Kali Kambo

Weeknote 004

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:37:12 -0500

Zines

Lots of zines updates.

How to find your whimsy is a zine I created with my sister. It includes a variety of ideas and photos for adding everyday joy to your life. (Along the lines of, joy is resistance.) I designed a couple new stickers to go along with the zine. Just sent the order for printing today.
I made a digital collage for Pocket Thoughts Annual 8, which includes work from creators all over the world.
Today I submitted a page for a friend’s sci-fi and fantasy zine.
I got accepted to the local zine fest, which is in April, so I’m planning for that.

TV shows

Wonder Man (Disney Plus). More of a character-driven show than a superhero show, but I liked it.

Veronica Mars (Netflix). I didn’t watch Veronica Mars when it was originally on TV. Several friends have told me I would probably like it, so I started watching this week. Too early to tell if I like it.

Teen Wolf (the MTV show, on Netflix). Teen Wolf is one of my favorite shows. I am due for a re-watch, but I’ll probably stop after season 3. I didn’t like the later seasons as much.

Movies

I watched the live action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Unfortunately, I thought it was boring since it’s essentially a copy of the original animated one. But I thought the cast was all good in their roles. I would have liked to see a new story instead.

Reading

I started reading two books this week.

The Ministry of Time by Kailane Bradley

Acts of Resistance: The Power of Art to Create a Better World by Amber Massie-Blomfield

Miscellaneous

I’ve been trying different kinds of tinned fish (before I knew it was trending online). So far I have had tuna (plain and with lemon), sardines (in olive oil and in water), salmon (smoked and not smoked), and smoked rainbow trout.

Today for lunch, I warmed up a tin of sardines in a frying pan with olive oil from the tin (and I added a little more olive oil). I put the sardines over leftover rice, and I had leftover steamed veggies, too. Delicious.

I’m getting an itch to change up my blog again. Even move to a new platform. BUT, I do not want to take on that project between now and zine fest, so I am just thinking about it for now. Most likely, I would move to Pika. I have heard all good things about Pika, and I’ve been following their updates and announcements. If you use Pika, I’d love to hear about your experience! Send me a message.

If you’re being affected by a winter storm this weekend, stay safe!

Zine trade

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:01:33 -0500

All of these zines are from @putapotofwateron. We traded through the mail. 😃

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:33:56 -0500

📺 Watched “Wonder Man” on Disney Plus. More of a character-driven show than a superhero show, but I liked it.

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 21:39:11 -0500

Finished reading: Twelve Months by Jim Butcher 📚

Gentleness is power that chooses to restrain itself. That is under control. Gentleness is someone strong who makes the choice to be careful with that strength.

–pg. 335

Happiness is peace in action. And peace is happiness at rest. And neither one has to be perfect to be real.

–pg. 462

Weeknote 003

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:57:59 -0500

TV shows

Percy Jackson (Disney Plus). The final episode was just meh, unfortunately.

Orphan Black (Netflix). I’m in season 2.

Reading

Effortless by Greg McKeown

Spider-Gwen #1: Gwen Stacy with Chris Visions (Illustrator) and Robbi Rodriguez (Illustrator)

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher. Dresden Files fans are being spoiled this year. In addition to Twelve Months, there’s a short story and a novella coming out in the spring.

Miscellaneous

I tried onigiri (Japanese rice balls) for the first time this week. I got a couple for lunch at a boba tea shop. And later in the week, I tried making my own at home. Definitely a good lunch option!

I’m trying to balance staying informed with the news without getting too overwhelmed.

If you’re being affected by a winter storm this weekend, stay safe!

Weeknote 002

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 14:13:47 -0500

On the blog

I made a little collage. I’m trying to practice more of making something without an end goal. Collage seems to be a good way for me to do that.

I made an 88x31 button for trading zines. I have it in the footer of my sites and linking to my zine trading page. You’re welcome to use the button, too.

TV shows

Percy Jackson (Disney Plus). One more episode left this season.

Orphan Black (Netflix). I finished season 1 and started season 2.

Movies

Arrival. I saw this when it was in theaters, and I had a hankering to watch it again. I forgot how quiet this movie is.

Reading

Effortless by Greg McKeown

Spider-Gwen #1: Gwen Stacy with Chris Visions (Illustrator) and Robbi Rodriguez (Illustrator)

Zine updates

I posted my 2025 zine recap.

I finished Planetesimal Issue 2.

I applied to the local zine fest, which is in April.

Miscellaneous

Letterbird 2.0 is now available. This is a simple contact form that you can use as a standalone page or embed on your website. The free version is great, and there are some nice additional features in the paid version. (This isn’t an ad. I’ve been using Letterbird for over a year, and I love how easy it is.)

A button for trading zines

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:56:02 -0500

I found ritual.sh’s button generator via Robb and wanted to try it out.

I made an 88x31 button for trading zines:

I put the button in the footer of this site and my zine site, and I linked to my page about trading zines.

You’re welcome to use this button on your own site. Please save the button and upload it to your site (rather than hotlink).

I would appreciate credit or a link back to me (kalikambo.com), but it’s not required.

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:23:12 -0500

I made a little collage tonight.

Weeknote 001

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 22:44:04 -0500

I haven’t done weeknotes on my blog in about ten years. I want to give it another go, but I don’t see myself doing these every single week. So, I’m going to number them (like Robb).

Side note: I’m continuing my monthly newsletter, which will overlap some notes from weeknotes. And that’s okay. Everything builds.

So this week –

On the blog

I posted my lists for 2025 books and movies.

TV shows

Percy Jackson (Disney Plus) . It’s fun to watch, even though the show suffers from the same thing as many other streaming shows. Instead of episodes that build the story over the season, it feels like one giant movie. So it goes.

Orphan Black (Netflix). This show has been on my list to watch for a longgggggg time. Apparently all 5 seasons were added to Netflix last September, but I didn’t know. I saw the show while I was browsing today, by chance, and immediately hit the play button.

Movies

Tron: Ares (Disney Plus). Tron: Legacy is a great movie, and I really wanted to like Ares. But this is just okay. Characters are thin. The story is a bit too simple. The special effects are the best part, but that’s pretty much a given for a Tron movie.

Reading

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I finished reading this, and I wish I could recommend it. The book explores a lot of emotional themes, and it has received a lot of praise. But I struggle with novels where the main characters are not likeable.

Arts & crafts

I feel like I’ve been spending more time organizing than making things the last couple weeks. But some art projects are in progress.

The current zine I’m working on is Planetesimal Issue 2. I have one page to finish writing, and then it’s time for test prints.
I submitted a page to a contributor zine that’s coming out in February. More to come on that.
I got a new bead board with different diameters for bracelet sizes. It should make measuring easier and faster.
I got a new watercolor sketchbook to use with a watercolor set I got at Christmas. Watercolor kind of intimidates me. It feels like a process I can’t wrap my head around. I’d like to take some time just practicing, rather than trying to paint something right away.

Movies I watched in 2025

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:10:28 -0500

Here’s the list of movies I watched in 2025. Titles with an asterisk (*) after them are ones I recommend.

My top 5, in no particular order

Superman (2025) *
Ballerina (John Wick spin-off) *
Speed (re-watch) *
First Man
Super/Man (documentary) *

Sci-fi and fantasy

Spider-Man (2002, re-watch) *
Spider-Man 2 (re-watch) *
Spider-Man 3 (re-watch)
Jurassic World: Rebirth
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (re-watch) *
KPop Demon Hunters
Wicked *
Ladyhawke
Land of the Lost (2009)

Grab bag

Karate Kid: Legends *
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Sixteen Candles
Get Shorty
Practical Magic

If you’d like to see movies I’ve watched in the past, I have a list going back to 2015. 🍿

Books I read in 2025

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:51:07 -0500

Books with an asterisk (*) are ones I liked a lot.

*How to Resist Amazon and Why by Danny Caine (non-fiction)

*Crossover vol 1: Kids Love Chains by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw (graphic novel)

Fables: Book One by Bill Willingham (graphic novel)

Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber (non-fiction)

*Essentialism by Greg McKeown (non-fiction, reread)

Unthink by Erik Wahl (non-fiction)

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman (fantasy)

If you’d like to see books I’ve read in the past, I have a whole list going back to 2011. 📚

I joined The Story Graph a few weeks ago, and I’ll be tracking my 2026 reading there. If you want to be book friends, I’m @kalikambo. I’ll still post about books I’m reading here on this blog, too.

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:02:31 -0500

Watched: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery 🍿

3/5 ⭐️

It was just alright. I still think the first Knives Out movie is the best one.

Recent zine mail

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 15:49:43 -0500

I’m finally catching up on zine mail. These are from the last two months or so. 📬

Witches' Brew #4, 9, 10, 17, and 19; Queer Quest #3; A Bunny Birthday Zine by Echo Zines (Some of these were trades, so thank you!)

Continuity Error by Arthur Mooseman (via Wasted Ink Zine Distro)

Pieces from the end of the matchbox by Andreana Rosnik (trade - thank you!)

Fall Instar; Illustrated Collage and Natural History; Openions by Wormy Orchids

What Can A Ghost Look Like? by Guilty Zines

Home Alone by Faith Lyons

Void Space by Elizabeth Allen Berry

Blood Pen Magazine #4 by Colin Sellers (via Wasted Ink Zine Distro)

This is the Blueberry Queen by elisarocket

Seasons Vol. II; Mr. Marker Zine; Neon Fish Zine by Galaxy Zine (trade - thank you!)

Pocket Thoughts #33 and #34; Eat the Rich; Have Mercy by Pocket Thoughts (trade - thank you!)

Stardew Valley Appreciation Zine by bramblebug

Witches' Brew #20 by Echo Zines

Freshly Squeezed by Jude Pup (trade - thank you!)

Rainbow Scale; Hello News Issue #8 by Elisa Milan

Books every artist, maker, & creative needs to read by Karina Hagelin

You Really Need to Make a Zine! by Leanne Delux

The Office of Lunar Occultation by Allison C. Meier

How to Have Fun at the Ren Faire by Katie Haegele, Joe Carlough, and Emily Penrose

Behind the Zines 20 (various authors) via Antiquated Future

Mail Blog - March 26, 2022 (gifted by véronique - thank you!)

Black Tea #8 by Jason Martin, Jason Young, and Lyal Michel (via Antiquated Future)

Adapt: A Zine About How To Keep Making Art edited by Kelley Meister

Riva Nova: Flash Fiction From the Kitchen by Drew Siasoco-Campbell (trade - thank you!)

Manhole Covers: The World Underfoot by Allison C. Meier and Bronwyn Hazelwood

Sages, Mages, & Wisdom Machines Issue 1 by Parker Settecase

This last one is not a zine, but a full-blown comic book!

Cakeknife Chapter 2: Remnants Part Two by Lucas Keener

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:21:15 -0500

🎵 Solstice Baby by Xmas Movie Soundtrack - One of my former co-workers used to write music (I had no idea!), and he released a new track earlier this month. He’s not making Christmas music but rather music about Christmas.

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:17:25 -0500

How to Get Art Opportunities When You’re Not on Facebook and Instagram

Exactly what the title says.

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:13:14 -0500

Trapped in Notion’s Second Brain — How Notes Joined the Attention Economy (and How to Break Free!) - A great video essay about how note-taking apps can be useful, of course, but also they can create busy work and take time away from real work.

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:38:54 -0500

Finished reading: The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman 📚

3/5 ⭐️

The first half is especially slow-paced, and it feels like the book is much longer than it needs to be. Many of the chapters could have been cut without missing anything important.

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 13:23:59 -0500

How to disable AI features across many services

I’ve been meaning to do this for Gmail. Easy instructions to follow. It’s annoying that we have to opt out of AI features, instead of opt in.

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:47:27 -0500

Writing Alt Text for Data Visualization found via Accessibility Awareness.

The ketchup test

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 20:39:39 -0500

If you have French fries, and you need ketchup (or any other condiment) to eat them, those are not good French fries.

Good fries can be eaten by themselves. No ketchup needed.

But if you like having ketchup with fries, that’s totally fine.

Portfolio migration

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 19:05:46 -0500

A couple years ago, I created a work portfolio on Journo Portfolio. I like it as a portfolio site overall, but it’s focused on writing samples (or images, if you’re a graphic designer or photographer). I found it’s difficult to showcase a broader range of marketing projects, which is the type of work I have in my portfolio.

This weekend I started re-doing my portfolio as Canva slides. I’m moving over to Canva for a few reasons.

I spend a lot of time in Canva already, so there is no learning curve for me.
I like working with Canva slides more than PowerPoint or Google Slides.
I have flexibility in slide layouts to easily include text, images, and links. For example, I can include context and impacts for each project, which is difficult to do on Journo Portfolio. Their layout is very much, look at the thing I made, and that’s it.
Right now, I have three categories of projects–marketing content, internal communications, and sales enablement. If I want to make different versions of my portfolio to focus on only one type of work, I can do that easily in Canva.
I can point a custom URL to the slides' public URL, so they are still easy to share.

I’m re-making and also updating my portfolio, so I’m not just copy and pasting content from my portfolio site over to Canva. Gathering project info and images is taking a bit of time. But I like the direction that the slides are going. They’re a better representation of my work and experience.

Sketchbook pages

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:11:35 -0500

For the past three Saturdays, I’ve been spending wonderful afternoons in a local workshop series called “Living Sketchbook.” We were encouraged to use sketchbooks as tools to capture ideas, experiment with types of media, and try new approaches.

During the first workshop, we spent some time writing about the past week. Then we drew over the text. The drawing could be related to the text, or it could be separate.

We spent the second workshop collaging. I liked looking for different textures or contrasting colors to glue next to each other.

The third workshop was to experiment with using different types of media together. I chose Tombow brush pens and Ink Joy gel pens — two things I haven’t tried using together in the same drawing.

Up to now, I’ve used sketchbooks on and off, when I had an idea to work on or new tools to try out. I didn’t know what made sense for me to do in a sketchbook on a consistent basis. This workshop series was helpful to see different approaches to keeping a sketchbook practice.

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:06:19 -0500

📺 I’m re-watching Continuum and currently in season 3. It’s a show that starts out interesting and gets better with each season. And okay it’s a bit unsettling that it was made a decade ago and feels even more relevant in 2025.

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:09:56 -0500

Capacities - A note-taking app where each piece of info is treated as an “object.” I watched a demo video and don’t think it’s a good fit for me, at least for now. Noting it here for future reference.

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 15:22:04 -0500

A whole bunch of blogging tips and tools curated by Robert Birming