who was playing at Truetone Music in Santa Monica...

...Friday night, at their newly opened CLUB FENDER annex?  i watched from the street with a handful of other people, through the glass of the storefront.  holy wow, they were amazing.

here's a video of the last song they played last night, recorded by Don Was:
they were JACKSHIT, featuring guitar player VAL McCALLUM from Jackson Browne's band and two guys from Elvis Costello's Attractions and Impostors, respectively drummer PETE THOMAS and  bassist DAVEY FARRAGHER.

i CAN have the mango...!??

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

"...i hope i get it, i hope i get it..."  i sounded like Elaine Benes' old roommate a week ago.  i hinted to  @winphonesupport on the Twitt'r.  i gently pleaded with my formerly-employed-by-microsoft friends.  and then, today, i got it.



yes, i need to spend some time with this update before i can offer any feedback as to whether it is everything i had hoped it would be.  however, after much research before and leading up to today, i learned a few things, of which three in particular helped me greatly:

1. if you have misplaced your original samsung focus charger (read - the usb to micro usb cable), you must replace with a cable which 'came with your phone'.  meaning, you gotta use a samsung focus specific cable, not a universal or compatible AT&T one.  otherwise, you cannot be recognized and will be UNABLE to have zune recognize your WP7 phone and thus you won't be able to connect to your computer for updates.  yes, it's idiotic, but trust me on this.  i will try and find a reference, as well.
2. your main screen or homepage or whatever they call it on your WP7 phone will not necessarily notify you of a Mango update, and neither will there be a notification under Settings : System: Phone Update .  believe me, i was looking for it!  instead, i suggest you connect your phone to your computer via zune just to see if your phone is due for an update...  it worked for me.
3. Mango is expected, anticipated and reported to be otherwise known as / also known as / aka Windows Phone 7.5 or WP7.5 . however, it is actually (look in Settings : System : About ) in reality Windows Phone SOFTWARE 7.5 .  it is also simultaneously operating system or OS 7.10.7720.68  - wtf ??!!!  please see this for reference - http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1116245&start=6800

there is also some additional information on the Windows Team blog, which i mistakenly read as 'Window Steam blog'.  regardless, begin with this link: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2011/10/03/windows-phone-7-5-update-status.aspx 

let us not forget, 16th of October 2011 is also the same day IndyCar driver DAN WHELDON passed away due to a horrific accident at the speedway in Las Vegas, as did many other beloved people around the world.  today is also the day the MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL was officially dedicated in Washington, D.C. and it was also 2011 NATIONAL PLUG IN DAY.