Breath easy internet, I have returned to my blogging post. Over the last week and a half I’ve been journeying up the Pacific Coast with Bear Hunter . As it turns out, when I try and write on my laptop while in the van I start to puke all over my band mates — hence, my absence from Synthesis Blog. Over the next few days I will be recounting my harrowing journey (in between fascinating posts about pop stars getting busted for drugs, children with weird growths on their bodies and general paranoid-paranormal fodder). Get ready, dear readers. Get your asses ready.

After pursuing a car in a drug related attempted shooting from the North side of the city, 12 Philadelphia police officers eventually dragged three men out of the vehicle and beat the hell out of them. Unfortunately for the police, it was all caught on tape. Here comes the frenzy…

The question above is a good one. On this hand, you have Barry Zito; a season into a seven year, $126 million contract, Zito has established himself as one of baseball’s bottom of the barrel starting pitchers. On the other, you’ve got Mike Hampton; at the tail end of receiving millions upon millions of dollars for 100+ missed starts over the past seven seasons. ESPN analyst Jayson Stark has a nice contrast and comparison here.