With the ever unfolding of the interactive marketplace, there are multiple trends developing on multiple platforms, presenting interactive marketers a landscape that daily becomes exponentially more complex. It used to be easy. When creating an interactive project, you picked a platform (Mac, PC or both), you picked a common 256 color palette that would display all of your art correctly, you set your audio to 16bit 22k, and you made it all fit on a CD-ROM. Now you have to pick desktop, web or mobile, then make it cross-browser and test on multiple configurations. And that's just the technical considerations.

We here at Louisville's Leading Interactive Agency incorporate mobile development in our media strategies, from texting campaigns to creating apps that run on the mobile platform. The question is, though, how to decide which platform to develop for? iPhone, Android devices or the Blackberry? If only there were some way to take one piece of code, and deliver it to all three platforms in a neat package.

It turns out, there is: PhoneGap. PhoneGap is "a device independent framework for web applications", according to the site. What it does is allow you to port a web based application to the iPhone, Blackberry and Android device, giving you a quick start guide in their wiki pages (except for the Blackberry; the documentation on that is yet to come). I have a timecode calculator that I wrote in javascript a few years ago, that I have half a mind to convert over to an iPhone app. I will post the results later.

The 5S system basically asks that you keep your desk completely clutter-free. No stacks of papers, no photos of the kids, no Halloween decorations, not even a sweater hanging on the back of your chair.

I cracked up at the thought of implementing this “system” in our agency. First of all, many of our folks have been here for over 5 years so they tend to accumulate a lot of “what knots” and personalize their works spaces.  For example, Dennis would have a terrible time eliminating his menagerie of trinkets. Where would he put the Carmen Miranda hat? Or his Foam Finger? Or the super-hip dinosaur sipping a cold one?

Or there’s Donovan, whose hobby is photography. Just look at the assortment of beautiful pictures he has of his family. Yep, I can only imagine the response I would get if I told him those shelves could not contain any personal items.

And then there’s Kati, who has been here the longest of the three, and well, the picture tells you just how much she loves having photos of her family and knick knacks all around her.

I suppose 5S works in manufacturing work environments, where space might be at a premium or these little things could become hazards. Or in those offices where people move around with their laptops and no space is really “theirs” to claim. But in our agency we want our folks to feel at home while they’re here at work. Special moments caught on film, company bowling trophies, shot props from projects they have worked on, bobble heads, foam rockets, action figures (as Jim prefers to call them), autographs and icons are all clues about who they are and where they have been.

In our shop we call it 6C: Creative, Cute, Custom, Crazy, Cluttered Cribs

During my second interview with CurrentMarketing, there was this sort of " work hard to play really hard" vibe going on that I instantly connected with. In fact, as I left the interview and got back into my (very reliable) Honda Accord, I felt this indescribable feeling—I had met my perfect match! Thankfully, the CM team agreed and I scored the job as our Media Assistant!

My freshman year of college I joined a sorority (secret handshakes and all), in hopes to meet new people and gain that “sense of self” in the midst of initiation rituals, tailgates, and 8am lecture groups. I ended up making best friends, learning stuff, and having the time of my life all while earning my degree. Pretty sweet. I anticipate my future at CM to be of similar formation.

Take for instance, lunchtime on my first day. We all gather around the table; I pull my turkey and cheese sandwich out and start chomping in hopes to avoid any awkward silence. In this moment, Katy Miller (my boss) picks up a magazine featuring Patrick Swayze’s new A&E Series, “The Beast”. We have a good laugh and this sparks a conversation regarding my undying love for the blockbuster hit, “Point Break” featuring the dirty dancer himself, Gary Busey and heartthrob Keanu Reeves. In my opinion this 90’s flick is the perfect mix of comedy, drama (Busey bites it and I shed a tear every time), and action. My selection is accompanied by chuckling, but it also initiates a good twenty-minutes of down right fun. We are naming favorite movies, worst movies, zombie thrillers…and we are laughing. The casual atmosphere inspires me to admit that I actually own “Point Break” on DVD. Lesson #1 at CM: Some things are better left unsaid…or on the clearance shelves at Wal-Mart.

At any rate, I am thrilled to be here and grateful to everyone for making me feel so welcome! I’m ready to dive into all things Media and I’m super stoked about the two ladies I’ll be learning from. Thanks for taking a chance on a kid, CM. I won’t let you down!

...but, I don't care. Socialmention.com is totally and ridiculously cool. I am monitoring online chatter, of ANY sort, about our clients' brands. Blogs, Microblogs, Bookmarks, Images, Video...you name it, socialmention tracks it for me.

Combined with my new TweetDeck (thank you, Bouv), I feel like a virtual steel trap - nothing is getting past me!

Tuesday was Veterans' Day;  remembrance of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month that marked the Armistice ending World War I and every war since.  I forgot to mention it to veterans I know and care about.  My sister, Judy Hulbert, an operating room nurse in Vietnam (think M*A*S*H, without all the funny parts).  Jim Lindsey, who attends regular reunions with his Army buddies but I've never heard talk about it.   Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient, Bob Manning; retired from the video production business. He founded and now devotes his time to USAcares.org. My nephew, Ryan Voelker, graduated college and promptly entered the Army as an enlisted man, only weeks before September 11, 2001.  And, of course, CurrentMarketing's favorite veteran-to-be, Air Force Academy Cadet Spencer Schardein.

I truly respect, appreciate and admire these and all veterans; their service and sacrifice.  If you know a vet, and didn't recognize them on Veterans Day, it's never too late.  Even if you disagreed with the wars they endured, they endured them for you.

Thank them.

This blog was inspired by a story in yesterday's Courier-Journal (yes, I still read the hard copy) about my friend Doug Julius' father .  Like so many vets -- especially those of the Greatest Generation -- Bill Julius was quiet about his  war experience.  It reminded me of a closing line from HBO's mini-series "Band of Brothers" when Dick Winters remembers his grandson asking if he was a war hero (which he was).  I can't watch that clip without choking up at least a little bit.

So, to all the heros, and those who served with them:  Thank you.

Is this a great country or what?  We get a choice -- right or wrong -- in who we select to lead us.  Wait.  If you're reading this on Tuesday and you haven't voted yet, STOP RIGHT NOW.  Go vote.  I'll wait....

(insert Jeopardy music here)

OK, thanks.  Glad to have you back.  Now, where was I?  Oh, yeah...choosing who leads us.  Our local lawmakers, judges, and national offices including federal lawmakers (ever wonder if we're making too many laws?) and the position often called Leader of the Free World.

No, the U.S. isn't the only country that chooses its leaders through elections.  But I defy anyone to show me another that has done it as long and as fervently as we have.  (I could go on a tangent here about the men and women who fought and died to preserve this freedom over the past two hundred and thirty something years, but you know all about that.  If you don't, email me and I'll give you a quick history lesson.)

When I left my house at 5:55 this morning to walk to my polling place, I was overcome with emotion.  Really.  That I have the honor and privilege to choose the Leader of the Free World is pretty heady stuff when you get right down to it.  I'm not saying all my choices will prove to be the correct choices once I have the benefit of hindsight.  And I'm not sure all my choices will be winners.  I'm just saying that they are MY CHOICES.

God, I love this Country!