You know the rules, don't you? Pick a person. If that person knows or knew someone that did something illegal, nefarious, or just down-right rotten at some point in their life, then that person is branded as being of the same character and talents. Remember, though, that if the same person knows or knew someone that was a fine, upstanding member of the community, well, that doesn't count.

Oh, wait, those are the rules for the “basic” game. I prefer a little more of a challenge, so let's try the rules for the “advanced” game.

Rules for the “advanced” game:

Step 1: Pick a person who did something illegal, nefarious, or just downright rotten at some point in their life. It doesn't matter when it was or whether or not they've changed their ways. You're going to attempt to link this person to other people who have had dealings of any kind with him or her.

Step 2: Choose the “degree of separation”. One degree of separation means that your only going to attempt to relate to the target person anyone who has had direct contact with him or her. Two degrees of separation means that your going to include persons who have had direct contact with persons in the one degree of separation group.

Step 3: Label these other people as having the same character and talents. Remember, though, that you must include anyone else who also shares the same “degree of separation”. Keep a running count of all the people in the resulting set.

Winning the Game:
The object of the game is to create the smallest group of people within a specific degree of separation.

Sounds pretty easy. Let's play! I'll go first. I choose William Ayers as my object person. He's been in the news lately so should all be fairly familiar with him – he is/was a “domestic terrorist”. I'm going to choose one degree of separation.

Here's my result set: Barack Obama.

Hey, I got a result set that contains only one person! I win!! What? You think there are more people who share one degree of separation. Like who? The other people who served on the Board of the Annenberg Foundation? The individual or individuals that selected Mr. Ayers to the Board? Other people he met with during the course of his duties on the board? Neighbors? Aw, come on, they don't count, do they? Students that have attended classes taught by Mr. Ayers?? His physician!? Oh, now you're just being silly! Good grief, that's a lot of domestic terrorists! You can come up with more??

Ah, heck! I quit! I knew this was a stupid game!

How 'bout a nice game of chess?