Michael Kinyon
@profkinyon.bsky.social
Mathematics professor at the University of Denver. Quasigroups, Semigroups, Automated Deduction. He/Him. Occasionally drop in at Mathstodon, but not as much as I used to.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971).
I was 7.
The famous boat ride scene didn't bother me at all. I thought that part was funny. Rather, the scenes where the Bad Kids were getting their comeuppances were too intense for me.
I was 7.
The famous boat ride scene didn't bother me at all. I thought that part was funny. Rather, the scenes where the Bad Kids were getting their comeuppances were too intense for me.
Name 1 movie from your childhood you were way too young to watch.
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971).
I was 7.
The famous boat ride scene didn't bother me at all. I thought that part was funny. Rather, the scenes where the Bad Kids were getting their comeuppances were too intense for me.
I was 7.
The famous boat ride scene didn't bother me at all. I thought that part was funny. Rather, the scenes where the Bad Kids were getting their comeuppances were too intense for me.
I really wanted a French monic baguette, but they were all out
December 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I really wanted a French monic baguette, but they were all out
Reading a paper citing work of mine from 2007. Every sentence of the author's summary has me responding "wait, what? I did?"
December 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reading a paper citing work of mine from 2007. Every sentence of the author's summary has me responding "wait, what? I did?"
You're against the Pythagorean Theorem? How hyperbolic of you.
December 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
You're against the Pythagorean Theorem? How hyperbolic of you.
Whenever I read about the Eckmann-Hilton Argument, my brain immediately imagines both men screaming associative operations at each other.
December 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Whenever I read about the Eckmann-Hilton Argument, my brain immediately imagines both men screaming associative operations at each other.
For the homologically minded, another Elf on a Shelf thing.
(attn @courtneygibbons.phd )
(attn @courtneygibbons.phd )
December 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
For the homologically minded, another Elf on a Shelf thing.
(attn @courtneygibbons.phd )
(attn @courtneygibbons.phd )
You've heard of Elf on a Shelf. Now get ready for
December 18, 2025 at 4:42 AM
You've heard of Elf on a Shelf. Now get ready for
What I've learned from AI is that if you are going to be wrong, do so with an authoritative tone.
December 17, 2025 at 10:46 PM
What I've learned from AI is that if you are going to be wrong, do so with an authoritative tone.
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
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December 16, 2025 at 9:56 PM
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
Tonight there are people walking around this house singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Caribou".
People is me. I am people.
People is me. I am people.
December 15, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Tonight there are people walking around this house singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Caribou".
People is me. I am people.
People is me. I am people.
Colleague: Are you going to focus your ring theory course on commutative rings?
Me: Yeah, mostly. There isn't time to do justice to noncommutative rings in a 10 week course.
C: Great!
*a few minutes later*
Wait, you are going to stick with *associative* rings, right?
Me: *grins like a maniac*
Me: Yeah, mostly. There isn't time to do justice to noncommutative rings in a 10 week course.
C: Great!
*a few minutes later*
Wait, you are going to stick with *associative* rings, right?
Me: *grins like a maniac*
December 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Colleague: Are you going to focus your ring theory course on commutative rings?
Me: Yeah, mostly. There isn't time to do justice to noncommutative rings in a 10 week course.
C: Great!
*a few minutes later*
Wait, you are going to stick with *associative* rings, right?
Me: *grins like a maniac*
Me: Yeah, mostly. There isn't time to do justice to noncommutative rings in a 10 week course.
C: Great!
*a few minutes later*
Wait, you are going to stick with *associative* rings, right?
Me: *grins like a maniac*
Existential horror
December 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Existential horror
Because they learned in previous classes that it's where they will get the most points taken off.
Never understand why students are so averse to simplifying their work as they go. It will make your life so much easier I promise.
December 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Because they learned in previous classes that it's where they will get the most points taken off.
I wonder who will voice me in the anime adaptation of my life
December 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I wonder who will voice me in the anime adaptation of my life
Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured "someday soon."
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured "someday soon."
December 12, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Brazil, where hearts were entertaining June
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured "someday soon."
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured "someday soon."
"It turns out that" does a lot of heavy lifting in mathematics.
December 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
"It turns out that" does a lot of heavy lifting in mathematics.
I guess it's time I confess, I'm just an LLM.
(Largely Loony Michael)
(Largely Loony Michael)
December 10, 2025 at 11:51 PM
I guess it's time I confess, I'm just an LLM.
(Largely Loony Michael)
(Largely Loony Michael)
Reposted by Michael Kinyon
George Boole died on this day in 1864. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
His biographer Des MacHale left these flowers at his grave today. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mac...
His biographer Des MacHale left these flowers at his grave today. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mac...
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
George Boole died on this day in 1864. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_...
His biographer Des MacHale left these flowers at his grave today. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mac...
His biographer Des MacHale left these flowers at his grave today. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Mac...
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
December 8, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.
I was the shadow of the waxwing slain
By the false azure in the windowpane
By the false azure in the windowpane
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I was the shadow of the waxwing slain
By the false azure in the windowpane
By the false azure in the windowpane
Every day I am thankful that all it takes to verify my humanity is my ability to check a box.
December 7, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Every day I am thankful that all it takes to verify my humanity is my ability to check a box.
I much prefer being mistaken over being incorrect, and I prefer being incorrect over being wrong.
On the other hand, if I'm right, I'm right.
On the other hand, if I'm right, I'm right.
December 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
I much prefer being mistaken over being incorrect, and I prefer being incorrect over being wrong.
On the other hand, if I'm right, I'm right.
On the other hand, if I'm right, I'm right.
Typical instructions for algebra exercises:
"Simplify the following expressions. Assume that all variables are positive."
That second sentence is so important, and so often ignored or forgotten.
(Context: I just graded exams and every student simplified sqrt(x^2) to x instead of |x|.)
"Simplify the following expressions. Assume that all variables are positive."
That second sentence is so important, and so often ignored or forgotten.
(Context: I just graded exams and every student simplified sqrt(x^2) to x instead of |x|.)
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Typical instructions for algebra exercises:
"Simplify the following expressions. Assume that all variables are positive."
That second sentence is so important, and so often ignored or forgotten.
(Context: I just graded exams and every student simplified sqrt(x^2) to x instead of |x|.)
"Simplify the following expressions. Assume that all variables are positive."
That second sentence is so important, and so often ignored or forgotten.
(Context: I just graded exams and every student simplified sqrt(x^2) to x instead of |x|.)
I hope my coauthor shares my optimism.
November 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I hope my coauthor shares my optimism.