Science constantly marched on. There were always new discoveries. New papers being published that needed to be read so that you didn’t fall behind. In order not be left behind Kenneth needed to be continually learning. He had had to actually earn his doctorate twice after he had needed to establish a new identity. This was something he accepted. Enjoyed even, despite the persistent time invested.

That was not what Kenneth was doing tonight. Tonight was dedicated to another activity. It also required constant upkeep or you would become lost in a labyrinth of unknowns. Unmoored in a shifting tide of change.

Pop culture.

Tonight was movie night. The top films of 2014 as according to IMBD.com. Kenneth never bothered with going to premiers anymore. It just wasn’t worth it. There was no guarantee anyone would remember after a week. He was even considering waiting longer than a year before watching any new releases. More often than not, even the popular titles faded from memory after five or so years. Still, staying up to date had advantages when interacting with Kine (and even some Kindred). It could be painful though. Watching remakes was bad enough (the eighties seemed a popular inspiration right now), then there were the ones that stretched suspension of disbelief like Big Hero 6, but worst of all were the stupid ones. That was what he was facing tonight. The last of the top 50. Only sheer stubbornness to complete his goal and pride made him put the DVD in the machine. Another ‘Night at the Museum’ and after that a ‘Transformers’. Kenneth could already see the plot. Vulgar slap stick and explosions respectively. How did these things keep getting made?

The video began and Kenneth steeled himself. He could do this. It would be worth it in the end. Better to watch this repulsiveness than be left behind the times.