For the Mac rumor addict, these are troubled times indeed. Never mind the recent and ongoing paucity of juicy info that's making the Irish potato famine look like all-you-can-eat at Sizzler; things have gotten far worse. Now it's not just the rumors that have gone away-- the rumormongers are leaving, too. In particular we're talking about that outré utensil known to his disciples as Mac The Knife. We're sure you noticed that His Knifeness has been MIA for months now, but you may not have been particularly worried, since his, er, "unique pharmaceutical orientation" has led to unplanned hiatuses in the past. This time, though, we're starting to think that everyone's favorite blade may be gone for good.

See, we stumbled upon some reader-submitted comments in response to a MacWEEK article about the publication's new lineup of editors and writers, and some of them mince few words about the Knife's status: "the Knife is gone, gone, gone. Not because the writer is dead, but just gone from this place." Could it be true? This is terrible! Now where will we go for Apple leaks revealed through a hazy sludge of drug humor and obscure pop culture references?

The forlorn masses desperate to make sense of this tragic loss have kicked together quite a lively little discussion thread over there. One soul so in need of meaning even goes so far as to suggest that the Knife may have been none other than the dear departed Don Crabb himself, given the coinciding time frames of each persona's departure. Another clings to hopes for the future: "Keep your eyes open; a resurrection in a new body and in a new place is at hand, I hear." Hope springs eternal.

Most telling, however, is the astute observation that ZDNet writer Matthew Rothenberg's voice is oddly familiar. Just take a gander at his most recent column. "Edit it, Dan-o! This bad boy's ready to file"? If Rothenberg isn't the Knife, he's certainly channeling the Knife's eternal spirit; either way, those jonesing for a Knife hit can get at least a quick taste from Rothenberg's weekly column. It ain't the Knife, per se, but it's something. And here's hoping that someone else moves in to fill the yawning gap left in the hardcore rumors space.