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Pearl Jam Makes Surprise Visit to Atlanta Film Festival
By MARCUS K. GARNER, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pearl Jam, a rock band born from the ’90s “grunge” movement, made a surprise visit Thursday to opening night of the Atlanta Film Festival. The quintet made a low-key entrance to the festival — avoiding the red carpet — to see lead singer Eddie Vedder’s appearance in the Tony Sacco film, “The People Speak,” festival executive director Gabriel Wardell said.

The film, based on writings by Howard Zinn, features a cast of celebrities reading letters and memoirs by people who spoke up for their rights. “One thing about this film, and seeing it tonight, you can’t help but be inspired by these people who fought and died for their rights,” Vedder said. Actors Josh Brolin and Jasmine Guy and rocker Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes also appear in the film and attended the festival’s opening night.

The group debuted in 1991 with the chart-topping album “Ten,” and followed with consecutive Billboard No. 1 albums “Vs.,” “Vitalogy,” and “No Code.” Pearl Jam won their only Grammy in 1995 for the record “Spin the Black Circle.” Wardell said the group was in town making a new album with Atlanta producer Brendan O’Brien, the mastermind behind several of Pearl Jam’s hit albums and Bruce Springstein’s Grammy-winning Best Rock album “The Rising,” and latest work, “Working on a Dream.”

Media Focus on Minor Violence; Ignore Peaceful Protests at Global Summit
Maria Margaronia, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/134613/media_focus_on_minor_violence%3B_ignore_peaceful_protests_at_global_summit/

Tax Day: You Pay Your Taxes – Why Don’t the Rich Pay Their Share?
Chuck Collins & Sam Pizzigati, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/136592/tax_day%3A_you_pay_your_taxes_--_why_don%27t_the_rich_pay_their_share/

First Black President Defeats U.S. Antiwar Movement
Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/first-black-president-defeats-us-antiwar-movement

How Many Democrats will Stand up to Obama’s Bloated Military Budget and $75 Billion More in War Spending?
Jeremy Scahill, RebelReports
http://rebelreports.com/post/94406620/how-many-democrats-will-stand-up-to-obamas-bloated

Unemployment is Hitting Men Particularly Hard and Both Sexes are Losing Out
Betsy Reed, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/135521/unemployment_is_hitting_men_particularly_hard_--_and_both_sexes_are_losing_out/

The Unfolding of the Obama Fraud
Michael Dawson, Dissident Voice
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/04/the-unfolding-of-the-obama-fraud/

Obama Administration Quietly Expands Bush’s Legal Defence of Warrantless Wiretapping
John Byrne, Raw Story
http://www.alternet.org/rights/135605/obama_administration_quietly_expands_bush%27s_legal_defense_of_warrantless_wiretapping/

Freedom Rider: No Better Off with the Democrats
Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/freedom-rider-no-better-democrats-0

Why the London Protesters Are on the Right Side of History
Johann Hari, Huffington Post
There will be far more sympathy in the future for those who took to the streets and rioted outside the G20 than for people who stayed home.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/135201/why_the_london_protesters_are_on_the_right_side_of_history/

Eshu’s Blues: First Black President of the American Empire
Michael Hureaux Perez, Black Agenda Report
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/eshus-blues-first-black-president-american-empire

Jonathan Steele Obama Should Listen to Iraqis, Not Lecture Them
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/08-1

Bill Moyers and Michael Winship Changing the Rules of the Blame Game
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/08

Sarah van Gelder A Plea To President Obama: Don't Bankrupt America
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/10-3

Ted Rall Barack Obama, Torture Enabler http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/10-6

[Duchess Note: More "news" coming soon on Kucinich and the Peace movement. Many thanks to Carol in NYC for some of the above informative articles.]