Do you care about your Klout score? Well, if you’re all hung on “your ability to drive action”, here’s a little ditty from Megan Wintersteen, strategic planner at Blacksburg, VA-based digital shop Modea, who discusses the art of “Klout bombing.”

The credibility of a Klout score has been a controversial topic for some time now. Regardless of whether or not you believe in it, one thing is for sure – Klout has spawned one of the most spectacular Internet pranks to date: Klout Bombing.

Klout is a tool that measures the influence of a social media user across a variety of topics. Beyond Klout-assigned topics of influence, users may also award +K’s to each other as a demonstration of expertise.  A Klout Bomb occurs when the awarded topic is something sarcastic, ironic or derogatory towards that person. In other words, something he or she typically would not want to be affiliated with.

I would know because I’ve been Klout Bombed.

One of my wise-guy coworkers decided it would be funny to +K me in “Prison” on Klout (for the record, I’ve never been anywhere near a prison). After expressing my dissatisfaction, other coworkers and friends found entertainment in increasing my influence in “Prison,” and it ultimately became a running joke around the office.

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Well, it happened, everybody. The “Shit (this kind of person) Says” meme has found its way into an actual viral marketing campaign. Funny, because I always assumed the whole #Occupy hashtag thing would creep into the commercial real estate industry before this happened. A comforting thought: If this steadily growing meme wasn’t quite played out already, then maybe the commercialization of it will be the nail in the viral coffin. Of course, try telling that to the thousands of people around the country busy filming their own videos right now, titled anything from “Shit Dental Assistants Say” to “Shit Koalas Say.” (Admittedly, I did get a kick out of watching “Shit Chicagoans Say” this morning.)

“Shit Politicians Say” comes from LBi for Americans Elect 2012, an organization seeking to put a third, nonpartisan candidate on the presidential ballot in every state. To do this, Americans Elect is asking voters to cast their ballots for a nonpartisan nominee, using its website as a guide to politician’s and business professionals’ stances on controversial issues. Currently, Ron Paul leads all other candidates as the person with the “most tracked” delegate on the issues, which give his popularity with a niche group of Republican voters isn’t too surprising.

To determine if Americans Elect sounds like a reasonable (read: sane) organization, read this New York Times op-ed on the “radical center.” Credits after the jump.

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-And just like that, Verizon flips the script and scraps its $2 online bill pay fee. Wonder why. link

-Kodak is joining in on the Times Square New Year’s Eve revelry with an “interactive group photo experience.” link

-Meanwhile, if you have nothing to do on New Year’s Eve, Facebook might be here to help. link

-Kelly Clarkson‘s Ron Paul endorsement cost her some Twitter followers. link

-Report: E-commerce and digital media deals in 2011 were valued at more than $44 billion. link

-PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division will introduce Tostitos’ new “spokesman” (above), which was concocted by TBWA\Chiat\Day, during Monday’s Fiesta Bowl broadcast. link

Have a Happy New Year everyone, thanks again for reading and we’ll see you on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

-So, what were Adweek‘s “Top 10 Press Stories of 2011?” link

-Newt Gingrich blasts Mitt Romney‘s attack ads and takes at aim at Ron Paul ahead of the big showdown in Iowa. link

-IPG Mediabrands has a new president for the Asian region. link

-Kleenex comes to the aid of sniffling Facebook users (above). link

-Google+ has topped 60 million users and could reach 400 million (!) by end of 2012 according to Paul Allen. link

-Here’s your two-minute 2011 viral video summary. link

-CNet offers its five social network predictions for 2012. link

-P&G has teamed up with the brains behind mall food court staple Panda Express to launch the Tide Dry Cleaners chain. link

-Campbell Mithun CEO Steve Wehrenberg gives us three ways to find truth in advertising. link; link

-Non-profit association TVB and the Ad Council team up to remind you yet again that “buzzed driving is drunk driving” (above). link

-TM Advertising picked up the Captain D’s biz. Here’s hoping this relationship doesn’t end so, um, oddly. link

-Ron Paul launched attack ads against Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire. link

-So, who made Forbes “30 Under 30″ Media list? link

-Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning, which has an athlete roster including NBA hoopster Evan Turner and sprinter Asafa Powell, is making its entrance into the U.S. market. link

-Burger King’s fries: Still not great. link

-Former AgencyNet/Code and Theory guys John Sampogna and Eric Mayville have opened up the doors to digital shop, Wondersauce. link

-L.A.-based production company The Cortez Brothers added The Clyde Brothers and Esteban Sapir for US commercial representation.

-The largest Apple Store in the land will open in NYC’s Grand Central Station this Friday. link

-Hey, let’s introduce Toronto-based production company Township. link; link

-MEC Bravo launched a new ROI tool for the Hispanic market called Precision.

-Los Angeles-based post house Therapy added editor Scott Hanson to its roster.

-JWT and Smirnoff welcome us to “Crazy Nights” with a KISS cover (above).

-Editor Erik Carlson signed with Minneapolis-based prodco VOLT for exclusive representation.

-Once again, ZenithOptimedia (along with Group M) lowered its global ad spending forecast. link

-Is Ron Paul‘s new ad ripping of the Ford F-150 spots? link

-VFX/design/brand comms shop Gravity Digital hired Alina Braverman as director of strategy and biz dev.

-Duncan/Channon welcomes back football in a new campaign for StubHub (above). link

-Cali-based integrated agency Blitz has joined the 4A’s. link

-Speaking of the 4A’s, the organization joins the IAB in hating ICANN’s new domain purchase program. link

-Starbucks’ chief exec says that “Americans deserve better.” link

-Microsoft GM John Kahan joined the board of directors of social targeting company, 33Across. link

-Chrysler has tapped Ignite Social Media as its social AOR. Here’s hoping for no more Twitter drama. link

-Ron Paul goes on the offensive via political ads. link

-Shepard Fairey got his ass whooped in Denmark. link

-Hellohikimori promotes Game of Thrones to the French audience. link