“Last spring Sam Fiorella was recruited for a VP position at a large Toronto marketing agency. With 15 years of experience consulting for major brands like AOL, Ford, and Kraft, Fiorella felt confident in his qualifications. But midway through the interview, he was caught off guard when his interviewer asked him for his Klout score. Fiorella hesitated awkwardly before confessing that he had no idea what a Klout score was.

Partly intrigued, partly scared, Fiorella spent the next six months working feverishly to boost his Klout score, eventually hitting 72. As his score rose, so did the number of job offers and speaking invitations he received. “Fifteen years of accomplishments weren’t as important as that score,” he says.

But even if you have no idea what your Klout score is, there’s a chance that it’s already affecting your life …”

Read the entire story “What Your Klout Score Really Means” by Seth Stevesnon here.

A 17-ton section of RMS Titanic recovered from the ocean floor , along with the 5,000 other artifacts, will be auctioned .

(from the LA Times) – A century after the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank to the floor of the Atlantic, more than 5,000 artifacts plucked from the wreckage will be sold at auction, but bidders beware: The collection has been appraised at $189 million and must be sold in one chunk.

That means if you have your eye on only the delicate diamond bracelet, or the 17-ton slab of hull from the doomed passenger ship, you’re out of luck, auctioneer Arlan Ettinger of Guernsey’s Auction House in Manhattan said Thursday as he announced plans for the sale. It will be held April 11 to coincide with the Titanic’s maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City.

Read the entire LA Times story here.

Edmund Stone's master key to Titanic's First Class Suites (on display at Titanic Museum Attraction).

If you want to see actual Titanic artifacts for slightly less than $189 million (more like $22), visit the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge.  You’ll see more than 400 actual artifacts while you walk through a full-size, 100-percent recreation of various parts of the world’s most famous luxury liner.  Walk the Grand Staircase, tour first class suites, walk third-class hallways and rooms, and see the Captain’s Bridge (all built from actual Titanic blueprints so they are identical to what the passengers on RMS Titanic experienced).

The Wilderness at the Smokies water park and 1,000-room hotel complex in Sevierville has had hundreds of phone calls about availability over the Labor Day weekend because of the hurricane disruption.

“Reservations (department) rang nonstop from people changing plans or trying to,” said Rick Laney, spokesman for the attraction. The venue is booked up for the three-day holiday.

Last Friday, the site booked about 225 rooms from insurance adjusters looking for a central location to depart after the hurricane was over.

Laney, who represents many businesses throughout the Smokies area, said the situation resulting from Hurricane Irene reminded some about what happened “after the oil spill hit the Gulf Coast last year. The Smokies area got some visitors who normally would have gone to the beach.”

“We never like to capitalize on someone else’s misfortune – but it did give us a boost,” he said.

Read the entire Bloomberg Businessweek story by Joe Edwards here.

Cedar Bay Entertainment in Branson, Mo., has raised not one but two half-scale replicas of the Titanic. The first has drawn 3 million visitors since it opened in Branson in 2006. The second opened last year in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and draws 100,000 visitors per month. Both are landlocked, but the owners have thought of everything.

“What we have done with both of the ships is we created a pool of water with concrete,” spokesman Rick Laney says. “Under the water at the bow of the ship, two jet engines force the water up. It looks like the Titanic is actually moving forward.”

The interior of the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge features full-size re-creations of portions of the original ship, including the grand staircase and a first-class suite, dining room and third-class cabin. They were constructed using the original blueprints, Laney says.

Read the complete story by William Loeffler at “Replicas give access to iconic sites closer to home.”

In the advertisements, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy always seem to be nearby and eager to pose for a picture, but sometimes families have a different experience.

Hoping to bring reality closer to the fantasy, Disney Parks has launched Mobile Magic, an app to enhance visitors’ experience with a GPS-tracking system.

The app helps find the locations of Disney characters, checks wait times for popular rides, finds a restaurant or the best shop to buy a souvenir and can track down your car in the parking lot after a long day.

“There are so many people who go to Disney time after time, and this a is very user friendly and practical app that everyone can use to make your trip more enjoyable,” said Rick Laney, a spokesman for Cellular Sales Verizon Wireless.

The app allows users to play interactive trivia games with other people in the park, sets reminders when a show is about to begin, gives the local weather and helps to reserve a table in a restaurant.

The free app is the only official app for Disney Parks and is compatible with most smart phones.  View the official Disney app here.

Reporting by Paula Rogo

Couples wishing to enter the contest must complete an online form (www.TitanicAttraction.com) and submit a video introducing themselves, telling about their relationship, and explaining why they should win the “Royal Wedding.”  Once videos are submitted, three finalists will be selected and the public will be able to vote online beginning in December for their favorite couple after watching the videos.  One couple will win the Titanic Royal Wedding in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and another couple will win a Titanic Royal Wedding in Branson, Mo.  Online voters will also select the bride’s gown, the wedding cake and the flowers for each of the weddings.  Winners will be announced on January 16, 2012.

The Titanic Museum Attraction and Star 102.1 FM’s Royal Wedding Contest is just one more special way the museum is honoring the 100 Year Anniversary of Titanic’s maiden voyage. It has been 99 years since a lookout in the crow’s nest shouted, “Iceberg right ahead!”  For the twelve months leading up to April 15, 2012, when it will have been a century since the RMS Titanic was lost, Titanic Museum Attractions will pay respect to and honor those 2,208 passengers and crew members with an ongoing series of special events, activities and ceremonies.

As the whole world remembers the world’s most famous luxury liner, Titanic Museum Attractions will continue to open the door to the past in it’s one-of-a-kind way – letting “passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by more than 400 artifacts directly from the ship and its passengers.  As visitors touch a real iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase and third class hallways, reach their hands into 28-degree water, and try to stand on the sloping decks, they learn what it was like on the RMS Titanic by experiencing it first-hand.

Each and every day, Titanic Museum Attractions provides a gateway to 1912, where First Class Maids and a variety of Officers and crew members bring the stories of the fabled ship and its fascinating passengers to life by retelling their stories in vivid, dramatic detail.  The priceless artifacts throughout the museum shed additional light on the lives of those passengers and crew members when guests see the actual belongings of those on board and artifacts that sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. opens daily at 9 a.m.  Reservations are strongly suggested (many days sell out entirely). Or, passengers may purchase tickets online at www.TitanicAttraction.com or by phone at 800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Mo.  Titanic Tennessee, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, TN.  Both are privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development companies.  Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Mo., the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction.  Titanic Tennessee, LLC is headquartered in Pigeon Forge, TN.   Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 3 million guests, and Titanic Pigeon Forge boards approximately 100,000 “passengers” each month.

Sevierville, Tenn.

The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce has launched The Great Girlfriend’s Getaway Search, an opportunity to nominate an inspiring woman for a chance to win a Girlfriend’s Getaway to Sevierville, Tenn. (in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains) and a starring role in Sevierville’s new national Girlfriend’s Getaway advertising campaign.

The winner will share her Sevierville Girlfriend’s Getaway experience with three of her closest gal-pals from September 25-October 1, 2011 and be featured in the city’s 2012 advertising campaign.

“A Sevierville Girlfriend’s Getaway can be a high-end outlet shopping trip, a confidence boosting outdoor adventure, a golf excursion with the ladies, and so much more,” says Sevierville Chamber of Commerce marketing director Amanda Marr. “Our destination offers a tremendous variety of activities so your getaway can be whatever you love to do. We want to focus on that while also reminding women that it’s important to make time for themselves guilt-free.”

To nominate an amazing woman in your life, go to www.OfficialGirlfriendsGetaway.com.  Nominations may be submitted from now until August 15, 2011.

Sevierville is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is Dolly Parton’s hometown and is The Official Destination for Girlfriend’s Getaways™.

Jenny & Ashley

Not only will the video shoot be free and open to our guests and some members of the general public, but everyone who shows up for the video shoot will also receive a pass to come back and spend an entire day for FREE at Wilderness at the Smokies resort.  Although the resort has been open for three years, it has never been open to the general public (only resort guests can use the waterparks at Wilderness at the Smokies). During the concert, a limited number of outside guests will be permitted to watch the concert and participate in the shoot.

The concert / video shoot begins at 8 p.m. ET and those who wish to be in the video are asked to be at the resort by 7 p.m.  Special parking will be provided at Wilderness at the Smokies and those who wish to participate in the music video shoot will be directed once they arrive.

To get a free pass to participate in this event, you will need to make a donation to Soles4Souls, a charity group that gives shoes to those in need.  We will know in coming days where people can drop off new or gently used shoes in exchange for passes to the Jenny & Ashley concert event at Wilderness at the Smokies.  Please note that ONLY those who have obtained passes to this concert by donating shoes to Soles4Souls will be allowed to attend.

Jenny and Ashley’s complete touring band will be joining them at Wilderness at the Smokies and a production team and director are coming in to manage the music video shoot.  Rick Laney, vice president of Knoxville’s Ackermann PR who has also worked with National Geographic Television, MTV Productions, Travel Channel, and has produced live concert DVDs in the past, is serving as a production consultant to the project.

Those who come to the video shoot are asked to bring their swimsuits.  Although some people will be directed to be in the water during the video shoot, not everyone will be and many of our attractions (waterslides, Surf Rider, etc.) may be closed.  You may be asked to follow the direction and instructions of the production crew while the video is being shot.  After the shoot, Wilderness at the Smokies will show our appreciation for your involvement in this production by giving everyone in attendance a FREE wristband good for one entire day – from open to close – at our waterpark resort (to be used any time in the next two months).

Jenny (15) and Ashley (14) are originally from Wisconsin, but moved to Pleasanton, Calif. when they were in elementary school.  The sisters discovered their talents early while performing in a number of theatre productions and quickly made the move to acting and modeling. Jenny appeared as a model and cover girl for Kohl’s television and print advertising and also started acting.  Ashley quickly caught the bug too, and modeled for both Levi’s and Kohl’s in television and print advertising. They followed their dreams to Los Angeles, where Jenny and Ashley picked up work with Disney, Nickelodeon and Fox Television.

Quickly realizing their love and passion for music the girls switched gears and headed to Nashville to pursue music.  Jenny & Ashley caught the eye of some very important players in Nashville and soon found themselves in studio recording their first EP.  The EP, “Songs About You,” has songs the girls wrote as well as great songs from famous Nashville writers.  Darran Smith, Tim McGraw’s co-producer and lead guitarist, produced the entire product and Tim’s band, The Dance Hall Doctors, tracked every instrument you hear.  “Songs About You,” available now on iTunes, is an upbeat pop/country album which includes “Indescribable” co-written by Ashley and received national radio airplay.

Stay tuned to find out how YOU can join us for a FREE evening of music and fun while Jenny and Ashley shoot their music video on July 16 at 8 p.m.  We will also be announcing the drop-off location where you can donate shoes in exchange for passes to the concert.  Jenny and Ashley will stick around after the concert to meet our guests.  As our way of thanking you for helping with this video production, we want you to then bring your free passes and come back to Wilderness at the Smokies and enjoy all three of our waterparks for the entire day.  Visit www.AckermannWire.com regularly for all updates and more details as they are available.

To commemorate Titanic’s Irish heritage, Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and Branson, Mo. will give away six 11-day trips for two to Belfast. The 12 winners of the “Back to Titanic 100th Year ‘Tour Ireland’ Sweepstakes” will cruise to Belfast where they will visit the birthplace of the world’s best-known, most luxurious ocean liner. Complete sweepstakes details can be found at www.TitanicAttraction.com.

It has been 99 years since a lookout in the crow’s nest shouted, “Iceberg right ahead!” For the twelve months leading up to April 15, 2012, when it will have been a century since the RMS Titanic was lost, Titanic Museum Attractions will pay respect to and honor those 2,208 passengers and crew members with an ongoing series of special events, activities and ceremonies.

As the whole world remembers the world’s most famous luxury liner, Titanic Museum Attractions will continue to open the door to the past in it’s one-of-a-kind way – letting “passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by more than 400 artifacts directly from the ship and its passengers. As visitors touch a real iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase and third class hallways, reach their hands into 28-degree water, and try to stand on the sloping decks, they learn what it was like on the RMS Titanic by experiencing it first-hand.

Each and every day, Titanic Museum Attractions provides a gateway to 1912, where First Class Maids and a variety of Officers and crew members bring the stories of the fabled ship and its fascinating passengers to life by retelling their stories in vivid, dramatic detail. The priceless artifacts throughout the museum shed additional light on the lives of those passengers and crew members when guests see the actual belongings of those on board and artifacts that sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage.

With special Titanic events taking place around the world during 2011 and 2012, Titanic Museum Attractions will be the epicenter of remembrance for RMS Titanic’s passengers and crew. And, as the museum has demonstrated since its opening, the experience for guests will leave them amazed. The Titanic Museum Attractions will honor and respect the brave souls of the Titanic with the following events:

• To pay tribute to the birthplace of the RMS Titanic in Ireland, Titanic Museum Attractions will give away a total of six 11-day trips for two to Belfast, Ireland (where Titanic was built) at its Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and Branson, Mo. locations. The “Back to Titanic 100th Year ‘Tour Ireland’ Sweepstakes” begins June 13, 2011. All details are available online at www.TitanicAttraction.com and contestants can enter daily online. Winners will be announced Feb. 14, 2012.

• Beginning in July, Titanic Museum Attractions will allow every single guest who visits the museum to personally become involved in its special tribute to the passengers and crew by depositing a single rose petal into a container in the Memorial Gallery. On April 15, 2012 – exactly 100 years after the RMS Titanic was lost – each of the rose petals will be carefully laid onto the surface of the Atlantic Ocean directly where the Titanic sank.

• Beginning Aug. 1, 2011, couples will have the opportunity to have their wedding on the spectacular $1 million Grand Staircase of the Titanic. Future brides can enter to win their own “Royal Wedding” in April 2012. Titanic Museum Attractions will pay homage to the 12 honeymooning couples on board the RMS Titanic with its “Royal Wedding” contest. Online voting will select a winning couple to be married on the Grand Staircase.

• Many descendants of Titanic passengers and crew members will travel from all around the world to appear at Titanic Museum Attractions throughout 2011 and 2012, including descendants of Second Officer Charles Lightoller, the most senior crew member to survive the Titanic. Lightoller, whose family now lives in Ireland and Scotland, got away from the sinking ship in a collapsible life raft and was one of only four officers to survive.

• With the re-release of James Cameron’s blockbuster “Titanic” movie in 3D on Friday, April 6, 2012, Titanic Museum Attractions will open a new gallery (at both the Pigeon Forge and Branson locations) featuring props and costumes on loan from collectors around the world in advance of the movie re-release.

• A number of television shows and documentaries to air during the coming year are currently in production featuring the RMS Titanic and Titanic Museum Attractions. ABC Television has commissioned a four-part miniseries and John Joslyn, owner of Titanic Museum Attractions, will re-release his Titanic television documentaries.

• On April 14 and 15, 2012, a two-day tribute ceremony will take place at Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge and Branson. The solemn ceremony will culminate with a candlelight service and the lighting of an eternal flame which will burn all year to remind every visitor to the museum of the 2,208 brave souls who were onboard the RMS Titanic.

More details about all of these spectacular commemorative events will be released in coming months.

The Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and Branson, Mo. open daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are strongly suggested (many days sell out entirely). Or, passengers may purchase tickets online at www.TitanicAttraction.com or by phone at 800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Mo. Titanic Tennessee, LLC owns and operates the Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, TN. Both are privately owned-and-operated entertainment and development companies. Cedar Bay is headquartered in Branson, Mo., the site of its first Titanic Museum Attraction. Titanic Tennessee, LLC is headquartered in Pigeon Forge, TN. Titanic Branson has welcomed more than 3 million guests, and Titanic Pigeon Forge boards approximately 100,000 “passengers” each month.