Food For Thought: Busboys and Poets owner Andy Shallal announced today that he launched an exploratory committee to begin raising funds for a potential mayoral run. This personality can only make the race more interesting. +2

The New Ivy: Within the first week of opening its first hiring centers, Walmart received applications from 11,000 people for only 1,800 positions in D.C., making getting a job at Walmart harder than getting into the University of Chicago. -3

Trashy Texas:Dallas papers make lots of shutdown-related jokes in their coverage of the Pigskins vs. Cowboys Sunday football game. -2

Shut It Off: This dude wrote a shutdown song and, while creative, it’s far from music to the ears. -2

Friday’s Needle rating: 35 Today’s score: -5Still in a Shutdown Penalty: -1 Needle rating: 29