Class of ‘70, VMI

I may have committed a tactical error, but, at the behest of my daughter, joined Facebook a while ago.  Although it was primarily for keeping up with her happenings in Seattle, I found (or was found) by several BRs.  Even our friendly neighborhood Class Agent showed up.

There is a VMI Alumni Network, that currently has about 2,500 members.  It appears you need a vmi.edu or vmialumni.org email address to join.  (You can get one of those at VMI Ranks as a “Lifelong Email”.)  I will try to add a VMI ‘70 group and see what happens.

Edit: I started a group “VMI ‘70″ — you can search for it or follow this link and join up.

I do recommend you look at the following article  “10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know” to ensure your information is shared only with the friends/groups that you want.  The defaults are a bit more open than I think is needed.

UPDATE: Just read an article about Facebook and viruses. If you receive a mail (supposedly from Facebook) about a video or other item that has been posted and wants to to follow some bizarre link that is not in Facebook (check the address), don’t go there. It’s a new, very nasty virus/trojan. See this link for more info: PCWorld Article: Facebook Virus Turns Your Computer into a Zombie.

Army General David H. Petraeus, Commander of U.S. Central Command, will deliver the commencement address on 16 May.

“I am honored to accept the invitation and look forward to what I know will be a great event,” General Petraeus said in his letter accepting the invitation to speak at commencement. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to thank VMI’s faculty and cadets for their service when I join you for Commencement ceremonies this spring.”

Complete article at VMI Communications website here.

Band Heads For Mardi Gras in Mobile

The VMI Regimental Band and Pipe Band will march and perform in concert Feb. 21-24 at the Mardi Gras in Mobile. Mention Mardi Gras and most people think New Orleans and its famed French Quarter. However, Mobile’s Mardi Gras is the older of the two celebrations, dating all the way back to 1704 when the future Alabama port city was a colony of French soldiers.

The Regimental Band will be in action the culminating Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, when the cadets will march in four parades and participate in the Patriotic Opener Concert at the Civic Center. Finally, on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 24), the Band will be a featured unit in one of the biggest of the parades at noon. before returning to Lexington later that afternoon.

Read more at the VMI Communications site.

 From vmikeydets.com:

Check out the latest publicity for the VMI basketball program, as the New York Times and Rivals.com have recently published articles while on The Tonight Show, Jay Leno mentions the Keydets in his Headlines segment (go to this link to see the short clip of a bungled headline).

New York Times Article by Adam Himmelsbach: Twin Brothers and a High-Octane Offense Revive V.M.I.

Rivals.com Article by David Fox: VMI Aims to Ride Fast Pace Back to Tourney

It has been said the getting on the Sports Illustrated cover is a kiss of death.  But they don’t say the same about an article or two.  Check out the article on line from the 9 February issue.  It’s a good read.  Opening line says “To appreciate the small miracle of Virginia Military Institute basketball, you must go to the Hill at dawn.”

(Thanks to Tom Morehouse for the link)