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

At many offices, the recession was the proverbial Grinch who stole Christmas fun, but 2012 might be the year our economy’s heart grows just enough to return that holiday cheer. An annual survey by Challenger, Grey & Christmas of approximately 100 HR professionals found that 83 percent of companies are planning holiday parties this year, up from 68 percent in 2011. Most respondents said they’ll spend as much on their office festivities as they did last year.

Conversely, a survey by OfficeTeam of 1,014 senior managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees found that more than half (52 percent) of employers are not holding a holiday celebration. Bah, humbug!

If your company is throwing a seasonal soirée, steer clear of that kiss under the mistletoe. Unless, of course, you’re looking for a relationship with a fellow colleague. According to a poll from Lovehoney, an online British sex toy retailer, that Christmas canoodling turns into dating for one-fifth of office partygoers.

And if you’d rather withdraw from the commercialism of December altogether, mental_floss shares 17 offbeat holidays and anniversaries you might be more incline to celebrate this month.

Still, the holidays are the pinnacle of consumerism. With it comes the endless list of gifts to buy the people in your life. To help you out, The San Francisco Egotist offers its top picks in its 3rd annual gift guide.

Just watch what you pick out for little Tommy and Sally. According to BuzzFeed, the toy industry remains stuck in the blue and pink Stone Age of sexist marketing.

RELATED: U.K. brand slapped for its sexist holiday marketing

Then again, if people don’t genuinely like what you get them, they might re-gift it. A survey by CreditDonkey.com divulged that 35 percent of respondents admit to the taboo practice, and 83 percent wouldn’t mind receiving a re-gifted present. Meanwhile, CouponCabin found that only one in 10 perpetrators are ever called out.

General Mills has certainly been called out over its recent Cheerios promotion. PRNewser reports that the brand—in an effort to gain consumer loyalty through social media—created a Facebook app that asked users to share “what Cheerios means to me.” Their answers then displayed in the cereal’s trademark font. Things went awry when opponents of General Mills’ stance on genetically modified foods hijacked the app, using it instead to write things such as “poison” and “deception.” Cheerios killed the app after merely a day.

RELATED: Conservative group hijacks White House fiscal cliff hashtag

Of course, nothing goes better with cereal than more cereal ice cold milk—that is, if you can find any. “Milking” has apparently become the dumbest newest meme to hit the Internet. Reportedly having originated in England, the act involves merely standing in a public space and pouring a bottle of milk over one’s own head.

RELATED: What is ‘planking’—and how long will this Internet fad last?

I’ll continue to pray that “milking” videos don’t somehow crack this list in 2013. As for now, iMedia Connection contends that this year’s 10 most-watched video campaigns remain safe from such odd behavior.

RELATED: 4 media relations tips from YouTube’s most popular video ever

Meanwhile, Adweek editors and staff writers issued their own “Hot List” of 2012’s best in print, television, and digital media.

The hottest topic in digital media on Monday, however, was news of William and Kate expecting their first child. The Independent collected the best tweets about #royalbaby.

As for royalty of another kind, Burger King is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Whopper by offering the sandwich for $0.55 (if you buy one at the regular price). The promotion runs Dec. 6-9.

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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