Thanks to Kay Johnson and Time magazine's recent issue, the plight of the Cardamom

Mountains is receiving worldwide exposure. The two-page spread on one of the world's

most endangered biodiversity "hot-spots" is a useful piece of an expanding

puzzle that should help prevent these majestic forests from becoming disposable chopsticks

in Tokyo's sushi bars. Check it out.

Thanks to the FFI guys on the ground, the photo editors at Time are now one centimeter

closer to actually understanding what goes on around the planet.

In preparing for the Cardamom story, one editor called up an eco-researcher and lamented

the quality of the photos available for the piece. "Look, can't you get us a

picture of an orang-utan?," he moaned. Err, sorry. Wrong country.

Not to be outdone, another Time pixel wizard chased down one of the FFI lads and

said: "Listen, what we really need is a picture of a Nile Crocodile." Err,

sorry. Wrong continent!

There is a new publication on the streets that has raised a few eyebrows and is likely

to persist in doing so. At 2,500 riels a copy, it is said that Angkor Thom Happiness

is the magazine of choice in some of the city's various entertainment districts such

as Tuol Kork.

Here's a sample of some of the exposés-all accompanied with appropriate pictures-

in a recent issue:

"The history of Chinese sex and love", "What color is the virgin",

"The taste of the single woman", "Why I like the old man", "The

development of sexual organs", "Infantile masturbation", "The

widow who likes a dog", "The girl who is easy to reach", and "The

big titted star: beautiful and sexy".

Those interested in seeing a copy may want to move quickly. These guys may not last

long.

Another publication that is contributing to the edification of the populace is also

making the rounds. Titled Best Dirty Jokes, the 93-page, 3,500 riels-a-copy booklet

is a compilation of what editor Samnang says are "part of the folklore of America".

The jokes are presented in the original English, followed by a detailed glossary

of vocabulary and idioms, with Khmer translations of some of the more arcane expressions

presented in the text.

Cambodia's favorite fruitarian and the man who once had a million dollars available

to save the life of Pol Pot, Giorgio Fabretti, has run into a bit of hard luck. He's

back in Rome with a serious case of amoebic dysentery and other health complications.

Anyone wishing to send brother Giorgio a "get well" email can do so at:

[email protected]