Beta
Pi:
IS BETA PI BLOG without any redeeming social or
artistic merit?:
YEA . . . . or
The Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It includes
pictures,
links, Archives of previous issues, and other time-wasters.
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POETRY
CORNER
I
needed some inspiration, and this famous speech came to mind. Enjoy.
Speech: “Once more unto the
breach, dear friends, once more”
By William Shakespear
(from Henry V, spoken by King Henry)
(from Henry V, spoken by King Henry)
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even foughtAnd sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
2018
REUNION UPDATE
CLASS OF 1973
CLAUDE CODY has agreed to be “point man” for the Class of 1973. And so far, there is an outstanding lineup. Claude tells me these guys have committed…
GEORGE “ABER” ABERNATHY – YES.
CLAUDE CODY – YES.
GEORGE JOE – YES
GEORGE “THE HEME” TOMLINSON – YES.
MARK REED is a maybe. JOHN STEIN is a maybe. TIM CUSACK is a maybe. LANCE “BAD MOON” REISING is status unknown. TIM FITE is status unknown. MIKE McCARTY is a NO.
Claude, thanks for your efforts, much appreciated!
OTHERS
JOINING IN…
TOM “LOVEMAN” LOVINGGOOD – YES,
CLARK
THOMAS is status unknown. DAVID HAINES is status unknown.
J.D. STRICKLAND is status unknown, but that is because J.D. does not have a computer, nor does he do Internet. But somehow, every year, J.D SHOWS UP! So, J.D. is a YES.
J.D. STRICKLAND is status unknown, but that is because J.D. does not have a computer, nor does he do Internet. But somehow, every year, J.D SHOWS UP! So, J.D. is a YES.
A TALE
OF TWO TICK-A-LORS…
“He was
the best of Tick-a-lors, he was the worst of Tick-a-lors…”
The Tale of How VINNY STARR
Became a Tick-a-lor.
I discussed the factual background with BUCK BILLER, so as to get my facts straight, and here is the tale.
Buck Biller and I pledged ATO in the Spring of 1972, had a good Summer, and returned in the Fall of 1972. We learned there would be “Sophomore Rush” and Buck said “Hey Larry, we need to get Steve Starr, he is a good guy.” At that time, we both were friends with Steve from Mims Hall Freshman Dorm. But Steve was a book-worm, a recluse, he never came out of his room, and he smoked a pipe (contrast that to most other guys, who had long hair, loved to party, and smoked bongs). You might even characterize him as anti-social. And although I liked him, I had to wonder, why Starr?
Well, Buck prevailed on me, and the two of us began to lobby Steve. We went down to his room and told him how much fun the ATO’s are…but he said - very directly - he was not interested, and further that he did not Rush in the Spring because he was not interested. After several attempts, and several “no’s” Buck said: “Larry, we are going to have to drag him!” So we went to Steve's room and literally dragged him from his room! We were laughing, he was complaining, but I could see from the look on his face he was flattered.
Long story short, once we got Steve to the ATO House and he learned that some guys played Bridge, he was hooked. That's all it took...Bridge. Go figure. Now you know why Buck and I are constantly reminding Vinny what a huge pain-in-the-a** he can be. Seriously, I do think Steve is among the All-Time-Greats.
How Vinny got his Nickname. Sometime after he was Initiated, he was standing by the Pinball Machine with a few guys, and MATT "DON'T CALL ME HART" HART came up and said, in his irritating New York accent,
“Something smells here…something smells …like VINEGAR…and he pointed to Steve and said “It’s you Starr, you smell like Vinegar! From now on, you are VINNY!”
And so it was, Vinny got his name.
Steven B. Starr Studies the Law...
between Tales Games. After our Graduation in 1975,
Vinny returned to Vanderbilt Law School, where he studied from 1975 to
1978. As you might imagine, he was hanging out at the Tic House during those years. For the guys in the Classes of 1976, 1977 and
1978, Vinny was not the recluse we had to drag over to the House in 1972, no sir. Vinny had attained... god-like status. Buck
and I discussed this, and Buck remarked to me that during those years, Vinny became “The New Mansfield.”
Regardless of his reputation, Steven Vinny Starr is not at all aloof - as you would expect a man with god-like status to be. But I mean this when I say Vinny is a true friend, one of the finest men I have ever known.The 78 Vinny connection... So, here is how Vinny connected me with the guys of 77 and 78. I got out of the Army in June, 1977, and moved to Nashville, and from time to time I was hanging out with Vinny, at the ATO House, and I got the opportunity to meet some of the fine guys of 1977 and 1978, and have a little fun.
CLASS
OF 1978
So,
fast forward to the present, I am trying to light a fire under these guys in
the Class of 1978. Why? Because, apart from the fact they are a great
group of guys – and they know Vinny - in the time we have done the Beta Pi Blog
(2006 to present) we have not succeeded in getting any of the 1978 guys to come
back, not in 2008, not in 2013. One guy
reportedly came back, but did not attend our party…what’s up with that? Maybe he was asleep at the wheel?
Determined to break this dismal attendance record, I
contacted a few guys, including CHIP HEARTFIELD, who politely passed the
buck.
And, I lobbied DICK STONER who has agreed to be “point man” for the Class of 1978. Dick, I'm counting on you! Please call me, or e-mail me as you learn which of your guys will attend. As we get closer we have to give an approximate head count to Cabana for the Party.
And, I lobbied DICK STONER who has agreed to be “point man” for the Class of 1978. Dick, I'm counting on you! Please call me, or e-mail me as you learn which of your guys will attend. As we get closer we have to give an approximate head count to Cabana for the Party.
“Hi you ticklors of yore:
All of you should seriously
consider coming to Vanderbilt Reunion/Homecoming this year. It’s a lot of
fun and Buck and I will be there to increase your amusement. It’s just
two days, October 12-13. There’s always some mystery (as in long lost)
brothers who show up and surprise us. Any of you who show up get free
dinner or drinks on Saturday, on me (not dinner AND drinks, I’m not that
wealthy!). It would be great to see any and all of you guys, and Chip
could demonstrate his new proficiency in French. Let’s do this, and (edited for political content)!
Call or email me if you have any questions or smart ass remarks to make.
Vinnie the (edited for prurient content)
612-207-3110
P.S. If Ed attends, I WILL buy
dinner AND drinks for all of you scumbags who come.”
Vinny attached this picture, of CHIP HEARTFIELD and ED OPPENHEIMER, ostensibly “working hard in Provence emailing ATO's to convince them to come to Reunion in October.” (Editorial Note: it is also possible ...by the smirk on Ed's face...that they are surfing the internet for porno. Also notice that while Ed is working on one bottle, Chip has polished off three and is working on a fourth, with a somewhat vacant expression on his face.)
DICK STONER is a YES, provided family obligations don't coincide.
DON “FUNKY” ENGLEMAN is status unknown. It would be truly spectacular if Funky shows up.
DAVID “D.R.” FLOWER is status unknown. JIMMY GRISSETT is status unknown. CHIP HEARTFIELD is status unknown. ED OPPENHEIMER is status unknown. JAMES QUALLS is status unknown.
SEAN WALSH is status unknown.
DON SCOTT is a NO.
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KEEPING
TABS:
Here is
a reminder of the Brothers and Sisters we have lost.
BECKY
BRUNING MANYAK, died October 19, 2017.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.07. Archive: Sept. 2017Obituary:
ROB BLANKENHORN, died
December, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, (See Comment by Dick
Stoner). Archive: Sept. 2017EDWARD G. “TED” STEPHANY, died January 20, 2016.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.01, Archive: Jan. 2016
J. NEAL CRENSHAW, died November 12, 2014.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.08, Archive: Nov. 2014
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2014, No.10, Archive: Dec. 2014
MILES WALSH, died in
July, 2013.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2013, No.05, Comments Section
(over 50 comments), Archive: Aug.2013
DAVID HOWE, died
November 30, 2006.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.68, Archive: Dec.
2006. Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2007, No.30, Archive: May. 2007
KURT WAGNER, died in July, 2002.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2016, No.02, Archive: Jan. 2016
ALEXANDER WILSON, died April 9, 1977.
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.25, Lowenstein Essay
Contest. Archive: Aug. 2006Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.33, Honoring Alex and Laura. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.45, Tale-o-Pig-Roast. Archive: Sept. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2006, No.50, Winner Essay Contest. Archive: Oct. 2006
Beta Pi Blog, Vol.2017, No.05, Alexander Wilson. Archive: Sept. 2017
Alex
and Laura are buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. The cemetery at
1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115.
Alex and Laura are at Section KK,
Site 794.
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THE
ARCHIVES
If you
have never explored the “Archives” in this Blog – it is toward the top of the
latest “blog issue”, on the right. You
access it by clicking on the Month and Year, and it will drop down with
choices. For example, if you click on
December, 2006, it will drop down and list all issues that were published that
month. If you want Issue No. 68, you
click on that, and it takes you to that issue.
You can then post a comment to that issue. It’s never too late to post a comment,
right?
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BETA PI
BLOG ROSTER STATS:
As of July 31, 2018, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are
131 ATO’s on the blog list, plus 21 ATO Gal-Pals. And, there are 12 Brothers whose e-mail
address is unknown.
VTL,
Larry Simons
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