Overheard and other gems

• "...illustrate the Olympian glibness of psychoanalytic thought" Peter Medawar in Pluto's Republic
• "What could be worse than a condescending chemist?" "A roomful of biologists!" Backchat between two faculty at Ohio State University during an awkward meeting of their laboratories. (ca. 1990)
• "Parental stupidity is a deadly disease that can only be cured by death" Nikos Voulgaropoulos (1997) 
• "Now don't pay no attention to websites young man. Next you'll be lining up to buy toilet paper and water. Common sense has left our society" Illinois Secretary of State employee. 
• This one was reported to me by someone who was interviewing for a position at Amazon. He was waiting in the lobby of one of their office buildings when he heard this gem. "You will like working here. Sixty percent of the people in this building are Indians and 40% of them speak Telegu!" 
• "Have some ethicacy, I say!" A physics teacher pleading with his adolescent students in South India. 
• He is from my vatinerry! Don't ask what this means if you can't figure it out. 
• "Tempus does fugit" from Coover Gazdar.

From the NY Times per Christa Scott-Reed

"....Is that right?" one person in the group asked. "Is stage hand what we call you?" The usher smiled."No," he said, a twinkle in his eye. "You can just call me the guy who's given up on his dreams and is here to collect your trash."