Aaron Blomberg and the NST Sony Electronics Team – Price Arnett, Rebecca Howe, Katie Rowland and Krystin Williamson.

At NST, our jobs never stop. We’re accessible to our clients whenever they need us, and often that is after hours.  Web developer Aaron Blomberg recently showed he’s on call to make things happen when I sent him an e-mail during the holiday break when our office was closed asking for a website update to be made live. I didn’t know it at the time, but Aaron was traveling that day. While I specified the change wasn’t urgent, he still made the change later that evening. Well, technically, it was the next day since the update was made at 2:58 a.m. when he arrived home from out of town.

Our Sony Electronics team also did some work in the wee morning hours last week when they came to the office at 1:30 a.m. to monitor media coverage for the Consumer Electronics Show. The team tracked coverage from traditional media (newspapers, television, radio) and social media (blogs, Twitter, Facebook), and had recap reports to the client by 7 a.m. each day of the show – just about the time most people were starting their work days.

For 24-hour accessibility and always being ready to help NST and its clients day or night, the Tiki goes to Aaron, Price, Becky, Katie and Krystin.

At our weekly staff meeting on Monday mornings, the NST Tiki Token is given to a staff member who has done an extraordinary job the week prior or who may need a little extra support in the coming week. The Tiki Token winner from the week prior designates the new recipient of the token.

From optical illusion to Badger brand equity, in case you missed it, here’s a sampling of information shared this week by the gang at NST:

The next frontier in social media?  The booming Hispanic market. (Michelle Livermore)

An onslaught of digital technologies has laid waste to traditional media. The new year will bring a clearer picture of what will emerge from the rubble. (Greg Kershaw)

What’s worse?  Missing a curveball because of athletic ability or lack thereof or whiffing because your own brain fooled you? (Aaron Blomberg)

More people talk about the University of Wisconsin online than any other college or university.  We at NST think that’s mostly due to Natalie Haack, an avid Badger fan who watched her team fall to the Horned Frogs of TCU in the Rose Bowl.  We expect Natalie to personally boost SDSU’s online buzz.  She has dual allegiances, and if the two teams meet in any sport, plan for a bandwidth meltdown.

So a 20-something added a new twist to “the dog ate my homework.” She’s blaming Steve Jobs’ iPhone for not waking her up in time for work.  Maybe the Apple chief should send her a pocket-size mirror for her next blame game. (Yours truly)

Here’s a look at the best Facebook page strategies: http://bit.ly/fhYdZg. (Natalie Haack)

If you haven’t heard of Ted Williams, the man with the golden voice, you live in a cave. He’s been hired by Kraft and was reunited with his mom.  It’s only January.  Wonder what will top this buzz in 2011? (Mary Correia-Moreno)

Friday Fodder

‘Twas almost the day before Christmas, and rather than weekly posts and tweets, the NST elves are sharing favorite holiday treats:

Price Arnett: LOVE Bill Murray in “Scrooged,” an impeccable mid-80s remake of the Dicken’s classic. Another favorite from this week, courtesy of Dustin Smith at Davis Elen Advertising: SNL’s Lost Ending of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Dana Carvey is epic as George Bailey.

Tanya Johnson: We love going to Viejas to see the Legend of the Ice Princess.  The nightly show is based loosely on American Indian mythology. It’s the story of Crystal, a young fairy princess whose magical powers bring winter to the holiday season. It’s a short holiday show that makes you feel good when you leave.  We also love to go ice skating out there.

Beatles fan Micki Stockalper surely has this Lennon classic on her list.

Mary Correia-Moreno and Michelle Livermore share a passion for “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  Says Mary: “Ultimate Christmas movie for me.  I just love the concept behind the film – how life would have been so different for others if you weren’t there.  Makes you really appreciate how each person in your life is there for a reason.”  Says Michelle: “I cannot even watch the movie and just see this part and start bawling. I am crying now. What a great thing it would be to see what the world would be without me in it. Or maybe it wouldn’t – who knows.  I love this whole last part. Everyone feeling sad should just watch this a bunch of times. I love that Clarence gets his wings, too.”

For Jessica Northrup, we’re thinking it’s a toss up between favorite singer Willie Nelson or a touch of family on the Big Island.

Janet Elk: When I was growing up in the Chicago area, every Christmas season the best short cartoons played on Garfield Goose and Friends were Hardrock, Coco and Joe,  Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman. It’s amazing you can still find these classics on YouTube.  I still love them! Takes me right back to being a kid.

Krystin Williamson: I grew up studying ballet and dance, so I’m a true Nutcracker fan at heart. I love the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” with Tchaikovsky’s classic score, the beautiful snowflakes dancing in formation and the exciting Arabian, Spanish and Chinese adaptations. This link happens to be from MGM’s motion picture “The Nutcracker,” but nothing beats seeing it come to life by a local ballet company. 

Katie Rowland: Since I grew up watching just as many black-and-white movies as color films with my mother, it’s no surprise that the nostalgia of the holidays has me longing to cuddle up with a blanket, hot cocoa and watch “Little Women.” Although there are many film adaptations of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, the 1949 version is my favorite. Nothing conveys the holiday spirit more than the generosity of the March girls, who spend their prized pennies buying gifts for their mother and share their Christmas feast with their less fortunate neighbors.

As director of social media, don’t you think this fits neatly for Teresa Siles?

Aaron Blomberg: The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas is/was my favorite Christmas movie as a kid.  I was so obsessed I watched it multiple times a day, every day, year-round for many years.  It follows the misadventures of Ted E. Bear as he searches for the meaning of Christmas.  Not entirely sure of why I was so obsessed with this movie, but I’m guessing a teddy bear named Ted E. Bear had a big part in it.

Natalie Haack is dreaming of a White Christmas.

Greg Kershaw: It’s not often you get to rock out at church, but this song always puts me in the Christmas spirit (and makes my stepmom nauseous).  Transiberian Orchestra’s Carol of the Bells, performed by Lincoln Brewster (at my church).

Rebecca Howe: My favorite Christmas song is My Grown Up Christmas List by Kelly Clarkson.  This song has an inspiring message and reminds you that Christmas isn’t always about the gifts wrapped under the tree.  Plus, Kelly Clarkson is among my top two favorite American Idols (the other is Carrie Underwood).

Bryan Spevak is the office music aficianodo, and we’re thinking Another Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas is apropos.

Kerry Tucker didn’t share, so we’re giving him a leg up.

We’re hoping the vacationing Bill Trumpfheller remembers not to put WD-40 on his sled.

Dave Nuffer loves mariachi.

If three is a trend, then we’re betting trends expert Sharon McNerney says more than 6 million views is some good holiday cheer.

Yours Truly: In some ways, we still believe.