Chuck's Daily Diggs for 12/20

Tuesday, December 20

the 354th day of the year with 11 days remaining in 2011

Today is

Big Land Deal Day! 1803 - The United States Senate ratified a treaty that included the Louisiana Territories from France for $15 million (about 3 cents an acre). The transfer was completed with formal ceremonies in New Orleans.

Today in Music

1932 - Al Jolson recorded "April Showers."
1957 - Elvis Presley received his U.S. Army draft notice.
1962 - The Osmond Brothers appeared on NBC-TV's "Andy Williams Show" for the first time.
1967 - Jethro Tull was formed.
1975 - Joe Walsh joined the Eagles, replacing original member Bernie Leadon. Leadon left for a solo career.

In Show Biz

Howard Stern is set to replace Piers Morgan on America's Got Talent, and a search for a fourth judge is underway. Is Executive Producer Simon Cowell worried that Stern might get a little nuts and have the bleeping censors in over-drive? No, but his bigger concern might be alienating the shows viewers, most of whom, no, a great majority of whom are not Howard Stern fans. Still, Cowell feels that the show has grown stale and the winners have not shaken up the entertainment industry (you mean those winners who win a whopping $20k a year for 40 years? yep, read the small print.) The newly re-vamped AGT begins auditions in February in LA, but the show will originate in New York this summer.

Others considered for the fourth chair are Jessica Simpson, Chelsea Handler and Fergie. More here.

Thinking of Buying a Child's Classic?

You might want to carefully review your reading list.

Six Classics (mostly children's classics) that are secretly racists:

6 . The Secret Garden - Not friendly toward the Sub Continent.

5. Sherlock Holmes (A Study in Scarlett) - Mormon's do what?

4. Tintin in the Congo - The name speaks for itself.

3. The Chronicles of Narnia - Allegory gets ugly

2. Noddy - This one is way over the top.

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Umpa-lumpa aren't the only underclass.

Get the whole story here (Yeah, we know it's Cracked.com, but facts are facts)

Big Time Toy Recalls

In the "What were they thinking" Department: hopefully you aren't already faced with this, but even good ideas can go bad pretty quickly, especially when our kids could be at risk.

9. Yo Yo Ball
8. Aqua Dots
7. Clackers
6. Easy-Bake Oven
5. Skippy Pool Toys
4. Hang 10 Mini Hammock
3. Pokeballs from Burger King
2. Sky Dancers Flying Dolls
1. Jarts

Get the complete story here.

Video Madness.

You mean The Supreme Leader is not immortal? (Okay, seriously, this is just freaky)

And this...for the Holidays