SOME NEWS BEFORE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND

VADER'S VILLAINY
Dorothy Woodend, AlterNet
George Lucas claims that his latest Star Wars film isn't for kids, yet the world is deluged in Darth mania. Amidst all the hype, one bit of information seems to be lacking: Darth Vader is evil.
http://www.alternet.org/movies/22031/

BUSH: WORST PRESIDENT EVER?
Stephen Pizzo, News for Real
Herbert Hoover may have triggered the Great Depression, but he didn't invade another nation on false pretenses, authorize torture of prisoners, or try to stack the courts.
http://www.alternet.org/story/22057/

LATINO POLITICIANS GAIN GROUND
Daniel B. Wood, Christian Science Monitor
The high-profile election of charismatic Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of Los Angeles builds on Hispanic gains in government over the past 25 years.
http://www.alternet.org/story/22055/

MILLION-WORD MARCH FOR MEDIA REFORM
Danny Schechter, MediaChannel.org
In St. Louis last weekend citizens met to discuss ways to 'take back' a media beholden less to democracy than to the bottom line.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/22049/

THE CONTRACEPTION MUSEUM
Cynthia L. Cooper, Women's eNews
A new museum reminds us that contraception devices are as old as sex itself.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22062/

FORTY YEARS OF EXTREMISTS
Robert S. Rivkin, Pacific News Service
In the battle over the Senate filibuster, Democrats would do well to simplify their message to expose the president's real agenda.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22046/

SAYING NO TO DRUGS
Vicki Cormack, Pop and Politics
Pharmacists in over a dozen states have been refusing to dispense birth control and morning-after pills based on the 'conscience clause.'
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22037/

GOOD FOR THE 'HOOD?
Anmol Chaddha, ColorLinesWal-Mart is touting not just lower prices but racial equity in its push for expansion into poor, urban communities.
http://www.alternet.org/rights/22014/

PEARL JAM EYEING FALL – BAND BREAKS FROM STUDIO TO ROCK SEATTLE RECORD STORE
By Brian Hiatt
May 19, 2005

Before they join the Rolling Stones on stage September 28th in Pittsburgh, Pearl Jam plans to complete their eighth studio album. The Seattle rockers are now hoping for a fall release on J Records. "There's a sense that we've done something special," says guitarist Stone Gossard of the sessions. "Everyone's been writing and participating in it . . . Asking a guy in the band how good the record is problematic, but to me its freaking brilliant." Pearl Jam -- Gossard, singer Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready, bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Matt Cameron -- have twenty-five songs that they plan to cut down to about twelve. Potential tracks include "Severed Hand," "Worldwide Suicide," "2x4," "Marker" and "Cold Concession." According to Gossard, after almost fifteen years together, the band is closer than ever.

"You realize how important your relationship is with your band, and how much you've learned from each other," he says. "You just become humbled and thankful." The band returned to its humble roots on April 29th to perform for approximately 200 people at Easy Street Records in West Seattle. "Mike and I used to buy a lot of rock records from Easy Street back in the mid-Eighties," says Gossard of the show, which was part of a Coalition of Independent Music Stores convention. "We wanted to tip our hat to independent retailers: We're all aware of how important they are to the spirit of rock." The show included the punky new song “Crapshoot," Pearl Jam oldies such as "Even Flow" and Vedder dueting with X singer John Doe on his band's "The New World." "It's the biggest honor that my store has ever had," says Easy Street owner Matt Vaughan. "As ridiculous as it seems that Pearl Jam would do an in-store, given that we're their neighborhood store it's a natural fit.

Message From Don Hazen, Executive Editor, at AlterNet.org
Please check out our new book, "Start Making Sense: Turning the Lessons of Election 2004 into Winning Progressive Politics."
https://www.alternet.org/donate/smsbook/

Already in its second printing, "Start Making Sense" brings together some of the best-known progressive thinkers, writers and organizers to map out a realistic plan for building a progressive majority in America today. Right after the election, many of us came together and agreed that we had to change our behaviors. We couldn't keep doing the same things over and over. But now a few months later, is the election a distant memory? Are we doing enough? Buy the book directly from us for $10 and learn how to take some steps. We've also launched a companion Start Making Sense website to bring you the freshest ideas from progressive thinkers and activists. http://www.startmakingsense.org

The site will function as a starting point for you to plug into what's happening in the grassroots. We'll offer excerpts from the book, articles and audio/video recordings of the debates, plus a daily blog with up-to-date news from around the country. We'll also provide action-oriented resources, as well as information about our nationwide book tour. Most importantly, we want to hear from you -- we want to know how you've started making sense in your world. Tell us what you think of the book, what you've been doing in your area, your successes and triumphs, and where you need help. We'll be sharing your stories on the blog and in articles -- email us at sms@alternet.org and keep us in the loop. Thanks for your support and let's not forget ... November 2006 will be here before we know it.