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this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2023
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Asklemmy
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I'm some form of science hermit, so I measure these things by degrees of separation. So I meet people by proxy. Some long after they are deceased, I suppose.
I have two degrees of separation from Paul Erdos (and of course his mother), several prime ministers of Vietnam, Kevin Mitnick, and Keanu Reeves. Three from John Von Newmann and most world leaders.
I also probably have an Erdos-Bacon number. It would be quite large though.
Well, I've met Kevin Bacon so now you're a 2.
Funny story really, I live in West LA.... I was watching my kids play in the park and saw a familiar-looking dad watching his, so I wandered up and said, "I feel like I know you but I can't remember from where, do your kids go to (local school) or (local play gym) or (local swim classes)?" And he said" ... Umm, I'm Kevin Bacon." So I said, "Oh I'm sorry, of course you are!" and let him alone to enjoy being a dad.
Haha nice! These things have a funny way of happening.
I met a colleague of Paul Erdos by walking up to a complete stranger on a train and simply asking if they were a mathematician and if they knew Paul Erdos. He turned out to have a lot of lovely anecdotes to share.
I'm not sure what possessed me to specifically do that, but I probably won't do it a second time and risk losing the 100% hit rate for colleague-of-Paul-Erdos divination.