville Reservoir and other water retention projects as well as numerous residential developments and telecommunications towers. At the time of his death he served as the city engineer for the town of Kingston Springs, TN, a longstanding relationship he enjoyed. Howe was extremely well read and conversant on a broad range of topics. He followed Vanderbilt team sports, the Tennessee Titans and was a fan of NASCAR and other racing circuits. He was a soft spoken man and source of tremendous support for his wife, stepson, and especially for his son with disabilities. He was a member of The Arc of Williamson County, which provides supports for his son, and served on the board including a term as President. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. A memorial service is planned for 2 pm on Monday, December 4, atWoodmont Christian Church, Nashville. In lieu of flowers, the family invites well wishers to donate to The Arc of Williamson County (129 W. Fowlkes, Suite 151, Franklin 37064) or to The TN Disability Coalition (480 Craighead Street, Nashville 37204).

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In moments like these, emotions overcome me, and I am afraid to write, but I want to say a few words for David. David was a true friend, and he was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Steady is the word that comes to mind - David was calm, and solid as a rock. He was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known, and a great friend. David was a loving husband to his wife Dara, and a wonderful father to their son Alex, and step-father to Dara’s son Aron. David was a fine ATO Brother.

Dara told me that she was out-of-town at the time, but that David apparently died in his sleep, peacefully. There will be a visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday at Woodlawn Funeral Home.

David, we’ll miss you old friend, may God’s blessings be on you and your family, rest in peace dear Brother.

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VTL,

Larry Simons

Beta Pi, '72