Introducing the 'Kevin Reaction'

Most days, followers on our Facebook pages will see a question with the caveat, “Answers may be used in the newspaper.”

Some make us laugh, some make our eyes roll and some make us applaud. We take a few of each and put them into a printed item called “Reader Reaction.”

I think it’s time for something new. We’ll call it Kevin Reaction. Answers will appear in the paper, from my perspective. Let’s proceed:

• All time favorite band and why? The Roots. Reason: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s drumming in the final 55 seconds of “You Got Me” on the “Things Fall Apart” album.

• Tell us about your first car. Let me hop up in my Brougham. A maroon 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera was my transportation during my junior and senior years of high school.

My dad found it for $400, and we did rehab work on it ... and by we, I mean 90 percent my dad. When the car’s shortcomings required expensive parts to fix, my dad found workarounds.

The car shook if the speed exceeded 70 mph, which was a bummer when you lived in Montana during its shortlived days of no posted speed limits.

The windshield wipers worked only with a click of a fabricated switch, and they only ran on the fastest possible setting. I never used them unless it was an absolute monsoon.

The feeling of riding in that car, while my dubbed cassette of Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It” played, still hasn’t been matched.

The car survived two years before I went to college, at which point my dad sold it for ... $400. I later named the car Even Steven.

• What’s the most unusual thing you have ever eaten? Corn starch on cereal. I was young, I wasn’t paying attention to the dry goods canister during breakfast when I was 6. I never put sugar on my cereal again.

• What is your favorite Jeff Bridges movie and why? “Iron Man.” I’m just a sucker for, “Tony Stark was able to build this IN A CAVE. With a BOX of SCRAPS.”

• Where is the coolest place you’ve ever been? New York City. Everybody was friendly when I engaged them, quiet if I didn’t. Food vendors everywhere, and there is very good professional basketball, depending on who comes into town to play the Knicks.

• In your opinion, what is the most frustrating topic to discuss? Religion’s role in public policy.

• Do you think police should be required to always use dash cam or body cam video? Yes. Video footage clears officers falsely accused of misconduct and protects citizens from actual misconduct. You support good police by helping weed out the terrible ones.

• Do you support legislation that would eliminate changing your clocks twice a year for daylight saving? Yes. While I would hate to have a two-hour time difference with Texas, we shouldn’t stop ourselves from common-sense legislation based on what other states do or don’t do. You lead, or you spring forward and fall back.

• How do you keep up with breaking news and current events? Poorly; I read the local newspaper. Zing.

Kevin Wilson is a columnist for Clovis Media Inc. He can be contacted at 575-763-3431, ext. 318, or by email:

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