Events in Tunisia are changing by the minute, but one thing is clear: This is the first popular uprising to bring down a leader in the Arab world in recent history. Who — or what — is responsible for it?

After blowing $1 billion on an electronic "virtual fence" along the border with Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security yesterday finally ditched the $7 billion project in favor of surveillance drones and human patrols. Bravo, DHS. Money well spent. [NYT]

In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of JFK's inauguration, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is digitizing reams of JFK artifacts. Among them: The president's application to Harvard, including mediocre test scores and a refreshingly banal personal essay.

The Michael Steele Era of Politics is over. "Reince Priebus," the Wisconsin GOP chair, has won the Republican party chairmanship. His challenging job going into 2012: Shut up and smile! Michael Steele struggled with this.

Martin Luther King Jr. hated the Vietnam War and spent the last year of his life vociferously arguing against it. But according to the Pentagon's top lawyer, King would've liked America's current wars! How does he know? Well, he doesn't.

According to the New York Times, investigators have obtained photographs, apparently taken by Tucson gunman Jared Loughner, of Loughner holding a gun against his "naked buttocks" and crotch.

In case you haven't noticed, Tunisia's fallen apart. Its president just fled the country after weeks of riots, and the military has taken control. The U.S. Embassy will still be closed on Martin Luther King Day, though. Holidays are holidays!

Did you wake up early today for CSPAN's coverage of the Republican National Committee leadership election? It's thrilling. The candidates build secret coalitions and screw each other over all day. Who will win? Anyone but current chair Michael Steele.

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot point-blank in the head six days ago, keeps making ridiculous progress in her recovery. She's still in critical condition, but doctors' expectations keep rising.

Silly Chris Christie. The New Jersey governor's latest rant about the state government going "bankrupt" yesterday rattled financial markets and forced the state to cut its new bond offering by half. Governor Sandwiches will be eating crow, now.

[After police killed dozens of protesters, Tunisian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali yesterday announced he would not seek another term in 2014. He's already "served" Tunisia for 23 years, and many want him gone immediately. Image via AP]

German sculptor Marcel Walldorf asked himself how female police officers relieve themselves while on duty. His artistic interpretation, "Petra," depicts a policewoman in full riot gear squatting and peeing. Some German cops aren't very happy about it.

[Fireworks explode over New York Harbor tonight in honor three cruise ships, the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, which met at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Image via AP]

The opening night for the disastrous Spider-Man musical, Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, has been delayed for a third time, to March 15th. The show was supposed to open last month. So, realistically, it will open June 3rd, 2014.

Congressional security sent a memo to all House members today outlining a three-step response guide for encounters with gunmen: "run, hide, and if all else fails, attack," as Politico summarizes. Why does the fun response have to be last?

Where was Speaker John Boehner last night? He wasn't at the president's memorial service in Tucson. And breathless reports are claiming he wanted to hobnob at an RNC cocktail party instead. That monster! But maybe there's more to it.

Robert Rizzo was making $800,000 a year as city manager of Bell, California, before being arrested for making $800,000 a year as city manager of Bell, California. Now, he's a volunteer parking lot attendant. (And still unattractive.) [LAT]

After going viral last week and getting picked up (and released) by the police this week, Ted Williams is now going to rehab. Who convinced him? Dr. Phil, of course. Williams is living the entire celebrity lifecycle in one month!

Yesterday, we noted that no Republican candidates had joined the 2012 presidential race, even though many did by this stage in the last cycle. But today someone formed an exploratory committee! He's Herman Cain. Who the hell is Herman Cain?

Mississippi Gov. Haley "Boss Hogg" Barbour, a possible presidential candidate, doesn't want to seem so racist. First he pardoned two black ladies in a kidneys-for-freedom deal. Now he's asking the state to build its long-delayed civil rights museum. [via]