My 1-2-3 Cents : Emily Eddington

Showing posts with label Emily Eddington. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Shock and ow! My experience with a taser

Ow!!!

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Thanks to TimeHop and Facebook Memories I was reminded that on November 30, 2010, I had the most shocking experience of my lifetime. I was tased live on News 3 This Morning on WSIL-TV. To this day I still get asked questions about the experience and told by people who saw it, they laugh every time they rewatch it.

So let's start at the beginning. Producer Weston White (Dub Dub) had approached my co-anchor Emily Eddington and I about doing a segment on tasers to explain how and why police use the devices. Some of our colleagues had done taped segments on tasers, but this would be a much more detailed account of the use because we were live and could take as much time as we wanted. The segment would end with me on the receiving end of the jolt.

I agreed and we contacted Chuck Doan who is a police training specialist. After meeting with Chuck prior to the segment, my trust in him grew and I knew that I'd be in good hands. That morning Emily interviewed Chuck as I laid on a mat on the floor. He attached several clips to me and soon had the taser to Emily. Watch the video, you can tell she is not wanting to pull the trigger and my shouts of agony didn't help her anxiety during the segment.

Close up of the taser

Before the zapping started, I was reminded it would last five seconds, no matter if Emily released the trigger. Five seconds does not sound like a long time, but when that much electricity is coursing through veins, it seems like an eternity. I was fearful of two things that day, peeing in my pants and cussing on live TV. I'm proud to say I did neither.

I've been asked if it hurt. I don't know that painful is the right word to use. It's still hard for me to articulate the feeling it was. Imagine putting your tongue on a 9-volt battery or touching an electric fence. It's like that only much more intense and you don't get any relief like you do when you pull away immediately. After the experience, I was helped up and continued on with the rest of the newscast, which was only a few minutes. We did have a plan in place if I was not able to continue, but I'm thankful that was not the case.

I'm proud of what our team did that day. We gave some really important information about tasers and we also entertained people in the process. To my knowledge, we're also the first (and only) station in this market to do a tasering live on the air. Most are recorded and the curse words bleeped out.

So if you're ever in a situation where police ask you to stop what you're doing or they'll use a taser, my advice is simple. Listen. Stop what you're doing. In the real world, you'll likely be hit by a couple of barbs and the jolt will drop you to the ground.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Find your influencers

My influencers: Jeff & Mandy Rose, Emily Eddington & Tom Harness

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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My wife, children and parents are among the biggest influencers in my life. I wouldn't be the man I am today without all six of them. I strive to be a better person every day thanks to their support, understanding and influence. I love them all and know they're value in my life. There are other influencers who have made a huge difference in Kevin Hunsperger, the blogger.

Jeff Rose & Kevin Hunsperger

This blog as you know it wouldn't exist without Jeff Rose. Jeff is a friend who encouraged me to find my blogging niche and suggested I start writing about wrestling. So September 3, 2010 My 1-2-3 Cents was born. I've looked to Jeff and his wife Mandy for insight and advice in the world of blogging. The two of them are the most phenomenal bloggers I know. Mandy's House of Rose blog has a staggering number of readers, covering everything from design, parenting issues and marriage advice. Jeff's Good Financial Cents blog includes valuable information on your financial health. He's studied how to be a great blogger and has shared that information with others. Jeff has an awesome series of video podcasts up on iTunes now. Jeff and Mandy are not just great bloggers, they're wonderful people. Thank you both for your advice through the years.

Kevin Hunsperger & Emily Eddington spreading Christmas cheer

Shortly after I started the My 1-2-3 Cents blog, I added a supplemental YouTube channel. I have my friend and former coworker Emily Eddington to thank for that. She started her Beauty Broadcast channel in the early days of YouTube and has grown it into a much loved and well-respected channel. (She has a blog by the same name too.) Her content is so popular, Emily was asked by YouTube to create more channels. She shares her thoughts on all things beauty related, but also gives viewers a glimpse into her family life (which is growing). Emily encouraged me to get started with the wrestling vlogs six years ago and answered a ton of questions when I was getting started. She's one of the most sincere and kind people I've ever known. What you see on camera is what you get in real life. Thanks "Eddi" for helping me navigate the sometimes confusing ways of blogging and YouTube.

Tom Harness & Kevin Hunsperger being Smurfy on Craftbeericans

My final influencer is my buddy Tom Harness. We met via social media and mutual friends several years ago. Tom leads a team of budding young stars at Harness Digital Marketing and are making a difference here in southern Illinois and beyond. We have even developed a professional relationship as a result. But Tom was an early supporter of My 1-2-3 Cents, once meeting me for lunch and helping revamp the look of this website. He's always there to share, like, retweet and favorite the content I post. We're also working on another joint venture with the Craftbeericans. Stay tuned, we're just getting started there. Tom's friendship and leadership have been invaluable to me.

I am forever grateful to these people not just for being influencers, but for being friends too. I value my relationship with each and thank them all for their support, advice and positive outlook through the years. My wish is that everyone out there finds at least one person to influence them along the way to strive to do better.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

The Nerd Behind Nerd Shirt Thursday

Nerd Shirt Thursday

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

This is a long overdue entry, as we've been doing Nerd Shirt Thursday at my work for about six months now. It's a concept (now former) News 3 This Morning producer Weston "Dub Dub" White came up with. The premise is simple. Each Thursday coworkers are encouraged to wear a "nerd" shirt to work. Because I can't wear tshirts on the air, I always wear mine under my shirt and tie. After the show each week, we take a pic to share with the world.

Weston as Capt. America

So what's a nerd shirt? Pretty much anything with a comic book character, movie, or pop culture reference. The rules aren't too strict, but the nerdier the better, especially if you can accessorize. It's something that has gained momentum in the newsroom and my Facebook friends wait each week to see who will be featured on our chests next. As I mentioned Weston came up with the idea and we've carried it out in the weeks since his departure from WSIL. I'm going to use the rest of this blog to talk more about my friend.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 2011

I met Weston when he joined News 3 This Morning in July 2010. It didn't take long to become friends, especially after he professed his love for wrestling and The Simpsons. He came into the job already "getting it." He's a natural writer and understands the facets involved in putting together a newscast. I remember my coanchor Emily Eddington and I came up with a list of things to help ease him into the position, but we never even gave it to him. He already understood what to do, and this was his first TV gig.

Wrasslin'

I literally laughed every day that Weston was at work. Many times it was a loud belly laugh that produced tears. Sometimes this happened on the air, depending on what he was saying in our ear pieces. Of course when the work was done, there was always a little time for horseplay. As I mentioned, he too is a wrestling fan and more than once I found myself getting picked up and flung around the room. I'd be interested to see if there are any other producer/anchor combos like this in newsrooms across America.

The Shopping Ninja

It wasn't just behind the scenes that we had the fun. Weston brought new ideas that made for great television as well. In 2011 he found someone willing to come in and instruct Emily on how to zap me with a taser live on the air. It's still one of the most memorable moments of my career. He's dressed like "The Shopping Ninja" in preparation for Black Friday and was the brain child behind "The Morning News Anchor Challenge", a good concept, but unfortunately ended up getting shelved after three days.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

He created a cartoon character named Humphrey, started doing "Wrestling Banana Art", and even dressed like me for Halloween one year. Weston is a unique guy, an outstanding producer, and even better friend. This blog merely scratches the surface. You can see from the pics, that we always had a good time. I miss him, but I know he's doing well in the next chapter of his life. Thanks for the memories Dub Dub.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Ten Years in Zombie Mode

One of my first newscasts at WSIL

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

August 2004 I was asked to be the fill-in anchor on News 3 This Morning on WSIL-TV. It was supposed to be a temporary gig. Mark Kiesling, who had anchored the show up until that point along with Lindy Thackston, was filling in on the 5 o'clock news because then anchor Angie Wyatt was going on maternity leave. About a month into the gig, it was announced Mark was staying on the 5 with Angie and I would be the permanent co-anchor with Lindy.

Back then, my wake up time was 3:15 a.m. I would jump in the shower, get dressed, and head to work. I'd get there by 4, eat my breakfast (back then it was Debbie Cakes and Mt. Dew), and help write scripts. The show was only on from 6 until 7.

I believe this was 2006 or 07
National Dispatchers Week

Through the years, the show evolved, not just with content, but start time. In 2007, we launched a 90 minute show, with a start time of 5:30 a.m. That meant getting up earlier. I stopped showering in the morning and started showering at night to get an extra 20 minutes of sleep. When the alarm goes off at an ungodly hour, every minute counts.

Marking National Squirrel Appreciation Day

By September 2012, the show moved to two hours. We begin at 5 a.m. Now I get up at 1:30 and am at work before 2. It's an adjustment, but I enjoy my job and coworkers immensely. Never did I dream ten years ago that I would still be doing this. I appreciate those who have supported me and stuck behind the show as it evolved into what it is today.

Celebrating my 40th birthday on the air

In the ten years that I've been anchoring News 3 This Morning, I've had six "permanent" co anchors and countless fill-in co anchors. There have been four "permanent" meteorologists (and a handful of fill-ins along the way). I've had nine producers. Five directors and five chyron operators. And since August 2004, I've worked with 39 associate producers. Reading that list, some may think I'm hard to work with. I'd like to think I've helped everyone find new and exciting opportunities.

Despite being sleep deprived, I do have a really good thing going with News 3 This Morning. I'm glad to be a part of this team and grateful to have been in the right place at the right time. Thanks again to all of you. Now enjoy a new round of bloopers with a few old favorites in there.

Friday, January 17, 2014

WSIL: My 10 Years in Pictures

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

January 19, 2014 marks my 10 year anniversary at my job WSIL TV in Carterville, Illinois. It has been a blast, and I'm working on an actual blog that I will post Sunday. I wanted to share some photo memories of the last 10 years. Unfortunately many of the early days weren't captured on camera, as smart phones and social media weren't around. Thanks to all for the support.