SEX, BOMBS & BURGERS

Advertising Age reports that Subway is on the verge of surpassing McDonald's as the world's biggest fast-food chain, at least as far as number of restaurants is concerned. Subway is expecting to have 31,800 locations open as of this week, about 500 shy of McDonald's 32,158.

In terms of how much money the chains earn, though, McDonald's has little reason to sweat. The average U.S. McDonald's made $2.3 million in sales last year, compared to a relatively minuscule $445,000 for the average Subway. All told, Subway - which is owned by Connecticut-based Doctor's Associates Inc. - is only making about half as much as McDonald's.

Market share-wise, as the pie chart at right illustrates, McDonald's is also still king, nearly doubling Subway. Yum Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is running a close third to Subway.