The Jesus Lizard Bring the Greatest Gift of All to This Year's Record Store Day: A Box Set of Out-of-Print 7-inches, No Egg Nog

By Kid Midnight on 03-06-2009

Following in my series of Minnesota-related info-bits (TMT News), I now bring tidings of joy: Prince has signed an exclusive deal with Target, the massive, blood-stained retailer with locations near you, and plans to release a 3CD set for the low, low price of $11.98.

This latest move by The Short One has pleased suburbanite-funksters the world over, reavealing Prince as the newest in the line of big-name, past-their-prime artists signing exclusive deals with outlets like Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy. Other “artists” include AC/DC, The Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, and Garth Brooks, who have all sold millions of bad albums through exclusive deals with big-box retailers, making it even easier for fat-assed morons, who can’t find the energy to go to more than one store, to get the music they love.

Of course, Target is quite pleased with the deal ($$$$!), and Mark Schindele, Target’s Senior Vice President of Merchandising, called me up to talk. He had this to say: “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share [Prince’s] most recent work with our Target guests." I then asked Mark how he felt about Prince, personally, and he practically chortled as he gave me his response in a sing-song voice, very reminiscent of pre-teen girls talking about those lovely Jonas Brothers: "Prince has long been renowned as one of the world's most original and iconic musical artists [plus, I love those ass-less chaps he wears!]" Okay, he didn’t say anything about the ass-less chaps. But I do love Prince’s most controversial leg-wear.

Interested consumers, confused soccer moms, and Prince fanatics can pick up the 3CD box-set -- which consists of two new albums, LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSoUND, as well as a third by his new artist, Bria Valente -- on March 29.

By Scott Lauer on 03-06-2009

President Obama has nominated lawyer/techie Julius Genachowski as FCC Chief this past Tuesday, March 3rd. Genachowski was a fellow Harvard Law classmate, and perhaps former beer pong partner, of President Obama and served as Obama’s lead tech advisor during the campaign.

Genachowski's nomination has made supporters of net neutrality quite pleased, and there are high hopes for telecoms to get the smack down laid upon them as to what they can and cannot do. Thus, those big wigs at Comcast (TMT News) may be a little grumpy, as it would seem that the nomination of Genachowski might hinder their dream of a world where peers are throttled to dial-up speeds on their transfers.

Gigi Sohn, president of net neutrality organization Public Knowledge, seems pretty stoked about the nomination. "As the architect of President-elect Obama’s Technology and Innovation Plan, it is clear that he understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition to a robust democracy and a health economy."

Of course, senior ranks in the much more powerful Justice Department are being filled by pro-copyright lawyers, so things are sorta up in the air -- but once the Senate confirms Genachowski, the sun might start to shine at least a little brighter on the internet.