Sunday in a sip

Welcome to Sunday in a Sip. It’s December 15th, 2024, ohhh, what a week we’ve had, folks, what a week. I’ve got news, I’ve got stories, I’ve got sightings. So, do me a favor, grab your favorite cup of joe—no, not that Joe, the coffee Joe—get comfy, snuggle up, and let’s shmmoooze our way through the buzziest stories of the week. Hold onto your cup, and look to the sky. Wowza.

Tonight is the Full Moon, the Cold Moon. Did you here about your Moon Sign and Moon Phase? You know Sagittarius or Capricorn. Do you know your Moon?

Get your free personalized video Moon Reading here.

“Can we talk?” On Monday morning, I woke to the news that after two years and 152 shows across five continents, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour finally took its last bow in Vancouver.

I wondered why she wasn’t in the box seat watching Travis Kelce at Sunday night football. By the way, Kansas City won the AFC West on a last-second Boink field goal Sunday. If you didn't see it, their 15th straight win in one-score games was comical. And let me tell you, the BOINK was like her tour. Let me strike that; it wasn’t just a tour—it was a cultural earthquake! Think Beatlemania meets Woodstock, but with better outfits and fewer questionable substances.

And the money? Oh, honey, the money! When the first leg ended in 2023, it was already the highest-grossing tour in history—over a billion dollars in just 66 shows. But wait, there’s more! She didn’t stop there—oh no! After another 86 shows, the grand total hit an estimated $2.2 billion. That’s not a tour; that’s the GDP of a small country.

Fans traveled an average of 338 miles to see her. Who does that? People won’t even drive across town to visit their mother-in-law but for Taylor? Sure. And in the U.S., the average fan dropped $1,300 on tickets, outfits, merch, and who knows what else. At that point, it’s not just a concert—it’s a lifestyle!

Speaking of merch, she raked in $440 million just from T-shirts and trinkets. The Eras Tour movie? Another $261 million—breaking records for a concert film. And the tour book? 814,000 print copies sold over Thanksgiving weekend alone. At $39.99 a pop, even Hemingway is saying, ‘Damn, girl'.

And the economic impact? My sweet readers, forget stimulus checks—Taylor Swift is the post-Covid economy. Her tour added $4.3 billion to the U.S. GDP in 2023, and she even managed to spike inflation in Sweden after three shows in Stockholm. Inflation. Who knew “Shake It Off” could shake up global markets?”

Veteran Daniel Penny is acquitted in NYC subway chokehold case over Jordan Neely's death. A Manhattan jury delivered the verdict, clearing Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s death last year.

Luigi Mangione, 26 years old, is now starring in his own true crime saga. Arrested and charged with murder, the guy’s accused of pulling the trigger on UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson in the Big Apple last Wednesday. Corporate drama? Personal vendetta? Who knows? Mangione’s little hide-and-seek game ended at, wait for it…

A McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Because clearly, when you're on the lam for murder, nothing says 'lay low' like scarfing down a Big Mac in Altoona.

A $60,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest. Hopefully, the McDonald’s employee will be the big cheese.

10 global Google searches in 2024:

In a late-night ruling on Tuesday, Christopher Lopez, a U.S. bankruptcy judge, rejected The Onion's bid to purchase Alex Jones' Infowars platform. The judge criticized the auction process as flawed and determined that The Onion's $1.75 million offer did not sufficiently maximize returns for the Sandy Hook families.

Judge Lopez said the auction "left a lot of money on the table" for the Sandy Hook victims' families. If you’re interested in helping Save the Children.

Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion, mentioned that they are committed to finding a resolution and are excited about the possibility of purchasing Infowars in the weeks ahead.

Just a Christmas note: thanks to the United States, Ukraine is getting a gift of another 20 Billion Dollars. It is a loan, but it won’t cost taxpayers because the U.S. contribution is the $20 billion loan backed by Russian assets. The U.S. aid efforts are part of a broader international initiative. The G7 nations finalized a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine.

The total U.S. security support to Ukraine has been $62 billion since the conflict began in 2022.

Did you know that we purchased Alaska for 7 Million dollars.

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million in 1867. This amounted to about 2 cents per acre for the 586,412 square miles of land. The purchase, often referred to as "Seward's Folly" after then-Secretary of State William H. Seward, was initially criticized as a waste of money.

My Thought: Let’s purchase Ukraine for the money they owe us and turn it into an unincorporated territory with commonwealth status. It would then be protected under NATO. It seems like we own it anyway.

Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in the year through November, a slightly hotter rate than the previous month. The Federal Reserve is considering whether to cut interest rates next week.

No, mysterious drones have been buzzing across New Jersey and neighboring states, leaving people scratching their heads—and maybe peeking out their windows a little more than usual. Since mid-November, these unidentified drones have been spotted in at least ten counties in New Jersey, parts of New York City, and even eastern Pennsylvania. One night alone saw nearly 50 sightings, with reports ranging from a handful of drones to upwards of 180 buzzing through the skies. These aren’t your average backyard drones either—witnesses describe them as larger, flying in eerie coordination over everything from neighborhoods and military bases to emergency centers and even Trump’s Bedminster golf course. It’s giving “Twilight Zone” energy, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is on it, assuring residents that the situation is under serious investigation.

The FBI leads the charge, working with an inter-agency task force to figure out who’s behind this airborne invasion. So far, officials haven’t pinpointed the drones’ origin, and even helicopters and radio equipment have become empty. While the Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily restricted drone flights over certain areas, including Picatinny Arsenal and other critical sites, public anxiety is mounting.

Mayors from 21 towns have sent Governor Murphy a letter saying, “Do something!” Meanwhile, some lawmakers are calling for more aggressive actions, like shooting the drones down. Despite the concern, officials assure there’s no immediate threat to public safety—though you’d be forgiven for clutching your tinfoil hat just a little tighter. It’s a waiting game, with officials urging anyone who spots these drones to snap a pic or video and share it with authorities. If you can shoot it down, you have the right. Stay tuned because this story is definitely up in the air.

Are you a skywatcher? I hope you had a chance to see the 2024 Geminid meteor shower taking center stage in the grandest show of the cosmos. It all happened on the nights of December 12-13. During this annual celestial event, you could see up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions—basically, it’s like nature’s fireworks but cooler. What makes the Geminids unique? They originate from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, rather than the usual comet suspects, making them a true cosmic oddity. But there’s a twist this year because a nearly full moon will steal some of the spotlight, so only the brightest meteors and fiery fireballs will shine through. Bonus science fact? Some of these meteors smashed into the moon, creating visible lunar impact flashes—how’s that for cosmic drama?

The moon will be full tonight, so geek out and watch out for its mystery. Hi, it’s Marcel. Did you enjoy my weekly newsletter? Here’s a thought: why not go VIP? No big pitch. I'm just putting it out there. As a VIP, you’d get the good stuff: behind-the-scenes videos, guest appearances, exclusive deep dives, and hidden gems. Plus, early access to events and giveaways. It’s a little extra sparkle for your Sundays without tipping the balance.

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I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a splendid week ahead. And by "splendid," I mean a week where every sock discovers its long-lost mate, your coffee remains gloriously hot, and, heavens forbid, no one mistakes you for a cozy seat cushion.

So here’s to conquering the days ahead—or perhaps approaching them with a soft, deliberate nudge if you’re feeling delicate. Whatever your pace, make it yours.