diff --git a/site/assets/css/extended/custom.css b/site/assets/css/extended/custom.css
index 135fadb..bae901d 100644
--- a/site/assets/css/extended/custom.css
+++ b/site/assets/css/extended/custom.css
@@ -3,6 +3,175 @@
    themes/PaperMod submodule — those never get committed, and CI checks the
    submodule out fresh, so they would be missing from the deployed site. */
 
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   Palette
+
+   PaperMod ships a neutral grey on grey. This replaces both schemes with a
+   quieter green-slate pair: paper under morning light, and a desk lamp at
+   night. Every colour below is a redefinition of a PaperMod variable, plus
+   four of our own (--accent, --accent-soft, --accent-line, --warm, --wash),
+   so the rest of the theme picks the palette up without further overrides.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+:root {
+    --theme: #f2f5f3;
+    --entry: #ffffff;
+    --primary: #1e2b28;
+    --secondary: #5b6d68;
+    --tertiary: #d8e0db;
+    --content: #2b3a36;
+    --border: #e3eae5;
+    --code-bg: #e8efea;
+    --code-block-bg: #1b2523;
+
+    --accent: #14705f;
+    --accent-soft: rgba(20, 112, 95, 0.09);
+    --accent-line: rgba(20, 112, 95, 0.32);
+    --warm: #9a5f22;
+    --wash: rgba(20, 112, 95, 0.07);
+    --shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(30, 43, 40, 0.04), 0 8px 24px rgba(30, 43, 40, 0.05);
+    --shadow-hover: 0 2px 4px rgba(30, 43, 40, 0.06), 0 14px 32px rgba(30, 43, 40, 0.09);
+}
+
+:root[data-theme="dark"] {
+    --theme: #131917;
+    --entry: #1b2321;
+    --primary: #e0e8e4;
+    --secondary: #94a5a0;
+    --tertiary: #2c3a36;
+    --content: #c6d3ce;
+    --border: #26312e;
+    --code-bg: #202a27;
+    --code-block-bg: #0f1513;
+
+    --accent: #6ec7ae;
+    --accent-soft: rgba(110, 199, 174, 0.11);
+    --accent-line: rgba(110, 199, 174, 0.30);
+    --warm: #e0b478;
+    --wash: rgba(110, 199, 174, 0.06);
+    --shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25), 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.20);
+    --shadow-hover: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.30), 0 14px 32px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.28);
+}
+
+/* A single soft light source behind the header, fixed so it stays put while
+   long venue tables scroll. Low enough alpha to read as tint, not gradient. */
+body {
+    background-image: radial-gradient(1100px 420px at 50% -140px, var(--wash), transparent 72%);
+    background-attachment: fixed;
+}
+
+/* PaperMod tints list pages with --code-bg, which now belongs to code chips.
+   Keep every page on the same ground. */
+.list,
+[data-theme="dark"] .list {
+    background-color: var(--theme);
+}
+
+::selection {
+    background: var(--accent-soft);
+}
+
+:focus-visible {
+    outline: 2px solid var(--accent);
+    outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   Accent placement
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+.md-content a:not(.anchor) {
+    color: var(--accent);
+    text-decoration-color: var(--accent-line);
+}
+
+.md-content a:not(.anchor):hover {
+    text-decoration-color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+.md-content blockquote {
+    border-inline-start-color: var(--accent-line);
+}
+
+.menu .active {
+    color: var(--accent);
+    text-decoration-color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+.header {
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+}
+
+.post-entry {
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow);
+}
+
+.post-entry:hover,
+.post-entry:focus-within {
+    border-color: var(--accent-line);
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-hover);
+}
+
+.pagination a,
+.paginav a {
+    color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   Venue tables
+
+   The tracker is mostly tables, and PaperMod's full 1px grid is what made them
+   read as a spreadsheet. Rules run horizontally only; the header carries the
+   tint, and the hovered row tells you which venue you are reading across.
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
+.md-content table th,
+.md-content table:not(.highlighttable, .highlight table, .gist .highlight) td {
+    border: 0;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
+}
+
+.md-content table th {
+    background: var(--code-bg);
+    color: var(--secondary);
+    font-size: 0.8em;
+    font-weight: 600;
+    letter-spacing: 0.03em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    border-bottom: 1px solid var(--tertiary);
+}
+
+.md-content table tbody tr:hover {
+    background: var(--accent-soft);
+}
+
+/* Venue detail pages carry headerless fact tables. Their empty header row would
+   now show as a tinted bar above the first fact. */
+.md-content table thead:not(:has(th:not(:empty))) {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+/* In a table that does have headers, bold marks the one cell worth finding
+   first: the ICORE rank, the SCImago quartile, the cycle that is still open.
+   Warm keeps it separate from the run of dates beside it. Detail pages are
+   excluded — there bold marks every row label, which is not emphasis. */
+.md-content table:has(thead th:not(:empty)) td strong {
+    color: var(--warm);
+}
+
+/* Domains and tags are inline code spans. Chips, not code. */
+.md-content :not(pre) > code {
+    background: var(--accent-soft);
+    color: var(--accent);
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    padding: 0.15em 0.55em;
+    font-size: 0.72em;
+}
+
+/* ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+   Layout adjustments (predate the palette)
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------- */
+
 /* Shorter hero block: PaperMod reserves 320px / 260px for a lead image we
    don't use, which pushed the venue tables below the fold. */
 .first-entry {
@@ -19,7 +188,7 @@
    full title weight; the topic reads as a secondary breadcrumb. */
 .logo-sep {
     margin: 0 6px;
-    color: var(--secondary);
+    color: var(--tertiary);
     font-size: 24px;
     font-weight: 400;
 }
@@ -30,6 +199,10 @@
     color: var(--secondary);
 }
 
+.logo .logo-topic:hover {
+    color: var(--accent);
+}
+
 /* Topic cards on the home page. The stats line and the section shortcuts sit
    inside PaperMod's .post-entry, whose ::before overlay swallows clicks, so the
    shortcut links need to be lifted above it to stay clickable. */
@@ -44,6 +217,11 @@
     color: var(--secondary);
 }
 
+.topic-stats strong {
+    color: var(--primary);
+    font-weight: 600;
+}
+
 .topic-links {
     display: flex;
     gap: 16px;
@@ -53,7 +231,12 @@
 }
 
 .topic-links a {
-    box-shadow: 0 1px 0 var(--primary);
+    color: var(--accent);
+    box-shadow: 0 1px 0 var(--accent-line);
+}
+
+.topic-links a:hover {
+    box-shadow: 0 1px 0 var(--accent);
 }
 
 /* Intro copy above a list of cards. PaperMod gives .post-entry a bottom margin
diff --git a/site/content/cloud-edge/calendar/_index.md b/site/content/cloud-edge/calendar/_index.md
index e9581d1..b7864d5 100644
--- a/site/content/cloud-edge/calendar/_index.md
+++ b/site/content/cloud-edge/calendar/_index.md
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 ---
 title: Submission Deadlines
 layout: calendar
-generated: '2026-08-17T18:03:33Z'
+generated: '2026-08-17T18:20:48Z'
 draft: false
 events:
 - title: OSDI — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-12-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Baltimore, MD, USA
@@ -15,7 +16,8 @@ events:
 - title: OSDI — paper deadline
   start: '2026-12-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Baltimore, MD, USA
@@ -23,7 +25,8 @@ events:
 - title: OSDI — notification
   start: '2027-03-16'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Baltimore, MD, USA
@@ -31,7 +34,8 @@ events:
 - title: OSDI
   start: '2027-07-07'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2027-07-10'
   extendedProps:
@@ -39,7 +43,8 @@ events:
 - title: SOSP — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-03-26'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Prague, Czechia
@@ -47,7 +52,8 @@ events:
 - title: SOSP — paper deadline
   start: '2026-04-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Prague, Czechia
@@ -55,7 +61,8 @@ events:
 - title: SOSP — notification
   start: '2026-07-03'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Prague, Czechia
@@ -63,7 +70,8 @@ events:
 - title: SOSP
   start: '2026-09-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-10-03'
   extendedProps:
@@ -71,7 +79,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Spring — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-04-16'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -80,7 +89,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Spring — paper deadline
   start: '2026-04-23'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -89,7 +99,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Spring — notification
   start: '2026-07-23'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -98,7 +109,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Fall — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-09-10'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -107,7 +119,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Fall — paper deadline
   start: '2026-09-17'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -116,7 +129,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI Fall — notification
   start: '2026-12-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Providence, RI, USA
@@ -125,7 +139,8 @@ events:
 - title: NSDI
   start: '2027-05-11'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/nsdi/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2027-05-14'
   extendedProps:
@@ -133,7 +148,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Spring — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-05-07'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -142,7 +158,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Spring — paper deadline
   start: '2026-05-14'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -151,7 +168,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Spring — notification
   start: '2026-08-21'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -160,7 +178,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Fall — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-09-17'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -169,7 +188,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Fall — paper deadline
   start: '2026-09-24'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -178,7 +198,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys Fall — notification
   start: '2027-01-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Rabat, Morocco
@@ -187,7 +208,8 @@ events:
 - title: EuroSys
   start: '2027-04-19'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2027-04-24'
   extendedProps:
@@ -195,7 +217,8 @@ events:
 - title: ATC — paper deadline
   start: '2026-06-10'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/atc/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Hong Kong
@@ -203,7 +226,8 @@ events:
 - title: ATC — notification
   start: '2026-09-18'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/atc/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Hong Kong
@@ -211,7 +235,8 @@ events:
 - title: ATC
   start: '2026-11-16'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/atc/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-11-19'
   extendedProps:
@@ -219,7 +244,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 1 — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-02-06'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -228,7 +254,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 1 — paper deadline
   start: '2026-02-13'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -237,7 +264,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 1 — notification
   start: '2026-04-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -246,7 +274,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 2 — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-07-07'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -255,7 +284,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 2 — paper deadline
   start: '2026-07-14'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -264,7 +294,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC Round 2 — notification
   start: '2026-09-26'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Singapore
@@ -273,7 +304,8 @@ events:
 - title: SoCC
   start: '2026-11-18'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/socc/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-11-21'
   extendedProps:
@@ -281,7 +313,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Winter — abstract deadline
   start: '2025-12-09'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -290,7 +323,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Winter — paper deadline
   start: '2025-12-12'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -299,7 +333,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Winter — notification
   start: '2026-03-06'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -308,7 +343,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Summer — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-05-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -317,7 +353,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Summer — paper deadline
   start: '2026-06-05'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -326,7 +363,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware Summer — notification
   start: '2026-08-28'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Tarragona, Spain
@@ -335,7 +373,8 @@ events:
 - title: Middleware
   start: '2026-12-14'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/middleware/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-12-19'
   extendedProps:
@@ -343,7 +382,8 @@ events:
 - title: IPDPS — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-10-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ipdps/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Seattle, WA, USA
@@ -351,7 +391,8 @@ events:
 - title: IPDPS — paper deadline
   start: '2026-10-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ipdps/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Seattle, WA, USA
@@ -359,7 +400,8 @@ events:
 - title: IPDPS — notification
   start: '2027-02-02'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ipdps/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Seattle, WA, USA
@@ -367,7 +409,8 @@ events:
 - title: IPDPS
   start: '2027-06-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ipdps/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2027-06-06'
   extendedProps:
@@ -375,7 +418,8 @@ events:
 - title: SC — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-04-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sc/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Chicago, IL, USA
@@ -383,7 +427,8 @@ events:
 - title: SC — paper deadline
   start: '2026-04-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sc/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Chicago, IL, USA
@@ -391,7 +436,8 @@ events:
 - title: SC — notification
   start: '2026-07-01'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sc/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Chicago, IL, USA
@@ -399,7 +445,8 @@ events:
 - title: SC
   start: '2026-11-15'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sc/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-11-21'
   extendedProps:
@@ -407,7 +454,8 @@ events:
 - title: HPDC — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-01-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/hpdc/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cleveland, OH, USA
@@ -415,7 +463,8 @@ events:
 - title: HPDC — paper deadline
   start: '2026-02-05'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/hpdc/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cleveland, OH, USA
@@ -423,7 +472,8 @@ events:
 - title: HPDC — notification
   start: '2026-03-31'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/hpdc/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cleveland, OH, USA
@@ -431,7 +481,8 @@ events:
 - title: HPDC
   start: '2026-07-13'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/hpdc/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-07-17'
   extendedProps:
@@ -439,7 +490,8 @@ events:
 - title: MobiSys — abstract deadline
   start: '2025-11-28'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/mobisys/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cambridge, UK
@@ -447,7 +499,8 @@ events:
 - title: MobiSys — paper deadline
   start: '2025-12-05'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/mobisys/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cambridge, UK
@@ -455,7 +508,8 @@ events:
 - title: MobiSys — notification
   start: '2026-03-02'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/mobisys/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Cambridge, UK
@@ -463,7 +517,8 @@ events:
 - title: MobiSys
   start: '2026-06-22'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/mobisys/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-06-25'
   extendedProps:
@@ -471,34 +526,39 @@ events:
 - title: SEC — abstract deadline
   start: '2026-05-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sec/
-  color: '#f4a261'
+  color: '#f0d2a4'
+  textColor: '#4a3212'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     cfp_url: https://acm-ieee-sec.org/2026/
 - title: SEC — paper deadline
   start: '2026-05-08'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sec/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     cfp_url: https://acm-ieee-sec.org/2026/
 - title: SEC — notification
   start: '2026-07-29'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sec/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     cfp_url: https://acm-ieee-sec.org/2026/
 - title: SEC
   start: '2026-10-13'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sec/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-10-17'
 - title: CCGrid — paper deadline
   start: '2025-12-21'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ccgrid/
-  color: '#e63946'
+  color: '#f2b3ac'
+  textColor: '#5a1f19'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Sydney, Australia
@@ -506,7 +566,8 @@ events:
 - title: CCGrid — notification
   start: '2026-02-10'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ccgrid/
-  color: '#2a9d8f'
+  color: '#b9dfd0'
+  textColor: '#14402f'
   allDay: true
   extendedProps:
     location: Sydney, Australia
@@ -514,7 +575,8 @@ events:
 - title: CCGrid
   start: '2026-05-18'
   url: /cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ccgrid/
-  color: '#457b9d'
+  color: '#bdd2ee'
+  textColor: '#1a3557'
   allDay: true
   end: '2026-05-22'
   extendedProps:
diff --git a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/OSDI/_index.md b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/OSDI/_index.md
index 98f5847..450912f 100644
--- a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/OSDI/_index.md
+++ b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/OSDI/_index.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ camera_ready: Jun 3, 2027
 
 | | |
 |---|---|
-| **ICORE Rank** | **A*** |
+| **ICORE Rank** | **A\*** |
 | **Domains** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` |
 | **Website** | [https://www.usenix.org/conference/osdi26](https://www.usenix.org/conference/osdi26) |
 | **Latest digest** | [OSDI 2025](/cloud-edge/digests/osdi-2025/) — 13 papers |
diff --git a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/SOSP/_index.md b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/SOSP/_index.md
index 92fbab6..7b22dfa 100644
--- a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/SOSP/_index.md
+++ b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/SOSP/_index.md
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ cfp_url: https://sigops.org/s/conferences/sosp/2026/cfp.html
 
 | | |
 |---|---|
-| **ICORE Rank** | **A*** |
+| **ICORE Rank** | **A\*** |
 | **Domains** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` |
 | **Website** | [https://sigops.org/s/conferences/sosp/](https://sigops.org/s/conferences/sosp/) |
 | **Latest digest** | [SOSP 2025](/cloud-edge/digests/sosp-2025/) — 14 papers |
diff --git a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/_index.md b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/_index.md
index f209a7c..336e723 100644
--- a/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/_index.md
+++ b/site/content/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/_index.md
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ draft: false
 
 | Conference | Full name | ICORE | Domains | Abstract | Paper deadline | Notification | Event | Location | Digests |
 |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-| [OSDI](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/) | USENIX Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation | **A*** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | Mar 16, 2027 | Jul 7-9, 2027 | Baltimore, MD, USA | 2 |
-| [SOSP](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/) | ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles | **A*** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` | Mar 26, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 | Jul 3, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 - Oct 2, 2026 | Prague, Czechia | 2 |
+| [OSDI](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/osdi/) | USENIX Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation | **A\*** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` | Dec 1, 2026 | Dec 8, 2026 | Mar 16, 2027 | Jul 7-9, 2027 | Baltimore, MD, USA | 2 |
+| [SOSP](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/sosp/) | ACM Symposium on Operating Systems Principles | **A\*** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` | Mar 26, 2026 | Apr 1, 2026 | Jul 3, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 - Oct 2, 2026 | Prague, Czechia | 2 |
 | [EuroSys](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/eurosys/) | European Conference on Computer Systems | **A** | `edge-and-cloud`, `operating-systems`, `distributed-systems` | Sep 17, 2026 | Sep 24, 2026 (Fall) | Jan 29, 2027 | Apr 19-23, 2027 | Rabat, Morocco | 2 |
 | [HPDC](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/hpdc/) | IEEE International Symposium on High Performance Distributed Computing | **A** | `edge-and-cloud`, `hpc`, `distributed-systems` | Jan 29, 2026 | Feb 5, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | Jul 13, 2026 - Jul 16, 2026 | Cleveland, OH, USA | 2 |
 | [IPDPS](/cloud-edge/venues/conferences/ipdps/) | IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium | **A** | `edge-and-cloud`, `parallel-computing`, `distributed-systems` | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 8, 2026 | Feb 2, 2027 | Jun 1-5, 2027 | Seattle, WA, USA | 2 |
diff --git a/site/layouts/partials/extend_head.html b/site/layouts/partials/extend_head.html
index f55e536..6c76e23 100644
--- a/site/layouts/partials/extend_head.html
+++ b/site/layouts/partials/extend_head.html
@@ -7,22 +7,30 @@
   .fc table { display: table; overflow-x: visible; margin-bottom: 0; border-radius: 0; word-break: normal; }
   .fc th { min-width: 0; text-align: center; }
   .fc td:first-child, .fc th:first-child { width: auto; }
-  /* Map PaperMod dark theme to FullCalendar CSS variables */
-  [data-theme="dark"] #pa-calendar {
-    --fc-page-bg-color:            var(--theme);
-    --fc-neutral-bg-color:         var(--entry);
+  /* Map the site palette onto FullCalendar's variables. The values are theme
+     variables, so one mapping covers both light and dark. */
+  #pa-calendar {
+    --fc-page-bg-color:            var(--entry);
+    --fc-neutral-bg-color:         var(--code-bg);
     --fc-neutral-text-color:       var(--secondary);
     --fc-border-color:             var(--border);
-    --fc-today-bg-color:           rgba(255, 220, 40, 0.08);
-    --fc-list-event-hover-bg-color: var(--entry);
+    --fc-today-bg-color:           var(--accent-soft);
+    --fc-list-event-hover-bg-color: var(--accent-soft);
     --fc-button-text-color:        var(--primary);
     --fc-button-bg-color:          var(--entry);
     --fc-button-border-color:      var(--border);
-    --fc-button-hover-bg-color:    var(--tertiary);
-    --fc-button-hover-border-color: var(--border);
-    --fc-button-active-bg-color:   var(--tertiary);
-    --fc-button-active-border-color: var(--border);
+    --fc-button-hover-bg-color:    var(--code-bg);
+    --fc-button-hover-border-color: var(--accent-line);
+    --fc-button-active-bg-color:   var(--accent-soft);
+    --fc-button-active-border-color: var(--accent-line);
+    background: var(--entry);
+    border: 1px solid var(--border);
+    border-radius: var(--radius);
+    padding: 1rem;
     color: var(--primary);
   }
+  .fc .fc-daygrid-day-number, .fc .fc-col-header-cell-cushion { color: var(--secondary); }
+  .fc .fc-day-today .fc-daygrid-day-number { color: var(--accent); font-weight: 600; }
+  .fc-event { border-radius: 4px; }
 </style>
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/src/publish_assistant/generate_content.py b/src/publish_assistant/generate_content.py
index a1b81ca..1c1da34 100644
--- a/src/publish_assistant/generate_content.py
+++ b/src/publish_assistant/generate_content.py
@@ -178,6 +178,12 @@ def load_venue_digests(papers_dir: Path) -> dict[str, list[dict]]:
 # Markdown body renderers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+def _bold_rank(rank: str) -> str:
+    """Bold a rank that may carry a literal asterisk. '**A***' closes the
+    emphasis on the second star, leaving the third one loose outside it."""
+    return "**" + str(rank).replace("*", r"\*") + "**"
+
+
 def _conf_body(fm: dict, digests: list[dict] | None = None, base_path: str = "") -> str:
     rank         = fm.get("icore_rank") or "—"
     hp           = fm.get("homepage") or ""
@@ -196,7 +202,7 @@ def _conf_body(fm: dict, digests: list[dict] | None = None, base_path: str = "")
     lines = [f"\n*{fm.get('full_name', '')}*\n"]
     lines += [
         "| | |", "|---|---|",
-        f"| **ICORE Rank** | **{rank}** |",
+        f"| **ICORE Rank** | {_bold_rank(rank)} |",
         f"| **Domains** | {domains} |",
     ]
     if hp:
@@ -471,7 +477,7 @@ def _conferences_section_body(venues: dict, icore: dict, deadlines: dict,
         link     = f"[{acronym}]({base_path}/venues/conferences/{acronym.lower()}/)"
         abs_cell = abstract if (abstract and abstract != paper) else ""
         dig_cell = str(n_dig) if n_dig else "—"
-        lines.append(f"| {link} | {full_name} | **{rank}** | {domains} | {abs_cell} | {paper} | {notif} | {event} | {location} | {dig_cell} |")
+        lines.append(f"| {link} | {full_name} | {_bold_rank(rank)} | {domains} | {abs_cell} | {paper} | {notif} | {event} | {location} | {dig_cell} |")
     return "\n".join(lines) + "\n"
 
 
@@ -503,6 +509,18 @@ def _journals_section_body(venues: dict, venue_digests: dict | None = None, base
 # Calendar events builder (for FullCalendar)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# One chip colour per event kind. Backgrounds stay pale and dark ink is set
+# explicitly, so a chip is legible on both the light and the dark site theme —
+# FullCalendar's default white event text would not be.
+EVENT_COLORS = {
+    "abstract":     ("#f0d2a4", "#4a3212"),
+    "paper":        ("#f2b3ac", "#5a1f19"),
+    "notification": ("#b9dfd0", "#14402f"),
+    "event":        ("#bdd2ee", "#1a3557"),
+    "special":      ("#d8c8f0", "#35215c"),
+}
+
+
 def _calendar_events(venues: dict, deadlines: dict, base_path: str = "") -> list[dict]:
     events: list[dict] = []
     for conf in venues.get("conferences") or []:
@@ -515,15 +533,17 @@ def _calendar_events(venues: dict, deadlines: dict, base_path: str = "") -> list
             cycle_name = cycle.get("name") or ""
             prefix     = f"{acronym} {cycle_name}".strip()
             cfp_url    = cycle.get("cfp_url") or dl.get("cfp_url") or ""
-            for field, label, color in [
-                ("abstract_deadline", "abstract deadline", "#f4a261"),
-                ("submission_deadline", "paper deadline",  "#e63946"),
-                ("notification",       "notification",     "#2a9d8f"),
+            for field, label, kind in [
+                ("abstract_deadline", "abstract deadline", "abstract"),
+                ("submission_deadline", "paper deadline",  "paper"),
+                ("notification",       "notification",     "notification"),
             ]:
+                color, text_color = EVENT_COLORS[kind]
                 iso = _parse_date(cycle.get(field) or "")
                 if iso:
                     ev: dict = {"title": f"{prefix} — {label}", "start": iso,
-                                "url": url, "color": color, "allDay": True}
+                                "url": url, "color": color,
+                                "textColor": text_color, "allDay": True}
                     props: dict = {}
                     if location:
                         props["location"] = location
@@ -537,16 +557,17 @@ def _calendar_events(venues: dict, deadlines: dict, base_path: str = "") -> list
 
         start, end = _parse_date_range(dl.get("event_dates") or "")
         if start:
+            color, text_color = EVENT_COLORS["event"]
             ev = {"title": acronym, "start": start, "url": url,
-                  "color": "#457b9d", "allDay": True}
+                  "color": color, "textColor": text_color, "allDay": True}
             if end:
                 ev["end"] = end
             if location:
                 ev["extendedProps"] = {"location": location}
             events.append(ev)
 
-    # Journal special issue deadlines — one purple series, distinct from conferences
-    journal_color = "#7b2cbf"
+    # Journal special issue deadlines — one violet series, distinct from conferences
+    journal_color, journal_text_color = EVENT_COLORS["special"]
     for journal in venues.get("journals") or []:
         acronym = journal.get("acronym", "")
         url = f"{base_path}/venues/journals/{acronym.lower()}/"
@@ -563,7 +584,7 @@ def _calendar_events(venues: dict, deadlines: dict, base_path: str = "") -> list
                 if iso:
                     ev = {"title": f"{acronym} SI — {si_title} — {label}",
                           "start": iso, "url": url, "color": journal_color,
-                          "allDay": True}
+                          "textColor": journal_text_color, "allDay": True}
                     if cfp_url:
                         ev["extendedProps"] = {"cfp_url": cfp_url}
                     events.append(ev)