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

Just last evening, during yet another stirring game of hide-and-seek in which I sought the punt (bottom of a wine bottle), I realized the creators of “Sesame Street” callously left Bert without his glabella (space between one’s eyebrows). My ephemeral outrage subsided, however, after discovering that the kid from “Can’t Buy Me Love” came to invent the zarf (coffee cup sleeve). Something tells me I may have gotten that last part slightly wrong—I had obviously found the punt by then.

The point it, you shouldn’t be alarmed if any of these words leave you asking, “What the #%$*.” (That, by the way, was a “graxlix:” typographical symbols used to represent profane words). BuzzFeed educates us with this video about the common items we see every day, but didn’t know had names:

RELATED: 10 items known by their brand names

Conversely, people have become all too familiar with the word “literally.” If only they were as familiar with its actual meaning. In fact, andPOP reports that these improper definitions—many of which were hatched online—are finding their ways into the dictionary, and even Google.

RELATED: Are you misusing the word ‘literary’?

Speaking of Google, the company launched a website called “How Search Works” featuring a useful section labeled “Fighting Spam,” which streams real examples of “pure spam” that it has identified and removed from search results. According to Search Engine Watch, the new site will help give marketers a feel for what not to do when creating web pages and websites for their clients.

RELATED: SEO for PR: Boost exposure to your owned media through search tactics

In general, you should also not leave a mere $10 tip on a food order costing $1,453.95. Reports The Huffington Post, that’s exactly what one delivery guy encountered after transporting 85 pizzas to a single address. Instead of peeing on the cheapskate’s stoop, however, a photo of the receipt showing the employee’s less than 1 percent tip was shared on Reddit.

RELATED: Applebee’s CEO weighs in on PR crisis over receipt

While a poor tip can certainly feel like highway robbery, a Dunkin’ Donuts worker was almost robbed for real. Luckily, the female worker on duty was able to thwart the crime using hot coffee she had just prepared for the thief. But it gets better. Consumerist explains that as the lowlife escaped, the staffer says she told him to “Go run on Dunkin’.” Employee. Of. The. Month.



Dunkin’ rival Starbucks is also grabbing headlines with the rollout of its newest espresso. ABC News reports that the coffee company added a hazelnut macchiato to its lineup. But how’s it taste? Zagat gives its review.

RELATED: Starbucks introduces its most expensive coffee yet

Meanwhile, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz earned his very own comic book. Titled “Howard Schultz: The Man Behind Starbucks,” PRNewser tells us that the graphic novel published by Bluewater Productions recounts how Schultz essentially came to shake up the business world.

I’m not sure whether Schultz or any comic book heroes were included, but GalleyCat reports the hashtag #FictionalCharactersIWantToMarry became the No. 1 worldwide trending topic earlier this week.

Along the same line, No Wasted Ink offers other literary hashtags that should come in handy for authors and writers.

Having proven its handiness for home furnishings, IKEA hopes to do the same for the hospitality industry. The Chicago Tribune reports that the Swedish retailer is joining forces with Marriott to launch a European chain of stylish, budget hotels.

I’d say this calls for cake, but IKEA might not be in the mood. Reports The Local, health authorities in China recently discovered fecal bacterial in a shipment of IKEA’s chocolate cakes imported from Sweden.

RELATED: Wary public digests scandals over horsemeat, seafood mislabeling

Perhaps cookies would be a safer dessert, although there’s got to be a better way than the Ferris-wheel-style Oreo separator designed by these two Dentaku conceptual artists: (via Adweek)



Ill-conceived design had nothing to do with a controversy facing Spanish fashion brand Mango. According to Business Insider, the retailer landed in hot water for advertising a line of “slave style” necklaces on its French e-commerce site. The company blamed the issue on a translation error.

RELATED: Adidas apologizes, pulls shackles shoes deemed racist

Perhaps it would serve Mango’s best interest if it looked to the stylish example set by Barbie in the future. Mattel is sure making this idea easy enough with its introduction of “digital dress” Barbie, equipped with LED and touch-screen technology: (via DesignTAXI)



But if you prefer to reflect on your nostalgic years rather than those ahead, maybe you’ll get a kick out of watching this Broadway-esque video that Creativity unearthed. Part of the 1982 in-house promo for Ogilvy & Mather is set to the tune of “Fame”:



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