Comment 11 for bug 174229

For those with the same issue as me here is what I did to workaround it (and keep an unbroken repository). First, force remove fontconfig-config (the new hardy version.) This will break your system temporarily! Make sure the folder /etc/fonts and all of its subfolders and files are deleted. Then install the gutsy version. Make a complete backup of /etc/fonts to some folder in your home directory (to be safe choose this local.) Next, install the hardy version. Delete /etc/fonts and then copy over your backup. This will maintain a working local repository and your fonts will be fixed. I know these steps are somewhat ambiguous but this workaround is not meant for someone with little experience. I'm not sure if deleting /etc/fonts (without a replacement) would render X11 unusable, it shouldn't... but its worth mentioning the risk. If you dont want to risk it then wait. The fonts are not unreadable by any means but I agree they do look like crap. I noticed 2.4 -> 2.5 of fontconfig added braile support which may have to do with the problem. I'll take the time this weekend to go through and figure out exactly what is causing this in the /etc/fonts configuration files.