KWSupport : MVP Summit

Frank McCallister - In Memoriam

kwsupport — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:03:00 GMT

Frank McCallister passed away this week. Frank was an SBS MVP. He loved to say he was the oldest MVP. But more importantly he was a real friend. His stories would hold your attention, but the real story was Frank. He called himself "the Old Fart". But that name does not describe all that he did and would do for people. Frank, we will miss you.

In tribute to Frank, I've reworked the lyrics of the song "The Gambler", made famous by Kenny Rogers (YouTube video).

The Old Fart (aka The Gambler)
Dedicated to Frank McCallister

On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for ‘Bama,
I met up with the old fart; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's emails,
And knowin' what their logs showed, by the way they signed their names.
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you’re out of disk space.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to defrag, know when to format,
Know when to reinstall, ‘cause I’m the old fart.
You never say you’re thirsty when you're sittin' at the console.
There'll be time enough for drinkin' when the (MVP) party starts

Ev'ry old fart knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' emails to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry email's a winner and ev'ry email's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."

And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the old fart, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

-kw

MVP 2004 Summit Photos

kwsupport — Wed, 12 May 2004 00:51:00 GMT

Here's a link to some of the photos I took during the recent MVP 2004 Global Summit

http://www.kwsupport.com/mvp-summit-2004/

Song of the Day - Day 3

kwsupport — Tue, 06 Apr 2004 22:47:00 GMT

Tuesday we all hopped on buses from our various downtown hotels and were taken to the Microsoft campus. I believe the bus drivers were all instructed to drive us around the entire facility to see the entire layout. Lots of buildings - separated by parking lots, soccer fields, baseball fields, and more parking lots.

The SBS team spent the morning with the other Windows server MVP's being briefed. The afternoon was spent with the SBS Dev team, with them asking us questions all day. Personally, I wrapped up the day by attending my first Seder meal with Steven Teiger (SBS MVP for Israel)

So, in honor of all the work and effort, I turn to Paul Simon for inspiration:

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
(aka, 50 ways to Fix Your Server)

"The problem is all inside your head", I heard Roger say to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you with your patches that you need
There must be fifty ways to fix your lover

Les Conner said it's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope Jeff's meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself at the risk of sounding like Nick
There must be fifty ways to fix your server
Fifty ways to fix your server

You just slip out the disk, Cal
Make a new plan, Jim
You don't need to be coy, Chad
Just upgrade to 2003

Hop on the bus, Cris
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Steve
And reboot the server for me.

Charlie Anthe said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways to get free CALS

Henry said I'm gonna sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then we all agreed that faxing ain't what it supposed to be
There must be fifty ways to fix your server
Fifty ways to fix your server

You just slip out the disk, Cal
Make a new plan, Jim
You don't need to be coy, Chad
Just upgrade to 2003

Hop on the bus, Cris
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Steve
And reboot the server for me.

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]

"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"

Song of the Day - Day 2

kwsupport — Mon, 05 Apr 2004 16:04:00 GMT

MVP Sunday. After the get together on Saturday night, I expected everyone to sleep in on Sunday morning. But, not SBS’ers! As my wife and I strolled out of the hotel Sunday morning at 8am, we passed by the Starbucks, and there we saw Susan, Jeff and several others huddled over their cups of coffee, strategizing activities for the rest of the day. We had a wonderful meeting from noon to 4pm with Microsoft to discuss MVP and Partner issues. We then gathered for a few minutes up in the SBS suite, and then headed down as a group to register and visit with the other product groups. Microsoft was expecting nearly 1500 worldwide MVPs in attendance.

So, with Sunday being a come together and get acquainted sort of day, the song of the day comes from the Beatles:

Come Together over me
(aka Come Together, MVP)

Here come old Wayne Small, he come grooving up slowly
He got Aussie eyeballs, he has lot’s of questions
He got hair down to his knees (not!)
Got to be a joker he just do what he please

Come together, right now … MVP

He loves his icons, Handy Andy has several
He got monkey fingers, he shoots from the hip
He says, “I know you, you know me,
One thing I can tell you is that SBS is for me!”

Come together, right now … MVP

He bag production, he got Microsoft talking
Jeff’s got issues flowing, he has one cool suite room
He got maps and schedules piled ‘round his knees
SBS is tops, you can do what you please

Come together, right now … MVP

Song of the Day - Day 1

kwsupport — Sun, 04 Apr 2004 15:26:00 GMT

Arrived in Seattle Saturday night ahead of schedule, as a tailwind helped cut an hour off the flying time from Florida to Seattle. Unfortunately what we gained in the air, was lost on the ground as our van driver didn't know where the Grand Hyatt hotel was and we went around in circles for 15 minutes!

My wife and i had no sooner checked in when Chad was 'Johnny on the Spot' calling me on my cell phone to see if I had arrived, and to make sure that I was coming down to the Sat nite 'SBS Welcome Party' at the Rock Bottom Brewery Restaurant. It was great putting faces with names. We had some buffalo wings, spare ribs, veggie tray, small sandwhiches, and plenty of liquid refreshments.

While there, Marie McFadden (PSS) kept asking me when I was going to visit them in Charlotte, and more importantly, when was I going to do a Song of the Week for them. So, without further ado, let's grab James Taylor's famous 'In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina' for a spin!

In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina
(aka When I'm stuck, I'm callin' Carolina)

When I'm stuck, I'm callin' Carolina

Can’t you see them workin'?
Can’t you just hear them screamin'?
And they're just like a friend of mine
When it hits me from behind
Yes I’m callin’ Carolina when I'm stuck

McFadden, she’s a silver sun
You best walk her way while she keeps postin’
Watch her watch the mornin’ come
A silver tear appearing now I’m cryin’
'Cause I'm callin’ Carolina when I'm stuck

There ain’t no doubt in no one's mind
That SBS's the finest thing around
When it's running nice and fine
But hey babe the sky’s on fire, I’m dyin’
Now I'm callin’ Carolina 'cause I'm stuck

When I'm stuck, I'm callin' Carolina

Can’t you see them workin'?
Can’t you just hear them screamin'?
And they're just like a friend of mine
When it hits me from behind
Yes I’m callin’ Carolina when I'm stuck

Dark and silent last night
I think I might have heard the disk drives crash
No backup tapes or logs are in sight
Signs that might be omens say I going, going
I’m callin’ Carolina 'cause I've crashed

With a holy host of others standing ’round her
Ray and Cliff, Jorge and Frank they're on the line

Warren and Terry, it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I’m up and callin' Carolina one more time

When I'm stuck, I'm callin' Carolina

Can’t you see them workin'?
Can’t you just hear them screamin'?
And they're just like a friend of mine
When it hits me from behind
Yes I’m callin’ Carolina when I'm stuck

--
Kevin Weilbacher [SBS-MVP]

"The days pass by so quickly now, the nights are seldom long"