Get crackin'! Or, on second thought, don't: Our Wednesday go-to fave the New York Observer grosses us out vaguely with talk of hidden man-cleavage that is suddenly becoming unappealingly unhidden. Wow I just typed and erased several sentences containing the phrase "ass-crackitude." I can't do it. Read the article yourself, and then please, for the love of God, buy a belt. [NYO]

Even Jack Shafer cares about Tom and Katie! Sure, he disguises it with a thinly-veiled "state of celebrity journalism" argument but really he's as mesmerized by the train wreck as we all are. But, he errs in equating this train wreck with the state of celebrity magazines, because one crazy Oprah-squealing-starlet-brainwashing-Xenu-invoking-credulity-straining couple does not an industry meltdown make. There is, after all, still Jessica Simpson. No, the reason the TomKat story has captivated us all is because it is so anomalous at every level - he's right, it is news when celebs hit it off and hook it up, and he does list the natural high points of any relationship, especially one in the public eye. But this one has been freakish on all levels. The fact that the celeb glossies didn't shrink from acknowledging that speaks to their credibility, not their demise. In the meantime, it was totally my inner Thetan that made me re-up my Us Weekly subscription. [Slate]

Sydney Schanberg says "OK!" to paying for sources: The esteemed Village Voice columnist thinks that big-time sources like Deep Throat should share in the payday. OK! Magazine agrees; it's a little fuzzy how Katie Couric feels about it. [Village Voice]

Wiki wiki wiki! That was just fun to type: MB's own Elizabeth Spiers lauds Michael Kinsley for his wiki, wiki ways and for having the guts to try something new. She says, why not try new fun things, even if they don't work? Then she lists some, including our old pal MEL, aka the "Most-Emailed List," which we developed back in April because we're lazy, and because it almost felt like inventing a fun new friend to keep us company during those lonely blogging hours. She invites readers to identify other examples of (or submit their own ideas for) media innovating, which should be interesting. Wow, we went from "ass-crackitude" to lofty aspirations for media evolution in just one post. See, this is what I love about blogging! What do you think, MEL? [MB]