Font Breaker no Heartbreaker [Reader advisory: caution, computer geekery ahead.] So you’ve got a big document that is in Khmer text. And you’re dejected because it’s in Limon or ABC fonts. Difficult to make into a PDF, doesn’t work well on the internet for email or web sites. It’s enough to cause heartbreak or heartburn. What’cha gonna do? Unicode to the rescue! BhasaKhmer walked me through the ‘font breaker’ programs yesterday. First you’ll want to have the “limon2unicode” or “abc2unicode” program installed. (It’s good to have the document in the same directory file as the program.) You may want to make a copy of your original document, for comparison. Go to your ‘Start’ menu, go to ‘accessories’, then ‘accessibility’, then ‘command prompt’. Once you’re there you simply type limon2unicode and the document name, with full document extension. Small catch: we tried it the first time using a MS Word document. Didn’t sort the text. So second time we tried a text file. (See the screenshot for details.) Shazam. Instant unicode, without formatting. There will be a few words that don’t match up, so the next job is checking the text to see if any vowels or consonants have dropped out. You can check the Open Forum's Khmer Open Source site about the availability of keyboards and programs. If you’ve got a fast connection, you can download directly from their site. And don’t forget to check out their ballooning blog community – over 300 strong and growing! Khmer Open Source: http://www.khmeros.info KhmerOS Blog portal: http://www.khmeros.info/drupal/?q=en/blog More about Khmer Unicode explosion: http://jinja.apsara.org/blog/2006/01/khmer-unicode-is-go.htm http://jinja.apsara.org/blog/2006/01/more-unicode-fun.htm Tags: Cambodia

Bloggers Everywhere Sunday saw me catching up with a researcher pal and friends for breakfast. Both he and his wife are 'anonyBloggers' - they have blogs but are not interested in publicizing them heaps. Ah well, each blog has its own purpose. Most of my friends know by now that Geoff Ryman's 'King's Last Song' is on the way. This morning I brought along his earlier work, 'The Unconquered Country' for show & tell. Nou Hach Journal hosted him last visit and there's a lot of interest in translating this short novella into Khmer. I'll advise on this blog when the 500+ page novel hits Monument Books and the UK press. Alas it won't be printed in the USA unless current plans change. Pleased to meet up with fellow blogger Kalabird who was preparing to wing her way to Africa. Didn't give her enough advance warning for our last blogger meeting so I promised to give her some proper notice next time. She's a photo freak so we'll have to talk tech when she gets back. Here she is fiddling with her camera which I hope is working OK now. During the day I did some work stuff, which I won't rattle on about. Eveningtime found me and most of Phnom Penh's art fans at Reyum's opening of 'A Good Friend is Hard to Find", a photo tribute to Ingrid Muan. [Photo courtesy Phatry Pan] It was an entirely appropriate and moving memorial, if you have a chance to see it, please take a look. [Svay Ken (center) Photo courtesy Phatry Pan] If you want one of the exhibition books, click 'email' above and we'll work something out. Photos are courtesy of Phatry Derek Pan, who also inquired, "Hey, when's the next blogger meetup?" We'll have to set a date. Closed off an early night having noodles with Phatry and Erwan, who seems to have deleted his blog which we urged him to reboot. Tags: Cambodia

More Unicode Fun Here's our Unicode CD file list: including ABC to Unicode 'Font Breaker' program and Limon to Unicode 'Font Breaker' as well. They're simple programs running on DOS that I have yet to figure out.

We've got Mekhala, the Khmer version of Firefox. And Moyurea, a Khmer email client. Most of my friends who've learned to use computers prefer English programs, why start over? My hope is that younger students, expecially those using the provincial Community Information Centers, can try these out and get hooked on them. Below are screenshots of various features, including keyboard layouts and typing tutorials, javascript aid and more. Click on the image for closeup.

Tags: Cambodia

Khmer Unicode is Go Why is Vuth smiling? He's just bought the new Khmer Unicode keyboard. Complete with unicode font and western script (click below for closeup) it also includes a CD with Unicode fonts, Khmer Open Source programs and a handy installer! This may not seem exciting to some people but if you use Khmer a fair bit in your work, this stands to change a lot. (I got mine at Pacific Computer in Phnom Penh, there may be other places selling it.) Tomorrow: a look at Open Source programs on the CD! (No, I'm not taking orders.) Tags: Cambodia

Passport Photos for Death Go & Read: Macam-Macam writes about the Nhem En, the photographer of Tuol Sleng. http://www.theswanker.com/macammacam/2006/01/nhem_en_photogr.html More at: http://www.fathom.com/feature/35706/ [photo credit - Macam-Macam] Tags: Cambodia

Off the Rails in Battambang Forwarded pictures from pal Geoff's visit to Battambang: the 'Norry' or Bamboo Train. Since the main track between Battambang and Phnom Phnom Penh isn't used much, these ad-hoc vehicles traverse the tracks quite often. I hope to get a look in person one of the these days. More background: http://www.highway57.co.uk/seasia/index?sec=56 http://www.ballofdirt.com/media/5677/60913/422443.html http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/14/1084289877212.html http://journals.aol.com/ervat/EdwardsGazette/entries/1161 http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalabird/sets/926782/ Tags: Cambodia

Odd numbered days (e.g. 23rd, 25th, 27th)
         Power cuts of 2-3 hours between 6 am and noon
        And power cuts of 2-3 hours between 6pm and 10pm

Even numbered days
        Power cuts of 2 - 3 hours between noon and 6pm.

 

Tourists and businesses will just have to... make do.

My dedicated comics site is www.qdcomic.com , where usually there is a Khmer translation among other languages. Also included at no extra charge are research photos and further references . I also contribute to global comics site ComicsLifestyle.com. Tags: Cambodia,comics

Global Voices Manifesto/Covenant - Khmer Version 1.0 Global Voices Manifesto, rough draft in Khmer. Click for image file or PDF. Original English version: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/?page_id=79 (Could use some proofreading help here. ) Tags: Cambodia,globalvoices

Not so Hard to Find I tagged along one day when former housemates Linda, Sopheap and Erwan were scouting out locations for the Visual Arts Open. After stopping by Wat Phnom Art School we went to Atelier Svay Ken. Most Cambodian art fans know of Svay Ken's prolific work habits and unpretentious style. It was only a few months after Ingrid Muan had passed away, and while many were talking about the sad loss to the world of art, Svay Ken was actually *doing* something. His gallery was full of new paintings, all of Ingrid. In keeping with to his style, in each one she was wearing the same shirt, showing her life and work in Svay Ken's simple and direct way. It was really touching, and now I'm pleased to announce this work won't be 'hard to find': A Good Friend is Hard to Find A homage to Ingrid Muan by painter Svay Ken Opening: January 29th, 2006 at 5 pm Reyum: 47, Street 178, Phnom Penh Tel: 023 217 149, email: reyum[via]camnet[dot]com[dot]kh With the support of the Albert Kunstadter Family Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation This is great to see, and a good example that while the world of Khmer contemporary art is small, it's tightly knit and supportive when people sincerely give it their all. Tags: Cambodia,art

Shouts in the Dark Sometimes the rapidity of events nearly overwhelms your ability to blog stuff. * * * Been thinking how to explain to my non-Cambodia centric friends the story behind the recent arrests, and the positions of the different folks involved. The protesters seem to be making a lot more noise, there's not much spin from the pro-arrest camp. Jan 17: The newly-released human rights activists (Mom Sonando, Rong Chhun, Kem Sokha, and Pa Nguon Teang) head straight from Prey Sar prison to sipping champagne at the opening of the new US Embassy. Surreal. Reuters cites a spokesman for the Prime Minister as saying the release was ordered 'as a gift' for the opening. (You can find heaps of background and articles on this at the CAMNEWS archive. ) An optimist would say that this is a good sign. A pragmatic person would note that they're out on bail. A cynic would say that it's all political theatre by different polities of the upper class. A farmer might take a sip of sraa saa and ask, 'what's champagne'? * * * Earlier this week I'd asked a friend to research the rumor that police were arresting students for having dyed or streaked hair. Sounds like a real freedom of speech issue, yes? Numerous friends had told me this was a new rule that came straight from The Boss, but I had doubts. After a day of sifting through Khmer newspapers at the National Library? No hard evidence. My theory is the reason rumors take off so fast is that a) the literacy rate is low and b) people still rely on informal personal networks for information. (If not your friends and family, who can you trust - when over the last few decades the world has changed drastically?) Then the Cambodia Daily reports (Jan 19) that the Ministry of Information had noted some new rules for TV presenters, not students. Apparently this didn't stop the police from collecting a few 'fines' during the general confusion. (I wish the Cambodia Daily web site had regular additions, alas even Bayon Pearnik's Cambodia Dreary parody is more frequently updated.) * * * As I'm typing the above near the waterfront, about 6:30 PM, there's a sudden power cut. Quite a few of these in the last few weeks. Suddenly I hear crowd noises. Big crowd noises. I go outside and there's a procession of Sam Rainsy party members in trucks with candles, loudspeakers and flashlights. It looked like full election mode, with what looked like banners for the upcoming Senate campaign. (Voting is Jan 22, but it's become an issue of some controversy). There were dozens of vehicles and at least a hundred people, heading straight down Sothearos boulevard past the Palace. With the power out they completely grabbed everybody's attention, and I couldn't help but think, ''This can't be legal." I just couldn't imagine the government authorizing any campaigning by the opposition party, especially with the recent political mood so tense. I felt afraid - not for myself, safe in the crowd watching, but for what might happen tonight, and especially in the long term to these exuberant marchers. Soon after many of the same cars speeded back the way they came, no noise, no waving. The show was over. I tried to snap off a few digital shots but my flash wasn't working well. Also tried the camera's video feature, but all I got was a few seconds of headlights and audio. We'll see what the 'dead tree blogs' (newspapers) have to say tomorrow. For now? Once again, Jinja is first to break the story. I should get paid for this. Tags: Cambodia

Histoires de fantomes qu'on rencontre la nuit is full color comic in French and Khmer by the students from Phare Art School, is now available at Fantastic Planet and other fine bookshops in Phnom Penh. (Edited and printed at 3D Graphics with support from 'Rim Kin' publishing program.) Lisa 'Savage Pony' Mandel oversaw the workshop with help from Srey Bandol in her fourth visit to Cambodia, in coordination with Libellus Association. Want a copy? Unofficial arrangements can be made via email. Also, click for travelogue/workshop visit: One, Two, Three and Four. tags: comics, cambodia

Advanced Study of Khmer (ASK), will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (June 19 to July 28, 2006) .

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ASIAN DANCE VOICES Dance from Indonesia, Cambodia & Malaysia Friday, January 20, 2006 at 8pm UCLA Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater, Glorya Kaufman Hall 120 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles CA 90095-7173 (Parking Lot 4) $16, $12 students, $10 WAC students Tickets: 310-825-2101 or www.tickets.ucla.edu Presented by: UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures and UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance Co Sponsored by UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies http://www.wac.ucla.edu/CAM.php Tags: Cambodia

Angkor Silk Fair Wed 25 Jan - Sun 29 Jan 2006. more at http://www.angkorsilkfair.com/ and www.cambodiansilk.net Tags: Cambodia

Blue Cambodia We all get a little down sometimes. Khmer bluesman Bonny B (based in Francophone Switzerland) sees 'the blues' as a positive form of self expression, and uses it to share his thoughts, ranging from the personal to observations on Cambodia. "I was born in total war time of Pol Pot. I saw things which no child should see, and the blues gives me the force to be positive and to be right and to make good with others. I did not go towards the blues, in fact the blues came towards me." (Translated from French) http://www.khmer-network.com/content/view/53/35/ In addition to being the child of a Khmer traditional musician, his fascination with blues music took him to the USA to play with renowned Chicago performers, and he remains an ardent student of the classics of the genre, playing, teaching and touring regularly. Khmer Jazz, Khmer Hip Hop, Khmer Blues. It's an interesting time for Cambodian music. Check his site for music and performance info: http://www.bonnyb.ch/ [Image courtesy www.bonnyb.ch site] Tags: Cambodia,blues

Happy New Year to everyone, all the best for 2006. Attached is a poster for 'The Linga Series' art exhibition opening this sat Jan 7th in Siem reap, Cambodia @ Linga bar. I hope you can open it, seems some have had problems... New work is now updated on my website www.sashaconstable.com kind regards Sasha C Tags: Cambodia,art

Funniest. Response. Ever. The Ministry of the Interior says the right thing: "You waste our time Charlie!" http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/2006/01/03/cambodia-wasting-our-time/ I should make up some t-shirts with that line... Tags: Cambodia

Odds and Ends A spoof that seems to be loosely based on 'Lonely Planet Cambodia'. http://groups.google.com/group/camnews/browse_thread/thread/db169f7e64faa1a6

Cambodian Living Arts http://groups.google.com/group/camnews/browse_thread/thread/d04e1471fcd310c2/20bc29dfee6cf260#20bc29dfee6cf260

Dengue Fever documentary in the works http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/4511348.stm

Tags: Cambodia

Kem Sokha Arrest Part 2 And things get more complicated: looks like Kem Sokha's arrest relates to alleged criticism of the government - and a sensitive topic at that. The Prime Minister has warned he will sue anyone who criticizes his policies on the border, and seems to be holding fast to this policy. The Cambodian border is a sensitive issue for many people. Did the Cambodian Center for Human Rights mention this taboo subject? The government has issued a statement defending its actions. We'll see how the story plays out in the press. http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1676469,00.html http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.cambodia/browse_thread/thread/76ba4fb6a55bf2b2/a79c17772e780252#a79c17772e780252 http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asiapacific/detail.asp?ID=74579&GRP=C Tags: Cambodia

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