iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 609 QUANTUM OF SOLACE – ZACK WHITE AND ALICIA KEYS Songs to write books to… Your protagonist wonders if this is all really worth it. youtu.be/cA_VhbE9gZo?...

youtu.be

Quantum of Solace Theme Song - James Bond

YouTube video by James Reed

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 987 UNDER FIRE – JERRY GOLDSMITH (1983) Songs to write books to… A bit of Jerry to sustain the momentum. youtu.be/K59pIbcWgOE?...

youtu.be

Jerry Goldsmith - Under Fire

YouTube video by Hollywood

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 1,018 ADOUMA - ANGELIQUE KIDJO (1994) Songs to write books to… Inspirational action sequence – GO! youtu.be/S6LHQoM9OoE?...

youtu.be

Angelique Kidjo - "Adouma"

YouTube video by Angelique Kidjo

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 762 RIO – DURAN DURAN (1982) I bet her name really isn’t Rio, I bet she just tells the tourists that, youtu.be/nTizYn3-QN0?...

youtu.be

Duran Duran - Rio (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by DuranDuranVEVO

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

U think I may have cracked the voice of a new co-protagonist. I'm supposed to be working on something completely different but them's the breaks. You've just got to learn to roll with it.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 659 2ND MOVEMENT STRING QUARTET OP. 11 – SAMUEL BARBER (1936) Songs to write stories to… When things get so bad your protagonist starts having flashbacks to a war they never fought in. youtu.be/WAoLJ8GbA4Y?...

youtu.be

Vienna Philharmonic & Gustavo Dudamel – Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (SNC 2019)

YouTube video by Sony Classical

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Yesterday’s word count = 1,007 Well that answered the question 😁

A postcard of a crow pinned to my cork board

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Reposted by Ben Aaronovitch

Mitch Benn @mitchbenn.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Mitch Benn presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s DRACULA Lost for 120 years, restored, recreated and completely made up by MITCH BENN STRICTLY LIMITED RUN - FOUR PERFORMANCES ONLY 24/25 October www.tickettailor.com/events/circl... #dracula #gilbertandsullivan #operetta #mitchbenn

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 975 Break glass in case of emergency. COLD – JORGE MENDEZ (2013) Songs to write stories to…. When your protagonist is sad but it takes bloody days to write the scene. youtu.be/aWIE0PX1uXk?...

youtu.be

Sad Piano Music (THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY / Saddest Piano & Violin Ever!)

YouTube video by Jorge Mendez Music

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Yesterday's Word Count = 533 I've run out of things to post with the word count. Assuming I get any work done - this might be a bit boring for a couple of days...

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Thanks for all the postcard stuff - that was very useful. Now does anyone know whether trick or treating is a popular past time in Sidcup.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Quick Old fogies question for research. Do people send postcards anymore?

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 844 BESSIE HEAD – EMPTY BED BLUES Listen to them lyrics man, she ain’t messing about and that’s no lie. youtu.be/Mc7RQCQAtKU?...

youtu.be

Bessie Smith-Empty Bed Blues

YouTube video by Traveler Into The Blue

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 955 WAR GAMES (1983) I can’t remember where but fairly certain I must of… “Confidence is high…” And that was a big f*ck off set! youtu.be/cHkB0SPLd7o?...

youtu.be

Wargames (1983)

YouTube video by YouTube Movies

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 856 SNEAKERS (1992) Peter references his inability to work out where he’s being taken when kidnapped. youtu.be/YoIqiOlMoSk?... Scene referenced… youtu.be/YoIqiOlMoSk?... Which BTW they totally nicked from Hitchcock.

youtu.be

Sneakers

YouTube video by YouTube Movies

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 911 DUNE (1984) There seem to be some free films on YouTube – I assume their legal so I’ve decided to share some of the ones I’ve referenced in the books. Starting with “I was not here, the spice must flow.” youtu.be/kzrcf5ph0EI?...

youtu.be

Dune 1984

YouTube video by YouTube Movies

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 545 KARAOKE (1996) – by Dennis Potter. Potter's swansong, or rather one of two. He managed to persuade the BBC and Channel 4 to co-operate. Unheard of…. youtu.be/IwYlzSQTL2A?...

youtu.be

Karaoke (Dennis Potter 1996) E01 Tuesday

YouTube video by Tirdad Derakhshani

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 838 Another pic from my research ramblings.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I’ve been out and about researching stuff for Rivers 12

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

THE WORKBENCH! Rivers 11 - Copy-edit checked and returned to publisher. UNTITLED SIDE NOVEL - halfway point reached. Rivers 12 - Research Underway. Pythagoreans, Wren, Coffee Houses, The Great Fire. Archway Road. Post war transport planning.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Ha - does anyone know the proper print spelling of Babylon Five's Z’Ha’Dum?

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Yesterday's Word Count = 1,072 Today we start ploughing through the Rivers 11 Copyedit. I have one of the best copyeditors, @steveeditor.bsky.social, around and boy are they thorough so this could take some time. Expect low word counts for at least a week ☺️

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 541 LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR (1993) – by Dennis Potter. You sing, you dance, you learn Russian. youtu.be/ByKuc7421c8?...

youtu.be

Lipstick On Your Collar (Dennis Potter 1993) S01E01

YouTube video by Tirdad Derakhshani

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 601 BLADE ON THE FEATHER (1980) by Dennis Potter Right I think we’re going to have to dip into some Potter. Or at least a small sample. Donald Pleasance vs Tom Conti. youtu.be/mf9_D095H_E?...

youtu.be

Blade on the Feather (1980) by Dennis Potter

YouTube video by Interior Castle

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I see they’ve stopped trying to let the Black Cat fall down so they can ‘redevelop’ i. Hooray.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 793 LILO AND STITCH (2002) “Thus far you have been adrift in the sheltered harbor of my patience…” COBRA BUBBLES (voiced by Ving Rhames) (*also “Trust me, this is not gonna end well!”)

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I’m making pottage. Why? Hard to say really…

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 656 I’ve temporarily run of new things so I’m putting some Steeleye Span on to tide me over. Run, run, I won’t give in! youtu.be/jbz00rMkqHs?...

youtu.be

The Fox

YouTube video by Steeleye Span - Topic

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 845 SCROOGED (1988) Ghost of Christmas Past: Let's face it, Frank. Garden slugs got more out of life than you. Frank Cross: Yeah? Name one! (played by Bill Murray and David Johansen (*also: the bitch hit me with a toaster!)

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

What I like about the research phase is learning more about things you thought you already knew.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 869 SCROOGED (1988) Ghost of Christmas Past: Let's face it, Frank. Garden slugs got more out of life than you. Frank Cross: Yeah? Name one! (played by Bill Murray and David Johansen (*also: the bitch hit me with a toaster!)

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 1086 SUPERMAN 3 (1983) You know a wise man once said, I think it was Attila the Hun, "It is not enough that I succeed, everyone else must fail." Ross Webster (played by Robert Vaughn)

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 758 Oh shit I've temporarily run out of TV themes. GOOD TIMES - Nile Rodgers & CHIC Of course some of us (not me) could dance… youtu.be/51r5f5OdIY0?...

youtu.be

Good Times

YouTube video by Chic - Topic

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 939 THE PERSUADERS (1971) Arguably one of the best title themes ever. Composed by John Barry youtu.be/Ca8LhyS9kEg?...

youtu.be

The Persuaders! Ep.1 | Overture | Full Episode

YouTube video by ITV Retro

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 611 UFO (1970) My absolute favourite title sequence of all time upon which I judge all other title sequences and find them mostly wanting. It lays out the whole format in one go. Composer – go on guess, I bet you can’t… youtu.be/j2PoXfZdYVU?...

youtu.be

Gerry Anderson's UFO (1970) - Opening Titles

YouTube video by Gerry Anderson

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Possibly under the influence of my new grail diary I started watching bookish and my god does Mark Gatiss want to play the Doctor - and you know - why not?

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Yesterday’s word count = 790 After much experimenting I have adopted the ‘grail diary’ school of note taking. Which is like journaling only much less organised.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Got a good one for train nuts. Harrow on the Hill November 1923 - Metropolitan Line - steam drawn suburban trains switch their engines to electric for the run into London. At the platform, at a depot - details anyone.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 600 RANDALL AND HOPKIRK (DECEASED) (1969) You can seem me but no one else can. Composer Edwin Astley (David Arnold did the theme for the remake) youtu.be/UrEwN4-tsQ4?...

youtu.be

Edwin Astley - Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) Theme

YouTube video by BaronVonPenguin

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 631 THE PRISONER (1967) What do want? Information. Whose side are you on? That would be telling. Composed by Ron Grainer (of Doctor who fame) youtu.be/0a1_v-BJ-Wc?...

youtu.be

The Prisoner (1967) | HD Opening Titles

YouTube video by Imprint Films

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 1,037 JOE 90 (1968) Beloved of talking foxes everywhere… Composer Barry (wasn’t he a busy boy in the 1960s) Gray youtu.be/VDjmSYDq7es?...

youtu.be

Gerry Anderson's Joe 90 (1968) - HD Opening Titles

YouTube video by Gerry Anderson

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 911 CAPTAIN SCARLET AND THE MYSTERIONS (1967) THE END TITLE SONG They crash him, and his body may burn. They smash him, but they know he’ll return, To live again. Composer Barry Gray, Performed by the Spectrums. youtu.be/Az9O2Ry2QqA?...

youtu.be

Captain Scarlet (The Spectrum Version)

YouTube video by Barry Gray - Topic

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 964 SKID ROW (Downtown) – ALAN MENKEN Somebody tell Lady Luck that I’m stuck here… This song makes me explicably angry – every single time. youtu.be/1xPq6W1EoIc?...

youtu.be

Little Shop Of Horrors - Skid Row (Downtown)

YouTube video by Volgus Zildrohar

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Okay one of my characters just became a bit more sinister than I was expecting... #writing #bloodycharacters

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer with an idea is in want of a notebook- so the real question is - how many?

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Reposted by Ben Aaronovitch

James Swallow @jmswallow.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

5, 4, 3, 2, 1! The countdown to Sunday 7pm begins! Get an exclusive look at the #Thunderbirds International Rescues short fiction collection with me & the @gerryanderson.bsky.social Podcast team - and be in with a chance to win a copy! Details at the link: youtu.be/VJA4fc_QJYk

The Gerry Anderson Podcast presents INTERNATIONAL RESCUES!

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Getting some use at last from my reading stand.

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 711 THUNDERBIRDS (1965) …are GO! Composed by Barry Gray. youtu.be/huPB3T0v_uQ?...

youtu.be

Classic Thunderbirds Opening Credits - Thunderbirds

YouTube video by Thunderbirds

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 1063 THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE (2000) “Maybe I’m new to this whole rescuing thing but this to me might be considered, kind of, a step backwards.” Emperor Kusco (played by David Spader) (*also – “Well he ain't getting any deader. Back to work.”

Emperor Kusco from Disney's The Emperor’s New Groove

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Ben Aaronovitch @benaaronovitch.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Yesterday’s Word Count = 783 ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975) “I ask for nothing.” “And you shall receive it – in ABUNDANCE!” Magenta and Dr. Frank-N-Furter (played by Patricia Quinn and Tim Curry) (*sing it with me now – “Science Fiction double feature…” youtu.be/arvF2rdUg3Q?...

youtu.be

Rocky Horror Picture Show clip

YouTube video by Sean Ryno

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