from Vanity Fair via Gawker. But yes, they really SHOULD do the New Yorker (and some Canuckistan terrorist such as myself really SHOULD do The Walrus…hmmmmm).

In any case, the skanky demi-coverwrap innovation, paired with the chubby, self-satisfied, Winnebago-driving Rotarian-pandering-to, blowhardy Weekly Standard makes this the perfect target.

For the National Lampoon. Vanity Fair, how did it come to this?

Still. Funnee.

A Vanities Cover-Flap Public Service

By ANDREW HEARST

Magazine publishers often send their newsstand editions into the world with “cover flaps” that tease the contents within. This is a handy way to pique the interest of passersby. But a cover flap can also be useful as an agent of mischief and lighthearted political agitation. Inside the October 2006 issue of Vanity Fair is a fake flap you can attach to a copy of The Weekly Standard. Simply get your hands on a copy of our October issue, turn to page 272, and follow the instructions below:

1. Cut and fold where indicated.

2. Hurry to a newsstand. Pick up the latest issue of The Weekly Standard. Wrap folded page around spine of magazine.

3. Return magazine to rack.

4. Step back a few paces and observe.

From the Wall Street Journal, via BoingBoing. I think the single coolest thing about this is that they found a FREE TO READ story in the WSJ, not an easy task!

WSJ has an interesting article about LibraryThing.com, a site that lets you create a database of your books, rate them, review them, and look at the catalogs of other users. The social information compiled by LibraryThing lets you find recommended books, the top-rated authors (and the lowest rated authors — poor Jessica Cutler), the top-rated books, and lots more.

LibraryThing is free for users who catalog 200 or fewer books; after that it’s $10 a year or $25 for life. Link (free WSJ article)

I think it would probably cost me about $600 a year, if it were a volume-based pricing model. How about you?