iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by David Belbin

Sam Weller @samwellerauthor.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is the most remarkable story Ray Bradbury ever shared with me. He told it to me late one night, sitting in his den of antiquities and mementos. Take five minutes to read this. It’s pure magic. #Writing #Living #Creativity #RayBradbury #BookSky

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jameswalker2024.bsky.social @jameswalker2024.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Really loved Beth Steele's Till the Stars Come Home at Nottingham Playhouse. Felt like I was at the wedding with the audience interaction and music. Felt great to go the theatre and laugh at some killer one liners instead of watching people get killed on TV. nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/events/till-...

nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk

Till the Stars Come Down - Nottingham Playhouse

Beth Steel’s Olivier-nominated, uproariously funny family drama comes to Nottingham for the first time in this regional premiere.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I'm hosting a Q & A with Taghi Amirani & legendary film editor Walter Murch (The Godfather) about their fascinating film, Coup 53 at Broadway next week. How the UK & US brought down a left-wing Iranian president, a coup whose ramifications reverberate to this day. www.broadway.org.uk/whats-on/cou...

@broadwaycinema.bsky.social 6pm Wednesday September 30. Poster for Coup 53

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Great news, as this is no longer available on YouTube (I liked recently), although you can still find his brilliant performance in Poliakoff’s debut tv play debut, Hitting Town, there.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

‘There’s a criminal energy about the Russian regime, and they really don’t care if they kill people collaterally. In fact, I think they rather want that, because it’s a test: how will Nato respond?’: Very good @carolecadwalla.bsky.social interview with Luke Harding. www.thenerve.news/p/russia-war...

thenerve.news

‘The UK has been promoted to Russia’s main opponent’: Luke Harding on Putin, Trump and the potential for a new European war

The Guardian foreign correspondent, who was expelled from Moscow in 2011, tells Carole Cadwalladr he thinks the Kremlin, struggling to make headway with its invasion, will attempt a provocation agains...

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

If you enjoyed D-Day movie 'Pressure', you may like to see this short 1964 Richard Dimbleby interview with James Stagg, the meteorologist played so effectively by Andrew Scott. Stagg comes over very like Scott's character in the film: modest yet utterly determined. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKgi...

youtube.com

1964: James Stagg - The Meteorologist Who Delayed D-Day | The Hour Approaches | BBC Archive

YouTube video by BBC Archive

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My favourite five albums when I was 18, reconstructed. Can - Tago Mago Nick Drake - Pink Moon Neil Young - On the Beach Millie Jackson - Caught Up Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde Runner up: The Songs of Leonard Cohen

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The wonderful St Etienne aka @bobpetesarah.bsky.social saying goodbye in Sheffield last night. The best of their 3 shows I've seen at the old Leadmill, with the most love in the room I've ever heard (and I've seen Arctic Monkeys there!) + super setlist full of favourites. Nothing can stop us indeed.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The story about AI inventing its own language is interesting but the Floyd bit disturbed me. “Of the Anthropic agent’s phrase, “A paper that ate three cold hands and got more honest each time”, he said: “it reminds me of the rock god Syd Barrett [co-founder of Pink Floyd], who was actually insane.”

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A heartwarming hour discussing Bill Forsyth's 1st three movies. The conversation focuses on Local Hero, one of my favourite films of all time. Peter Riegert in particularly good form (no Bill F except on tape, sadly, or Burt, obvs, or Capaldi). www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @jonathancoe.bsky.social

bbc.co.uk

The Reunion - Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero - BBC Sounds

Cast members from landmark Scottish films Gregory's Girl and Local Hero are reunited.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Fair review. I watched Almodovar’s first, ‘Pepsi, Luci, Bom…’ recently (loved it) and there were structural overlaps with this, which feels like it might be his last. But then, to adapt Philip Roth, it’s all one movie.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Contrasting but cracking gigs. From a Dexys' instore at Rough Trade round the corner to Peggy's Skylight for The Necks, who played 2 hour-long improvisations. Mesmerising. Kevin in great voice. 3 oldies at the end, The Waltz, Jackie Wilson Said and Geno. Here's a new one one I relate to: 'Old Love'.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Entertained by a Dutch lemon, carrot and orange at a rough trade instore tonight. Lovely stuff from the fruit and vegetables aka Personal Trainer.

Band on stage at start of encore, costumes partly discarded. Might be a banana in the middle rather than a lemon.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

If you can get to Sheffield over the next fortnight, don’t miss Ian McDiarmud’s stupendous performance as King Lear (pretty much everything else about the Crucible production is bloody good too, but Ian’s fantastic).

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Neither Gershwin’s estate (4 lines) or R.E.M. (2) billed me when my first novel came out in 1990. But when I got successful and it was reissued with a new cover in ‘98, my new editor thought she’d better get permissions. My favourite band had a no quote rule. Ira’s lot wanted £325. So I paraphrased.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The Cure (Siouxie) Black Eyed Peas (Macy Gray) Billy Bragg (Paul Heaton) Paul Heaton (Squeeze) Kid Creole (ABC) The Sundays (Throwing Muses) Nick Lowe (Elvis Costello) Aimee Mann (World Party) Kid Rock (Alice Cooper) Bob Mould (can’t recall) Guess which 1 I left before the headliner came on.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Rewatched for 1st time since 1976, Poliakoff's Hitting Town, with its controversial incest theme & Lynne Miller's brilliant Dylan scream, which has stayed with me. Not as much fun as its successor, City Sugar, in which Tim Curry, in terrific form, is DJ Leonard Brazil www.youtube.com/watch?v=HALt...

youtube.com

Plays for Britain - Hitting Town (1976) by Stephen Poliakoff & Peter Gill

YouTube video by Play For Forever

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I found this underneath. So, no, I won't be concealing the cover with a Mylar sleeve after all. That'd be wrong. A great book, whatever the cover (and sorry Bluesky flagged the previous image because Gray put nipples on the cherubic breasts).

The word Lanark appear down the spine, the A and R being reused for the motto that runs across the whole cover 'Endure. You are not alone.'

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

41 years late, I've just finished reading the 'definitive' 1985 edition of Alasdair Gray's masterpiece, 'Lanark'. Given mine's a signed, numbered hardback, thought I'd treat the book to a mylar cover A friendly library sometimes helps me out in protecting rare books. Only when I took the jacket off

Dustjacket of 1985 'definitive' edition of Lanark

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

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Lord Beestonia @beestonia.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Really sad about Dolly Parton, who did immeasurable good to local literacy AND had a crack at the our greeting www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...

bbc.co.uk

Do people really say 'ay up me duck?'

Dolly Parton, Angelina Jolie and Prince Harry have all said "ay up me duck", but do people in the East Midlands actually use the phrase?

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Reposted by David Belbin

Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton, among a thousand other amazing things she did in her life, gifted over 330 million books to kids through her Imagination Library program. Her passing is a tremendous loss to the world, but you can support the program today to keep it going imaginationlibrary.com

imaginationlibrary.com

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library | USA, UK, IE, CA, AU

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

A fond farewell to beautiful Dolly Parton, a wonderful singer & songwriter. Her Imagination Library, which has given countless books to young children in Nottingham & all over the world, will continue, I'm sure. The most inspired, imaginative, important example of selfless philanthropy I know of.

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Reposted by David Belbin

Michael Gray @michaelgray1.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Our house is for sale, and in French Property News this month; contact www.frenchestateagents.com/.../giles-ti...

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The anger burning through this polemic about Jason Arday is both exhilarating and necessary. Will Self, at a time in his life where he has nothing left to lose, tears apart much of the British media with all guns blazing. I also learnt a useful new word: 'hebeprenic'. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

Jason Arday: J'Accuse the British Media

After the death of Jason Arday, Will Self asks what happens when the media machine mistakes what interests the public for the public interest.

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Reposted by David Belbin

Lisa Rullsenberg @rullsenberg.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Please take note - if you can get to Trafalgar Square, feel able to go but otherwise respect the family's wishes.

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Reposted by David Belbin

Paul Fillingham @thinkamigo.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Television Talk - A Creative Chinwag with James Walker substack.com/@thinkamigo/...

substack.com

Television Talk

A Creative Chinwag with James Walker

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Great article. An astonishing detail about Baldwin, the last bit of which seems gobsmacking today: He was a committed Christian and a paternalistic employer; uncomfortable with the family business’s excess wartime profits, he anonymously donated a fifth of his fortune to the Treasury after it ended.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Sick. The University crisis still hasn’t sunk in, but any party that wants to win an election is going to have to come up with a plan sooner or later.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I have every issue, yet stopped reading Love and Rockets in '23 after a bereavement, so only just got round to opening the three-year-old issue 14 of the new series. It shows Los Bros Hernandez ahead of the curve, as always.

Cover of L&R 14, with a boy in shorts wearing a red T-shirt with the large motto 'FUCK AI' in yellow.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

The bridge, commissioned by Emperor Constantine I & inaugurated ⁠in A.D. 328, linked the ancient city of Ulpia Oescus with Sucidava in what is now Romania. Stretching more than 2 km (1.2 miles), it is regarded as one of the longest bridges of ⁠antiquity. Sadly, the video is unwatchable due to ads.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Oxfam shop find, a copy of the first LP by The Chieftains, from 1964, which I'd never heard before. It's lovely. Not especially rare and this VG copy had been steadily reduced from a silly opening sally of £20 to a more reasonable £3.99. Nice to have.

Album cover, with nice pencil drawing and Paddy Moloney's name first.

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Reposted by David Belbin

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The Beatles' Revolver was released 60 years ago today. Didn't get my copy until the 70s as it was the first Fabs LP my parents didn't buy (too weird?). I only knew Yellow Submarine. Took me 30 years to realise I'd bought the mono 'alternative' version with this on it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgo...

youtube.com

Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono Mix RM 11)

YouTube video by The Beatles - Topic

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

youtube.com

Tomorrow Never Knows (Mono Mix RM 11)

YouTube video by The Beatles - Topic

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

This hot afternoon my pal Ray Robinson and I visited the street where Kevin Coyne grew up in Normanton and the erstwhile Derby School of Art where he studied. There's a plaque, but he deserves so much more recognition. Here we are on our travels.

Robinson on Kitchener Avenue, Normanton.

The former Derby School of Art, owned by Derby University but seemingly abandoned.

The plaque reads: Kevin Coyne 1944-2004 Musician, lyricist, composer and painter Studied here 1961-1965 Awarded by BBC Radio Derby.

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Two years ago I took redundancy from my temporary (22 years, as it turned out) part-time Creative Writing gig in academia. This new New Yorker cartoon by Guy Richards Smith neatly sums up what has happened to the Arts & Humanities since.

Dark haired man in an armchair (seen from behind) faces three managers (two smart females, one male in a suit) who are set at a table in front of a fireplace in a book-lined, high ceiling room. One of them, probably the woman in the middle, is saying "Not only are we denying you tenure–we're closing your department and setting the entire university on fire just to be safe."

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Reposted by David Belbin

David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Graham Greene in Nottingham at Bromley House Library 2pm, September 12th. I'll be talking about four months in which Greene trained to be a journalist, adopted a dog, wooed the woman he married and - at breakneck pace - converted to Catholicism in our cathedral. www.eventim-light.com/uk/a/638cf86...

Text screen grabbed from https://www.eventim-light.com/uk/a/638cf86b7e8bfe52ae3fd363/e/6a61f158813a5caf8bbcb393

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

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David Willoughby @davidwilloughby.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Once more, its Thora Hird taking out Nazis o’clock on @talkingpicturestv.bsky.social Harrowing, gripping Wartime drama ‘Went the Day Well’, adapted from a short story from Graham Greene, is screening 13:30 this afternoon

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Read two of this year’s longlist (2 more than usual) and agree with her remarks about Luke Kennard and John M Harrison (who was new to me & is great in a very Ballardian way). Several others I’m tempted by. This could just be a good Booker year. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

theguardian.com

This Booker longlist may have two previous winners, but it’s keen to experiment

Marlon James, Douglas Stuart and Elizabeth Strout may be names we know, but there’s a welcome element of absurdism and surrealist thought here

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Recently I read (forget where) about a song called 'Train', the only known Van Morrison out-take from Astral Weeks, which remains unreleased. Took some searching, but here it is, from a live performance in 1968, titled 'Train Train.' Good, albeit doesn't belong on AW. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gYw...

youtube.com

08 Train, Train (Van Morrison)

YouTube video by Robo

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Neil Brand on three months accompanying Laurel and Hardy. A lovely read. open.substack.com/pub/neilbran...

open.substack.com

Forty-eight at Sixty-eight.

Touring Laurel and Hardy

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Neil Brand on three months accompanying Laurel and Hardy. A lovely read. open.substack.com/pub/neilbran...

open.substack.com

Forty-eight at Sixty-eight.

Touring Laurel and Hardy

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David Belbin @davidbelbin.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

'He characterised the true soul of football.' Love this tribute to Kevin Keegan RIP (who I was lucky enough to see play at Anfield when I was a child) by @davidsquires.bsky.social at the end of his take-down of the Trump dominated world cup. Worth reading in full: www.theguardian.com/football/pic...

The day after the world cup the sad news broke that Keving Keegan had died - 'he characterised the true soul of football'.

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