I get the feeling Hil's office mate is just deeply socially awkward and unable to come up with something to talk about with her besides her Judaism, probably because she intimidates him for some reason.

I get that sense too. That's why I think you need to be especially blunt with him. He's not going to get it otherwise (and he may not even then).

Or just learn to tune it out. That's not something I'm very good at though.

One of my students was just saying she went and ate pizza because Passover was over and she could.

Someone's Facebook status recently was musing on how many Jews ate pizza after Passover. I am having pizza with a Jewish friend of mine tonight, even!

I totally get why everyone uses American Gothic, but of course the painting isn't of a man and wife, it's a man and his daughter.

I didn't know Grant Wood specified that. I know the model for the female is Grant's sister Nan.

I always assumed the man was just an older husband than I thought should be with her.

I always assumed the man was just an older husband than I thought should be with her.

Which makes it more Gothic.

Considering how popular Pizza is, I can see it seeming like a trend.

Pizza!

I totally get why everyone uses American Gothic, but of course the painting isn't of a man and wife, it's a man and his daughter.

My mind is blown.

Hm, Wikipedia directs me to a Salon article:

His sister Nan, perhaps embarrassed about being depicted as the wife of a man twice her age, started telling people that Wood had envisioned the couple as father and daughter, not husband and wife. (Wood himself remained vague on this point.)

I always assumed the man was just an older husband than I thought should be with her.

Which makes it more Gothic.

Heh. I just looked it up in wikipedia, apparently the House behind them in the picture is of the Carpenter Gothic style.

In fact, here is a picture of the very house! [link]

I'm with Tommyrot. I feel like he's making Hil's job harder. If it was me I'd say, "seriously, stop with the Judaism questions, I have work to do." and if it happened again, "Am I going to have to take this to HR?"

His sister Nan, perhaps embarrassed about being depicted as the wife of a man twice her age, started telling people that Wood had envisioned the couple as father and daughter, not husband and wife. (Wood himself remained vague on this point.)

Curious.

The snow continues. CJ's school was closed mid-day and it looks like some schools might cancel proms which were scheduled for tomorrow.

I get the feeling Hil's office mate is just deeply socially awkward and unable to come up with something to talk about with her besides her Judaism, probably because she intimidates him for some reason.

I think we're someways beyond that. This has been going on too long and with many instances of going past awkwardly personal into actually offensive.