see https://github.com/culturecode/uber_select/blob/master/javascript/uber_search.js#L217
This way, a "Choose an option" with a blank value will be used as the placeholder.
Though, the way it currently works, it can insert the placeholder text into the blank option.
Perhaps a combination of both? If the text is blank, but a placeholder config option is provided, insert that text in the blank option. If text is present, but no placeholder value is set, the text of the option can be removed, and used as the placeholder, leaving that option blank.
What would also be nice is if no blank option was provided, but a placeholder was set, a blank option would automatically be injected into the original select.