Pages

Sunday, February 8, 2009

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!

7 comments:

barbie2be said...

ok, let's see... bing crosby was my great uncle, he was in a movie with rosemary clooney who is george clooney's aunt, so i am 3 degrees from george clooney and 4 degrees from brad pitt, angelina jolie, julia roberts.

oh and my friend eric was friends with a guy that was in a movie with kevin bacon, so i am 3 degrees from him too. :)

barbie2be said...

oh wait... politics wise... i know nancy pelosi and she knows barack obama so i am 2 degrees from him. YAY!

Pink Granite said...

Hi B2B -
Bing Crosby was your great uncle? Very cool! What a neat cascade of relationships! Plus you are a direct participant in the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" game! But the two degrees away from President Obama may just take the cake!
;o)
- Lee

Papamoka said...

Two degrees from George W Bush. I use bathroom paper products, bush was a butt head thus two degrees! This is fun!!!

I loved this post Lee...:)

Pink Granite said...

Hi Papamoka -
Oh, when I read your comment out loud to Chuck we couldn't stop laughing! We were fully prepared for a traditional political link - not your very unique variation on the Six Degrees of Separation!
Thanks for the playing!
;o)
- Lee

Papamoka said...

I was thinking of borrowing this idea for a post. I love the concept!

Pink Granite said...

Hi Papamoka -
Oh do! It's great fun and I look forward to seeing what your readers come up with for their own Six Degrees connections!
;o)
- Lee