The Buzz | Is your pantry too full?

I ran into Chris Thomas last night, a local comedian and former BET show host who was colloquially known as “The Mayor of Rap City” during his on-air days. Honestly, it was sort of weird to come face to face with a character I’d grown up watching. If it wasn’t for guys like him, I might not have the opportunity to do what I do today. Props to The Mayor.

A N.Y. shopper searches for bottled water on Long Island.
(MIKE SEGAR – REUTERS)

If you’re one of those panicky people who shops till they drop before a natural disaster, you likely have a kitchen full of food that you won’t clear out until Halloween. And prior to Hurricane Irene touching down, many folks went ballistic at their local grocery stores, buying anything that remotely qualified as non-perishable. The Post’s Monica Hesse reports on all those who are snacking away at their stashes post storm, with no real regard for health. Another tidbit: if you don’t want to eat all that extra stuff, give it to a food bank.

Downed power lines in Maryland.
(Katherine Frey – THE WASHINGTON POST)

Pepco is back in the headlines, and this time for the right reasons. The power company that’s struggled mightily to keep the lights on in recent years did quite well during the storm and has managed to keep its reputation intact. It’s not completely out of the water with some people yet, but after an aggressive PR campaign to regulate expectations and a real effort to boost reliabilty, it’s back on track. The Post’s Joe Stephens and Mary Pat Flaherty report.

With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks looming, many people have their minds on the most recent day that changed America. And although that Tuesday was one of the most horrific on record in this country, it is easy to overestimate in terms of its historical importance, in the minds of some. It might have been the most dramatic moment of this media era, but Foreign Policy’s David J. Rothkopf breaks down 10 other events from the last decade that may have been more significant.

I’d like to think I attended a fair amount of crazy parties in college, but this story is out of control. Apparently, last weekend, some ambitious co-eds at Colorado State University decided to throw a pool party at their apartment complex. One problem: they put it on Facebook. Unsurprisingly, thousands of people showed up, the place was a mob scene and a couple of people got arrested. Campus Overload’s Jenna Johnson reports and has video of the wild setup.

Michael Vick.
(Rich Schultz – AP)

When I read last night that Michael Vick signed a six-year, $100M contract with the Eagles, I was speechless. On one hand, it was crazy to see that a man who was doing time recently come into that sort of money. What’s even more amazing is that Vick is the only guy I can think of to sign two $100 million contracts in his NFL career. It’s pretty much unheard of to see someone cash in for a second time in life like that, particularly after falling so far in the court of public opinion. Only in America.

Extra Bites

• The Georgetown Barnes Noble is reportedly going to close before the end of the calendar year, which is a real bummer for me. That place was clutch if you needed a quick coffee and the regular Starbucks was packed, or for a non-super gross public bathroom. Alas.

• The newest cast of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is clearly the best one ever. It doesn’t get better than Nancy Grace, Ron Artest and Chaz Bono.

• Here is your video of awesomeness for the day. Adorbs.

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