Hey Gang -
This is cool, heard about it from a friend who heard about it on NPR - there is a theory being tested regarding Six Degrees of Separation. Check it out. We're such a diverse group here that I think we'd have a lot to add.
Regards, turtlex
http://www.smallworld.columbia.edu/index.html
a strange use of time, but why not after all.
The method is suspect due to the requirement for the early people in the chain to believe they have any idea of how to get to the other end, so it is likey skewed a bit. but why not?
A development of the 'Bacon' number in essence: which some system cluster scientists used to model networks, using the max. number of jumps taken to get from any TV or movie celeb to kevin bacon. 4 was the answer if I recall aright, which would be unusual in all honest truth.
Edit: that would be me recalling a 'fact' correctly that would be unusual by the way! 🙂