Every weekday, PR Daily associate editor Alan Pearcy highlights the day’s most compelling stories and amusing marginalia on the Web in this, #TheDailySpin.

Cats’ nine lives. Wile E. Coyote’s ability to survive dynamite, anvils, and all major falls. Super Mario’s “1UP.” Robert Downey, Jr.’s acting career. All of these examples undermine or altogether disprove the Internet craze that you only live once—YOLO. Maybe that’s why The Huffington Post’s associate book editor Zoë Triska contends that the overly abused acronym earn the title of worst “word” of the year. In her plea to purge the word from society, Triska explains the acronym’s origins, as well as who might be to blame for its own second-life in popular culture.

Meanwhile, the Oxford University Press’ pick for word of the year continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. Forget those costly “12 Days of Christmas.” We present to you the “12 Days of GIF.mas,” free of charge. (Potentially NSFW)

RELATED: Video: A short history of the GIF

Although McDonald’s isn’t giving anything away for free, it does have a gift for fast food frequenters this holiday season. Starting Dec. 17, the chain will again launch a national rollout of its McRib sandwich.

That ought to ensure the restaurant’s rebounded November sales stay up through the end of the year, right?

Speaking of sandwiches, while the McRib’s return is cheered, Subway is being jeered after a drive-thru patron posted a picture to Reddit of the mayonnaise-sodden sub one of the restaurant’s “sandwich artist” crafted just minutes before closing. Perhaps it’s abstract art.

Another photo taken at a restaurant—this one in Sao Paulo, Brazil—is also garnering some chatter online, but not because of the manner in which the food was prepared. Instead, it’s due to the steakhouse’s meat options. Under its cuts of beef, the menu lists different portion sizes for “women” and “men.” As one of the commenters points out, however, the restaurant’s use of Papyrus font is the most offensive part of this story.

RELATED: 12 most overused fonts that can damage your brand

Not even Comic Sans on a menu would offend me as much as what customers read on their receipt from Chilly D’s in Stockton, Calif., where a bartender named the table of three female customers “Fat Girls.”

A boss at Bed, Bath & Beyond hopefully read the fine print on one of the signs hung around the store. Upon quitting his job at the retailer, an employee left this embedded message for his or her supervisor on the tag of a Nuwave Pro Infrared Oven.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia had a message for MTV when he sent a letter of objection to the network voicing concerns that its new reality show, “Buckwild,” will perpetuate negative stereotypes about Southern residents. The program documents the wild antics of young people in Sissonville, W.Va.

While there are plenty of antics you should avoid at the office holiday party, schmoozing shouldn’t be one of them. In fact, Inc. reports that even in our social media-crazed society, it’s important that we unearth our inner Don Draper to build upon those ever-important business relationships through face-to-face interaction.

Social media might stifle our real-world networking skills, but it isn’t the biggest culprit repressing our workplace productivity. According to an infographic from Bolt Insurance, only 18 percent of employees see the Internet as wasteful use of time at the office. Meanwhile, 47 percent believe meetings are the biggest productivity killer.

Like many PR professional, my productivity might draw to a screeching halt if it weren’t for coffee. That doesn’t mean I need a steel card to get my Starbucks fix. The same can’t be said for everyone, though. Not only did the café giant’s $450 limited-edition metal cards sell out in less than a minute, but some are now selling for more than twice their original face value on eBay.

RELATED: Starbucks introduces its most expensive coffee yet

Even amid that kind of fanatical devotion, Starbucks didn’t crack Unruly’s list of the 10 most-shared social video brands of 2012.

Nor did Ben & Jerry’s, but I won’t let that discredit the brand’s innovative taste-testing methods. (via Creativity)



Is there something you think we should include in our next edition of #TheDailySpin? Tweet me @iquotesometimes with your suggestions. Thanks in advance.

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