zines | Chris Aldrich

Clack! Analog Attitude for the Digital Age – Vol. 1 – Summer 2026

Yesterday at the QWERTY Typewriter Festival in Carson, CA, Bryan Mahoney of The Typin’ Pint released Issue 01 of his new zine Clack!

I’ve just finished reading it this morning (from cover to cover, though I admit I haven’t finished the crossword yet) and it is truly fantastic! There’s so much to love inside its pages. My favorite parts were the poem (who doesn’t love a good clown story?!), numbers 9 and 11 of Tom Hanks’ “Eleven Reasons to Use a Typewriter” and Sarah Everett‘s essay about Barbie typewriters which has the cleverest of titles.

It’s so jam-packed with typewriter-y and analog goodness that the editor didn’t have the space to include a table of contents, so for those who need one, I’ve typewritten one which I’m including below.

The limited zine release has 500 numbered copies. Brian got the first two copies, Tom Hanks snagged numbers 3, 4, and 5. First in line, I managed to get issue number 6. I saw Michael Hanttula swipe number 7, and Lyn, who had just purchased a lovely duo-toned gray Royal Royalite typewriter moments before, got number 8. Which number(s) will you collect?

Because there really ought to be an issue number 2 and 3, I’m already brainstorming things that I might type up for them. And if somehow that doesn’t happen, then they’ll just have to go into my own zine…

Protected: For the IndieWeb: A method for private posts shared with those who have a shared context

Checked into Altadena Public Library - Main

First person in line for the re-opening of the Altadena Libaries curbside pick up after they’ve been closed for a while due to the pandemic lockdown.

This also means I’ve managed to snag the Orion StarBlast 4.5″ Altazimuth Reflector Telescope! Their Library of Things options are fantastic and it’s great that they’re able to loan out so many useful items. I can’t wait to do some enhanced stargazing this week.

I also picked up a copy of Encyclopedia Brown: Tracks them Down.

The library also donated a box full of children and YA titles and a dozen copies of their new Books I’ve Loved in 2020 zine to put into Little Free Library #8424.

Listened to Episode 2 - Zines! by This Is Altadena from This is Altadena (Podomatic)

What is a zine? The name "zine" is a shortened version of "fanzine" which is a portmanteau of the word "fan" and "magazine". Most people that think of zines think of punk rock and the punk community, where the DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos is more than just a slogan, it's a way of life. In truth, "zines" have been around for centuries, going back to Thomas Paine's famous pamphlet "Common Sense". These homemade publications can be about anything their creators desire - music, art, politics, or something personal. Chloe Cavelier sits down for a conversation with library staffer and resident zine expert Alice Wynne to discuss the past, present and future of zines and Altadena Public Library's very own zine collection. Later Chloe speaks with Bob Lucas Branch manager Diana Wong to discuss Bob's new and improved demonstration garden. Subscribe to This Is Altadena at any and all of the places you get podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

I got a copy of the library’s zine last Friday. This is such a cool project. They’ve reached out to me briefly as a steward of a Little Free Library, but I’ll have to stop in and pick up a few copies to have in my library.

I’d like to join the next session to see what I might add to help people bring their zines into online spaces as well. I see a lot of overlap here with some of my work with the IndieWeb.