12/6/2022: “Goblin Mode”

PLUS: A New Green Agenda; #FreeBritney Regret; and Archewell Exits

Dec 06, 2022

Today is Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

It is the 340th day of the year.

25 days remain.

HIT LIST

Last year, ELON MUSK moved Tesla’s headquarters to Texas from California. Now, he’s looking at setting up a second headquarters for Twitter in Texas, too.

Musk said he’s considering a “dual headquarters” setup – specifically to keep the social media site above the partisan political fray. “If we want to move the headquarters to Texas, I think it would play into the idea that Twitter has gone from being left-wing to right-wing, which is not the case," he said. "This is not a right-wing takeover of Twitter. It is a moderate-wing takeover of Twitter.”

WORTH REMEMBERING: When Musk’s acquisition was first announced, one Texas farmer offered to give Musk 100 acres of free land to build Twitter’s new headquarters.

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THIS IS MY SHOCKED FACE: Nearly every state has high or very high levels of flu activity, per the CDC, according to Axios.

One immunologist tells science journal Nature that typically people get small bits of virus that their bodies learn to fight off for the season. After two years of masking everywhere and calling the unmasked people murderers, that’s not the case this flu season.

WORTH ASKING: Who on Earth could’ve seen this coming?!

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The Artemis I mission is headed back for Earth.

On Monday, the Orion spacecraft flew just 80 miles above the lunar surface and captured footage of previous landing sites. It’s been orbiting the Moon at a distance up to 40,000 miles, making it the farthest distance traveled by a spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts.

It’s due to splashdown next week.

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Oxford Dictionaries has named its word of the year – in this case, a phrase born from social media: “goblin mode.”

NPR explains that the phrase describes when “people lean into their uncurated, self-indulgent and sometimes mischievous ways” and are “rejecting societal expectations and making their own rules of how to live.”

The term won as a result of a public vote after the Oxford folks whittled it down to three; the finalists also included “metaverse” and the hashtag “ISandWITH” – which is used among social media activists, apparently, to describe their solidarity with certain causes and movements.

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A study shows that 41% of adult Gen Z-ers heading home for the holidays will do so on their parents’ dime, amid sustained high gas prices. Another 10% say they’ll skip spending time with family because neither they nor their folks can pay to send them home.

MEANWHILE: A Savings.com study shows that half of parents with an adult child are supporting their kids – and spend on average $1,000 a month doing so.

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BY THE NUMBERS

📈 The Dow lost 482 points (1.40%) to close at 33,947, on expectations that future rate hikes won’t be as small as hoped. The S&P lost 72 points (1.79%) to close at 3,998 and the Nasdaq lost 221 points (1.93%) to close at 11,239.

🛢 West Texas Intermediate traded at $77 a barrel Monday and Brent Crude slipped to $83.

⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas was $3.40 on Monday.

₿ Bitcoin saw an evening selloff, loading more than $140 in value and trading just under $17,000.

🛩 There were 3,419 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Monday and 83 such cancellations.

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CHARTS

Top 5 Songs on iTunes:

Morgan Wallen, “One Thing At A Time”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
Meghan Trainor, “Made You Look”
Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”
RM, “Wild Flower”

Top 5 Songs on Spotify:

Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”
Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”
Lee Issacs, “Runaway Romeo”
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)
Harry Styles, “As It Was”

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DEATHS

KIRSTIE ALLEY has died.

Her family announced on social media that she passed after a battle with cancer and was surrounded by her family.

Alley’s most famous role was as Rebecca Howe on “Cheers” among other TV and movie credits.

She was 71.

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BABY NEWS

Actor ANTHONY RAPP, 51, and yoga instructor KEN ITHIPHOL, 36, are parents.

The pair welcomed their first child, a son named Rai Larson Ithiphol, via surrogate on Friday.

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WEDDINGS

Actress GABOUREY SIDIBE, 39, secretly married BRANDON FANKEL, 37, over a year ago.

The “Precious” star revealed the news during her appearance on “Live With Kelly and Ryan” on Monday.

“We got married at the kitchen table,” Sidibe said. “It was just us.”

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THE SWAMP

Have you noticed gas prices continue to fall? You can thank President JOE BIDEN. Here’s what he’s done:

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at its lowest level since 1984, after Biden spent the year flooding the market with it. His policy is to continue doing so until crude falls below $70 a barrel.

Biden has also eased regulations to allow energy companies to drill in Venezuela of all places.

IN OTHER WORDS: He’s made it harder for domestic energy production that would create thousands of blue collar jobs while allowing it in a country whose leader the UN says is responsible for crimes against humanity.

WORTH ASKING: If the whole point of restricting domestic energy production is to curb greenhouse gas emissions, how is it possibly better to drill in a deeply unregulated country like Venezuela than in the United States?

SPEAKING OF “GOING GREEN”: The Senate really wants to further deregulate weed in its lame duck session.

Short of full legalization, Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER is pushing a bill that would allow cannabis companies to more easily do business with banks and get financing.

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The sleazeball lawyer who at one point was thought of as a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate is headed to prison for 14 years. MICHAEL AVENATTI on Monday learned he’ll serve 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of wire fraud and one count of obstruction, related to stealing money from clients.

WORTH NOTING: The 14 years will begin after he completes his current five year sentence on separate charges.

Avenatti is also on the hook for $11 million in restitution.

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LOTTERY

No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $354 million jackpot or a $189.6 million cash payout.

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SHOWBIZ NEWS

TJ HOLMES and AMY ROBACH have been taken off the air following news of their months long affair.

Sources from ABC reported Monday that the two have been temporarily removed from hosting “GMA3” as their relationship has been an “internal and external distraction.”

Another insider told TMZ that Holmes and Robach were only made aware of the decision hours before they were set to go on.

The decision comes less than a week after news broke that the married co-anchors have been dating.

MEANWHILE: Viewers were simply told that Robach and Holmes “had the day off.”

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Some devoted members of the #FreeBritney (as in BRITNEY SPEARS) movement are questioning if removing her conservatorship was a good idea as the 41-year-old continues to post eye-raising photos and captions on Instagram.

One “deeply concerned” fan told The Post that “freedom can be very dangerous for someone who has no idea how to navigate life without being controlled.”

“We should have been more mindful of that [...] we were just so eager to free her without thinking of the consequences,” the fan added.

A fellow fan also shared her concerns with the outlet, saying she once supported the movement, but now sees trouble.

Several other fans suggested the pop star take a break from social media and maybe get out of Hollywood.

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ADELE is speaking out about a video circulating social media showing a fan handing her a piece of paper during one of her Vegas shows last weekend.

The 34-year-old said the fan was simply “trying to sell [her] a car,” while joking that her boyfriend RICH PAUL, was “livid” about the exchange.

In the clip, a man is seen handing Adele a note as she walks through the crowd. She looks at it, giggles and hands it back.

She is currently in Vegas performing her Weekends with Adele residency, which she kicked off last month. It runs through March 2023.

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An uninvited visitor has been stopping by KELLY CLARKSON’s Los Angeles mansion, prompting her to get the police involved.

According to LAPD sources, a man has been stopping by and leaving her unwanted gifts.

Kelly says she has never met the man and does not know who he is.

Authorities are now searching for the guy.

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JAMES HOWARD JACKSON, the man who shot LADY GAGA’s dog walker, was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Monday.

A rep from the LA County D.A.’s office told TMZ that Jackson pled no contest to one count of attempted murder and admitted to inflicting great bodily injury to prior strike.

For those unfamiliar, last year Gaga’s dog walker was shot while walking her two French Bulldogs. The pups were stolen and a devastated Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return. The dogs were eventually returned by a woman with a sketchy-sounding story as to how she came to possess the dogs. In total, five people were arrested in connection to the crime. Jackson was the one who fired the gun.

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DOLLY PARTON is on TikTok.

The country music icon joined the platform on Sunday, sharing a video featuring various clips of her throughout the years. She paired it with her hit song, “9 to 5.”

“I have arrived!” she captioned the post.

She also tweeted about her new venture, sharing a link for fans to follow her on TikTok.

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Green Bay Packers QB AARON RODGERS celebrated his 39th birthday courtside at the Milwaukee Bucks game on Friday night.

He was joined by model MALLORY EDENS, 26, who is the daughter of one of the Bucks’ owners, WES EDENS.

Rodgers teammate RANDALL COBB was also with him at the game. Perhaps as a third wheel?

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One day after filing for divorce from her husband JESSE JAMES, former pornstar BONNIE ROTTEN, has had a change of heart.

Rotten, who publicly accused James of cheating on her, posted a statement on her decision on Instagram, writing that she loves her husband and is choosing to work on the marriage.

The couple are also expecting their first child.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: This is James’ fifth marriage and Rotten’s second.

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CASTING CALL

“Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” is the third Netflix series to hit 1 BILLION hours viewed in its first 60 days.

The serial killer series spent seven weeks on the streamer’s Global Top 10, making the list in 92 countries. It is currently Netflix’s second most popular English-language TV show of all time, just behind “Stranger Things” Season 4.

“Squid Games” and “Stranger Things” Season 4 were the first series to reach the BILLION hours mark.

WORTH NOTING: Netflix has ordered two more installments of RYAN MURPHY’s “Monster” franchise, though what they will cover is not yet known.

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PIERS MORGAN will sit down with some of America’s most notorious criminals for his new show, “Piers Morgan’s Killers.”

The six-part series will follow Morgan as he goes behind prison walls to chat with those who are incarcerated. He will also do a deep dive into their crimes, speaking to police, lawyers and family members of the murderers and their victims.

The show will air on Fox Nation.

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COURT CASES

AMBER HEARD has filed an appeal to overturn the ruling in her defamation case with her ex-husband, JOHNNY DEPP.

In court documents Heard’s lawyers pointed out 16 errors made during the trial and claimed that the verdicts contradict each other -- pointing out that they both can’t be found guilty in this case.

Heard is asking the court to reverse the decision against her or if that is not possible, she seeks a whole new trial.

RECAP: Depp sued Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed in 2018 in which she called herself a domestic abuse survivor. The judge sided with Depp, awarding him $10.3 million in damages. Heard was awarded $2 million due to a countersuit that she filed.

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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS

KIM KARDASHIAN threw her son SAINT WEST an NFL-themed birthday party at Allegiant Stadium, where the seven-year-old and friends watched the Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks from a private box.

Kim shared a series of snaps from the celebration, calling Saint a “kind soul.”

Several of his famous family members also shared birthday wishes, including his grandma KRIS JENNER.

Saint’s dad, Kanye West -- who now goes by YE -- was not in attendance.

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On Monday, KIM KARDASHIAN was awarded a restraining order against ANDRE PERSAUD, who has shown up at her home several times, claiming to be armed.

He also previously said that he can speak to her telepathically.

The ruling means Persaud is prohibited from contacting Kim and must stay at least 100 yards away from her. It will be in place for five years.

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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS

Two very important behind the scenes contributors to MEGHAN MARKLE’s nonprofit organization, Archewell, have called it quits.

First, MANDANA DAYANI, who has run Archewell for less than 18 months, stepped down from her role just days ago. It was a “mutual agreement,” according to one insider. That same insider told Page Six that Meg and PRINCE HARRY will now take over.

Then, yesterday, it was revealed that Meg’s “Archetypes” producer REBECCA SANANES is moving on after just a year working on the show.

WORTH NOTING: It is not yet known whether there will be a second season of “Archetypes.”

IN OTHER NEWS: Meghan and Harry’s Netflix show launches on Thursday.

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SPORTS

MLB all-star and Cy Young Award winner, JUSTIN VERLANDER, 40, has a new home.

The former Houston Astros pitcher signed a two-year, $86.6 million contract with the NY Mets on Monday.

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After the Carolina Panthers released QB BAKER MAYFIELD on Monday, rumors of which team would scoop him up started almost immediately.

The top contender is the San Francisco 49ers, who lost their QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO to an injury over the weekend.

It is unknown if the 49ers will be able to get him though, as he is now on waivers and the team is 24th in the waiver order.

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DAY OF THE YEAR

National Gazpacho Day

National Pawnbrokers Day

Put On Your Own Shoes Day

St. Nicholas Day

Mitten Tree Day

National Miners’ Day

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ON THIS DATE

1865 – Georgia ratifies the 13th Amendment, thus ending slavery.

The law was passed only eight months after the end of the Civil War, and signaled the end of people being treated as property. Though of course it would be years before Civil Rights legislation was properly enacted.

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1868 – The Reno Gang pulls off its last train robbery.

Reno brothers Frank, William and Simeon held a short but active robbing career. In this train robbery, they killed a guard who was on board. They were caught shortly thereafter.

The public was in uproar over the guard's death -- so much so that the masses busted out the three brothers from their jail cells to have them promptly hanged.

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1884 – Construction on the Washington Monument is completed. The final piece was the nine-inch pyramid at the top of the obelisk.

It was named, obviously, for the nation's first commander-in-chief.

The Washington Monument stands between the Lincoln Monument and the Capitol Building, near the banks of the Potomac River, just a block from the White House. Its location was decided by city architect Pierre L’Enfant.

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1917 – The Mont Blanc munitions freighter sails full speed to rendezvous with a small convoy it would lead across the Atlantic to Europe.

On board were 2300 tons of picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 35 tons of gasoline and 10 tons of gun cotton.

The Mont Blanc collided with the Norwegian boat in the North Atlantic at approximately 8:45 a.m., as it was exiting the harbor. The collision propelled the Mont Blanc back toward shore. It burned safely for about 20 minutes.

The nearby fire department came to shore to try and put out the small blaze. But it was for naught.

When the blaze erupted, almost 1800 people were killed instantly and another 9000 injured. More than 200 were blinded by the bright white explosion.

It's the largest explosion known to man before the detonation of the atomic bomb.

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1969 – The Rolling Stones headline the Altamont Free Concert in northern California.

Also performing were Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

There were 300,000 in attendance, hoping to make this the Woodstock of the west coast. A bunch of hippies in California did not behave as well as some would have hoped: there was one homicide and three accidental deaths reported.

Meanwhile, four women gave birth to children, and among the brawling, stampeding, and mosh pit of humanity, hundreds were injured. Also, dozens reported stolen cars and other property.

As a result of the mayhem, the Grateful Dead pulled out of performing.

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1992 – 49ers Wide Receiver Jerry Rice catches a ball in the end zone, making him the record-holder for most career touchdown receptions, with 101. It was held by Steve Largent.

Rice would play for another eight years, ultimately scoring 208 TDs, leaving the old record in his dust.

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2006 – NASA releases photos taken by the Mars Global Surveyor that suggests there could be flowing water on the Red Planet.

The images show deep gullies and canyons that scientists believe could only have been formed from water erosion. (Or an evil Martian race polluting their planet with a highly-toxic and corrosive industrial goop for the sake of profit).

The release comes a month after the last contact had been made with the probe.

Human error was to blame for losing the spacecraft, but that's okay -- the mission lasted 3 times longer than NASA expected.

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2017 - Starbucks opens its largest cafe in the world in Shanghai.

The coffee joint is 30,000 square-feet — about half the size of a football field.

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2018 - Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry lands a franchise-record 238 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 30-9 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Henry’s 99-yard touchdown run ties with Dallas Cowboys HOF RB Tony Dorsett’s for longest run in NFL history.

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BIRTHDAYS

Stefanie Scott - actress, “A.N.T. Farm” - 26

A Boogie wit da Hoodie - rapper - 27

Tai Verdes - pop singer - 27

Giannis Antetokounmpo - basketball player - 28

Wesley Stromberg - pop singer, Emblem3 - 29

Johnny Manziel - football player - 30

Zack Fox - comedian - 32

Jason Reynolds - novelist, “As Brave as You” - 39

Judd Apatow - producer - 55

Debbie Rowe - married Michael Jackson - 64

Andrew Cuomo - politician - 65

Born On This Date

Satoru Iwata - entrepreneur, Nintendo - 1959 (d. 2015)

Randy Rhoads - guitarist, Quiet Riot - 1956 (d. 1982)

Baby Face Nelson - gangster & bank robber - 1908 (d. 1934)

Agnes Moorehead - actress, “Bewitched” - 1900 (d. 1974)

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