Table of contents for Dec-21-15 in Globe

Ben has been linked to nanny Christine and actress Abigail — who actually had a bit part in Jennifer’s film “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past!” LOVE rat Ben Affleck’s mother has stepped into the middle of his marriage crisis — and is publicly throwing her support behind daughter-in-law Jennifer Garner. Jennifer, 43, and Ben’s mom, Christine Anne Boldt, were recently spotted laughing it up as they walked to church with Jen and Ben’s 6-year-old daughter Seraphina. “Christine has always been close to Jennifer throughout her roller-coaster 10-year marriage to Ben, and the two women aren’t letting the possibility of divorce come between them,” says a Hollywood insider. “Ben’s mother has chosen sides and she’s letting everyone know she’s with Team Jennifer.” Meanwhile, Ben’s getting the cold shoulder from his mom, who’s…

HOLLYWOOD hunk Val Kilmer is desperately ill and has just three months to live, fear sources. The 55-year-old “Top Gun” star is reportedly in a losing battle with deadly throat cancer that’s literally strangling him. “He’s fought hard all year,” says a friend. “His birthday is on New year’s Eve and it looks like it will be his last.” Kilmer was spotted with a tube inserted in his neck to help him breathe — and eat — while shopping in l.A. on Nov. 28. Chicago-based dr. Otto Placik says the tube is a sign Kilmer’s “in a dire situation.” “It’s hard to tell how much time he has,” says the doctor. “My guess is that it’s not very long-term.” Adds another top New york City internist: “He’ll be very lucky…

GLOBE’S NO-NONSENSE OPINION PAGE GLOBE columnist Jeff Rodack tells it like it is about celebrities — how they get under his skin with their stupid antics and the nonsense they try to put over on the public. Here is his unique take on Hollywood newsmakers and fakers. STOP your whining! That’s my message to mega-model Jourdan Dunn, who is bitching about walking around in her underwear as part of the Victoria’s Secret annual LINGERIE show! Yeah, it’s got to be real tough! What a cruel world we live in! And the VS Angels, as they call themselves, reportedly have to meet strict requirements. They must be 5-foot-9 with a 24-inch waist and no more than 18 percent body fat. I’m sure life can be tough in a thong, but give…

ANSWERS Word Square: avenge, avenger, aver, engrave, even, ever, gave, give, given, giver, grapevine, grave, graven, greave, grieve, naive, nave, nerve, neve, never, pave, paver, paving, peeving, perv, rave, raven, ravine, raving, reave, reeving, rive, riven, vain, vainer, vane, veep, veer, veering, vegan, vein, vena, verge, vine, vinegar, viper 20-Second Challenge: 121 Initials: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Mary-Kate Olsen; I Am…I Said; As The World Turns; Death Becomes Her. Who Am I: Kevin Bacon…

TERROR killer Syed Farook, who blew away at least 14 innocent people at his California office building, was a typical, “average Joe” American — until he was seduced by a mysterious Pakistani woman hellbent on turning him into a bloodthirsty Islamist, GLOBE can reveal! Intelligence experts say 28-year-old Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, had deadly motives when she first met him in Saudi Arabia two years ago during a religious pilgrimage. “His wife was the catalyst for their evil acts,” former U.S. Customs agent-turned legal analyst John A. Carman tells GLOBE. Malik, 27, whose homeland is a hotbed of Al Qaeda and Taliban terror activity, entered the U.S. on a K-1 “fiancée” visa before marrying Farook — and became an undeportable U.S. citizen after they wed. “The K-1 is nicknamed the…

BACHELOR Prince Harry has flipped for his sexy cousin, Lady Kitty Spencer, but his sisterin-law, Kate, is doing everything she can to derail the “ill-advised” romance, sources tell GLOBE. “Harry is nuts about Kitty,” says a royal insider. “He says she’s his idea of perfection. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw photos of her in a figure-flaunting bikini.” The 24-year-old beauty — who’s the daughter of Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer — showcased her dangerous curves while vacationing in Australia. Smitten Harry told pals: “Kitty is the perfect specimen. She’s the kind of woman I’m going to marry.” But as soon as Prince William’s wife got wind of Harry having the hots for his cousin, she pulled out all the stops to make the royal…

UN-FRIENDED Heartbroken COURTENEY COX steps out for the first time since her sudden split from fiancé Johnny McDaid MOM LETS BRADLEY SHACK UP WITH IRINA The romance between “American Sniper” BRADLEY COOPER, 40, and Russian model IRINA SHAYK, 29, is shooting forward — because, this time, mom GLORIA CAMPANO has given her stamp of approval! Insiders say the Hollywood hottie, who — as GLOBE readers already know — has ditched other gals on Mom’s advice, got the green light to move bag and baggage into Irina’s Big Apple apartment. All this after he took her home to New Jersey to bond with his mamma over the Labor Day holiday! Next stop — the altar! But only if Gloria says it’s OK! LINDSAY’S FAMILY HITS NEW LO-HAN Wild partygal LINDSAY LOHAN…

HOW ALI ROPED DOPEY SADDAM! COURAGEOUS boxing champ Muhammad Ali defied the government and flew to Iraq under the guise of a “goodwill tour” where he sucker-punched evil Saddam Hussein into freeing 15 American hostages. His 1990 trip infuriated President George H.W. Bush, who’d slapped a travel ban on Iraq, which had invaded Kuwait. Parkinson’s victim Ali, 48, sat through a boring meeting with the dictator, reports a new ESPN documentary, “Ali: The Mission.” He bit his tongue as Saddam insisted the imprisoned businessmen were getting excellent treatment. In truth, the tyrant was using them as human shields to keep the U.S. from bombing Iraq. But Ali tricked Saddam into releasing the hostages by promising to bring back an “honest account” of Iraq. “I’m not going to let Muhammad Ali…

YOUR mattress can make you sick! That’s the word from scientists who discovered many Americans are sharing their bed with dangerous bacteria and mold! The “bedbugs” sleeping with you include the E. coli stomach virus, a cousin of MrSA that causes horrible skin infections, and a fungus that can result in coughing and asthma, testing shows. “Most people would be rather surprised about the things you can find in an old mattress,” says researcher Lisa Ackerley, a former environmental health officer. “Mold and bacteria build up over the years and, although invisible, you could be breathing in harmful spores at night.” Since people are taught to clean what they can see, “the mattress itself can be a hotbed of potential illness” because it is often ignored, says Lisa, now a…

MARILYN Monroe knew all about making a bewitching entrance. Here, the glamour girl stuns stargazers at the 1954 premiere of “There’s no Business like Show Business” with her elegant high-fashion look. But Marilyn always made an impression, no matter what she wore. a few months earlier, she posed wearing no clothes at all in the first issue of an unknown magazine called Playboy. Stars from Madonna to Debbie Harry to lindsay lohan have tried to imitate Marilyn’s glow. But nobody comes close!…

GOLDIE Hawn and longtime lover Kurt Russell have secretly wed — and here’s the proof! The Hollywood superstar flashed a stunning diamond band on her left ring finger as she and Kurt went shopping near their home in Brentwood, Calif. “Their secret is out!” says a source. “He put the ring on Goldie’s finger in a private ceremony, while they were celebrating her 70th birthday with their kids. Everyone was shocked! “After 32 years together, we never thought they would actually make the commitment, but Kurt wouldn’t give up trying and Goldie finally gave in! “That ring is a symbol of their love and they’ve never looked happier.” Twice-divorced Goldie has been open about her views on marriage — insisting a piece of paper isn’t the magic ingredient to enduring…

JOHN Lennon’s widow Yoko ono didn’t hesitate to cash in on her husband’s horrifying murder — or shack up with a much younger man! Shockingly, Beatlewrecking Yoko even dressed her boy toy in John’s clothes, according to Andy Peebles, a London DJ who interviewed John two days before he was killed in new York on Dec. 8, 1980. he then interviewed Yoko on the first anniversary of John’s shooting death at the hands of Mark David Chapman. “She cried and said how much she missed John, and how stunned she still was by what had happened,” says Andy. “But I found it hard to take her tears seriously. I knew she was in a new relationship with Sam havadtoy, a sculptor and antiques expert 20 years her junior, and a…

ARIES March 21 - April 20 When Venus and Uranus align, you’ll find all the answers you’ve been looking for, along with someone special to love! Already partnered? You’ll see why your mate’s been acting so mysteriously — and it is fabulous! An eager salesperson’s wardrobe advice on Saturday is not for you — ignore it! GEMINI May 22 - June 21 Don’t reveal too much personal information to a stranger. Mercury clashing with Neptune warns of trickery and money mischief should you overshare. A job offer comes as thanks for a good deed. A longstanding family feud is finally put to rest. On Sunday, celebrate a neighbor’s lucky break. LEO July 23 - August 23 Walk away from an argument between relatives — they’ll never see eye-to-eye! Mars aligns…

Ravaged by virus, she’d love to turn back time to much happier days DYING Cher is facing her last Christmas, friends fear! Ravaged by a debilitating viral infection, the 69-yearold superstar continues to desperately struggle with lifethreatening kidney and heart problems, insiders say. “The doctors didn’t tell me how sick i was,” the “Believe” singer confesses. “Cher really believes the end is near,” confides a family pal. “She’s been giving away many of her possessions, scaring the hell out of everyone.” The crisis has escalated as the holidays approach. “Christmas is her favorite time, when she gathers all her family and friends around her. But this year she’s very subdued,” says another source. “She’s going through the motions, decorating her house and planning for about 35 guests, but there’s a…

AT 72, “Two and a Half Men” star Holland Taylor has fallen head over heels in love — with Sarah Paulson, an actress almost half her age! Taylor dropped the bombshell that she is gay — and in a deeply committed lesbian relationship — in a Nov. 30 radio interview. “ I haven’t come out because I am out,” She says. “I live out.” She’s played out, too! Holland was Charlie Sheen’s bisexual mom on “Two and a Half Men” and a big supporter when Charlie was fired. She had a meltdown in 2011 — the year he was diagnosed as HIV positive. But now things are great! Her relationship with Paulson, 40, is “the most wonderful, extraordinary thing that could have ever possibly happened in my life.” Taylor and…