Blue Period: The city’s arts commission paid $25,000—-and the Capital Riverfront BID paid another $25,000—-for artist Robert Kent Wilson to paint 18 pylons under the Southeast Freeway blue. Too bad the paint began to peel after a few months—-and too bad that, despite a free repainting by the artist, passersby still don’t realize it’s art. -1

RGIII-newal: Following his surgery in January and his not especially debaucherous Vegas bachelor party, Robert Griffin III has been cleared for practice at Pigskins training camp. +2

Panda July: The National Zoo has upgraded its online tool for watching its giant pandas do nothing that’s especially interesting. -2

Scream for Ice Cream: Six ice cream trucks at an ice cream truck distribution company in Bladensburg were damaged in a fire this afternoon. You win this round, heat. -3

Friday’s Needle rating: 62 Today’s score: -4 Today’s Needle rating: 58