Soulution

                                              

The equation 1+1=2 simply put may be one of the most important equations in human history. It may not have the celebrity of the Pythagorean Theorem or the alluring complexity of the Quadratic Equation. It may also lack the sexiness of Fibonacci's Sequence and the Gravitas of The great Theory of relativity but it does have one main thing going for it and that is originality.

This one small first step for Mathematics was also a giant leap for problem solving. It is almost always the first conceptualized understanding by the human brain of how to formulate calculations that have made us go faster, look closer, see further, adjust, extend and improve. A great lesson can be learned from this little equation which is the importance of simple, original,tried and tested methods of coming up with solutions to life's problems. These magnificent,original solutions have now been reduced to coffee mugs,captions on cat posters taped to office break room walls, quotes on shared Facebook timelines and ironically enough even sarcasm laden suggestions to actual problems. These solutions that tell us to smile and it'll get better,that claim laughter is the best medicine or encourage us to have a nice day now seem so naive and irrelevant in this complex problem world. When offered they can annoy, anger or even frustrate someone who is try to solve a problem because of their "simplicity". They are the senior citizens of the problem solving world and depending on the culture of our hearts we either send them to a nursing home of solutions in our brain to die alone or continue to learn from their wisdom as they live and grow old with dignity in the safety of our minds.

I have found myself reverting back to this simple equation. This ancestor of Occam's Razor serves for me as a reminder that these thousand miles of problem solving we have travelled began with it as a single first step. We have layered our process of figuring out the world around us with so many different possible methods that these ancient, simple solutions have been lost in this exponentially increasing,inversely proportional relationship between coming up with ways to make life easier and actually living it. These solutions may not always solve a current problem but their place of origin known as my brains influential age of innocence, where the reasons for solving the problem where clear and simple, have earned them the respect  to be consulted with before formulating a solution.

We are complex beings but our minds often make us think we are more complicated than we really are. It is important for the human family to not let our complexity complicate our ability to solve our problems.

Internet Traffic

At any point in our history when new technology has been introduced systems have been put into place that have helped maintain safety of human beings and preserve a level of social order. There are never any experiments that can accurately predict the social implications of suddenly infusing a new technology on society. At every stage where there has been a new technological introduction we have learned our mistakes at the expense of human culture and human lives. When we went from the horse and buggy to the automobile traffic lights and lanes and speed limits were created to helps us maintain order.
 The internet and all that comes with it at this moment needs a "traffic light"and speed limits and lanes and ''No Parking Zones'' to help us maintain social harmony. The Internet today is repeating that moment in time between when the automobile was invented and traffic regulations were created.



So how do you enforce limits, and create a set of rules that help us maintain the closest form of social decorum on something as personal and individually controlled as the internet?
The difference this time is these speed limits or in this case these social limits are to be enforced by the individuals themselves. We have to follow the same social standards and inherent good-will that we display at a 4-way stop. That means putting down and/or turning off your phone in situations that require social interaction like while ordering at a counter,when sitting down to eat with friends or family,and ironically while driving.

Whenever you have been in a room and seen everyone on a phone instead of talking to each other that is traffic without signs. I for one am beginning the process of enforcing my own traffic laws. I will be my own Garett Morgan. I will try to put down my cellphone and engaging other humans as

often as possible. I am enforcing my own traffic lights by not signing up for any more social networks. Parents please don't let kids who cannot pick out their own shirt have access to smart devices and social networks. A drivers license is required because common sense tells us that there is a social maturity level that is to be reached before a child can be allowed to drive a car amongst other adults.
All this happened in a decade. This is a short enough period of time that we can reverse our bad habits and get back on the right track. We are smart enough and inherently good enough as humans to police ourselves.




If you're reading this in a room filled with people you could be talking to then turn off your phone and carry on actual conversation. You can read it later

@Socrates_Cave #Reflections

If I knew the actual names of companies in the mind imprisonment business then I would invest heavily in them as soon as this afternoon.. If your sole objective is to pacify, arrest and imprison a mind then there has not been a better time in human history to capitalize on this than now. The reason for this sharp rise in value is primarily because we as humans, as society are doing all the work ourselves. We are standing in line by the millions outside of the prisons,walking into often times self assigned cells,closing the doors behind us and sitting in a chair while staring at the key to the door that's sitting on a table in front of us. I was thinking the other day  and I came to the conclusion that the as the number of  forums that have sprung up in the last 10 years in which people can truly express themselves  has increased the less willing people have become to display their true self to the world.

Is this statement implying that there hasn't been a current effort on the part of human beings to be creative. Absolutely not! What it is stating though is that our intellectual and creative growth is being stunted not by forces stronger than us but by ourselves. More precisely by our need to conform. We are living in a world where we are alone together.We are conforming individually. Everyone has headphones on. (can you blame Dre for selling them to you for $300 a pop) This lead me to another thought which is Why do Social Networks die. Well not die but more like float away into virtual space like an unused satellite. Friendster died so did Myspace. Well Myspace became clustered and pervy. Also it began trying to synthetically reproduce a process that can only occur organically - Human Networking. How human interaction works is that first we introduce ourselves to each other, then we begin to get comfortable around each other. The more comfortable we get the more we open up, the more we open up the more we find out weird shit about each other, the more we find out weird shit about each other the more we leave ourselves vulnerable to ridicule  The more vulnerable we are to ridicule the more the few insecure amongts us find ways to attack thus stopping the opening up process and immediately shutting down all individuality and creativity because of fear.

That attack however that comes from those few has been around since the beginning of time. I'm sure the guy who created the wheel had a few dudes standing together outside the next hut making fun of him while he worked away in has back yard. It didn't stop him though because his need to carry heavy loads far outweighed his worry of not conforming. Human beings have invented almost everything we need to make our lives as simple as we can. Apart from flying cars and the ability to teleport I think we`ve got it covered. Because of this fact there has been a natural inclination to then go inward. To create more of the intangibles like thoughts. Not just any thoughts but ones that improve each others lives. The need to create will always live within us and that is why a forums that help us to create free thought have been so successful. They too however are products of human interaction and may also suffer the same fate as their predecessors  They too could reach a point where people are too afraid to say what they want for fear of ridicule 

We have reached another point in human society where we need to carry heavy loads. Heavy societal loads.
The Earth is sick, children are dying and almost everywhere people are fighting. These are problems whose solutions can only come from a process that begins with minds being allowed to expand. Our need to create the next wheel can only be met by out ability to overlook the need to conform.  There's more to this than just the reflections on the wall. Leave the cave!



"emancipate yourselves from mental slavery non but ourselves can free our minds"

~Bob Marley~

Questions you should never (have to) ask a bartender.

 Here is a list of questions you should never ask a bartender. The reasons as to why are explained individually with each questions. The purpose for this list is to promote and maintain a healthy relationship with your local bartender.

"Why do I have to maintain a good relationship with the guy or girl that pours my drinks I mean after all I have a real job,you know, I wear a tie sit in front of a computer checking my emails all day, then go to meetings but all they do is pour drinks for a living" Maybe, but it is important to be civil and considerate to your fellow man/woman besides they belong to the group listed in the golden rule.
What is this golden rule you may ask?

~Dont fuck with or be a dick to anyone who handles anything that is going to end up in your stomach~



Question: Hey how late do you guys stay open ?

This question lets the bartender know something about you and possibly your crew. It means you and you boys or you and your girls are going to be the last ones to leave. This means the rest of the time you're there the bartender is suspecting you to be the reason as to why he wont be able to meet up with that hot new server for after hours.  Or why he's girlfriend is going to hate what he does for a living even more.


Question: Ok can I just tell you how my day has been?

This applies mostly to anyone who has seen a movie or TV show where the bartender stood back there wiping the counter pouring you a shot occasionally while someone sits at the bar with a loosened tie while holding their head and talking about how much their life sucks.
 This gives rise to common misconception that people who work behind a bar  actually care about strangers lives or want to hear about their shitty day. A bartender has as much interest in how your day went as a stripper does in what you do for a living. The bartender is NOT A SHRINK. if you want to treat a bartender like a shrink you have to pay/tip them like one.  The only life story a bartender is interested in knowing about is the story coming from the person he/she would otherwise listen to even if they were not working that is THEIR ACTUAL FRIENDS (Or a smoking hot chick in which case they arent really actually listening)


Question: We want to do shots can you make us something fruity, fun and exciting.

Umm no, this is not Ben n Jerrys and also may I see your ID's please. Ladies please dont ask this question because this means you have no idea what you want to drink and what that tells the bartender is
a) They are going to be making crappy annoying shots all night
but also
b) They can charge you as much as they want for the shittiest drink they can make. And they can do it all night because they need to get rid of the bottles of the Well Cherry Bubble gum flavored Vodka that have been on the shelf since last years Christmas Party.


 Question: Is ______ here we're friends of his/her?

Don't name drop. Its not going to help you one bit. If anything it lets the bartender know how much of a dousche you are because you're probably going to bitch about something they did or didn't do behind their back. If you walk into an establishment and you're that good friends with the owner then EVERYONE  who works there should already know and if they don't it means you're not that good friends and you're probably trying to get some free shit.



Question: What Kind of beers do you have?

I don't know ummm the kind that have alcohol in them!!!! If you are a man above the age of lets say 25 and you haven't settled on a beer/drink with at least two substitutes incase they don't have your go to then you will most likely be a failure at everything you will do in life and you should just give up now and go and live in a remote mountain settlement before you cost yourself or the rest of society anymore precious time.


Question: So where do you like to go and get a drink after work

 Fella's if you don't already know the answer to this question then never ask a female bartender this. If she wants you to know where she hangs out after work she will bring it into conversation. If she brings it into conversation herself that means she feels comfortable telling you. If she doesn't that means she has a boyfriend or she probably still thinks you're a huge creep.   (It is however OK for ladies to ask a dude bartender)



Question: Could you add a bit more cranberry/coke/water to this it's too strong?

Wait so let me get this straight you have just complained to a bartender that the drink they made you was too strong? Don't get me wrong I understand why anyone would want to control how drunk they get for a variety of safety reasons thing is to the bartender its like getting a lap dance and complaining to the stripper that she kept dancing for five minutes too long. Trust me your drinks will never be that strong again..ever. The correct way to do this is to ask for a small glass of the mixer.



Question: So you must have a bunch of crazy interesting stories about things that happen when you're working right? 

I do actually I have one where this one guy comes in and everytime he`s here asks me to tell him about crazy interesting stuff that happens when Im working. Again folks if you have nothing to talk about with your bartender dont say anything at all.  Words With Friends and Twitter were invented so that boring annoying people who sit at bars by themselves could leave bartenders alone and not force them into conversations where all they are thinking about is stabbing them with rusty objects.


Question: Did I leave you a good tip?

If you have to ask a bartender this question it means no you didn't. Not only that but it lets the bartender know that you have no idea what a good tip is.


And finally...

Question: Excuse me are we keeping you here?

Oh no not at all the bartender loves sitting in a bar that is swept has all the chairs up and 3/4 of the lights turned off at 2:20am. with just four people in it with him/her being the fourth person. The thing about this question is if you have to actually ask a bartender this then yes, yes you are keeping them there and also you asked the question 30 minutes too late. Its not OK for you to be in a bar late night with two other friends because the bartender is still there because the only reason the bartender is still there late night is because YOU ARE STILL THERE.

Remember these few rules and see how great your relationship with your bartender will become.
Now get up and go get a drink!!!!!!!!!

Sunday's Rule

So its Game day  The first week of regular season  football and you're ready for opening day. You've been waiting for it all summer and have made plans for it weeks in advance. Everyone meets up at one house so you can all drive the same car. It's 9am and you just cracked open your first beer and  the pregame shows are blaring on radio and tv. You're ready for the game right? Not so fast champ! I came up with a list of  do`s and don'ts that you need to know about before you head down to the stadium. Remember these few rules and it will help make your day and/or season a memorable one.


DO:   Make sure you have cash on you. A minimum of $100-$150 is necessary when going to any stadium nowadays. This amount may vary depend if your a dude or a lady. It doesn't mean you will spend all of it, it just makes you prepared. Almost everything you do this day will require you slipping out a 20 from your pocket.You don't want to have to ask the beer guy if he takes credit. They don't like that or think its funny.

DON'T:  Wear a "third party " jersey. If you are from Tampa and you live in Cleveland do not go to a Browns/Bengals game wearing a Buccaneers jersey!! We get it, its football season and you want to proudly show your love for the city you're from but this will make you look like a tool. If your not a fan of any of the teams playing then just bust our the black North-face.


DO:  Buy  beers for the person who hooked you up with a free ticket. That ticket was paid for one way or another that means beers and nachos and the first round at Christie's is on you. The amount of money you spend should usually be proportional to the face value of your ticket depending on where you're sitting. If you think this is B.S. and you feel that you don't have to then don't but see if you get invited to another game.

DON'T:  Wear the those pink jerseys ladies please!  There s nothing cute about those pink jerseys.  Unless you are under the age or 10 you have no business sporting those Pepto-Bismol colored puke/spilled beer targets. If youre gonna wear a jersey ladies please wear regular colors preferably small and tight but not pink. Thank you.

DO:  Bring  a coat. Northeast Ohio by the Lake Erie for example in November at night is ALWAYS cold!!!! If I have to leave the game early or have to watch the game from the inside a stadium bar because you got cold and didn't bring as much as a hoodie I'm gonna be very pissed.(An exception can be made if you're with a lady and she says she`s cold)


DON`T: Get too drunk before the game. The only thing worse than sitting next to annoying obnoxious,loud opposing fans is sitting next to an annoying,loud,obnoxious,drunken buddy whose insults or loud comments about the game or a specific play have been reduced to incoherent drunken gibberish followed by throwing up under the seats. If you're already on your eighth beer when you get to the tailgate it might be time to go and take a nap in the car till the game starts.

DO: Eat before or during the entire day. See Above.

DON`T: Go to the game if you hate football. Ladies this is another for you. If you don't like football and don't understand it you don't have to pretend like you do just to impress the guy you just started dating. Its better for you to be honest and spend the afternoon with your girlfriends doing what you prefer to do than going to the game and annoying your b.f. and all his friends by asking what just happened after every play and getting mad when he stops responding. We still love the girls that don't like sports, you don't have to like it for us to like you.

DO: Take part in the crowd participation of the game. You're at a Game stand up, clap,high five a stranger then give them a hug, participate in chants. If your throat isn't hurting and you don't sound like you have laryngitis by the end of the game your not doing it right.

DON`T: Have conversations on you cellphone. STAY OFF THE PHONE!!! Unless you`re telling someone where to meet at the half, or you girlfriend wants to tell you she misses you then don't even think about answering it. Looking at and responding to texts is acceptable, checking your fantasy points and/or scores of other games is allowed but crossing your legs and having a full on conversation that lasts for a full quarter is off-sides  I`ll swat your phone and send it flying 5 rows if I see you this kind of behavior.

OK now that we have established these basic rules then you're ready for a day of fun and excitement. Have a good time and remember to drink responsibly.


#gobrowns

I won`t need a box for this shirt.Thanks.

                                                         

I was having a drink with friends a few months back. As always in Cleveland in the Spring the talk of summer begins.  The desired destinations, what we`ll be doing on the 4th, Labor day, Memorial Day, the countless birthdays in July,everyone makes a plans to work out and get in shape,my melanin deprived friends exchange sunburn stories from last summer while I go to the restroom etc.  Somehow summer apparel made its way into the conversation.(There were some girls involved in the conversation at this point)  It was then that I decided to make a declaration that the coming summer would be my "summer of short sleeved shirts". I heard a record screech on a turntable in the background, outside a car crashed into another and everyone within a earshot of me let out combinations of "absolutely not" with "dude why???!" One of my friends got up threw their drink in my face, got their coat and walked out.


I was confused. Had I said something offensive? I didn't know if the phrase "short sleeved shirt" had now become slang for slap "your mother in the face" I tried to explain that they would be casual designer shirts, and that it wouldnt be for any formal events but with each scenario I gave I was met with the same resounding and emphatic "NO!!"
 I had to do something fast I started to make a case for them. I brought up their comfort and multiple purpose and use. The ability to be worn with a tie under a suit or a sweater while providing  the cool comfort of a t shirt.I tried to bring up bowling shirts and how they're retro look has been celebrated in every decade since the 50`s, Harlem Globetrotter Warm-ups, dudes that ride Harley`s.  It was too late I could hear a bell ring with each cool point that I was loosing by the second. I immediately changed the subject and made a mental note. This wasn't over. 

It was than I began a quest. One that would involve giving back respect and dignity to a storied hard working and symbolic member of the modern day wardrobe not just of our time but the time of our Fathers and Grandfathers. Then it dawned on me. I realized what was happening. I was turning into my dad. I had flashbacks of me and my sisters and my mom sitting in the car ready to leave for a party at an aunt's house. My dad would walk out of the house looking proud of his fashion decision only to be met with my moms head shaking and glare of disapproval. They would go back in and he would come back with a different outfit on and a frown on his face. The short sleeved shirts never seemed to make the final cut unless he was leaving  to go somewhere by himself or with me or he was just hanging at home(with no expectation of visitors). The only other acceptable occasion was when he wore them with a tie and was going to work. She didn't seem to mind then either because he was going to work or getting him to change would take up too much valuable morning time.

I went into store after store and in each one found Men's short sleeved shirts displayed in the Men's section. Someone was obviously buying them. I asked a store clerk after another what they thought of them and even though I figured they would have a bias because they wanted to sell them to me they all said it was OK to wear one. I asked my guy friends my female friends, my gay friends, my young and hip friends and in each case I got a NO.   I was told the shirts were hideous, they were for nerds and geeks, I was told they were for Doushebag Hipsters who wore them ironically or for pencil pushing office weirdos who ate lunch by themselves and stared at Excel spreadsheets all day. Still I searched for answers Then I realized something. apart from the people selling them, everyone else I asked about the Short sleeved shirt had a disgusted, enraged almost infuriated reaction to the mere mention of them. There had to be a reason why people hated them.  I then realized what this piece of clothing symbolizes. 
The short sleeved shirt is a symbol of freedom in world where freedom is defined by those that imprison you. It laughs in the face of formality. It follows every rule required of the shirt.
1. Be able to be worn with a tie
2. Come in colors that could be matched with a suit or any other formal combinations.
3. Provide the option to be buttoned down
And yet it does not follow the one rule which officially makes it a shirt but yet ironically does not disqualify it from being considered one.
4. Have long sleeves. This my friends makes it a rebel.

The short sleeved shirt could be at the office on Friday from 8-5 then go home and leave un-tucked only this time accompanied by Jeans and some comfortable shoes in time to be at an art gallery opening. Just when you think its night is over it heads out for a show then drinks and a late night meal. Its up relatively early for a Saturday morning, makes a quick stop at Home Depot then its back to the house then the Street Fair then the nieces Birthday day party that afternoon. Either way  what its saying the whole time is " you cannot box me in" It is this lack of definition,this anomaly that causes the human mind that is designed to complete everything it comes across react in the way it does. Of all the people that I asked that told me they hated short sleeved shirts no one could give me a real reason as to why, they just knew that they did. It was as if something in their heads had been programmed to react aggressively to them as if it was ingrained instinctively. They hadn't been robbed at gunpoint by a man wearing one,or lost the promotion to a dude at the office that wore one,or been beaten by a drunken step father who then put out his cigarettes on their arms while wearing one. They just knew that they hated them. And then it hit me.I knew why the hated them.

They hated them because they didn't know why they hated them. Maybe the short sleeved shirt represented yet another one of societies unwritten rules that causes us to sub consciously conform even though deep inside we want to rebel. Maybe they remind us of authority figures like Dads or policemen. People that in our youth or even adulthood told us we couldn't do every fun thing we wanted to. Either way a peace had to be and has to be made. Short sleeved shirts are here to stay. If it has become socially acceptable for a man to wear "skinny jeans" there is no reason why my beloved short sleeved shirts cannot be proudly worn down the street. There must no longer be a stigma connected to this useful fun and friendly member of the clothing family.

My declaration of the 'Summer of the short sleeved shirt was not made because I was going to the mall to purchase some the next day, it was made because I owned and still do own some. Yes I said it. I own short sleeved shirts. Four of them. They are comfortable and each of them are beautiful in their own ways. I might name them. So tomorrow at the grocery store, or waiting in line to get cake at the office party  or in VIP at the clubor even at Home Depot or your neighbors daughter's birthday party if you see someone wearing one mock them if you will. But know this, you ridicule means nothing to us err I mean them because either they have no idea that you hate the shirt that much or they don't care.






Shout Out to the homie Dwight Shrute!

The Secret of Society

There is a music channel on my cable package called Palladia, its all concerts live performances, VH1 "storytellers" MTV Live performances and videos etc. In a nutshell if you're a music person probably rules your DVD or Tivo. A few days ago I was watching "Fade to Black" Its a music documentary about Jay-Z`s album from 2004 also called "Fade to Black". It chronicles what went into making the album. A camera crew follows him into studios as he`s recording songs with Producers Like Timberland,Kanye West,Pharrell and Rick Rueben while cutting back and forth to footage of his record breaking concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

While fast forwarding though the commercials I had a flashback of a moment in 1996. It was Saturday morning, I was sitting in the car outside of a grocery called Bon Marche in Harare, Zimbabwe. I was my mums chauffeur for the day and I was waiting for her in the car while she was picking up a few things we needed for a cookout later. The DJ Kudzie Marudza mentioned an artist that had a song with Mary J. Blige and the song came on. It was Jay Z. The song was "Cant knock the Hustla" of an album called "Reasonable Doubt." I have the ability to know if I like a song or if its a hit within 5 seconds of hearing it. Its one of my talents that I have never exposed to the world..yet. The song comes on I turn it up and make a mental note to get Jay Z`s album as soon as I get back to the U.S..

As I'm still fast forwarding I have another flashback. Its 1998 and me and my boys are making another one of our infamous NYC trips. We're driving into Manhattan on the G.W. listening to Hot97, "Streets is watching" from the "In my Lifetime Vol 1" album comes on and everyone in the car loses their minds, I mean heads out of the sunroof and everything. The album becomes the soundtrack for the trip. We go straight to Canal St. to get Iceburg T-shirts and Yankee caps, DJClue mixtapes and Dance-hall CDs from the Sudanese cats. I have another flashback, then another and another. From going to the "No way out" Tour at Gund Arena in '98 to house parties where "Big Pimpin" was on repeat in '99 to 2001 when "Takeover" came out and him and Nas had the battle to rewinding and cracking up because of that line about Miss "foo-foo" on "Girls Girls Girls". Then to 2003 when " The Black Album" which was supposed to be his final one came out and the arguments we would have until 4am about whether he would be considered the best of all time after that album and especially after "Allure" (which might be hands down one of the best rap songs ever made). Then just when we thought it was done there was "American Gangster" and how while that was still being digested we had to all go out and get a Rosetta Stone for the infamous"Watch the Throne" that came out in 2011. The movie was starting back up I sat back and took a minute to reflect and marvel at how his 11 studio albums, 46 singles and 5 collaborative albums spanning the last 16 yrs had had a solid contribution to my life's soundtrack. I felt like throwing up the "the rock" like the crowd at MSG then I laughed to myself and shook my head because it reminded me of something that had happened a few days before.

I was in the room with a few people watching the Grammys and a " Jay-Z and Kanye West" song won an award and I jokingly held my hands up in the familiar diamond shaped "The Rock" as in Rockafella Records (the record label that Jay-Z helped create in the late nineties with business partner and friend Dame Dash. Immediately someone began spouting out how that was a symbol for a secret society that both rappers not only ties to but that had also aided them in their rise to stardom. A rise that was made possible only because of a pact with the devil. All this evidence of course obtained from the reliable source called YouTube. They went on to mention the illuminati and how they were everywhere and determined who became successful and when etc. As I sat and listened to the rest of this elaborate conspiracy theory I began to think.

Humans have a problem understanding success. We have no problems recognising it we just don't know how to accept it when its not our own. The reason we have a problem accepting others success is because it means we are faced with having to reluctantly admit that our own method of achieving it is not working or even worse that its wrong. We love respect and enjoy watching someones climb to the top because it is easy to live vicariously through someone who is fighting but it's impossible to taste the victory of someone that has won that same fight. So our natural instinct is to demonize them so as to make ourselves feel that we really wouldn't want to be in their shoes anyway since it was probably obtained in an immoral, shady, unfair or in this case evil way. I cant imagine what its like to be an International Superstar but I do know what it feels like to work your ass off at achieving a goal or trying to become the best at what you do. Assuming that someone who works more than half their lives at perfecting a craft, art form, or skill is now the best only because of the assistance of some shadowy secret society is just plain lazy. Not only is it lazy it is an insult to the evolution of the human brain and its ability to recognise,learn,adapt and perfect method, of any kind.

Understanding how people became to be successful is important for humans because it is an acknowledgment and acceptance of the evolutionary process. When one of us excels they have raised the level at which the base of where the next stage begins. Without evidence the assumption that the excellence achieved was merely because of a brokered deal with some secret shadowy society and not by good old fashioned hard work is just that, an assumption. Our ancestors did not fashion tools, learn to hunt, learn to build shelters, learn about their environment and establish settlements by making assumptions. The did it by learning, learning from their surroundings,learning from the older family members and learning from those who had become more advance than themselves. The idea that one becomes successful only because they belong to a specific group that helps propel its members careers and lives could automatically be considered valid only if we assume the group is ones family, or good friends or community.

So don't player hate instead congratulate or better yet imitate.