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

Atari turned the big 4-0 this week—or did it? Social media users threw a virtual party for the game system, celebrating its trip over the hill by showering the brand with online birthday wishes and gifts of infographics. But every party has a pooper. In this case, “that guy” is Gawker-owned blog Kotaku, which reasoned why this week was not, in fact, Atari’s 40th anniversary.

Either way, it’s poor form to show up to any celebration empty-handed. Too bad my idea for a present—the new Google Glasses—won’t be available until next year. Plus, they’ll be outside my price range. Buying a pair will set you back a cool $1,500. They do look fun, though, and potentially a lot less creepy than Siri’s new rival.



Something that’s not fun (and possibly creepy): jury duty. There are, however, some valuable lessons to be learned from the soul-searing experience. OPEN Forum highlights five of them here.

Among musicians, it’s hard to imagine any experience this summer better than having one of your ditties selected as the official song of the Olympic Games. For London 2012, that honor goes to Muse for its tune, “Survival.”



Meanwhile, E.L. James now holds the honor of the fastest-selling paperback to reach 1 million copies for her salacious lady porn otherwise known as “Fifty Shades of Grey.” The steamy novel accomplished this feat in just 11 weeks.

The (overhyped) book’s achievement warrants something special to commemorate the occasion. Perhaps KFC’s soon-to-be equally overhyped new “Cheese Top” burger will do the trick. Too bad it’s only available in the Philippines.



I’m not sure about the availability of the new patchwork fur back pack from Michelle Tanner Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s fashion line The Row, but I do know it’s receiving a far less cordial welcoming than KFC’s burger—and not just because of it $16,900 price tag. Animal rights group PETA panned the bag and the “Trollsen Twins,” whom the organization has targeted since 2007.



There goes the idea of the Olsen’s doing any “spec work” for PETA, but as this video by Topic Simple explains, designers of the marketing world shouldn’t bother with the notion of free labor either.



In contrast, online media is an avenue that PR pros had better dive into because, as Forbes indicates, public relations has gone digital.

And on that note, #TheDailySpin wishes a pleasant Canada Day to our northerly neighbors. In honor of the holiday, I leave you with the latest spin on a Disney classic, “Beauty and the BEAT.” You’re welcome.