Steven Clontz
LightNews LightNews
banner
clontz.org
Steven Clontz
@clontz.org
960 followers 380 following 1.8K posts
Mathematician, professor, puzzler
Pronouns he/him
Website clontz.org
Puzzle PBaiReGOVANeLpNFrFGBfVkyRgGREf

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-4274
Posts Replies Media Videos
clontz.org
Anyway I said "was" because today when I bounced it off a woman colleague at work, she apparently looked up the etymology and shared it with me (kindly). So I have officially decided to retire the bit out of embarrassment. 🫠
Screenshot of English Stack exchange text as follows: Its origin is unclear, as noted in the following extract: According to the Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, the phrase derives from either the nautical meaning of 'trick' ('turn of duty') or the card game 'trick'. But from its early days, the phrase was considered crude, as evidenced by this 1924 reference: "'Well, Mrs. H., how's tricks?' His wife flushed slightly at the vulgarity of the phrase." Usage became prevalent in the 1930s, especially among pimps who'd ask the prostitutes in their employ how business was going ('turning tricks'), but the phrase was soon adopted by all the cool kids with greased-back hair and leather jackets...
November 11, 2025 at 7:42 AM
clontz.org
John Mayer has been a wise and supportive leader in my research community for years. #MathSky

This guy, not that (never met the other guy)
John Mayer, the mathematician John Mayer, the musician
November 9, 2025 at 10:22 AM
clontz.org
Cuomo "to build a new NYC" logo The logo looks like a semicircle with several lines extending from the center, sort of like a sun, but...
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
clontz.org
This not that
Double Dare logo with Marc Summers "double date ideas" with a photo of two couples
November 8, 2025 at 9:24 PM
clontz.org
Guess how many boats at the Cub Scout raingutter regatta chose this number?
A toy sailboat in an inflatable racing channel. Its number is 67.
November 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
clontz.org
Respect to the 7yo for designing the best mech. @undertale.com
Photo of Deltarune video game on a TV. The screen has the title "create a machine to thrash your own [censored]". Despite the many choices, the player has created a cartoon duck.
November 6, 2025 at 1:58 AM
clontz.org
Love getting to sit for two hours to hear this on repeat from "leaders".
Simpsons meme. A Frenchman(?) leans over a table, exclaiming "we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas"
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
clontz.org
On Saturday, she ate Reese's cups, Kit Kats, Twizzlers, Smarties, Fun Dip...

That night, she had a stomach ache!
My wife is wearing a t shirt with the very hungry caterpillar (from the book). I'm wearing a shirt that says "Saturday" and has the foods the caterpillar ate that day. Our child (face covered by a butterfly emoji) is wearing a butterfly costume.
November 1, 2025 at 4:51 PM
clontz.org
Head canon: after years, Vee couldn't block out the hunger. Poor Bridget and Poppy were her first victims. In shame, she moved back to Transylvania (like the other monsters on every block) and blocked out her memories of Pennsylvania. Human blood allowed her to age at a normal rate.
Poppy, Vampirina, and Bridget from the original cartoon
October 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
clontz.org
TFW you're relying on me to help you
Screenshot of ocarina of time. Navi is saying "can hyrules destiny really depend on such a lazy boy?" while link is sleeping in his house
October 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
clontz.org
My first 16 star run 🥲
Photo of tv. Bowser: nooo! It can't be! You've really beaten me, Mario?!! I gave those troops power, but now it's fading away! Mario has collected only 16 stars.
October 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
clontz.org
The difference between 2025 and 2009 basically boils down to portrait and landscape.
Howie in front of a vertically oriented whiteboard on an apartment wall Me in front of a horizontally oriented whiteboard on an apartment wall
October 24, 2025 at 3:26 AM
clontz.org
Lol called it. @tienchihmath.bsky.social should we cite this at g4m.code4math.org/ch-manim.html as the canonical application of manim?
Screenshot of patreon post for the video: The Quest for the Perfect Speedrun It's out! I hope everyone enjoys this Manim-driven math lesson disguised as a Super Mario Bros. video.
October 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
clontz.org
Great stuff
Copies of the fraction 1/n with the label n times. Below it is the equation P(0)=question mark. A die with six pips is labeled 1/6. Next to it are six dice, none of which are showing six pips.
October 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
clontz.org
Another day, another topic for my future #MathOfMario book. #MathSky
A formula for t_avg is shown over a darkened screenshot of Super Mario Bros level 1-1
October 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
clontz.org
Fact: lurch.plus is fun
Screenshot of part of a written proof verified by lurch.plus. I've tried to type it out accessibly below. In the screenshot, each mathematical claim is in orange and has a green checkmark. revealing [2 2 −2]^T∈N by substitution . But that means 2⋅2+(−2)=0 , which is surprising as 2⋅2+(−2)=2 by algebra and therefore 0=2 by substitution . However, as we all know, 0 doesn't equal 2 . Therefore, we've found a contradiction, →← . Therefore, not (N is a subspace) .
October 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
clontz.org
I mean I guess but I was posing in front of a whiteboard hanging in my apartment hallway before it was cool. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoqs...
Screenshot of a YouTube video. I'm dressed in a blue button up with suspenders and a fake mustache and holding a brown painted bubble pipe. I'm in front of a horizonal whiteboard hanging on a tan painted wall. Various references to "puzzles" are written on the board.
October 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
clontz.org
Jessica made us "mac and cheese" tonight!
Star noodles in a Parmesan sauce with steak bites
October 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
clontz.org
Like Graveler or Golem? Or is there some new regional form I'm not familiar with from the newer games?

Or maybe it's this monstrosity?
Human size Geodude mascot. Its legs are the same as the "transparent" background in an image editor.
October 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
clontz.org
but really, excuse me, did they even play the games smh
Onix, a part ground type, somehow being harmed by an electric type attack in the anime.
October 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
clontz.org
Today in Steven pretends to know anything about graphic design
Logo: Open South Faculty Learning Community The O in Open is the open access logo (an open lock)
October 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
clontz.org
Illustration of Jesus with long hair
October 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
clontz.org
I know this author thinks he's funny but honestly he's mostly just kind of a jerk.
Photo of instructor version of a textbook. Note to instructor says, "Answers vary. Legal disclaimer: If you need us to point that out, you should not be teaching a college math course."
September 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
clontz.org
Use Doenet.org to create mathematical interactives to support inquiry-based learning: mathtech.org/2025/09/26/d...
Screenshot of interactive applet that illustrates how scaling a column of a determinate scales the determinate's value by the same factor.
September 28, 2025 at 2:26 AM
clontz.org
Meme edit of "You wouldn't steal a car" reading "You wouldn't download a children's book"
September 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM