Comments on: The Six Degrees of Bacon http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 02:09:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Castor Troy http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1415619 Castor Troy Sat, 05 May 2012 23:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1415619 yeah... i bet you think your funny, but i dont yeah… i bet you think your funny, but i dont

]]> By: Gary Bacon http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1413683 Gary Bacon Fri, 04 May 2012 01:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1413683 I'll gladly step up as a younger generation. I've traced my Bacon roots to the 1400s and know how my family ties to Kevin Bacon. I’ll gladly step up as a younger generation. I’ve traced my Bacon roots to the 1400s and know how my family ties to Kevin Bacon.

]]> By: DevinC http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1412138 DevinC Wed, 02 May 2012 20:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1412138 THAT IS SO DEEP THE PART OF MY MIND THAT CONCERNS DEEPNESS IS DEEPLY BLOWN THAT IS SO DEEP THE PART OF MY MIND THAT CONCERNS DEEPNESS IS DEEPLY BLOWN

]]> By: David Ng http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1412017 David Ng Wed, 02 May 2012 19:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1412017 For some reason, I've been thinking" The Six Degrees of Thom Yorke." I don't know why, but there you have it... For some reason, I’ve been thinking” The Six Degrees of Thom Yorke.” I don’t know why, but there you have it…

]]> By: TaymonBeal http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1411803 TaymonBeal Wed, 02 May 2012 16:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1411803 The most mathematically rigorous option would be to give the position to the current <a href="http://oracleofbacon.org/center_list.php" rel="nofollow">Center of the Hollywood Universe</a>. To elaborate: The Oracle of Bacon uses IMDb to calculate the Bacon number of any given actor. Based on this information, it can be determined that among the people who have defined Bacon numbers, the mean Bacon number is 2.981747. The Oracle, however, doesn't just calculate Bacon numbers—it can find the number of degrees of separation between any two actors. From there, it is possible to calculate the connectedness score of any given actor—the mean number of degrees of separation between that actor and all other actors who can be connected to them. For instance, since the mean Bacon number is 2.981747, that's Kevin Bacon's connectedness score. The Center of the Hollywood Universe is defined as the actor (living or dead) with the lowest connectedness score. Currently, that's Dennis Hopper, with 2.802166. The most mathematically rigorous option would be to give the position to the current Center of the Hollywood Universe.

To elaborate: The Oracle of Bacon uses IMDb to calculate the Bacon number of any given actor. Based on this information, it can be determined that among the people who have defined Bacon numbers, the mean Bacon number is 2.981747. The Oracle, however, doesn’t just calculate Bacon numbers—it can find the number of degrees of separation between any two actors.

From there, it is possible to calculate the connectedness score of any given actor—the mean number of degrees of separation between that actor and all other actors who can be connected to them. For instance, since the mean Bacon number is 2.981747, that’s Kevin Bacon’s connectedness score.

The Center of the Hollywood Universe is defined as the actor (living or dead) with the lowest connectedness score. Currently, that’s Dennis Hopper, with 2.802166.

]]> By: thatbob http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410963 thatbob Wed, 02 May 2012 00:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410963  It's my understanding that Kevin Bacon became the posterboy for this kind of game because he was a hardworking actor who built up a sizable body of work over the years, going from teen actor, to leading man, to character actor, while acting in ensemble films, genre films, blockbusters, indies, etc.  So his heir to the Motion Picture version of this game will be someone who, by popular accord, has spent some 20+ years doing the same.  Since Bacon should have at least another 20 years left in his career - who doesn't want to see his Lear, when the time comes? - his heir may be a child or teen actor today.  Future generations just might play Six Degrees of Zac Efron. Or, better yet, Six Degrees of Mickey Rooney's Brain in a Jar.  It’s my understanding that Kevin Bacon became the posterboy for this kind of game because he was a hardworking actor who built up a sizable body of work over the years, going from teen actor, to leading man, to character actor, while acting in ensemble films, genre films, blockbusters, indies, etc.  So his heir to the Motion Picture version of this game will be someone who, by popular accord, has spent some 20+ years doing the same.  Since Bacon should have at least another 20 years left in his career – who doesn’t want to see his Lear, when the time comes? – his heir may be a child or teen actor today.  Future generations just might play Six Degrees of Zac Efron.

Or, better yet, Six Degrees of Mickey Rooney’s Brain in a Jar.

]]> By: Shard Aerliss http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410442 Shard Aerliss Tue, 01 May 2012 16:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410442 If we're going to pick someone out would have to be someone whose name has the same metre and sort of rhyme with "separation" so my choice of Joseph Gordon-Levitt is out. As this is the internet the obvious choices would be Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Will Wheaton or Felicia Day, but none of those fit the metre quite right. Jason Statham kind of fits, and he makes for more of a challange than Kevin Bacon ever did (which is actually all that matters to me). Maybe we'll just have to wait for another star named Bacon to turn up? If we’re going to pick someone out would have to be someone whose name has the same metre and sort of rhyme with “separation” so my choice of Joseph Gordon-Levitt is out.

As this is the internet the obvious choices would be Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Will Wheaton or Felicia Day, but none of those fit the metre quite right.

Jason Statham kind of fits, and he makes for more of a challange than Kevin Bacon ever did (which is actually all that matters to me).

Maybe we’ll just have to wait for another star named Bacon to turn up?

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410390 SamSam Tue, 01 May 2012 16:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410390 You know, just because Sir Francis Bacon is dead, doesn't mean that the concept of degrees-of-seperatedness no longer applies. Indeed, it is almost certain that there is at least one person alive today who was friends with someone (possibly now dead) who was friends with someone (possibly now dead) who [...] was friends with Sir Francis Bacon. No? And if there is at least one person who was connected to Sir Francis Bacon in this way, then the rest of the planet is separated from Sir Francis Bacon by no further than six degrees more. Kind of mind-boggling this: We are all friends with someone who was friends with someone who was friends with someone who [...] was friends with almost anyone in history. It reminds me of the fact that the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-05-31-war-widow_x.htm" rel="nofollow">last Civil War widow died recently</a>. You know, just because Sir Francis Bacon is dead, doesn’t mean that the concept of degrees-of-seperatedness no longer applies.

Indeed, it is almost certain that there is at least one person alive today who was friends with someone (possibly now dead) who was friends with someone (possibly now dead) who [...] was friends with Sir Francis Bacon. No?

And if there is at least one person who was connected to Sir Francis Bacon in this way, then the rest of the planet is separated from Sir Francis Bacon by no further than six degrees more.

Kind of mind-boggling this: We are all friends with someone who was friends with someone who was friends with someone who [...] was friends with almost anyone in history. It reminds me of the fact that the last Civil War widow died recently.

]]> By: frank255 http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410336 frank255 Tue, 01 May 2012 15:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410336 The Erdős number precedes the Bacon number by 25 years, so there's the true original concept! The Erdős number precedes the Bacon number by 25 years, so there’s the true original concept!

]]> By: David Ng http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410278 David Ng Tue, 01 May 2012 14:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410278 Lord and Lady Bacon does have a nice ring to it.  And then, of course, there is "Darth Bacon."   Seriously though, I am actually curious to see if there is a great heir suggestion: one that kind of makes you go THAT'S IT!  I think I'd be fine with any nomination just as long as it's not Justin Bieber, a Kardashian, or any member of Nickelback. #heirofkevinbacon Lord and Lady Bacon does have a nice ring to it.  And then, of course, there is “Darth Bacon.”   Seriously though, I am actually curious to see if there is a great heir suggestion: one that kind of makes you go THAT’S IT!  I think I’d be fine with any nomination just as long as it’s not Justin Bieber, a Kardashian, or any member of Nickelback. #heirofkevinbacon

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410252 Lemoutan Tue, 01 May 2012 14:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410252 <blockquote><q><em>Although that might not help with the goal of having title-holders with reasonable longevity.</em></q></blockquote> Not to mention the implied cannibalism

Although that might not help with the goal of having title-holders with reasonable longevity.

Not to mention the implied cannibalism

]]> By: Matthew Thompson http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410248 Matthew Thompson Tue, 01 May 2012 14:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410248 Are you aware of the Erdős–Bacon number? Are you aware of the Erdős–Bacon number?

]]> By: chgoliz http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410239 chgoliz Tue, 01 May 2012 13:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410239 There seem to be a lot of threads on BB today that make me think about genealogy. In family genealogy, you have two components: the degree of relatedness and that of removed-ness. Someone dying in 1626 does not necessarily mean all their connections are dead too.   The connection is to the family; the individual may be a number of generations removed from the individual in question, but they are still connected. If someone is tied to Kevin Bacon via a family member, living or dead, then they are tied to Kevin Bacon.  In other words, if I am 5-degrees-separated to Kevin, then my great-great-grandchildren will be 5-degrees-4x-removed.  Doesn't matter if he's alive or dead. There seem to be a lot of threads on BB today that make me think about genealogy.

In family genealogy, you have two components: the degree of relatedness and that of removed-ness.

Someone dying in 1626 does not necessarily mean all their connections are dead too.   The connection is to the family; the individual may be a number of generations removed from the individual in question, but they are still connected.

If someone is tied to Kevin Bacon via a family member, living or dead, then they are tied to Kevin Bacon.  In other words, if I am 5-degrees-separated to Kevin, then my great-great-grandchildren will be 5-degrees-4x-removed.  Doesn’t matter if he’s alive or dead.

]]> By: Wreckrob8 http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410238 Wreckrob8 Tue, 01 May 2012 13:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410238 With so many people concerned about population there is the Pol Pot model - the ideal being zero degrees of separation - and the problem is solved. With so many people concerned about population there is the Pol Pot model – the ideal being zero degrees of separation – and the problem is solved.

]]> By: Daniel Tobias http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410231 Daniel Tobias Tue, 01 May 2012 13:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410231 Bacon in a religion is unkosher! Bacon in a religion is unkosher!

]]> By: Glen Able http://boingboing.net/2012/05/01/the-six-degrees-of-bacon.html#comment-1410229 Glen Able Tue, 01 May 2012 13:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=157461#comment-1410229 Good thinking, David.  It is sad to think of the inevitable expiry of Kevin Bacon (well, except if you've recently watched Hollow Man). Perhaps the perpetual title of the position should be "Lord Bacon", a title that Francis Bacon held.   (Amusingly, his mother's maiden name was Cooke, making her Anne Cooke Bacon.)  My feeling is that bacon, the tremendously hip foodstuff, is more popular than dancing, so the title could be earned by winning an international bacon-eating competition.  Although that might not help with the goal of having title-holders with reasonable longevity. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Lord_Bacon_-_the_guiding_spirit_of_colonization_scheme.jpg Good thinking, David.  It is sad to think of the inevitable expiry of Kevin Bacon (well, except if you’ve recently watched Hollow Man).
Perhaps the perpetual title of the position should be “Lord Bacon”, a title that Francis Bacon held.   (Amusingly, his mother’s maiden name was Cooke, making her Anne Cooke Bacon.)  My feeling is that bacon, the tremendously hip foodstuff, is more popular than dancing, so the title could be earned by winning an international bacon-eating competition.  Although that might not help with the goal of having title-holders with reasonable longevity.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Lord_Bacon_-_the_guiding_spirit_of_colonization_scheme.jpg

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