Way Back WhensDay: The Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

It’s hard for me to believe that the Rubik’s Cube recently celebrated its 40^th birthday.  I didn’t realize the popular toy of the 80’s was so close to my age.  I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I got my first cube, but we had several through the years.

I tried in vain to solve the complex puzzle for a good portion of my youth.  I don’t remember anyone ever really figuring it out either.  But as an adult, I see people all the time matching the colors on each side of the cube.  Not only are there folks who know how to solve the puzzle, they can do it blindfolded, behind their back, or even underwater.  It blows my mind.

I fall to pieces...

The only time I ever came close to figuring out the cube was by cheating.  I’d pop the little blocks off the cube and reassemble it the right way.  I know that defeated the purpose of playing with the Rubik’s Cube.  Most of the time though, I’d twist and turn the sides, hoping that it would be the time I’d finally get it.  I never did though, but I had a lot of fun trying.

The Rubik's Orb

Besides the cube, Erno Rubik had a variety of other puzzling toys.  I tried my hand at the Rubik’s Orb, a sphere with colorful little balls on around it that needed to be slid into the right order.  I don’t remember much of this, but I do believe I conquered this one.  

Rubik's Link The Rings

I also had success with the Rubik’s Link The Rings.  It was a flat puzzle that folded in sections.  The object was to get the colored links imprinted on it to connect.

Several years ago, my kids got a version of the Rubik's Cube that lights up, but the pieces didn’t turn.  I’m not really sure what the point of it was.  When I was a kid though, we would spend hours trying to figure out how to solve the cube.  Now kids are playing Mind Craft and Flappy Bird.  I wonder if they’re will ever be an app for the cube…

Casting Call: May The 4th Be With You

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

This year I'm turning to you for help with my Star Wars Day video.  I want you to email me a clip of you doing your best Star Wars character impression.  I'll edit all the submissions together for one big "May The 4th Be With You" video.  Email me kevinhunsperger@gmail.com.  Surely it will be better than last year's effort.  You decide.

Llama Drama

November sweeps, new meaning

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

We recently had a story on the news out of Houston, where a capuchin monkey was on the news set and smacked the anchor in the face.  The discussion we had after the story included a brief mention of the "llama drama" we had in our own newsroom in 2011. 

We were doing a weekly "Wild Wednesday" segment for November sweeps.  It was a chance to showcase some unusual pets in our region.  Years prior, we had had a woman who has llamas and alpacas come in with one of her critters, so we extended the invitation for her to return.

I thought we'd do the interview outside, as I worried that the llama would do his business on the studio floor.  We had to move the desk for the segment, and I figured we wouldn't have time to clean up and get the desk back in place.  Everyone else thought it would be okay, so I relented, after all, it was only three minutes, surely the llama would empty his bowels and bladder upon arrival, right? 

Wrong.  The woman and her llama stood in the newsroom waiting for the Wild Wednesday segment.  As Emily and I read other news stories, we heard a loud commotion coming from the newsroom and then into the hallway.  It sounded like someone was hitting the wall with a sledgehammer.  

Llama drama to the extreme

When we went to commercial, we went to the hall to see what happened.  Before I could even see anything, my nose told me what was going on.  I can't even come up with a description to give that odor justice.  It was like a zoo, farm, and truck stop bathroom merged in the hall.  Llama pee and poop were all over the floor.

Apparently, the gentle beast started peeing on the carpeted newsroom floor.  The owner grabbed his harness to lead him out, and when his wet feet hit the tile floor he slipped and slid like he was walking on a sheet of ice.  I'm not sure if that then triggered the bowel movement, but the interview had to be shot tight because his tail ended was a matted mess of feces and urine.

Cleanup, aisle 1

We worked to clean it up during the commercials, but that smell lingered for a long time.  I used my steam cleaner, and that potent piss smell stayed with it for a long time.  The carpet in the newsroom still bears the reminder of that memorable morning. 

Live llamas have been banned from inside the building.  But we take our chances with the occasional pooch.

Rest in Peace: Lee Marshall

Lee Marshall RIP

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Several media outlets are reporting that former AWA and WCW announcer Lee Marshall has died.  At this point, no one has listed a cause of death for the broadcaster, who's career spanned much further than professional wrestling.

I remember Lee from his days in the AWA.  He did commentary on the show back in the 1980's, I'd watch in the afternoons on ESPN when I'd get home from school.  He always had a great level of enthusiasm for the sport and knew what he was talking about.  Eventually he would resurface in WCW during the Monday Night Wars and did work on the WCW Hotline and the Nitro Road Report.

Marshall voice Tony the Tiger from 1995-2014

Until his death though, I did not realize he had been the ring announcer for the Los Angeles portion of Wrestlemania II back in 1986.  Another fact I didn't know until today, Lee Marshall was the modern day voice of the iconic cereal character Tony the Tiger.  Lee started that role in 2005.  

My thoughts and prayers go out to Lee Marshall's family, friends, and fans.  May he rest in peace.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Our weekly host on WWF Superstars 

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I've had a bit of writer's block for the last couple of days, but this morning as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, a friend of mine asked the question "What's a favorite Sunday memory you have growing up?"  For me the answer was easy, watching wrestling.

It wasn't just that I was watching wrestling.  It was about who I was watching it with.  Long before I became obsessed, my dad, brother, and uncle watched every week and would go to live events when the NWA would come to St. Louis.

World Class Championship Wrestling
Photo courtesy: WWE

Soon, I'd start watching too.  This was the mid-1980's, so we had several different wrestling programs that aired on the independent station in town, KPLR Channel 11.  I believe they showed both Wrestling at the Chase and WWF Superstars.  Over on one of the other stations, we'd watch World Class Championship Wrestling.  It was hours and hours of wrestling fun.  From the Von Erichs and Freebirds beating the crap out of each other to Roddy Piper cutting down a popular babyface in Piper's Pit, we always had a good time.

Wrestling at the Chase

We'd often go to church before wrestling would start, and I remember counting down at the end of the service so we could make it home in time to catch the action.  Some weeks we'd get out late and miss the start of the show.  At one point, I remember WCCW started airing on Saturday nights too, so I'd watch that along with Central States Wrestling and just focus on WWF on Sunday mornings.  My mom always made a big breakfast and we'd eat with the TV on, watching our favorites do their thing in the ring.

Those days are long gone.  I miss the variety of wrestling programs with different characters and storylines.  But more importantly I miss that time that I spent with my dad, brother, and now dearly departed uncle.  Those memories will stay with me forever though, and for that I'm grateful. 

One Champ, Two Belts

The champ
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

More than four months ago, Randy Orton beat John Cena to unify the WWE and World Heavyweight titles to form a WWE World Heavyweight Champion.  Now, Daniel Bryan holds that title, but still with two belts.  I believe it's time to make it one championship belt.

The newer belt

I know a new WWE Championship belt was released in January 2013.  I like the design of the new belt.  I just wonder why they updated it and then unified the two championships 11 months later.  I also wonder if they had planned that or if it was a last minute decision to create one champion.

I asked the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook friends what they thought about the two belts.  Everyone who responded said they favored one championship belt.  I think it should have been presented to the new champion on the night of TLC back in December.  When that didn't happen, I thought it would happen at the Royal Rumble.  Nope.  Then when Daniel Bryan won the title at Wrestlemania, I thought he'd get a single strap, but with the current storyline that wouldn't have made much sense.  I hope they're not dragging their feet with this because they're planning to go back to two champions, I like just one champ.  It adds value to the person.

The proper way, IMO
Photo courtesy: WWE

On a side note, and an admittedly picky one, I like that Bryan wears one of the championships around his waist usually.  I don't like it when champions sling the belt over their shoulder.  I don't ever remember this being the norm back in the day.  Orton carried both on his shoulders, I don't think he ever had one around his waist.  Again, it's nit picky on my part, but a preference for me.

Pay It Forward

Courtesy: wsiltv.com

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

Thursday, April 24, 2014 is International Pay It Forward Day.  People are encouraged to perform random acts of kindness.  The idea is the person receiving the act will then "pay it forward" and do something nice for someone else.  It works well when random strangers get in on the action.

Cupcakes from Larry's House of Cakes
Courtesy: wsiltv.com

The TV where I work, WSIL, has teamed up with Black Diamond Harley Davidson and other businesses in the community to pay it forward. Cupcakes have been eaten, gas tanks filled, and laundry washed over the last few weeks.  It's been fun watching all this unfold and then hear from other people and businesses seeing examples of generosity spreading.

You can watch the stories we've done by clicking here.  I asked my Facebook friends what was the best thing they'd done or had done for them by a stranger.  Responses varied buying lunch for a veteran to getting help paying for a headstone for a friend.  Others picked up the tab for the car behind them in the drive thru.

Pay it Forward

Some people questioned why weren't helping people in financial need.  I do think those who need help would be ideal to benefit from this, but the point of paying it forward is to inspire others to do the same thing.  If we all take a minute to reach out and brighten someone else's day, the world would be a much better place.  And don't just do it on April 24.  Find time to help others when the time is right.