Calling the attack ads by a political fund-raising group “inexcusable” and “sick,” Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is taking the unusual step of trademarking his name in campaign slogans. The ads, which attack not the Republican incumbent but his likely Democratic opponent, former Attorney General Janet Reno, make allegations about alcoholism, sexuality and even species – her face is superimposed on the body of the late Clinton dog, Buddy. If successful in registering himself as a brand, Jeb Bush will be able to keep his name from being misused by the group calling itself “Americans for Jeb Bush.” Do Americans have similar recourse?

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Less than two weeks after it dressed up employees in “I Am Arthur Andersen” T-shirts and shamelessly paraded them in front of a federal courthouse, the indicted accounting firm has announced it is laying off 7,000 employees – all rank-and-file, no executives – in order to complete the sale of its tax division to a rival firm. The severance package reportedly includes an iron-on applique of the word “Not.”

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Since moving to the new state prison at Warren last month, inmates have complained about everything from a draft in the dining hall that cools their food too quickly to night lights that disturb their sleep. Being forced to wear prison-issue denim uniforms for most activities proved to be the last straw, so about 100 inmates protested last weekend by showing up for lunch wearing the prison-issue sweatsuits that supposedly are only for recreation activities. A standoff ensued, guards were threatened, but the uprising eventually was quelled and the protesters now are confined to their cells 23 hours a day. At least they’re out of the draft.

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Many observers have noted the apparent contradiction between Gov. King’s unflinching opposition to casino gambling and his wager with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura on the NCAA hockey championship, with the loser having to parade around in the other team’s jersey. Actually, there is no contradiction. The first is about such questionable behavior as creating jobs and revenue and letting grown adults do as they please with their own money. The second is about things widely accepted – betting on college sports and embarrassing political showboating.

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From the time President Ulysses S. Grant signed the General Mining Law of 1872, mining companies have been able to extract gold, silver, copper and other “hard rock” resources from federal lands without paying a penny in royalties to taxpayers. Now, from Nevada, comes the first challenge to the law with what many experts see as having a real shot at ending the giveaway. The fight, which has put environmentalists, local governments and fiscal conservatives on the same side, isn’t about a vein of precious metals – it’s about a large deposit of the light, fluffy, super absorbent clay that makes the world’s finest kitty litter. The mining industry likes its chances as well, citing 130 years of precedent, a strong lobby and many friends in Congress. Besides, says Bob Vetere, an executive with the parent company of Cat’s Pride, the clay in question “makes cats happy.”