She's a FABU writer with a great blog (just so you know the 'Audhumla' of her blog's name 'Driving Audhumla' refers to the Great Cow of Norse mythology who licked the ice which contained the first man and woman - hence, the beginning of mankind.) Oh, the wonderful things you learn at P-Con! It just gets lumped in there with all of my odd and zany librarian knowledge I've picked up over the years. Thanks for this, Victoria!
We had breakfast on Saturday, and she told me of some unusual discoveries she's made plumbing YouTube as of late. She told me she's learned a great deal about the Hasidic sects of Judaism through YouTube videos! "On YOUTUBE?!?" I asked incredulously. [Of course, Victoria wouldn't joke about this.] I just remember my years in Israel where Hasids were loathe to have cameras in their presence, let alone have their picture taken, as it was considered a graven image.
I guess that's changed - I know for a fact that the Lubavitcher Hasidic sect is not, and has never been, anti-technology. In fact they embrace it.
The Lubavitcher sect of Orthodox Judaism is perhaps THE only sect that has embraced technology and uses it, not to convert non-Jews, but to encourage secular Jews to re-embrace tradition, keep kosher, pray, and lead a more observant life. Lubavitchers are the only sect which sends Orthodox representatives to live in far-flung places (like Honolulu) so traveling Orthodox Jews and local Jews have this resource available.
Check out ChabadTube.com
I blogged about this topic earlier (search Mendy Pellin)
At Pantheacon, Victoria took pictures of people wearing pentacles.
Here's yours truly...
