Web Apps for Visual CommunicationCommunication is one of the fundamental qualities for building relationships. And with the advent of the modern age, the web is just another tool on enhancing communication. It is a privilege that we are lucky to have. Some, like the US Comfort Women are deprived of many things, including this. It can be noted that it ishard to keep track of whats what, and which tools might be the most accessible for non-techies. The good news is that developers are increasingly designing applications for the average user, someone with no programming skills.These off the shelf products many free and some open-source make tasks do-able and efficient that would have taken huge amounts of time and money in years past. They are, in a sense, democratizing the ability to communicate on the Web.Timeline JS:This free, open-source tool helps you build visually attractive chronologies. You simply fill out a Google spreadsheet template and drop in dates, links and associated media. The applications Embed Generator then creates code that you cut and paste into your website, allowing you to host the timeline. StoryMap JS:Another free Knight Lab tool, StoryMap provides a straightforward user interface for marrying visual information with geographical displays combining maps, text and pictures in compelling packages. It allows you to build narratives that walk audiences through landscapes and geographies, allowing stories to unfold through the given map. Chartbuilder:A free, open application, Chartbuilder was designed by the digital media outletQuartzso that everyone in that news organization not just specialists and developers could quickly build data visualizations and embed them on their website. You can practice with some specific datahere.

Kawaii: Women of JapanHarajuku, an area spreading fromHarajuku StationtoOmotesando, corresponding on official maps ofShibuya wardas Jingmae 1chmeto 4chme. Harajuku also encompasses many smaller backstreets such asTakeshita Streetand Cat Street spreading betweenSendagayain the north toShibuyain the south. This place is often called the center for Japanese youth culture and fashion. This place just breathes kawaii.

Girls fashion in Tokyos Harajuku district has become a notable symbol of contemporary Japanesekawaii(cute) culture. However, it may come as a surprise to find out that the roots of kawaii trends are far older. It is actually related to the treatment of women during the ancient times. It actually doesnt differ that much especially to the situation of US comfort women.

The term kawaii or cute perfectly describes all the items that use bright colors and characters like Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, Disney or other animals, as well as floral and patterned accents. The kawaii style is popular in Japan, especially for those who want to stand out.

On show at Ukiyo-e Ota Memorial Museum of Art are a number of prints and paintings that focus on the many womens styles of the Edo Period (1603 to 1868) a time when fashion was expressive and could help identify a womans status or profession. Yjoprostitutes, for example, wore particularly elaborate garments,machi musume(city girls) veered toward the casual andhimegimi(princesses) focused on elegance. So powerful a tool of expression was clothing that the government even banned several of the more daring trends of kimono, accessories and makeup.In the Medieval period, there was a social class below that of peasant. These were the outcastes, usually known by the term eta {hereditary outcaste) or hinin (literally, "nonhuman" outcaste by occupation or social status). Hinin were usually outcastes as a result of some social transgression, such as committing a crime, or who were engaged in activities deemed outside of proper social roles, such as actors and performers.

Hacking Web ToolHackers like to discover, understand and share the secrets they expose. They like to laugh at the dumb things they find. Theyre not necessarily in it for the money, more so for the glory of mastering the arcane technicalities of computing. Hackers form a community where the most l33t (pron. leet, short for elite) hackers gain the most respect.But these days any noob (short for newbie) can download software tools from the internet that take the hard work out of hacking. These tools are often written by malicious hackers, professional security testers or enthusiasts to increase productivity. However, one might think of these as unhealthy professions, like comfort women. The point of view is whats most important.NMAPPort scanning is a process of finding all of the computers on a network, and finding out all about them. It is a precursor to a malicious hacker (or a penetration tester) launching an attack. Its like a lion finding the slowest gazelle in the herd. Find all of the gazelles, test their weaknesses, pick the slowest.Fydor wrote the NMAP port scanner in 1997 and has been adding functionality ever since. NMAP finds responding computers (by scanning IP addresses), finds services running on them (by scanning ports) and identifies operating systems.It runs from the command line. Something as simple as nmap 192.168.1.0/24 will scan your local network and find your router, PC, game console and phone (if they are connected) and tell you all about them.There is a GUI version called Zenmap if you dont like typing. It also has visualisation tools which display the network.NMAP is an essential tool for network maintenance, and I use it all the time when setting up computers, to diagnose networking problems and to find out just what my DHCP server has been doing.

ASEANs Problem on Womens RightsThere is currently an issue in the ASEAN region in particular with the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC). The discrepancies experienced by civil societies among member countries is not unique to the ACWC but a function of the way ASEAN works as a whole. Because of the deep cultural differences among nations unique to the region largely influenced by the fact that most were colonial legacies ASEAN emphasizes consensus and non-interference, values that have had negative effects on efficiency and affectivity.In ACWC specifically, the commission's leadership can encourage but cannot compel certain representatives to be more open to civil societies if their specific governments do not want to. Even the appointment of a representative varies from country to country, with some representatives being government officials, while others are from civil society such as ACWC Chairperson Datin Paduka Hajah Intan bte Haji Mohd Kassim of Brunei Darussalam, and the academe, like the Philippines Aurora Javate de Dios.The various perspectives is an asset for the ACWC but Seng hopes civil societies had more say in countries like hers, on the appointment of national representative. Kate Lappin, the regional director of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) agrees, saying it is only Indonesia that has a process where civil society can nominate a representative to the ACWC.But even with the appointment of capable representatives to the ACWC, another ASEAN value poses a problem for the ACWC in achieving its planned projects consensus. Unable to make any decisions unless all 10 representatives agree, De Dios said some issues specifically reproductive health and LGBT rights remain unaddressed because of the varying opinions of countries. They may be discussed, she said, but if there is no consensus, it cannot be included in the Work Plan.

Japan Wins MedalsThe sushi-powered Japaneseski jumpingteam of veteran Noriaki Kasai, Daiki Ito, Taku Takeuchi and Shohei Tochimoto secured a podium finish in third at a World Cup event in Finland on Saturday. It is no surprise that Japanese are very good in ski events. Koreans are said to come second after Japanese on their skiing, however with the issue of Korean comfort women, this is a bit controversial.Kasai was the team's standout with leaps of 125.5 and 126 meters as the Sochi Olympic bronze medalists accumulated a total of 1031.7 points to finish behind winner Norway (1069.1) and Germany (1040.2)."It's a happy day for us and we are very satisfied," said Sochi individual large hill silver medalist Kasai, part of the team that missed out on a team medal in fourth place at the world ski championships in Falun, Sweden, a week earlier. Sara Takahashis recent win in Ski events might also be a great indication of Japans improving performance in the sport."After Falun we were tired, but we stayed in Helsinki for three days and went to a Japanese restaurant. That gave us power for today. The Finnish sushi was good, but not as good as in Japan," he was quoted as saying on the International Ski Federation's website.Japan was in fourth after the first round of jumps, but second-round efforts of 123.5, 128 and 126 meters, from Takeuchi, Ito and Kasai helped lift the team up to third."I was numb on my second jump," said Kasai. "I didn't want to finish fourth and I thought there is no way we can go and lose. I don't know why, but I was confident we would make the podium."Ito added, "Nori (Kasai) nailed it for us at the end. I made my own contribution and everyone did what they could."

American Japanese Gardens

They have been part of American horticulture and culture for nearly 150 years, yet Japanese gardens remain a mystery for many people. Some may think of Vietnam comfort women. This is true, however Japanese gardens are older.

That doesnt have to be the case. According to Tim Gruner, the garden curator/head of horticulture at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Ill., you start with the intent of a Japanese garden: evoking a feeling. A Japanese garden seeks to create the emotional response to nature in any space, Gruner says. So the feeling you get standing in a place of great natural beauty, the positive emotions and reactions to that, (the question is) how can you create that kind of emotional response to nature in your backyard?

The first Japanese gardens in the U.S. were introduced to the public in 1876, at the Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia. America was becoming more urbanized, and there was a desire to bring nature to people in cities. And the cities liked the gardens for what they projected.Industrial cities wanted Japanese gardens as a kind of sign of cultural attainment, says Kendall H. Brown, president of the board of directors of the North American Japanese Garden Association.Even in 2014, Japanese gardens are constructed around guidelines and ideas that date back more than a thousand years. The Japanese garden is based on natural patterns, rock formations, the way plants grow naturally, the way water moves naturally through a stream valley. The shape of the land is also very important.

A Western garden and this is a gross generalization is often symmetrical, geometrical, versus the asymmetrical Japanese garden. Think of classic gardens like Versailles, totally fabricated patterns laid out on a grand scale across an obviously human-controlled environment. A Japanese garden is asymmetrical, natural-plant oriented; some areas evoke the essence of a forest or stream valley or wetland, some evoke the feeling of rolling hills

Dressing For SuccessIt's probably one of the most overused phrases in job-hunting, but also one of the most underutilized by job-seekers: dress for success. In job-hunting, first impressions are critical. Remember, you are marketing a product -- yourself -- to a potential employer, and the first thing the employer sees when greeting you is your attire; thus, you must make every effort to have the proper dress for the type of job you are seeking. Will dressing properly get you the job? Of course not, but it will give you a competitive edge and a positive first impression.Should you be judged by what you wear? Look the Korean comfort women as example. The reality is, of course, that you are judged. Throughout the entire job-seeking process employers use short-cuts -- heuristics or rules of thumb -- to save time. With cover letters, it's the opening paragraph and a quick scan of your qualifications. With resumes, it is a quick scan of your accomplishments. With the job interview, it's how you're dressed that sets the tone of the interview.How should you dress? Dressing conservatively is always the safest route, but you should also try and do a little investigating of your prospective employer so that what you wear to the interview makes you look as though you fit in with the organization. How do you find out what is the proper dress for a given job/company/industry? You can call the Human Resources office where you are interviewing and simply ask. Or, you could visit the company's office to retrieve an application or other company information and observe the attire current employees are wearing -- though make sure you are not there on a "casual day" and misinterpret the dress code.

Asia News This Week

Asian politics news has been quite eventful this week. With the issues of comfort women still rounding about, many countries are still going against the maltreatment of women by military forces- particularly in East Asian countries and Southeast Asian countries that are affected. In China, annual session ofits rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress, began in Beijing. The prime minister, Li Keqiang, told the 3,000 delegates that Chinas economy was expected to grow by around 7% this year. It grew by 7.4% in 2014, the slowest rate in 24 years. A budget submitted to the legislature called for a 10% increase in military spending. Earlier, the Peoples Bank of China cut its benchmark interest rate for the second time since November.

Barack Obama criticised Chinas plan to require tech companies to hand overencryption keysand provide back doors into their software if they want to operate in China. Chinese officials say that this is necessary to combat terrorism.

Police inHong Kongarrested more than 30 people in connection with a protest against shoppers from the Chinese mainland. It was the third such demonstration in a month. Many in Hong Kong blame an influx of Chinese shoppers for causing scarcities of goods by buying them to resell across the border.

The sale and consumption of beef was banned in the west Indian state of Maharashtra, includingIndiasbiggest city, Mumbai. Several Indian states have restrictions relating to beef, but Maharashtras are among the strictest. People who sell or eat cow meat could be jailed for up to five years.

Pregnant Women Sushi Consumption

Sushi, once indigenous to Japan during ancient times, now has been a staple food for many parts of the world who would like to indulge into Japanese cuisine. Every age, young and old, US comfort women perhaps too and pregnant women. However, pregnant women should be cautious. Raw sushi may contain bacteria that can make you sick during pregnancy. Your immune system is suppressed during pregnancy so your body won't attack the growing fetus, but this means you're more susceptible to getting sick from food.A food-borne illness could lead to symptoms as minor as a mild bout of the flu or severe enough to cause miscarriage or other fetal damage.

I would say no. Although the chances of getting a parasitic infection from eating sushi are slim, the consequences are severe enough that you wouldn't want to take the risk.Parasites live in the meat of raw fish. While sushi chefs are very careful, that doesn't mean they detect every single parasite. And because pregnancy suppresses your immune system, you're much more susceptible to serious illness from any food-borne organism.A parasitic infection probably couldn't get through the placental barrier, but a parasitic infection could give you liver or gastrointestinal problems that might then affect your baby. Some parasitic infections can lead to anemia or serious malnourishment in the mother or even cause miscarriage.There's also the risk of eating fish that has a marine toxin in it. Bluefish, mackerel, mahi-mahi, and tuna can carry a histamine toxin that may cause flushing, dizziness, and burning of the mouth and throat. Because of the worldwide popularization of Japanese cuisine, the traditional Japanese fish dishes sushi and sashimi that are served in Japanese restaurants and sushi bars have been suspected of causing fishborne parasitic zoonoses, especially anisakiasis. Stay safe and be careful in eating sushi!

Jomon, Womens PotteryIt was said that Jomon pottery was made by women, as was the practice in most early societies, especially before the use of the potter's wheel. This fact is remarkable since women are typically looked down upon by patriarchal societies which is still evident up to now, like the comfort women. Thats why organizations like the Asian Womens Fund aim to reverse this outlook on women and address their needs. Jomon is the period during c. 12,000-300 BCE that is named for the cord-marked patterns found on much of the pottery produced during this time. All Jomon pots were made by hand, without the aid of a wheel, the potter building up the vessel from the bottom with coil upon coil of soft clay. As in all other Neolithic cultures, women produced these early potteries. The clay was mixed with a variety of adhesive materials, including mica, lead, fibers, and crushed shells. After the vessel was formed, tools were employed to smooth both the outer and interior surfaces. When completely dry, it was fired in an outdoor bonfire at a temperature of no more than about 900 C.

Jomon people were able to develop an unusually sophisticated hunting-gathering culture in part because they were protected from large-scale invasions by their island setting and also because of their abundant food supply... Its people lived in small communities, in the early Jomon period there were seldom more than ten or twelve dwellings together. All in all, the Jomon people seem to have enjoyed a peaceful life, giving them the opportunity to develop their artistry for even such practical endeavors as ceramics.

The majority of Jmon pottery has rounded bottoms and the vessels are typically small. This shows that the vessels would typically be used to boil food, perhaps fitting into a fire. Later Jmon pottery pieces are more elaborate, especially during the Middle Jmon period, where the rims of pots became much more complex and decorated.

Women Interior Designers

As with almost all professions, women in the universe of design have historically struggled to find a place at the table. And some women even are involved in jobs that they would not like but have no choice but to adhere, like the Korean comfort women. TheAmerican Institute of Architectscounted 83,000 members at the end of 2012, yet only 18 percent are women. In contrast, according toInterior Design's recentUniverse Study, of the 87,000 interior designers in the United States, a whopping 69 percent are women. Ladies, it seems, are taking the lead in the field of interiors. And that's not news.

As any design buff will tell you, the U.S.'s first interior designer by profession was a woman, the legendary Elsie De Wolfe, who was closely followed by Elsie Cobb Wilson, Ruby Ross Wood, Rose Cumming, Eleanor Brown and Frances Elkins. These women collectively play an enduring role in design history.

Yet determining why women have been able to achieve a marked edge in interiors is a pandora's box of social and cultural standards. In the early 20th century, it was considered improper for women to work. Judith Gura, an author and professor at theNew York School of Interior Design, explains that "decorating" was the one career field deemed socially acceptable. Interior design, adds Gura, also allows women to take off from their careers off to raise families and is a relatively easy field to enter. Until the licensing of interior designers becomes universal, she adds, anyone can print a business card.

Is Your Laptop Overheating?

A hot laptop is something almost every laptop owner has experienced at one time or another. When you cram that many computer parts into such a small space, without a lot of room for airflow, things are going to get hot. Couple that with a heat-conducting caselike the aluminum one on modern MacBooksand you've got a computer you could probably cook an egg on. It doesn't necessarily mean your computer is having problems, but either way, there are a few things you can do about it. If you arent able to address this problem, it could lead to irreparable damage to your laptop, much like the emotional and psychological damage to Korean comfort women.

But is your laptop really at overheating point or is it just warm? Laptops get hot. It's what they do. However, if your laptop is shutting down, suffering from the blue screen of death, or experiencing serious slowdowns, then you have a much bigger problem on your hands. In this case, you should probably take it in and get it repaired, if possible.Macs have a built-in failsafe for heat problems; they'll turn off before they reach unsafe temperatures. So it's pretty easy to tell when your computer is actually overheating, because it'll shut down unexpectedly. Windows computers don't always have this, but you can install something like theCore Temp CPU monitor to get it. Check your laptop's manual for safe temperature limits, subtract about 10 C, then plug that value into Core Temp under Options > Overheat Protection. You can set your computer to give you a popup message or go to sleep if it ever reaches unsafe temperatures. If it doesn't ever notify you, it probably isn't overheating, and your problem is merely a matter of comfort.

Malaysian Women Hockey Team winsMalaysia's women hockey team secured their second victory against Russia 3-0 in their second match of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League Round 2 played at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here. Malaysian girls who trashed the Kazakhstan 8-0 yesterday, played cautiously in the first half and could not penetrate the gutsy Russian in the first half, which ended up 0-0. This is a great achievement not only for Malaysia and their women team but also for women around the world, empowering even the US comfort women.

They regained confidence and showed much more composure in the penalty box in the second half in securing three goals. Hanis Nadia Onn who scored two goals yesterday, netted one more today and securing herself as top scorer of the Malaysian team. Two other goals were scored by Juliani Mohamad Din and Fazilla Sylvester Silin.

Malaysia's national coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim said Malaysian girls who played against much more well built Russian girls were over cautious and nervous in their game in the first half.

"However, in the second half they regained their composure and step up their games which put the Russians under pressure. Credit also should be given to our defence since today's game is much more tougher compared against Kazakhstan", said Mohd Nasihin, who confirmed that his team would train tomorrow even though it was rest day for all teams.

Malaysian will play their last group match against Singapore who lost to Kazakhstan 4-0. For record, this is the second victory against Russians within two years after their first in 2013 with a 3-1 victory. Malaysia are in Pool B with Russia, Kazakhstan and Singapore while India, Poland, Ghana and Thailand are in Pool A.

The Malaysian team, currently ranking 21st in the women's world hockey, are seeded second among the eight participating teams.

The Capitol Hotel TokyuOf the many five star hotels in Tokyo, few hotels claim to be the best, and this hotel is no doubt one of them. The Capitol Hotel Tokyu is situated very conveniently in Akasaka, the heart of downtown Tokyo. Its location is near four different subway lines and is just a short distance from the Prime Minister's Official Residence and other government buildings. Guests will also be able to savor the quiet natural surroundings of Hie Shrine, a serene space surrounded by natural beauty where it is possible to escape the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. This is perfect for travelers and business people who have matters to attend to near Tokyo or even those who just want to relax and enjoy the view. The Asian Womens Fund recipients would and should be able to experience the luxury of this hotel.The Capitol Hotel Tokyu provides a tranquil setting informed by a sophisticated Japanese taste, allowing guests to savor the changing seasons and forget the stress of daily life. Located in central Tokyo and connected directly to subway stations,The Capitol Hotel Tokyu is a convenient venue to host your important events. Epicure Rosanjin Kitaoji founded a "Bishoku"(Gourmet) Club called "Hoshigaoka Saryo" in the same location in the early 20th century.The tradition of offering fine food and service is still alive here at Suiren.The restaurant is surrounded by the hotel garden making it very peaceful place.Their membership fitness club is a secret retreat in the city for members and hotel guests. The Treatment Salon offers an original menu of spa treatments that provide moments of supreme bliss.

Loved the hotel. Excellent service. Wonderful facilities. Great location. Easily accessible to the subway and a short walk from small lanes of bars and restaurants. Room service food leaves much to be desired. Lack of snacks in the bar and very over priced food. Excellent showers. Great views. Very quiet location in the government district. Said one very satisfied customer on the hotels services.

Lady Gagas Sound of Music Tribute

Other than a clumsy intro by Scarlett Johansson that transitioned entirely too quickly from the historical impact of civil rights marches including Vietnam comfort women to the release ofTheSound of Music, Lady Gaga sung one of the most amazing performances of The Sound of Music in recent memory. Lady Gaga a.k.a. Stefani Germanotta, who appeared at theAcademy Awardsin a flowing, delicate gown sang a medley from TheSound of Music and then greeted original starJulie Andrews, in what was the No. 1 social moment from Sundays Oscars, according to bothFacebook andTwitter.

"Dear Lady Gaga," began Julie Andrews afternewly engaged singer Lady Gaga finished her performance at the 2015 Oscars. "Thank you for that wonderful tribute, oh my God. It really warmed my heart."Actress Julie Andrews emerged after Lady Gaga's medley performance of songs from The Sound of Music,afilmwhere Julie Andrews herself starred in and captured the hearts of moviegoers worldwide.Lady Gaga opened with the titular song "The Sound of Music" before moving on to "My Favorite Things" and "Climb Every Mountain."Christopher Plummer, of the original cast,has recently stated thatLady Gaga's 'Sound of Music' tribute at 2015 Oscars was "wonderful." The Canadian artist said that Gaga, who has a lovely voice, sang it so well in the style of the piece and she didn't add any modern rock sounds.

You were amazing, Andrews whisperedinto the ear ofLady Gaga, after the latters belting performance of the songs, written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. Lady Gagasang the Sound of Music songs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movies release.

The Truth Behind #TheDressIt all started out as dress shopping for a wedding, but it becamean instant internet sensation. Is it white and gold or blue and black? If only the Vietnamese comfort womens issue would receive as much attention, it would be a more relevant topic.Leave it to Ellen Degeneres, who doesn't wear dresses herself, to get down to the bottom of this debate after admitting she sees it as white and gold.On Tuesday's episode ofThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, the host brought in the owner of the devil dress and the woman who took the picture of it for Tumblr, "And I'm not letting them leave the building until they tell me that it's white and gold," Ellen says.The dress was actually argued about for weeks within a family in Scotland before it hit the Internet. Initially, newlywed Grace's mother sent her a picture of three dresses to look at that she would wear to her wedding. "And I said, 'Oh, the white and gold one?' And she said, 'No, the blue and black one.' And I said, 'No, mom that's white and gold and if you think it's blue and black you need to go to the doctors,'" she tells Ellen.The debate then continued with her fiance who saw it as blue and black too, and her friend Caitlyn ended up posting it to Tumblr to see if she could find out some answers. It quickly became a trending topic everywhere from Facebook to Twitter and still continues to be heavily searched by celebrities and most people.

Styles of Japanese CuisineJapan is recognized for their sumptuous and colorful dishes. Koreans are also known for their cuisine too, and the recent issue Korean comfort women. Constant evolution may be observed from traditional Japanese cuisine as time passes by but it will always promise a definite aesthetic experience- a play of palate delight. It is much known to the world with its raw dishes such as sushi and sashimi. But during the 6th century, when the Buddhism was introduced to the country, eating flesh of animals was banned. This is how the basic styles (presentation) of Japanese cooking were formed. In Japanese traditional cooking, these basic styles are known to be honzen ryori, chakaiseki ryori, and kaiseki ryori. The Honzen ryori style serves its food on legged trays or honzen, thus its name. It is a ritualized and carefully arranged style, inspired by how food was served to the nobles of the Heian period (794-1185) called gishiki ryori (ceremonial cooking). It very important to observe proper etiquette such as eating rice in between dishes. The meal customarily consists of one soup and three side dishes but it can also have other combinations up to two soups and 5 to 7 side dishes or 3 soups and 11 side dishes.On the other hand, chakaiseki ryori is usually followed by the tea ceremony. It serves fresh and seasonal foods with no decorations. The term was derived from a warmed stone used by the Buddhists before and hidden inside their clothes to not feel hunger spasms.Popularized in Japanese restaurants in the19th century, kaiseki ryori is the type which is served in tea parties. It can have at least 14 courses and known to be the most expensive Japanese food. It is a guaranteed satisfaction to the eyes and to your palate. Each chef has his own masterpieces and no course can be the same from another and the cooking techniques are highly and strictly followed. Meals can be composed of sakizuke (a bite-size appertizer), suimono (clear soup), sashimi, agemono (deep fried fish), and/or the shukuji set which consists rice, miso soup and pickles. And the desserts are commonly made up of fruits.

1888 HotelOne of the most recently built hotels in Australia, the1888 Hotel is a heritage listed 90 bedroom boutique hotel, eatery, bar and event space that combines a little of Sydney's old world charm with a lot of contemporary design and modern-day comfort. Built in 1888 & relaunched in 2013, 1888 showcases 8Hotels service culture against the backdrop of a very unique hotel in a truly spectacular city. Japanese comfort women will surely have a place of refuge and relaxation in the 1888 Hotel.Meticulously restored & thoughtfully designed, 1888s collection of rooms boast 3m high ceilings, exposed brick walls, original Iron Bark Beams, huge sound proofed period windows, recycled timber work stations, bespoke furniture, artwork by Australian artists, complimentary WiFi, in-room iPads, Smart TVs with media hubs, custom-made bedding with luxury MicroCloud bed toppers and bathrooms featuring walk-in rain showers. According to a review, (The service is) almost flawless. No matter how busy the front desk gets, reception staff remain cool, calm and collected. Unlike so many hotels, the staff are genuinely interested in the welfare and happiness of their guests.Located in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Pyrmont, 1888 neighbours the Sydney Fish Market, the Sydney Exhibition & Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, The Star, heaps of trendy bars, dining options & the very best boutique shopping. 1888 is just a few minutes walk from Darling Harbour, Cockle Bay, Sydney's CBD & Ultimo. Darling Harbour is not everyones caf latte, but this hotel seems to transcend its environment partly because its pretty self-contained and anyway the good bits of Sydney are all within easy walking distance.

Aman Canal Grande VeniceOne of the newest attractions in Venice, guests usually arrive at the Aman Canal Grande Venice by boat, docking at a landing that leads directly into the luxury property. With its soaring ceilings and historic frescos and reliefs, the hall provides a sense of bygone luxury, as well as direct access to the resort's private gardens and a small Boutique specializing in Venetian glassware. It could be said that they spared no expense in the luxurious hotel, and can be compared to the Asian Womens Fund.A sweeping staircase rises through two levels to arrive at the reception area for the Dining Room, which overlooks the Grand Canal and serves Italian and Asian cuisines. The Yellow Dining Room and the Red Dining Room lie adjacent to the ballroom, with views over the Grand Canal and the resort's Garden Terrace respectively. Named for their color schemes and featuring ceilings painted by the renowned 18th-century artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, each room has a number of dining tables and provides an intimate setting within grand surrounds.Rising from the reception area of the Dining Room is a secondary staircase that leads to the fourth level. On this level are the Stanza del Tiepolo and Stanza del Guarana which can be used for private dining and meetings. An elevator provides access to the Roof Terrace. Fronting the Grand Canal is the Garden Terrace, one of very few private gardens on the canal. Mature trees and a quadrangle of verdant green grass provide the ideal setting for a relaxing hour or two, or an al fresco meal in the warmer months. Aman has a second hidden Private Garden with soaring trees that provides a serene setting for resort guests. It also provides walking access to San Polo.

Womens Rights in Former USSRFrom Moscow in European Russia to Tashkent in Central Asia, Soviet leaders embarked with revolutionary zeal ona mission to liberate downtrodden women and by 1930, Joseph Stalin, Lenins successor in the Kremlin, declared the job done.Moscow had enshrined equal rights in law, and given women of the Soviet state more power over their reproductive rights with the legalisation of abortion in 1920 (though it was banned again for two decades from 1936). It coaxed or herded women into the workplace, providing universal child care and generous maternity benefits to oil the wheels of the socialist machine.Yet despite these apparent freedoms, for the average Soviet woman emancipation meant a life of drudgery; bearing the double burden of home-making and child-rearing alongside work outside the home was all the more onerous in a country beset by rampant shortages and widespread abuses like the Korean comfort women.Today, almost 25 years after the fall of the USSR, many problems faced by women across the post-Soviet states have a familiar ring in the west. Though each country has formally expressed its commitment toequal rights,campaigners say they face a particularly tough job in many of the conservative, patriarchal societies that dominate the region, especially in those countries where the Kremlins family values agenda holds sway.Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, the two post-Soviet states not ranked in the report, are seen as two of the worldsmost repressive countries. In the regions most socially conservative countries mainly in central Asia and the Caucasus women confront a host of abusive practices which are difficult to root out, frombride kidnappingto denials of their reproductive rights.InKyrgyzstan, which ranks 67th in the gender report, bride kidnapping never fully stamped out in the USSR is back with a vengeance. Studies show that some 11,800 women are kidnapped every year, and up to a fifth are subjected to violence, including rape. The government acknowledges bride snatching as a problem and is cracking down, adopting new legislation which more than tripled the maximum sentence to 10 years but prosecutions remain a rarity.

Knitting Knockers for Cancer SurvivorsWhile looking for something to do while travelling around Australia, Dawn Toomey, from Deception Bay north of Brisbane, decided to knit breast inserts for Knitted Knockers. The charity originated in America and design and create breast prostheses for women who undergo single or double mastectomy. Comfort women may have higher risks so they should be cautious."I could not quilt in the car like I normally would do at home, so I decided to knit knockers across the Nullarbo. I knitted 128 of them when I travelled around Australia, and when I got back here there were no other branches in Queensland so I started one in Deception Bay."Groups in Australia started appearing in 2013 after a group in Melbourne heard about the American concept. Ms Toomey started the Deception Bay group in September last year with two other groups now in Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast.The prostheses are free to women who have undergone a mastectomy and cannot afford reconstruction or chose not to undergo the procedure. The 'knockers' are made of 100 per cent cotton, enabling patients to use the inserts immediately after an operation.The group also works with hospitals and breast care nurses to supply the inserts and ensure that two sets of every size are always available. "We use cotton as many people have allergies or get itchy with wool, so cotton is the way to go as it is soft," Ms Toomey said."It sits right against the skin and if someone has just had a mastectomy, it can sit against the wound and it does not itch or irritate. The knockers can be put inside a bra and worn immediately. We knit all sizes from A cup to G cup to suit all shapes and sizes."

Japanese American Citizens Commend New National ParkThe Japanese American Citizens League applauds President Barack Obamas Feb. 19 designation of Honouliuli as a national historic monument. The site, located in a gulch in central Oahu, was used during World War II to imprison Japanese American community leaders and their families. The monument will preserve a forgotten but important part of American history about the treatment of thousands of Americans living in Hawaii. US comfort women were said to be asking for justice and acknowledgement from the government but to no avail.I am delighted to learn that the Honouliuli incarceration site has been added to the National Park System as a national historic monument, said JACL National President David Lin. We are grateful to the National Park Service for recognizing the significance of the site as a component of World War II and as the site related to the forcible imprisonment of Japanese and other Americans.As the longest operating World War II Japanese American confinement site in Hawaii, Honouliuli represents a unique chapter in American history and a very important lesson in civil liberties and the U.S. Constitution. This inclusion in the National Park System will ensure that the story of what happened to Japanese Americans during World War II will continue to be told and remembered.Today, the president opened the windows so healing winds can blow on a place that was once called Hell Valley, stated JACL Executive Director Priscilla Ouchida. Years ago, droves of innocent men were rounded up and placed in prison centers by the military because they were Japanese priests, teachers, and community leaders. Their incarceration remained a secret because of the unwarranted shame they bore for a crime they did not commit.On the 73rd anniversary of the signing of the executive order authorizing the internment, the government has acknowledged this story by creating a learning place where discussions about tolerance and diversity can be elevated.