First, the happy talk. Ichiro Suzuki broke George Sisler's record on Friday for the most base hits in a season. Sisler's record of 257 base hits for the St Louis Browns in 1920 fell when Suzuki singled to centrefield in the third inning of Seattle's 8-3 win over Texas on Friday night.

1,000+ Dead: Bringing Death and Mourning to the White House
http://www.indymedia.org/or/2004/10/111940.shtml

October 4, 1:01 pm.
http://www.empirenotes.org/#04oct041
October 4, 1:01 pm. Here's my latest radio commentary, on the collapse of the antiwar movement. ...

Turkey: Progress on Human Rights Key to EU Bid
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/10/04/turkey9434.htm

I'm happy that Canterbury-Bankstown won the NRL grand final last night. Not so much for the club as for the fans. Most of the fans. The Doggies came from 13-6 down at half-time to lead 16-13 and hold off a late Roosters surge to win. Kicking a field goal in the first half and then losing by less than a try, yes wasn't that smart?

Suppress the Vote
http://www.indymedia.org/or/2004/10/111928.shtml

This year we all start equal.
Kids paint signs.
And I am seven again.
I know I will see my heroes soon.
I feel the excitement.
I have hope in March,
and I might share the glory in September.

Blow that whistle ref!
Send that ball soaring!
Blow that whistle ref!

-Thomas Keneally, NRL TV ad campaign, 1999

October 1, 5:00 pm.
http://www.empirenotes.org/#01oct041
October 1, 5:00 pm. 5000 troops, 3000 American and 2000 Iraqi auxiliaries, have stormed Samarra, a town in Salahuddin province that had become a rebel stronghold by the end of May. Over 100 Iraqis have already been killed in the attack. To the New York Times, they are all "insurgents," but of course every time that claims of civilian casualties made by Iraqi doctors on the ground treating the wou ...

I wouldn't normally take an interest in domestic British politics apart from the causes of Scottish and Welsh nationalism and keeping an eye on the UK Green Party or following any moves towards a British republic or doing a vulturewatch on Tony Blair. Yep, I have no interest in British politics at all.

Look, this has got to be the baseball story of 2004!