That’s Odd

38 from displacement, and ensure access to affordable housing. The bill, signed by California Governor The Jewish Home | APRIL 7, 2022 Gavin Newsom in September, would allow the development of up to four residential units on single-family lots statewide. A letter presented to Newsom prior to the bill’s signing said, “SB 9 does not guarantee the construction of affordable housing, nor will it spur additional housing development in a manner that supports local flexibility, decision-making and community input.”

Bird Flu Concerns

Bird flu has hit another two farms in Iowa, forcing 88,000 turkeys and 5.3 million hens to be killed.

Across the United States, farmers have been forced to kill around 1.9 million turkeys, 1.9 million pullet and other commercial chickens, 22 million egg-laying hens, and 1.8 million broiler chickens.

Many of these cases are in Iowa, the U.S.’s leading egg producer, which raises around 11.7 million turkeys annually. Still, at least 22 states have seen cases of bird flu in their flocks.

The latest cases occurred at an egg farm in Osceola County and a turkey farm in Cherokee County, both in northwest Iowa.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking into vaccines as an option to offer protection against bird flu. Supporters say vaccines could help keep poultry alive, prevent financial losses, and control food costs, although shots would be too late to stop the current outbreak that has wiped out more than 22 million chickens and turkeys in commercial flocks since February.

In the past, the United States has eschewed vaccines, worried that importers will ban U.S. poultry shipments because they cannot distinguish between infected birds and vaccinated ones. The United States is the world’s second-largest poultry meat exporter and a major egg producer, with shipments reaching $4.2 billion in 2020.

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a highly contagious and deadly virus that can prey on chickens, turkeys and wild birds, including ducks and geese. It spreads via nasal secretions, saliva and fecal droppings.

Symptoms of the virus include a sudden increase in the mortality of a flock, a drop in egg production, and diminished consumption of feed and water.

The prices of eggs and poultry have risen sharply because of the outbreak, similar to what took place during the bird flu outbreak in 2014-2015. The USDA reports that egg costs have increased 52% since February.

NY Redistricting: Back to the Drawing Board?

An upstate Republican judge has deemed New York’s recently-drawn state and congressional maps “unconstitutional.”

Steuben County Supreme Court Judge Patrick McAllister ordered that the legislature resubmit the maps with “sufficient bipartisan support” by April 11. If this is not done, the court will “retain a neutral expert at State expense to prepare said maps.”

The new lines would influence the state’s primary, scheduled for June 28.

Meanwhile, legislative leaders promised to send the case to the Court of Appeals.

Mike Murphy, a spokesman for Senate Democrats, said, “This is one step in the process. We always knew this case would be decided by the appellate courts. We are appealing this decision and expect this decision will be stayed as the appeal process proceeds.”

Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Lockport, said, “Albany Democrats ignored the will of New Yorkers who demanded fair, independent redistricting. Instead, they adopted partisan maps to protect themselves. This is a victory for (all) New Yorkers.”

Vaxx Attack

A few days ago, a German man in his 60s was caught after months of getting himself vaccinated against COVID-19. Generally, authorities in Germany are encouraging vaccinations. This man, though, has gotten the shot dozens of times in the past few months.

The man from the eastern Germany city of Magdeburg is said to have received up to 90 shots against COVID-19 at vaccination centers in the eastern state of Saxony for months until police caught up with him. He had been selling the proof of vaccinations.

Many people in Germany want the coveted COVID-19 passports that make access to public life and venues such as restaurants, theaters, swimming pools or workplaces much easier without having to get the shot.

The man was caught at a vaccination center when he showed up for a COVID-19 shot for the second day in a row. Police confiscated several blank vaccination cards from him and initiated criminal proceedings.

It was not immediately clear what impact the approximately 90 shots of COVID-19 vaccines, which were from different brands, had on the man’s personal health.

Talk about COVID crazy.

Muffins & Makeup

is going to make your day smell a bit more delicious. The makeup company is teaming up with Dunkin’ to combine cookies with cosmetics.

The e.l.f X Dunkin’ collaboration features item with names that riff off Dunkin’s menu: Dunkin’ Dozen scented eyeshadow palette, with its colors of shimmery pink, blue, yellow and chocolate brown; two “Glazed for Days” lip glosses; a coffee-scented lip scrub; makeup brushes shaped like straws. There’s even a makeup sponge that resembles a strawberry-frosted donut with confetti sprinkles and an e.l.f-Dunkin’-branded coffee cup.

This is not the first time that e.l.f Cosmetics teamed up with a food company to entice their consumers with yummy items. Last year, it joined forces with Chipotle for a limited edition online-only sale of makeup inspired by ingredients on its menu. The collection sold out in 72 hours.

The affordable beauty line — whose name stands for eyes, lip, face — launched 18 years ago with items priced at $1.

Still, you may want to stay away from doughnut-flavored lipstick as Pesach rolls around.

Moo-seum

This is simply moo-rvelous.

A Minnesota woman who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of cow-related items said her Cow Collector’s Mooseum has grown to 19,827 pieces.

Ruth Klossner, whose home in Lafayette is now known as the Cow Collector’s Mooseum, was awarded the Guinness World Record in 2015, when her collection numbered 15,144 pieces.

Love cows? Make sure to include Klossner’s homage to all things bovine on your list of things to do this chol hamoed. Her collection includes toys, statues, snow globes, pillows, clothing, a chess set and even a wine decanting set.

Since the award years ago, Klossner’s collection has udder-ly grown to a generous 19,827 pieces.

Tours at the Mooseum are by appoint-

Largest Insect Hotel

You know, it really bugged me that there are no hotels exclusively for insects. You see, when they vacation, they have to bunk with humans. But now, six-legged creatures are getting a home of their own.

Recently, a Scottish conservation group earned a Guinness World Record by constructing an insect hotel measuring more than 7,000 cubic feet.

Conservation group Highland Titles used felled sitka spruce, masonry bricks, bamboo canes, wood chips, forest bark, wildflower seeds, clay pipes and strawberry netting to build a 7,059.4-cubic-foot insect hotel on the Highland Titles Nature Reserve in Duror. This insect hotel is now officially the largest one in the world, surpassing the 3,157-cubic-foot insect hotel in Warsaw, Poland.

“This record-breaking initiative is about the environmental message,” Highland Titles CEO Douglas Wilson said. “We bought this land in 2006 when it was a poorly performing commercial forestry plantation of non-native Sitka spruce.”

Seven people worked like busy bees for six months to get the project completed.

It’s hoped that the hotel will become home to millions of insects such as ants, ladybirds, beetles, bees and butterflies. In turn, this will help to feed lots of other animals on the nature reserve.

Wilson said the area was “inappropriately planted in the late 1980s with no thought or consideration given to biodiversity.”

“Using these same trees for something that puts nature first symbolizes that the world has changed, and we hope our efforts will inspire others. We’d be delighted if someone beat our record in the future,” Wilson said.

Sounds like he has ants in his pants.