Terminal Velocity

So at a meeting for this Big Thing which I still cannot reveal because other parties are dragging their feet, the following snippet of conversation happened:

Me: I'd really like [Big Thing] to address some of the common misperceptions about science.
Him: So let me ask you a science question. I've always wondered about this.
Me: Shoot! I love science questions.
Him: The pharmaceutical companies, they have a cure or a vaccine or something for AIDS that they're not selling because it wouldn't make them any money, at least that's what I hear. Is that true?
Me: [speechless. jaw hanging open in Starbucks. yes, he's serious.]
Me: No, that's not true. I mean, pharmaceutical companies are evil, but they're not that evil. For one, think about all the people you could market an AIDS vaccine to. That's a huge market. Think about all the people you could sell an AIDS cure to who can't afford a lifetime of antiviral meds. Not to mention, HIV isn't exactly "curable." The reason it's such a nasty disease is the virus is constantly mutating, so our best attack isn't useful for very long.

At this point in the anecdote, my roommate asked "What was he like?" To which I too-candidly responded "fat," making the guy in front of us on the bus snort laugh, then apologize for eavesdropping.

Then we moved on to discussing our fears about parenting, someday. My single overriding fear is that I won't love my children if they're stupid. I am not, at heart, a very nice person, and I don't think I'd cut my kids any slack in the intelligence department. Maybe less slack, since they're my kids and I am, obviously, the most intelligent person I know. I mentioned the ex-boyfriend who told me that I had a responsibility to reproduce since all the stupid people are reproducing, and we can't have a nation full of stupid people.

K, my roommate: I guess that's true.
Me: But you can't really think about it like that. Stupid people don't necessarily make stupid babies. I mean, my parents couldn't figure out a condom and here I am.