Devrin's Witty Wisdom & Whimsy

It always starts the same way. A ding from the family Facebook group chat, a dramatic caption, and a suspiciously low-resolution video titled: “EXPOSED: Natural Cure for Diabetes Hidden by Big Pharma | Watch Before It’s Deleted!” And right under it, a comment from my Aunt Beatrice: “They’ve known the cure since the ‘70s. Do your research.” Now, I love my aunt. She’s a powerhouse. A high school biology teacher who graduated with her Bachelor’s in Education from a state university back in the mid-1980s—back when Reagan was president and cordless phones were the future. She's taught biology longer than I’ve been alive. The periodic table is basically her love language. But now? Aunt Beatrice is absolutely convinced that Bill Gates is hiding the cure for diabetes. Yes, that Bill Gates. Mr. Microsoft. The guy who brought the world Clippy, Excel, and unsolicited software updates. And in Aunt Beatrice's eyes? He's also the guy standing between her and a diabetes-free life. Who Is ...

One sunny afternoon in January 2009 in the bustling Nigerian town of Ilorin, a curious tale was born—a tale so wild it could only exist in a place where folklore and reality often blur. It all started with a robbery at a car dealership. Witnesses reported seeing a group of armed men, but just as the police were on their trail, one of the robbers supposedly did the unthinkable. In a blink, the man transformed into a goat. Yes, you heard that right—a goat. They were sure that this was no ordinary goat but rather a shape-shifting thief By the time the police arrived, the criminals had disappeared into thin air…except for one lone goat, standing right at the scene, looking as innocent (and as bewildered) as any goat could look. But in a town where beliefs in “juju” (West African witchcraft) run deep, people weren’t taking any chances. They were sure that this was no ordinary goat but rather a shape-shifting thief, using his dark powers to evade justice. The police, though likely skeptical,...

The Birth of Artificial Intelligence? In the bustling courts and dimly lit salons of 18th-century Europe, where nobility and intellectuals gathered to discuss art, science, and the limits of human achievement, a strange figure loomed large over the realm of chess: The Turk, a mechanical chess-playing automaton. Imagine a mysterious mechanical figure dressed in Ottoman robes, seated confidently at a chessboard. As it began to play, the onlookers marveled as it moved its pieces with uncanny precision, often announcing "checkmate" and even grinning at its opponents' frustration. The Turk, the chess-playing automaton Credit: engines.egr.uh.edu Created by Hungarian inventor Johann Wolfgang Ritter von Kempelen in 1769, (the man also began working on ' speaking machine ' the same year but finishing The Turk was an emergency) it quickly became the marvel of Europe and America. For nearly 90 years, the machine didn't just play chess; it crushed its opponents, whether t...

A Tale of Suppression, Science, and Skepticism In the annals of medical history, few substances have sparked as much controversy and debate as Laetrile. Picture this: It's 1977, disco is king, and 70,000 Americans are suddenly overcome with an inexplicable urge to visit Mexico. Was it for the tacos? The tequila? Nope. These medical migrants were on a quest for the forbidden fruit (pit) - Laetrile. Laetrile in 1970s: "I  guess I'll die if I can't get it..." As one desperate patient put it, "I guess I'll die if I can't get it. I'd steal it." Alright. Back in the early 1970s, if you wanted to turn heads at a medical conference, you didn’t need fancy slides or catchy slogans—just walk in waving a bag of apricot seeds and claim you had the cure for cancer. That’s exactly what proponents of Laetrile did, and the ensuing drama was enough to rival any soap opera. But what is (was) Laetrile?  What is (was) Laetrile? Laetrile, also known as Vitamin B17...

Insulin Triumphs, Controversies, and Entanglement With Big Pharma  Diabetes, once a mysterious and fatal condition, has become one of the world's most significant health challenges, affecting over 500 million people globally. Throughout history, humanity's understanding and management of the disease have evolved dramatically. Now diabetes, once a near-certain death sentence, has a life-saving treatment Credit: agamatrix.com What began with rudimentary knowledge and ineffective treatments has now grown into a sophisticated, multi-billion-dollar industry with its own set of triumphs, ethical dilemmas, and, like any great medical journey, the road to managing diabetes has been paved with triumphs, setbacks, and no shortage of drama. From starvation diets and miracle cures to Nobel Prize disputes and modern-day price gouging, the story of diabetes medication is nothing short of a saga. controversies. This journey through diabetes management is much more than a series of medical ad...

Have you become too common and predictable in the eyes of those around you? If so, it may be time to go underground, become uncommon, work on yourself, and reemerge as a transformed individual.  There was a time when I was too predictable, too common. My life had become an open book to everyone in my locality—whether it was at the local bar, my neighborhood, or even among those who pretended to be my friends. They knew too much about me, my routines, my thoughts, and my plans. It was as if I had lost my mystery, and with it, my power. That’s when I realized something had to change. I needed to disappear, to become uncommon, unpredictable, and reclaim my sense of self. It's then I realized that there’s a certain power in disappearing and working in the shadows: Become a mystery to everyone   The more you expose your life to the public, the more opportunities others have to drag you down. It’s a natural sociological phenomenon. Becoming unavailable and committing to personal g...

The year is 1959.The CIA is confronting a new enemy: Fidel Castro, the man who threatens to spread communism across America's backyard. The fear for the United States was that a Cuban-style revolution would explode throughout Latin America. The US president Dwight Eisenhower wants him assassinated and the CIA is given a job but they need someone who can break through his tight security. Their unlikely weapon: A 19-year-old woman named Marita Loren. She was the Natural Choice because she could get through all of the protective layers that Fidel had around him and she could get into his bed. This is the story of one of the most extraordinary CIA operations of them all. It will involve the mafia, a Watergate burglar, and Castro's Lover. It is the most bizarre CIA assassination attempt of them all. Marita Loren with her Boyfriend- Fidel Castro; 1959 It begins with a chance encounter that took place in the port of Cuba's capital city, Havana. A 19-year-old German-American woman ...