The other Kennedys

This evening's conversation, in my household: Ted Kennedy, whose seizure on Saturday has now been diagnosed as the result of a cancerous brain tumor.

Which led -- not because we're a callous family, but because we have young children -- to a more light-hearted discussion about notable Americans named "Kennedy" who are not closely related to John, Robert, or Ted.

As with Ford, I've discovered that there is notable Kennedy or two (mostly actors, a couple of authors) for every recent American generation... except the Millennials.

Here are the Kennedys I've come up with:

Partisans: Merna Kennedy (actress).

New Gods: Arthur Kennedy (actor, from Worcester). Doesn't count: John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Postmoderns: George Kennedy (actor). Doesn't count: Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Ethel Kennedy.

Anti-Anti-Utopians: John Kennedy Toole. Wait, does that count?

Baby Boomers: Mimi Kennedy (actress).

Original Generation X: Pagan Kennedy (writer, Ideas contributor, former Allstonian). Doesn't count: Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr.

PC Generation: Jamie Kennedy (comedian, actor), and Kennedy (hated MTV veejay). Doesn't count: A.L. Kennedy (Scottish novelist)

Net Generation: Dead Kennedys (band formed in 1978). Does that count?

Millennials: None!

BRAINIAC'S GUIDE TO AMERICA'S RECENT GENERATIONS

1904-13: The Greatest Generation Partisans
1914-23: The Greatest Generation New Gods
1924-33: The Silent Generation Postmoderns
1934-43: The Silent Generation Anti-Anti-Utopians
1944-53: Baby Boomers
1954-63: Baby Boomers OGXers (Original Generation X)
1964-73: Generation X PC Generation
1974-83: Generation Y Net Generation
1984-93: Millennials

Please credit Brainiac/Joshua Glenn whenever you use this guide. Got a beef with my periodization, or different generational name suggestions? Leave a comment on this post or email me. Born between 1954 and 1993 and still unsure about whether you're a Boomer, Xer, Yer, or Millennial? Here's a handy guide.