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From: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Small World Redux (Free! Fun BOZO Experiement Inside!!)
Message-ID: <363@oakhill.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 17-Mar-85 07:00:10 EST
Article-I.D.: oakhill.363
Posted: Sun Mar 17 07:00:10 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Mar-85 04:49:04 EST
References: <542@ahutb.UUCP> <ut-sally.1308>
Reply-To: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Organization: Motorola Inc. Austin, Tx
Lines: 32
Summary: 

In article <1308@ut-sally.UUCP> bulko@ut-sally.UUCP (William C. Bulko) writes:

>I remember reading an article a looooong time ago, in which a mathematician
>(discussing probability) stated that you could connect any two people in
>the United States by a string of no more than 5 people 95% of the time.

Its not that suprizing once you realize how quickly power series grow.  You
remember the old "one seed on the first square, two on the second" of the
chess board. Then think of 20 people knowing 20 people knowing...

However, what IS suprizing is that people find the links out at all.  For
example one posting here told about a someone's landlord from 1940 connected
to a father's brother's neighbor.  Obviously last names may prompt questions
"Gee I knew a [whatsit] back in Ohio"  "Wow, my father's from Ohio"  etc.
But think how often the following conversation doesn't occur -
"When I was stationed in Iceland..."  "Wow, my father was too!!!"  Notice
that if the subject had never been brought up (by a schoolteacher) it is
highly unlikely that the connection would otherwise ever been made.

Lets make real use of the net and do an experiment.  The BOZO experiement.
I know a girl here in Austin who had a close friend whose parent played
the original BOZO the Clown.  (I think it was a parent relationship but
I'm not sure now.)  Anyway, anyone knowing anyone who knows anyone etc.
who has any claim to knowing this fellow please post so.  It will be fun
to see just how many (if any) people have connections to him.

By the way, I don't know who or where he is and thats not important to the
experiment even though it would be interesting to find out.

Lets here from you BOZO knowers!

Dave Trissel           {seismo,gatech,ihnp4}!ut-sally!oakhill