Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Sep 14, 2017

Culture Shock:

Another day, another statue trashed.
This time, it was a statue of FRANCIS SCOTT KEY, the guy who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" while watching the Battle of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. Turns out Francis also owned slaves, which was apparently the reason the writing on the base of his statue read "Racist Anthem." Baltimore cops say they'll prosecute whoever did it.

The Internet:

Are you one of the people who uses Kaspersky anti-virus software?
Yesterday, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, ELAINE DUKE, ordered any federal agencies using the software to remove it from their computers. The reason: suspected ties between executives at the firm and Russian intelligence agencies.
The NY Timesreports EUGENE V. KASPERSKY attended a high school that trained Russian spies, and later wrote software for the Soviet Army before going on to found Kaspersky Lab in 1997. He insists that neither he --nor his company-- have active ties to the Russian military or intelligence services. Nevertheless, the orders are that federal agencies and departments have 90 days to remove the software from their computers.

On, off and way-off-Broadway:

A teaser trailer for the new Broadway musical "Mean Girls" dropped yesterday. It's only 30-seconds long, but you get to see the three leads and hear some of TINA FEY's dialogue. Previews begin March 12th, 2018, at the August Wilson Theater. (Marino)

Going big:

A company in Germany built the world's tallest sandcastle.
Staff members with the Schauinsland-Reisen travel agency used thousands of tons of sand to build the structure, which stood 54-feet, 9-inches tall. It took them a week to haul the sand using nearly 170 trucks. Guinness World Records confirmed the agency beat the previous record by over six-feet. (Still)