First, read the rules of the game.

This week’s challenge will be tasty beverage, erstwhile Boston terror suspect, and Lou Costello soundalike Master Shake.

I was able to link Master Shake to Sir Francis Bacon in four degrees, though that shouldn’t stop you from posting a longer response, or looking for a shorter one. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, February 22.

Good luck!

And congratulations once again to Lee for winning last week’s challenge by linking Peyton Manning to Sir Francis Bacon in six degrees:

Peyton Manning > Dan Marino > Courteney Cox > Bruce Springsteen > Elvis Costello > William Shakespeare > Sir Francis Bacon

Peyton Manning in 2004 beat the record for touchdown passes in a single season set in 1984 by Dan Marino, who appeared in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective with Courteney Cox, who appeared in the video for “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen, who performed The Clash’s “London Calling” at the 2003 Grammy Awards with Elvis Costello, who based his ballet Il Sogno on A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, who is believed by some to be Sir Francis Bacon.

First, read the rules of the game.

This week’s challenge will be Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

I was able to link Peyton Manning to Sir Francis Bacon in six degrees, though that shouldn’t stop you from posting a longer response, or looking for a shorter one. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, February 15.

Good luck!

And congratulations once again to Lee for winning last week’s challenge by linking Punxsutawney Phil to Sir Francis Bacon in six degrees:

Punxsutawney Phil > Bam Margera > Jessica Simpson > Tom Hanks > Henrik Ibsen > William Shakespeare > Sir Francis Bacon

Punxsutawney Phil was given a special tribute by professional skateboarder Bam Margera, who was romantically linked to Jessica Simpson, who became flustered while performing in front of Tom Hanks, who in college enjoyed attending the plays of Henrik Ibsen, who is the most frequently performed classical dramatist in the world after William Shakespeare, who is believed by some to be Sir Francis Bacon.

First, read the rules of the game. There are some minor clarifying edits to the rules this week.

This week’s challenge will be the world’s most famous groundhog weatherman, Punxsutawney Phil.

I was able to link Punxsutawney Phil to Sir Francis Bacon in six degrees, though that shouldn’t stop you from posting a longer response, or looking for a shorter one. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, February 8.

Good luck!

And congratulations once again to Lee for winning last week’s challenge by linking Chuck Hagel to Sir Francis Bacon in four degrees:

Chuck Hagel > Ronald Reagan > Richard Nixon > William Shakespeare > Sir Francis Bacon

Chuck Hagel was nominated in 1981 to serve as Deputy Administrator of the Veteran’s Administration by Ronald Reagan, who supported the 1960 presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon, who in high school showed a penchant for the writings of William Shakespeare, who is believed by some to be Sir Francis Bacon.

First, read the rules of the game.

This week’s challenge will be the senior senator from Nebraska, the gruff but lovable Chuck Hagel.

I was able to link Senator Hagel to Sir Francis Bacon in four degrees, though that shouldn’t stop you from posting a longer response, or looking for a shorter one. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Thursday, February 1.

Good luck!

Note: As of next week, Six Degrees of Sir Francis Bacon will be moving to Fridays.

And congratulations to Lee for winning last week’s challenge by linking Bert to Sir Francis Bacon in four degrees:

Bert > Adolf Hitler > Neville Chamberlain > William Shakespeare > Sir Francis Bacon

Bert appeared on the “Bert is Evil” website with Adolf Hitler, who signed the Munich Agreement with Neville Chamberlain, who in public debates would often quote William Shakespeare, who is believed by some to be Sir Francis Bacon.

First, read the rules of the game.

I had to change the rules this week, after realizing that England links to Sir Francis Bacon, and I didn’t want the game to turn into Five Degrees of England. Now you can only link through individuals, which I think will make it feel more like the original Kevin Bacon game.

This week’s challenge will be our old buddy Bert.

Bert can be linked to Sir Francis Bacon in six degrees, though that shouldn’t stop you from posting a longer response, or looking for a shorter one. Entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday, January 26.

Good luck!

And congratulations to Ro for winning last week’s challenge by linking Genghis Khan to Sir Francis Bacon in five degrees (before the rules changed):

Genghis Khan > Mongol Empire > China > Gunpowder > Four Great Inventions of ancient China > Sir Francis Bacon

I’d like to introduce a new game called “Six Degrees of Sir Francis Bacon.” If people like the game and want to play it, I will make it a regular feature on the blog.

You are given a famous person from the past or the present, and you have to connect that person to Sir Francis Bacon in Wikipedia in as few links as possible.

Besides the obvious reason, Francis Bacon is a particularly good choice for this game, as he was an important innovator in a great number of fields, during a time of remarkable transition. He truly is the Kevin Bacon of history. Plus, he is a contemporary of Shakespeare, so he’s relevant to the blog. Some say that he actually was Shakespeare, but that’s just silliness. Now, on to the game…

First, read the rules of the game.

This week’s challenge will be – why not – Genghis Khan.

Entries will be accepted until midnight on Friday, January 19.

Good luck!