Six Degrees

You’re probably familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation. It’s a way of thinking about connections and relationships. I’m one degree of separation away from anyone I know and two degrees away from anyone those folks know and so on. The larger idea is that within six degrees, anyone can be connected to any other person on earth. It’s a fun idea which has a certain amount of scientific research behind it, as well as a modicum of controversy.

I thought it would be fun to see how many degrees I am - and you are - from some famous folks. For today, let’s say that a mutual blog association counts as one degree, even if we’ve never met in person. And I’ll further say that a connection need not be a friendship, it can be an acquaintance; as simple as a handshake and an introduction.

If you need help seeing who a famous person might be connected to check out the Notable Names DataBase and their nifty Mapper!

O.K. I’ll start.
I am two degrees of separation from Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. (A good friend of mine from high school went to college with Albert and lived in the same house with him.) Therefore, I am three degrees of separation from Grace Kelly, the late Princess of Monaco. That puts me just four degrees of separation away from all of Grace Kelly’s film costars, directors and so on. For instance: Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, William Holden, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Celeste Holm, Frank Sinatra, etc. Via Princess Grace’s post Hollywood life, I am four degrees of separation away from any and all world leaders and royalty she may have met.

Let me try politics.
I’m one degree of separation from my State Senator Steve Brewer. Senator Brewer puts me two degrees of separation away from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who is friends with our new President Barack Obama. Therefore, I am just three degrees of separation from Barack Obama. That was quick! The only problem with this connection is that it means I’m only four degrees of separation away from former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney!

O.K. Now it’s your turn. Leave your six degree connections in the comments or post them on your own blog and leave me a link. Have fun!