Sauce for the goose...

I can't improve the Smoking Gun's treatment of the latest trademark news: "Following in the trailblazing footsteps of 'The Situation,' fellow Jersey Shore cast member Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi wants the federal government to issue a trademark for her nickname. According to the February 7 filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the 22-year-old Polizzi is seeking to use the trademark for two separate commercial classes: 'Entertainment in the nature of personal appearances by a television personality,' and--in what will terrify fans of fine literature--'Printed matter, namely books.' ...Her application came a few days after TSG reported that "Jersey Shore" mook Michael Sorrentino had filed for a trademark for "The Situation," the nickname he has given his abdominal muscles.

Trademarking Situational Beefcake

Were you getting tired of those tricentennial portraits of Dr. Johnson? Here's some eye candy and news of a trademark application. Both a Las Vegas porn firm and a New Jersey entrepreneur have filed applications to secure the rights to "Jersey Shore" character Michael Sorrentino's nickname for his torso: The Situation. Check out the Smoking Gun: http://tinyurl.com/yjrfdu8.

Of course, Lexiphanes was buff, too. Boswell reports that when 28-year-old Johnson arrived in London, "Mr. Wilcox, the bookseller, on being informed by him that his intention was to get his livelihood as an authour, eyed his robust frame attentively, and with a significant look said, 'You had better buy a porter's knot.'" Perhaps Mr. Sorrentino will go on to pursue a career in lexicography.