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

What do the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Young Republicans, and a World War II battleship all have in common? Aside from their refusal to ever throw in the towel, they’ve all spoofed Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”—leading to the prolonged death of parodies of the song. While the NFL franchise uses the song to showcase the team’s arrival at training camp, the GOP organization hopes that the tune will help its cause come November. As for the sea vessel, it joins the worn-out list of parodies in hopes of bolstering tourism for the USS North Carolina. Unlike the ship, however, these tired takeoffs are officially sunk.

Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service sunk $1.2 million into the production of 1 billion “Simpsons” stamps, vastly overestimating their appeal, of which only 318 million were sold. D’oh!

That’s nowhere near the more than half a billion dollars that the Santa Clara Valley Water District might be out after its ballot summary to place a $548 million parcel tax before voters exceeded the word-limit—by two words.

We might also be in danger of having exceeded our limit of GIFs on the Internet. Although as The Atlantic Wire reports, it’s the “mutability” we’ve seen in these computerized animations that has kept their use from growing too stale.

If stale is how someone might describe your cologne or perfume, it wouldn’t surprise me to hear your office wants to go fragrance-free. But is it legal, even on behalf of your colleagues with allergies? A ruling in Illinois could make that call, as well as decide if telecommuting is considered an accommodation for a disability.

[Related: What people do when they telecommute (besides work)]

From fragrance-free to freelancers, here is an infographic of the most-popular apps for any nomadic operatives looking to maintain a better work-life balance.

With so many smartphone apps to choose from, it’s no wonder mobile video has become a cornerstone to marketing success, with Dr Pepper, Visa, and Lay’s having already incorporated it into their respective campaigns.

But not everyone is aboard with the escalating mobile trend. In fact, some are appalled by our obsession with our phones. Perhaps that’s what caused Eva Restaurant in Los Angeles to offer diners a 5 percent discount on their bills if they ditch their digital devices before being seated.

Still, like any Apple product hoarder, I’d find it difficult to part from my current iPhone until, perhaps, the launch of the highly anticipated 5 rolls out. For a sneak peak, check out this “leaked official iPhone 5” video, courtesy of Adam Sacks.



Someone else leaked to The Wall Street Journal that a pair of Nike’s new LeBron James sneakers would cost $315. However, a spokesman for the brand called the reports “inaccurate,” adding that the “Lebron X will be launched in the fall at a suggested retail price of $180.”

Inaccuracy is what some of you coffee drinkers might be going for, or so Starbucks Russia would like to think. With the help of agency BBDO Moscow, the chain handed out postcards that could be converted into Starbucks coffee sleeves—in rival independent coffee shops, no less. The idea: Every coffee should be a Starbucks, even when it’s not.



[Related: Newspaper delivers headlines to your coffee sleeve]

Sports teams, like coffee, aren’t equal. At least that was the belief at an Oklahoma City kindergarten classroom where a pupil was forced to turn his University of Michigan t-shirt inside-out because it violated a city ban on apparel that’s not supportive of the state’s college teams.

And despites some cities’ attempts to ban foods trucks, the effort hasn’t done much to hurt the trend. As for me, I don’t always frequent food trucks, but when I do, it’s a Dos Equis Mobile Academy, a fleet of seven nationwide.

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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