April 30th, 2010 
joel When it comes to the Pepsi Refresh contest story, it’s a tale of two metro dailies.
In Erie, the Times-News chats cheerily about the power of social media and how the Kanzius Cancer Research Fund has very effectively leveraged Facebook and Twitter to get the word out about voting for the fund globally. The Blackberry-wielding concertgoers in Manhattan, the FDNY firefighters, the blogs, the tweets all contributing to the vote totals.
In St. Louis, about an hour south of the Benld, IL school that is in the middle of a slow-implode due to abandoned coal mines beneath its foundation, the Post Dispatch’s coverage is full of words like “cheaters,” “hurtful,” and “desperate.”
In the stltoday.com post, Ben-Gil Boosters supporter Mark Cunningham accuses some Kanzius supporters and those of some other causes of playing the system:
“We have worked our tails off all month long by voting and promoting, and many of us are really ticked off about getting rolled over by a couple of cheaters,” said Benld parent Mark Cunningham. He said those gathering votes for Kanzius and other causes are asking supporters to set up 100 or so e-mail addresses and to vote from each daily. The rules of the contest say that “you may vote up to 10 times per account per day, but each vote must be for different projects.” Cunningham also said the comments left on the site bashing Benld and other proposals are inappropriate.
Other supporters of Ben-Gil are more reserved in their accusations in the article, but all quoted, including Kanzius Foundation director Mark Neidig, voiced dismay at where the level of discourse went in the comments on the Pepsi website. Efforts to reach Mr. Cunningham on Facebook were unsuccessful. UPDATE: Read Mr. Cunningham’s response here.
I’m thinking that the Ben-Gil parents ran into the total Erie media onslaught behind the Kanzius effort and didn’t know what hit them; and the Post-Dispatch reporter somewhat bears it out. In fact, I did about an hour-long search last night for news related to individual causes in the Pepsi contest and there has been nowhere near the local coverage that the Kanzius effort received here in Erie.
For that Erie media should be proud. Meanwhile, whether it is to support cancer research, or get kids back into a healthy school environment, let’s remember that hope and encouragement trumps negativity and cynicism every time.
Posted in 
Tags: 
Loading ...
Sounds like Ben-Gil has a good cause…but it also sounds like a lot of negative energy. Rebuilding their school is certainly a worthy project — but finding a cure for cancer? There’s no question that the Kanzius project should be in the #1 spot. Accusations of cheating and fake accounts seems petty, considering the ramifications of John’s research. Perhaps the press Ben-Gil has received will drum up community support for their project. After all, it was community support that got the Kanzius Foundation to #1! Congrats to the Kanzius supporters and Erieites who made this front-page news — and VOTED!
Sounds like sour grapes to me. The top 2 projects get funded. So why aren’t the going after the Boys and Girls Club of the Monroe Area, the current project in 2nd place? Are they cheaters too? Facebook and Twitter are the nature of the contest. You can like Pepsi Refresh right to your Facebook page. I read one comment from a parent from Ben-Gil hoping that Kanzius voters get cancer. Nice! Real nice! I am really sorry about their school, but the Kanzius Foundation has the potential to help people all over the world — not one little community. I think that is a better use of $250,000.
For Erie folks,
Pepsi updates the leader board of voting every half hour.
Since 10:30 am this morning (4/30/2010) and every half hour after, the leader board has remain unchanged.
I leave a window open to see how the votes are going.
You can follow the vote on any given half hour update here:
http://www.refresheverything.com/leaderboard
It has been a long time habit with me.
Whether it is a blog, or the ETN, I always read comments BEFORE a post.
Today, I went to GoErie and read Obits to see who left the planet from here, then, Letters (not Editorials).
Then bye-bye GoErie.
So too with blogs; the comments are most revealing of what people believe they have read in a post or article.
I have stopped reading USA Today online entirely, due to comments they attract. Think Topix.
After a gist of comments, I then read the post (article) and see if the author has managed to convey an idea.
It is an incredible insight into people’s thinking process.
I reviewed many comments at the Pepsi bonanza underway, and I am telling you that a savvy college kid could do a Master’s thesis on commentary in this event. There is a wealth of information here on US, what we value as people, how we communicate with one another, what we see (hear) versus what was said (expressed).
This page from Pepsi on the leaderboard is a gold mine for future use.
But instead of content, I found an amazing variance in simply the QUANTITY of comments made.
Would you not expect the Top Ten to have comments reasonably close to the position of the entry, at roughly the same spread in quantity?
Here are the Top Ten in Pepsi as of this afternoon when Cunningham reclaimed 2nd place. This is simply the number of comments made all month for each of the Top Ten, and in order:
3,953 (Kansius)
7,186 (Cunningham’s School)
931 (Community Center)
341
261 (Screamfest Horror Show idea)
2,248
89
2,288
318
90 (Honor the Elderly)
I did not include all the titles; look ‘em up at Pepsi.
Cunningham said that they began to lose, because there were too many comments tying up his site. He is close to DOUBLE the quantity of comments as Kansius, but Kansius leads.
But the Community Center also dumped the Cunningham School in the past 2 or 3 days, jumping to 2nd until an hour ago. Comment total for the Community Center = 931,
and that is 3RD place!
The Horror Flick gets 261 comments but to honor the Elderly, we get 90 people to say a word over a whole month.
This Pepsi promotion will continue each month until they use their Superbowl money up this way, versus an ad at the last Superbowl (they opted out).
Pepsi is absolutely nuts if they do not get an Excel spreadsheet and analyze US. I have no doubt they are building a bank of email addresses to flood with future offers, coupons, promotions, etc. That is why you need to give all your privacy up to vote.
(Is your birthday REALLY needed to prove you are you?)
Nope! You will likely get a coupon for a Pepsi on your birthday at your email address in the future.
This is the future of marketing and personalised inducements to attract and to buy products.
This is precisely how Obama acted in the campaign.
I got emails from him every day, and still do, and somewhere in there is a pitch for money to “Change”.
I don’t even read them; I just sling them all in a folder online called Barack, hoping to one day write a book called “Barack and Me”…..opening up his emails in retrospect and applying an answer to him, after the fact.
I favor manufacturing for our community as the pay is higher to support families. We will always have manufacturing as a higher percentage here, than most locations of similar size.
Look at those KoldDraft jobs starting at about $12
(waaay better than $8 at the supermarket).
So I ask our manufacturers to please pay close attention to what Pepsi is doing, and how they are doing it.
We can do better!
In all of Israel and Jordan, I travelled there in Feb/March this year, and there was not a single Zurn flush in a toilet in either country. And the Zurn flush handle is waaay better than the myriad flush handles I saw…..my favorite being a ’55 Ford gas pedal on the floor. Push the pedal and water flushed.
Yes, Zurn is as gone as Steris, but there are so many Erie products needed throughout the globe.
We need MARKETING improvement.
Please note: there is likely not one person in all of America to have read all 1,138 projects to vote on.
Most get parochial votes.
And it speaks volumes that you can be in the Top Ten of 1,138 projects…..and garner 89 comments in a month.
Manufacturer’s Assoc and Members…..PLEASE learn from this event.
I supect that Kansius will be a winner as 1st or 2nd place (hopefully 1st).
However, ALL of Erie will win, if our manufacturers look closely at the marketing technique underway, and apply it to the goods we make in town.
We have always been quality.
There is always a market for that.
Let’s apply what we are witnessing, and grow our wealth anew in town.
Hey Danny, I found you again! I feel like a stalker! LOL
@ Kelly, the comment that you saw from a Ben-Gil supporter was from what I believe was the person from who created the fake accounts supporting Kanzius (I’m guessing this person is Tobias Grant). I recall seeing the same name on our site with another rude comment.
@Danny, I think you hit it right on the head about the reasoning behind Pepsi launching this whole project. For what they would have spent on Super Bowl advertising, they can stretch out that money for nearly a whole year of advertising. Plus all of the personal information that they are getting from us, you are so right about that! I guess we do see eye to eye on something anyway! LOL
And also right on to the author of this article. I was unaware of the media coverage that Kanzius has received and compared to us, this was probably the difference in the outcome, not some fool and his fake accounts. I apoligize for my rush judgement to the Kanzius organization. My emotions got the best of me at the time. Congratulations on your efforts in the fight against cancer! Keep up the great efforts in everything that you do!
If anyone wants to read what else I had to say regarding all of this, it can be found at the Press and Tower page http://www.pressandtower.com/2010/04/crunch-time-for-kanziuspepsi-fundraiser/
May 1st already….. MayDay! MayDay! MayDay!
No Mark Cunningham; Neither of us will be sending distress calls out this day.
And the May Day of years ago, had me recall the Soviets displaying rocketry on the streets of Moscow, as chubby bosses stood way above and looked at freezing peasants.
Battles were on display.
No, this is a May day of new life for both of our communities, thanks to Pepsi and the final outcome.
I see no use to look back on what happened or why.
Your kids at school will have a few bad days that overshadow a whole school year if you let them.
A few bad apples in this wonderful program will not erase the joy of victory for both of our towns.
If they kick you out of Gillespie as a ‘black sheep”, or make you feel as one, you will find a hidden pearl in the oyster known as Erie, PA. We welcome immigrants, students at several nearby colleges and doctor schools, and folks who prefer peace and tranquility in daily life, over frantic days of pandemonium.
Erie is keenly centered among Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. If you want the big city, it is a hop, skip, and a jump away. I enjoy visiting Phipps Observatory (flowers from around the globe in-house) in Pittsburgh, or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, or even Niagara Falls by Buffalo.
We are aquiring an abundance of new youth couples in a place called LECOM, a doctor producing school. Many come from Texas and blog of the wonders they find here, that locals take for granted. Thankfully, they are producing “little citizens” galore, and we may be able to induce them to stay here, since their child is a citizen of Erie already.
We need people who are concerned about children, so you would fit right in. Consider giving your children insight into new worlds by packing up and moving over.
Our schools tend to not sink into the ground.
Citizens who get up off their duff and lead a worthy call are always in demand here; that sounds like you.
You seem to feel we are at odds on issues, but I do not feel that way. I see Pepsi for what they are doing, and no one is entitled, or can lose.
You can not lose what you did not have. So, only a win can come from the program.
For April, the sun has shined on Gillespie and Erie, thanks to Pepsi.
In one of my comments, I wrote:
“The folks in Erie, PA have a strong ethic, and a nobilty at “turning the other cheek” when maligned falsely.
Just never call us “unfashionable” or you might hear back a word or two.”
When all is said and done about the final day of April for the Pepsi program, that part of my comment sums up Erie folks. And as Forrest Gump would say:
“That’s all I have to say about that”.
No one likes to watch a blowout at the Superbowl; they turn off the game and watch the ads only.
April 30th was a thrilling fight to the finish for all three in first, second, and third place all day….particularly the late day shift between 2nd and 3rd place.
You have apologised for those things that have occurred that may cause offense. I respect that.
Allow me to do the same, and apologise for any words I have penned that gave offense in Illinois, or in your heart. The written word is difficult to convey and receive. However, I prefer it for I am deaf.
And though I do not hear, the “tone” of words I choose can give an intent I did not wish.
Had we both come in 3rd and 4th instead of 1st and 2nd, we would both have precisely what we had before April 1st….nothing but our integrity.
In the heat of competition, throwing words is like Tiger Woods throwing clubs at a bad shot made.
Bad sportmanship.
But Erie folks are like an Etch-A-Sketch.
When frustrated at the picture we created, we simply lift our arms to the heavens, shake a few times, and marvel at a slate wiped clean.
Thanks for taking the time late at night to elaborate on your views and feelings. As for the reporter and changing the story, we all know that negative sells newspapers. I no longer write Letters To The Editor in town, for by the time they edit, rephrase, change paragraphs and intent, I no longer recognise my own letter. Hence, I enjoy blog commentary.
I believe Mr. Moore may have altered your statements, and it may be due to newspaper space, or him having a bad day at work, or at home with his wife or even sick child. But in general, most folks are pleasant to know.
I hope you spend some of your cash doing a geological survey on spots with solid ground to build a new school.
Your little son in your avatar will one day appreciate all your efforts on his behalf this past month.
Blessings to you and your family.
Danny Lucas
I just received an email from the Kanzius Foundation stating that they finished first in the competition! It looks like they will get the $250,000 grant! Well done, everyone!
The COMMENT!
Much is written for students and others, on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the basics. Little is written on establishing a coherent thought, critical thinking, and dialoging that with others online.
Indeed, the language of texting, and shortness of Twitter, make comments even more difficult.
Our local paper and online twin, ETN and GoErie, have decided that it is best for citizens to NOT be able to comment. An exchange of ideas is detrimental, in their opinion.
I will admit that a Letter To The Editor is available in the paper, however, there is no way to comment on the comment….even online!
GoErie is convinced that the infinity of cyberspace is a lie, and only a slice of ones and zeros can be zipped, so it is best to reserve that limitation for advertising.
(and scrolling Jobs, every page, every article, as if we are the Job center of the Globe).
This is one foolish outfit that needs revamped from top to bottom, and Roseanne Cheeseman has had long enough to make some drastic changes in her tenure. Her choice has been the same as all business CEO’s….fire good staff.
I wish to contrast this with the Pepsi situation, and the power of a comment…..denied to Erie, PA through GoErie, but allowed on the Internet. I encourage folks to spread their Favorites Bar and RSS Feeds, to links with sites allowing comments.
I read two comments today at a site in St. Louis in the aftermath of the Pepsi Refresh. Time has not permitted me to yet read the Monroe County, Tenn area online spots, after coming in 3rd place, but I will. That area was toggled in 1st and 2nd place all of April for the grand prize that eventually went to Kanzius locally.
With half a day to go, Monroe County youth, slipped to 3rd place and receives zero for their efforts.
Joel at P&T has cited the St. Louis Post Dispatch, and the article that disparaged Kansius, and also apparently, distorted the words penned/spoken by Mark Cunningham.
Cunningham has given this site his original comment to stir up votes for his school cause. There is a variance from that, to what was actually printed, and to an extent, his reputation has been smeared in the process of acting as a good community citizen.
Cunningham has also made self inflicted wounds in the process, but that has been covered and no longer an issue.
St. Louis allows comments on articles.
GoErie does not.
Does it matter? Does it clarify or confuse a posting?
To find out, I went back to the St. Louis article that Joel posted and read subsequent comments. There are two.
Both are lengthy, well thought out, and add an unusual anti-climax to the entire contest. Further, they reflect on the Kansius end of things, and it is sad that you have to go to St. Louis to find out about folks feelings for Erie, PA….thanks to the policies of Roseanne Cheeseman and ETN/CyberInk.
In one of the two comments to Joel’s selected post from St. Louis Post Dispatch (online), Mark Cunningham clarifies his position, restates his passion, and chides the reporter for doing what reporters are paid to do; bring bad news to you since it sells better than good news.
The other comment comes from Lisa S.
Lisa wrote that she is a Kansius supporter, on their Facebook, denies receiving a clarion call to open fake emails, and vehemently takes offense at Mark Cunningham’s comments in the original article….as reported, and before Mark’s clarification as commentor #2.
But here was my surprise in reading those comments online, …. so dreaded by GoErie, and so desperately needed by our populace locally.
Lisa S. voted daily for Kansius. She states her reasoning extremely well, and in a length that Roseanne Cheeseman and all the Meads would forbid until hell freezes over. That is to their detriment.
The Community Center project for Youth in Monroe County Tennessee (bottom east of the state, 2nd county north, with a slogan “We are the 18th fastest growing county in Tennessee”, indicates need for a Youth Center by that.
The youth may have a good point that there is nothing to do there with that quoted claim to fame from the Monroe County website declaring essentially nothing.
After reading all the commentary by Lisa S. as a Kansius supporter from day one, I came to a startling sentence in her comment:
“Personally I have hoped that Benld would place 2nd (behind Kanzius, of course), even though I live very near to the 3rd place contestant, Monroe County, Tn, and I can assure you that they DO indeed need something there for the kids to do.”
— Lisa S., St. Louis Post Dispatch Comment 1
This woman lives by the spot in TN, that was in 1st or 2nd place, and only fell to 3rd and out of the money around 2:30 PM on the last day. Her votes all month for her local kids may have tipped the scales. Instead, she voted for Kansius all along. Even then, two awards are possible, and she chose Cunningham’s over her local Youth Center!
But the distorted article changed her mind. While remaining steadfast with Kansius, out of TN, Lisa S. added this,…. from reading St. Louis Post Dispatch:
“But, after reading the comments in this article, I may have changed my mind. I am a parent too, and I realize how important a good school and education is to our children, but comparing that to the possiblity of my child never having to battle cancer…. it’s no contest. Kanzius wins in my book!”
— Lisa S., Comment 1 (again)
You will not find such input anywhere in GoErie.
This community can not grow, with the reporting strangleholds established amidst our media.
I encourage you to read BOTH comments on the St. Louis article, as they are well written, informative opinions, and not available to Erie citizens through our own media.
The comments follow Joel’s article here (and timely reported 5/1 after a 4/30 post….unheard of at GoErie):
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/8440EDA3DC2E6FAF86257715000CAF75?OpenDocument
As for the dreaded state of GoErie STILL, I do give credit to the new galfor trying (don’t know her name, but read it when she was hired). She is making turtle speed changes in a family-throttled operation, whose feet are set in concrete.
She is trying to expand us to around 1990 so far, by adding BLOGS, as an option at the top of the Homepage. Of course, CyberInk botches even that, by making you wade the labrynth of BLOGS and hit “All Blogs”inside the cavern, BLOGS.
The frenetic CyberInk has made a complete turnaround anew.
Scott Bremner was let go as a blogger par none.
At the time, you could not even find Scott unless you went to the header “Lifestyles” and waded within to Blogs, or, went to Global Erie and simply clicked one spot: “Scott Bremner” on Peter’s BlogRoll (it is still there thankfully). Maybe Pete can tell CyberInk how to hyperlink a name for a blog as sole entrance.
Here is the list of all Headers at GoErie as of January 6, 2010 when Scott said farewell:
http://www.goerie.com/blogs/bremner
Eight headers; none blogs.
Within three months, the headers look like this today:
http://www.goerie.com/
That’s RIGHT! There are now 10 Headers to view, and BLOGS is farthest to the right.
In CyberInk style, you can hit Lifestyle and redundantly STILL, find Blogs, as in days of Bremner yore.
But the current BLOG (10th place header) gets rich.
Two Blogs are “Featured Blogs”.
They are 1) Erie Blogs and 2) Sarah in Ireland. ??????
There is, as expected, no explanation as to how a blog becomes “Featured Blog”. (versus a lowly, “Your Blogs”)
Below that is an appeal for “YOUR BLOGS”, a community compendium. You are required to give a description in 255 CHARACTERS (not words). Afterall, CyberInk is committed to not overloading the internet. They think it is a newspaper.
So far, 8 blogs have joined; not all are new.
Of the 8, I thoroughly enjoy
Life on the Bay — (READ THIS! RSS too. New and outstanding!)
Press and Tower — already on Erie Blogs …the GoErie Featured spot!
Blisschick — already on Erie Blogs …the GoErie Featured spot anew!
I am learning a tad of insight from
A Crackhead in Erie — although the title concerns me as a reflection on the town, and I just don’t understand addicts who freely choose to be addicts, but maybe this blog will help me know them better as people. I dunno.
Here is Crackhead on Crackhead:
” About Me
Erie Crackhead
Erie, PA, United States
A Crackhead who’s writing what he knows and what he feels. Why? So maybe someone else won’t fall into the same traps that have tripped up the Erie Crackhead.”
I sense hope.
I hae no use whatsoever for the other two
Hill Street Blahg — who is neither funny, loveable, but is an old guy. Its claim to fame is toxicity.
Also in the “no use for” column is a brand new blog in town, and proof that GoErie/CyberInk monitors Blogs as well as Topix monitored comments.
The blog, There’s a Flag on The Play, is now available through GoErie. If you click the link, it takes you to Eblogger (the master controller for many blogs) and a notice there, that the content is “Adult content” and Eblogger disassociates with it.
CyberInk, of course, embraced it and lists it alphabeticaly last.
I am beginning to think that Scott Bremner may have received a small stipend to write for so many years for ETN as an original blogger in town (heck, in the world).
But if you are going to establish what the world has had for two decades…Blogs, in your online edition, you pay none or pay all. It would seem easier to stop paying Scott for his brilliance, and astute observations, than to disavow free blog entries from the community.
Otherwise, it makes zero sense to ADD blogs and ditch Scott Bremner virtually simultaneously.
CyberInk. The company that makes you read St Louis Post Dispatch to get a comment on Kanzius Pepsi locally.
It is back to the drawing bard for you, 12th and Sass.