Karolina Laskowska

Karolina Laskowska is one of the talented lingerie designers and a lingerie designer star of the future. I not only like her designs that are currently available in her shop at http://www.karolinalaskowska.co.uk/ but also the designs she posts on her facebook (and that are often her homework she does for the university).


The time has come again and she is  doing a giveaway/competition here! http://www.karolinalaskowska.co.uk/2013/03/competition-time-again/

Example of the work she does (when you click the picture it will take you to the competition, too):

ACTION vs THEORY

ACTION vs. THEORY

women's movement in the UK, first impressions

University of Hull has a large number of societies and anyone can join in. I picked up two. Japanese society and Women's committee (obviously). I did not know what to expect. At my home university in Czech Republic, we have no society dedicated to women's rights (if we have one, they have done a good job not being public all those 6 years I have spent there so far). Hull is a small city, maybe two times bigger than Olomouc. The universities are quite similar in the number of students, but the difference in the quality of student's societies (well, most of them) and activities is enormous.

Women's committe really tries to make a difference. The main topic of our last meeting was the women in the Hull University sport teams. I found out the men teams are often rude to the members of women sport teams and even make up derogatory songs about them. Men's attitude is very bad also during their social gatherings. According to some women from the women's teams, whom spoke at the meeting, the men tend to behave as if the women were lesser beings and during the confrontations men tend to be physical with women. When such events are reported to the authorities, nothing ever changes, because the leader of the men teams does not want to be the BAD GUY. Some women players tend to stick up with these men and as a result they turn their back on those, who don't like this violent and disrespectful behaviour.

I had mixed feelings when I came back from this meeting. If this is happening here, it must be happening at my home university as well. I study at philological faculty, which is far away from the faculty of sports. I have never heard of such problems at my uni before, but when I asked certain person about it, I got the answer: Yes, exactly the same thing is happening at Palacky University as well. Now, what should be done about it? To be continued ....

Conclusions, conclusions. Change is a very difficult matter. I have been lucky enough to meet many women in the UK (not only from Hull University), who act on the matter mentioned above, but who engage in fighting for women's rigts in general. I wish we had similar attitude in Czech and Slovak Republic as well (outside Prague and Bratislava, maybe). I hope I can bring this UK attitude back with me, when I return to Czech Republic. Theory to Action.

Many Czechs and Slovaks still think feminism is for lesbians and ugly women. They think feminists hate men, they want to wear trousers all the time, never wear make up and are offended any time men tries to help them. NO. NO. NO. NO. A feminist is a woman, who loves and respects herself and who wants other women to love and respect themselves as well. A feminist wants men to love women and respect women.

BTW, one of the stupidest arguments is when men try to oppose: "So, you want equal rights, but a man can never hit a woman. But the men fight with men all the time." Well, I got news for you: If you like solving problems with men by the means of violence, there is something wrong with that as well. Think about it. No one has a right to beat another person. Your argument is invalid. (of course, I am aware many will disagree).

Now, some funny video I found today:

Japanese movies - recommendation 1

I do not consider myself to be an expert on movies, so my recommendations are based only on my personal taste. On the other hand, I really enjoy movies that have something more to say, or/and employ interesting visual work.

HULL!

So, I guess it's the time I write a blog about me coming to the UK :D

Photos from the past ....

WARNING! Lots of photos!!! 

Old coin made into pendant, belonged to my grand grand grand mother. Year 1872.

(This is only about my mother's grandmother's family.)

Today I went to see my mother's mother, Gabriela, and borrowed from her some of the old family photos. I scanned most of them and I will now post here the ones I found to be the most interesting ones. I will also write some informations about her family:

- in the 15/16th century, my grandmother's family was very rich. One of the male members of the family was awarded and promoted by Matthias Corvinus. Later, other male member fell in love with a poor girl and he decided to marry her - as a result he was disinherited and thus became very poor. The other part of the family, that he left behind, remained rich and they still are - even today they still own several big properties. When my mother and grandmother visited them some years ago (just to share with them what we found about families history), their behaviour was very coldhearted.

- one of my grandmother's brother died only a few months old, during the war. They had almost nothing to feed him with. As a result he fell ill and died. When we visited grandmother's village 7 years ago, I saw his grave. 

- my grandmother's father served in war and was captured and placed in concentration camp. He survived.

- after one of the attacks on my grandmother's village (it was an air raid), her grandmother went out to check if everything is safe. One of the aeroplanes came back and started to shoot at her. She survived only thanks to the trees. She began to run and hid under their crowns. Brave Grand grand grandmother.

PHOTOS

My grandmother's mother, Štefania Kováčová, born Hollosy. She was 16 years old when this photo was taken in 1920.

Feathers ....

I really like burlesque and especially dance performances with feather fans. I plan to buy a pair while I'm in England, and learn some routines with it. Here are some videos and some photos:

Sally Rand in action

Hettie Heartache

Burlesque dancer Sally Rand

Noel Toy

Nina Susov at Club Anatole

Home ... Mrs Peregrine's home for peculiar children.

I returned home to Slovakia on the 19th of December. The train was almost completely empty, which was good, because I had no reservation for my seat, just the ticket. On the 20th I went shopping with my mom. We bought presents for my family, but for ourselves as well. I bought Yves Saint Laurent ELLE parfume (I have been admiring how it smells for several months), cap, gloves, fake glasses from H&M men and MAC BOOK PRO. My old laptop broke down more than a month ago and I was forced to stay at university's library or borrow my boyfriend's one when I wanted to do something for school. It was horrible, haha.

I finished reading Mrs Peregrine's home for peculiar children. The story is very nice and towards the end I could not stop reading and had to finished it at once. So much suspense, haha :D I also loved the pictures, which accompany the story. They are very old, and scary. I have always admired old vintage photos, which have that horror vibe in them. You always have to wonder who were those people, or why did they dress up like that. Were they happy? Did he cheat on her? Was she crazy? I went online and searched for more pictures myself, which is what I use to do rather often, haha. Here are some of my favourites.

(the website I got these from did not include any information about them, but I will try and research the origins of them later)

I have this one as wallpaper on my laptop.

This tattoo's quality is unbelievable

Kirsten Dunst is that you? You have to admit the resemblance is there. :D

Ku Klux Klan members on ferris wheel.