Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
@ijlaba.bsky.social
Mathematician. Childless cat lady. Noise is the new secondhand smoke.
ORCID 0000-0002-3810-6121
ORCID 0000-0002-3810-6121
And when a foreigner did visit, they had a prescribed itinerary and a chaperone.
Looking forward to seeing this implemented for academic conferences in the US.
Looking forward to seeing this implemented for academic conferences in the US.
as a kid I heard a lot about how the USSR kept foreigners from visiting, this was said to be a totalitarian thing
December 10, 2025 at 2:46 AM
And when a foreigner did visit, they had a prescribed itinerary and a chaperone.
Looking forward to seeing this implemented for academic conferences in the US.
Looking forward to seeing this implemented for academic conferences in the US.
December 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Here's a list of 15 research highlights from UBC for the last year. All, apparently, more important that the proof of the 3D Kakeya conjecture by Hong Wang and Josh Zahl which did not make the list.
news.ubc.ca/2025/12/15-w...
news.ubc.ca/2025/12/15-w...
15 ways UBC researchers broke new ground in 2025 - UBC News
Here are 15 highlights showing how UBC researchers and key partners advanced knowledge, technology and real-world solutions in 2025.
news.ubc.ca
December 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Here's a list of 15 research highlights from UBC for the last year. All, apparently, more important that the proof of the 3D Kakeya conjecture by Hong Wang and Josh Zahl which did not make the list.
news.ubc.ca/2025/12/15-w...
news.ubc.ca/2025/12/15-w...
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
One theory I have is that competence, self-control, responsibility, and expertise have all been feminized, leaving “masculinity” with the realm of impulsivity and petulance. So the divide is not really between “femininity” and “masculinity” so much as between adulthood and childishness.
Everything else aside, the idea that this is a model for many men of *masculinity* is so wild. This? This is "manly"? This is how people think it's cool to act?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-wG...
Dave Portnoy Demands NFL Investigate Pete Carroll & Raiders For Rigging
YouTube video by Clasher Sports
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:41 PM
One theory I have is that competence, self-control, responsibility, and expertise have all been feminized, leaving “masculinity” with the realm of impulsivity and petulance. So the divide is not really between “femininity” and “masculinity” so much as between adulthood and childishness.
Dedicating this to the assorted deanlets and admins who schedule final exams up to December 22, evening, and demand course grades by January 2, 9 am.
BANANAS that academics make their single busiest month of the year (finals, grades, next term advance advising, syllabizing, letters of rec) coincide with the single zaniest month of the year for women-types (shopping, baking, gift wrapping, decorating, hosting).
conclude fall term in january!
conclude fall term in january!
December 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Dedicating this to the assorted deanlets and admins who schedule final exams up to December 22, evening, and demand course grades by January 2, 9 am.
Reminds me of a uni administrator sharing ideas on how to make a cafeteria more popular: install new lighting, maybe? Paint the walls? Not a word about the food looking and tasting like garbage.
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reminds me of a uni administrator sharing ideas on how to make a cafeteria more popular: install new lighting, maybe? Paint the walls? Not a word about the food looking and tasting like garbage.
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
Everything we had gained was shaky at best.
Here we are, less than 2 generations later, the “trad wife” is on the rise, GOP think women don’t need a vote, abortion is illegal in many states next to us.
Here in Canada, women just lost their government ministry.
Women should be enraged EVERY DAY.
Here we are, less than 2 generations later, the “trad wife” is on the rise, GOP think women don’t need a vote, abortion is illegal in many states next to us.
Here in Canada, women just lost their government ministry.
Women should be enraged EVERY DAY.
December 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Everything we had gained was shaky at best.
Here we are, less than 2 generations later, the “trad wife” is on the rise, GOP think women don’t need a vote, abortion is illegal in many states next to us.
Here in Canada, women just lost their government ministry.
Women should be enraged EVERY DAY.
Here we are, less than 2 generations later, the “trad wife” is on the rise, GOP think women don’t need a vote, abortion is illegal in many states next to us.
Here in Canada, women just lost their government ministry.
Women should be enraged EVERY DAY.
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
On this day 36 years ago, 14 people died at a Montreal university because some fragile fucking man couldn’t handle a woman “taking his place” in the engineering program.
Male rage isn’t a new problem. Entitled men aren’t a new problem.
And women are entitled to every ounce of anger we carry.
Male rage isn’t a new problem. Entitled men aren’t a new problem.
And women are entitled to every ounce of anger we carry.
December 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
On this day 36 years ago, 14 people died at a Montreal university because some fragile fucking man couldn’t handle a woman “taking his place” in the engineering program.
Male rage isn’t a new problem. Entitled men aren’t a new problem.
And women are entitled to every ounce of anger we carry.
Male rage isn’t a new problem. Entitled men aren’t a new problem.
And women are entitled to every ounce of anger we carry.
Today's PSA: I'm a successful mathematician, I'm female but not particularly femme, and I read and enjoy romance. This should not be remarkable, or a reason for a PSA, but we are where we are, so there we go.
Also, as always: romance, especially teen romance, is pretty uniformly derided thanks to misogyny. There are plenty of good critiques that don’t revolve around “eww a show trying to capture a (femme) demographic I don’t belong to”.
It is pretty painfully hetero. But don’t yell at kids.
It is pretty painfully hetero. But don’t yell at kids.
God, I’m really upset how much hate I know Starfleet Academy is going to get. It’s Star Trek made for the CW-style crowd, which is PERFECTLY FINE. But because it’s not intended as mass audience aimed mainly at boomer dudes, it’s gonna face so much vitriol. Especially those kid actors. Angers me.
December 5, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Today's PSA: I'm a successful mathematician, I'm female but not particularly femme, and I read and enjoy romance. This should not be remarkable, or a reason for a PSA, but we are where we are, so there we go.
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
So it turns out it’s the massively overpaid execs who could be replaced by AI… who’d have guessed
A study by Dayforce shows 87% of executives use AI for work, compared to 57% of managers and just 27% of employees.
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
I think this explains the massive disconnect we see in how CEOs talk about AI versus everyone else. It also raises the question of how useful it truly is for frontline work?
Execs are embracing AI more than their employees are, new research suggests
Research from HR software company Dayforce suggests that executives are leaning into AI far more than their employees.
www.businessinsider.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:52 PM
So it turns out it’s the massively overpaid execs who could be replaced by AI… who’d have guessed
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
How can anyone think it's a good idea to run oil tankers through a body of water named the Hecate Strait?
Go ahead, try and brave an infamous, ship-wrecking cauldron named after combative necromancy in Shakespeare
Does Carney know anything about BC at all?
#bcpoli
Go ahead, try and brave an infamous, ship-wrecking cauldron named after combative necromancy in Shakespeare
Does Carney know anything about BC at all?
#bcpoli
November 27, 2025 at 6:38 PM
How can anyone think it's a good idea to run oil tankers through a body of water named the Hecate Strait?
Go ahead, try and brave an infamous, ship-wrecking cauldron named after combative necromancy in Shakespeare
Does Carney know anything about BC at all?
#bcpoli
Go ahead, try and brave an infamous, ship-wrecking cauldron named after combative necromancy in Shakespeare
Does Carney know anything about BC at all?
#bcpoli
In completely unrelated news, the noise level in most restaurants is somewhere between jackhammers and screaming raccoons. That's to support the sales of noise-cancelling headphones, presumably? Having each other's back like good friends?
Corporate media lecture us about our spending habits and tell us we are poor bc we go out to eat too often and buy too many lattes, but also beg us to please please please go out to eat and buy lattes, & we shouldn’t pack our lunch bc we need to make sacrifices for the economy 🥴
November 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
In completely unrelated news, the noise level in most restaurants is somewhere between jackhammers and screaming raccoons. That's to support the sales of noise-cancelling headphones, presumably? Having each other's back like good friends?
Here's a story. I have hyperacusis, meaning I'm sensitive to noise. It's been a problem for a long time. But I never cared to see an audiologist about it b/c medical websites liked to attribute hyperacusis to anxiety and psychological issues. That's a no from me.
Anyway, I recognize that there is a lot of awful shit out there, but truly you have to understand that (a) Western medicine is not the be all and end all of the entire world and (b) we have some huge honking holes in our ability to treat people, and people are going to try everything they can.
November 23, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Here's a story. I have hyperacusis, meaning I'm sensitive to noise. It's been a problem for a long time. But I never cared to see an audiologist about it b/c medical websites liked to attribute hyperacusis to anxiety and psychological issues. That's a no from me.
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
you can't tell me ostrich convoy is an actual thing happening and not a King Crimson album
Leaders of Canada’s newest convoy worry police are trying to sabotage a nationwide protest avenging a flock of dead ostriches
Ostrich Convoy organizers say they are at ‘war’ with the federal government, but insist they will remain ‘peaceful’
Ostrich Convoy organizers say they are at ‘war’ with the federal government, but insist they will remain ‘peaceful’
Leaders of Canada’s Newest Convoy Worry Police Are Trying to Sabotage a Nationwide Protest Avenging a Flock of Dead Ostriches
Convoy organizers say they are at ‘war’ with food inspectors and the federal government, but insist they will remain ‘peaceful’
pressprogress.ca
November 22, 2025 at 5:38 AM
you can't tell me ostrich convoy is an actual thing happening and not a King Crimson album
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
While empires are ravaging Ukraine, think about donating to Ukrainians if you can. And consider de-centring these empires from your cultural consumption. There is fantastic music and literature in Ukraine that Russia is trying to destroy. Support it by learning about it. chapterukraine.com
Ukrainian literature in English translation – Chapter Ukraine
Build your own bookshelf dedicated to Ukrainian literature in English translation. | Chapter Ukraine
chapterukraine.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
While empires are ravaging Ukraine, think about donating to Ukrainians if you can. And consider de-centring these empires from your cultural consumption. There is fantastic music and literature in Ukraine that Russia is trying to destroy. Support it by learning about it. chapterukraine.com
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
We have a US administration trying to bully Ukrainians into accepting Russia’s proposal that their sovereignty be undone. Aside from the naked injustice of this, there are five basic practical reasons why it would make the world far more dangerous.
(video)
snyder.substack.com/p/the-putin-...
(video)
snyder.substack.com/p/the-putin-...
The Putin-Witkoff Plan Worsens the War
Five Reasons the US should not help Russia subjugate Ukraine
snyder.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
We have a US administration trying to bully Ukrainians into accepting Russia’s proposal that their sovereignty be undone. Aside from the naked injustice of this, there are five basic practical reasons why it would make the world far more dangerous.
(video)
snyder.substack.com/p/the-putin-...
(video)
snyder.substack.com/p/the-putin-...
Phone pics from a walk.
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Phone pics from a walk.
Reposted by Izabella Laba 🇨🇦
i think if you want to have those disgusting LED headlights on your car, you should have to do a test where they blast you point blank with your own headlights and then you have 15 seconds to successfully complete some sort of vision-based task, and if you can't do it they push your car off a cliff
November 20, 2025 at 2:25 AM
i think if you want to have those disgusting LED headlights on your car, you should have to do a test where they blast you point blank with your own headlights and then you have 15 seconds to successfully complete some sort of vision-based task, and if you can't do it they push your car off a cliff
Fall is a great time for cooking.
November 19, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Fall is a great time for cooking.
Just figured out that something I've been trying to prove is actually false...
... and this is exciting! That is how real progress often starts. At least for me.
... and this is exciting! That is how real progress often starts. At least for me.
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Just figured out that something I've been trying to prove is actually false...
... and this is exciting! That is how real progress often starts. At least for me.
... and this is exciting! That is how real progress often starts. At least for me.
Behind The Shieling (Mini-Documentary)
YouTube video by Fergus McCreadie
www.youtube.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:45 PM
And then we have to spend additional time arguing with the incompetent "correction teams".
The irony here is that academics don’t just write the articles for free—we also referee and edit for them for free. Something is deeply broken.
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
“New Zealand's eight universities spent $30-million a year on journal licences and about half of that sum went to Elsevier.
www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...
Universities in 'battle of the century' with journal publisher Elsevier
One New Zealand university told its staff all universities in New Zealand and Australia would "lose some degree of access" to the publisher's 1600 titles from the start of next year.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 16, 2025 at 3:31 AM
And then we have to spend additional time arguing with the incompetent "correction teams".
Y'all, octopus eggshells are so incredibly beautiful. Like jewels. These, from Haida Gwaii, were just about the right size to put on your finger.
November 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Y'all, octopus eggshells are so incredibly beautiful. Like jewels. These, from Haida Gwaii, were just about the right size to put on your finger.
This is such a scourge. Faculty have to spend 2 or more hours per applicant, creating accounts, updating passwords, completing long questionnaires, etc, just to say "X was in my class and got an A". Which is already included in X's transcript.
PSA to anyone on any kind of search or admissions committee: try to limit the number of rec letters you require and don't make rec letter writers do anything other than upload a PDF. Thank you!!
November 15, 2025 at 6:31 PM
This is such a scourge. Faculty have to spend 2 or more hours per applicant, creating accounts, updating passwords, completing long questionnaires, etc, just to say "X was in my class and got an A". Which is already included in X's transcript.