Introducing the first presidential portrait — taken with a digital camera.

I am often in awe of the people who successfully put into words the pervading nuances that surround my world. Nothing could be more true of Jayne’s reference to: “Undivided attention is so last year.”

For those of us in the industry it is not a theory, it is fact: media-buys must to take into consideration new channels for reaching audiences. As Rob Gorrie explains, the TV + Print + Radio triad has changed to Internet + Mobile + Digital OOH.

This is exciting for us digital folks, of course. However, if at all possible, I hope we don’t dilute our universes so much so that we are just walking in and amongst marketing messages. That’s the draw-back to being so plugged in. There is already a muddied line between what is authentic and what is not - (as I type this and you read, am I real - or am I virtual?).

In any case, an interesting - and worthy - discussion to be had.

(Above: Jumbli, LocaModa’s interactive texting game in Times Square)

A hilarious take on the future…what the heck will we think of next?

It’s that time of year again…the exchanging of holiday e-cards, games, videos and digital wonders of the WinterWeb. Usually one or two of these WOM goodies rise above the fold to become this year’s must have email link. Sadly, it seems this year’s inbox has gone the way of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. (Sources say R/GA, the Rudolph of holiday treats - Tattoo Santa, Origami – chose not to spread the cheer this year. Bah humbug!).

Not to disappoint, a few of these holiday goodies are charming and sweet. Here are a few favorites. (I’m not counting Jack Morton’s which you can see here - cheers to Mas for its awesomeness!)

Search Engine Marketer, One Up Web, went the long-shoremen accents are always funny route with their North Pole Complaint Department – add someone to the naughty list!

Winsper’s build a snowperson is well-done AND includes Red Sox gear…can’t go wrong there.

Wieden + Kennedy transformed their actual office space into a card-making wonderment…complete with website pick-up.

Tourism Marketing agency Turkel recycles holiday cards – from actual people and holidays throughout the year (this reminds me of the time my Mom gave my sister a Christmas card for her birthday…only in reverse).

Pixel Farm’s holiday arcade makes for some good time-kill.

And finally, I’m giving the golden star to Always Thinking, whose Glad Men, a parody of Mad Men, is clever, fun and definitely makes you want to toast the new year!

By now you’ve read or heard about www.change.gov - the President-elect’s effort at continued involvement in government and a level of transparency we haven’t seen in…well eight long years. It’s an exciting testament to Obama’s embrace of technology and the possibility at true citizen participation.

This new ushering is now also reflected in the Army’s announcement that it’s new site will have a series of webcasts called “Straight from Iraq.” Now users will hear directly from the troops what it’s like to be in battle. Marketing Vox reports that this will be the first time the Army has opened up itself to what  is tantamount to an interview of overseas troops.

It was excellent to receive so many Tweets from people in line to vote this morning! How amazing that it took many of us nearly an hour to do so.

In that vein, Ev sent me this link to an online voting tool kit, including apps for video, tweeting, finding polling locations and learning more about the issues. Now that elections are becoming an even more immersive experience, is it any wonder that voting would follow suit? Fantastic.

“I think we need some kind of client holiday like Festivus where we can tell them how much they disappoint us during the year.”

Just got this in from TED.

Definitely worth the 3 minutes!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V-2qQS3NY0]
Jayne at LocaModa turned me onto this - LOVE it. For me, it’s like Orwell Mac. It’s especially prevalent as we begin discussions at JM for how we reach our audiences. (And ironic as our morning MadMen TVClub has been in high gear this week).

I was struck last week at how pervasive the 08 election has become. No matter which party you are affiliated with - or which candidate you are supporting - it is impossible not to appreciate the enormity of 4 November. But I can’t recall a time when an election has actually become an experience. On any given day, I receive at least two (if not half a dozen) emails with links to some hybrid of election and pop culture.

This morning were references to Dancing with the Stars, the McCain v. Obama Dance Off, and a customizable video encouraging everyone to vote. There’s the constant reference to Tina Fey and Sarah Palin on SNL, Obama is the #1 followed person on Twitter, elaborate Flash sites pop up, and I regularly get links to various articles and podcasts - from NPR to Rollingstone, all pondering the election. Some make fun of the candidates, others dissect the issues.

In any case, this election marks the beginning of a new type of campaign: one based on both impressions and expressions. That is to say, the more activated we are by a piece of media (impression) the more likely we are to send it on, blog about it, or reply to it (expression).

Elections, for any branch of government, rely heavily on word of mouth. This time around, with the proliferation of touch points - and the simplicity of “forward” - word of mouth is an even more powerful and a far-reaching animal. We’ve reached a type of saturation never known. And for the first time it’s measurable.

It will be interesting to see not only what this means for the upcoming election, but also the future of government and community participation.