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

It was no surprise the hipster burnt his tongue eating pizza. He was always doing things before they were cool. Dining at Applebee’s, however … To attract this skinny-jeaned demographic, The Onion mocked up a new ad campaign for the casual dining chain to entice hipsters by drawing upon one of their widely recognized traits: fondness for irony. The faux ad asks the stocking-cap-in-the-summer wearing set to sample an Ultimate Trio or some Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp because “wouldn’t it be funny?” (via Adweek)



If you don’t get your fill there, head to the Iowa State Fair, where one food vendor has combined two of patrons’ favorite things by serving double bacon corn dogs.

If you’re looking for something to curb your chocolate cravings, Sheila Mains has you covered—and it’s all thanks to losing her job. Having been let go from an industrial advertising agency, the self-professed sweet addict turned to her passion for baking and invented brownie brittle.

It may have worked to her advantage, but other unemployed Americans may find it hard to land a job unless they seek training. Reports Bloomberg, employers have 3 million unfilled positions due to a lack of adequately skilled candidates.

Meanwhile, Newsweek may soon find itself out of print. According to Politico, the publication’s transition to online-only means its printing press could cease by the end of the year.

It’s probably for the best. Now the publication can provide readers with more digital options—options I hope will include hilarious news blooper reels like this:



Don’t believe you’re watching a blooper during the opening ceremony of the London Games when you see Mary Poppins fighting Lord Voldermort. If sources at British newspapers are true, so is what you’ll be watching.

North Korea’s Olympic delegation and women’s soccer team wished they hadn’t seen what they did on Wednesday, when on the first day of competition, organizers at the stadium accidentally displayed the flag of South Korea.

A less controversial display: Women’s fashion retailer Free People has begun integrating photos from Instagram onto its product pages.

Elsewhere, a vintage typewriter was integrated into this unique design for a computer-shelving unit. Created by graphic designer Codi Goodis and her architect father Richard Wismer, the project (“Communications Through Time”) brings together old and new technologies.

Time is all Penn State has after the NCAA dealt steep sanctions against the school in the wake of its child sex abuse scandal. In fact, Advertising Age questions whether PR can save the educational intuition and its sports programs as a brand.

The Sharpie marker brand hopes to boost its PR and marketing efforts by teaming with Chicago-based indie-pop band California Wives on a music video to air during the MTV Video Music Awards in Sept. The company is soliciting fans for artwork to be used in the final product.

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