Alas, today concludes our week of fantasizing about the covers that never were. But we saved the best for last. Is it us or does geriatric Axl look alarmingly like George Carlin?

Time is running out to nominate your pick for our week of year-end dream covers. Who should our final cover be? Barack Obama? Axl? Britney? Maybe you’ve heard of Bob Dylan? Let us know.

R.I.P.

You have two more days to nominate other picks for our week of year-end dream covers.

All this week we’re featuring the dream covers we didn’t have a chance (or the balls) to run this year. We’re asking you for suggestions — and you’re doing a pretty good job. (See Day One.) But with today’s cover, we wanted to open up the dialogue a little. Remember: These are fake covers, so feel free to nominate — not just rad dudes and gals who almost snagged the top spot in 2006 — but all the weirdo’s and freakouts that never had a chance. Have a little fun, we’re listening . . .

To kick off our week of Covers We Didn’t Do in 2006, we’re giving Mr. Claus his moment in the spotlight. Who else should have gotten the Rolling Stone cover this year…Jay-Z? Metallica? Dick Cheney? Send in your votes…we’ll debut a new one every day this week.

It was a great year for covers — Bob Dylan, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Borat — but we always wish there were a few more months in the year. Thusly, every day next week, we’ll be featuring the covers we missed this year. Take the weekend to let us know your picks. Stay tuned…