Play-Doh, Vaccinated Pets, and Irish Whiskey

In this week's Odder News, Irish whiskey is all over Russia, Russian pets are getting vaccinated before you are, and downhill skaters test the limits of sanity.

• A Moscow artist has been working on an elaborate Play-Doh Moscow for six years. Alexei Mikulin's plasticine creations include Lubyanka Square, the Red October candy factory, and the Moscow River. His people look a bit like penguins, since he began this artistic journey with his son making Play-Doh penguins. You can see more of his art on Instagram.
• Irish whiskey is taking over Russia, replacing old standbys like vodka and schnapps, recent media report. Russia is the second-biggest Irish whiskey market after the U.S. Sales of Jameson in Russia grew seven percent during the pandemic year of 2020. However, the Irish Whiskey Association warns against buying the numerous fakes available in Russian stores – made mostly in Ukraine and Belarus.
• If you feel full long after eating, you might want to get that checked out. A Tyumen woman felt full for two years before finding out that it was a twenty-five-kilogram (fifty-five-pound) tumor in her abdomen. Luckily, it was benign, but then again, only a benign tumor would be able to get that big without any other symptoms appearing!
• Pets in Russia are getting vaccinated before people in other countries. Move over CoviVac – an alternative to Sputnik V – it's Carnivac-Cov for furry friends! They also need to get jabbed twice in twenty-one days. This gives the phrase "vanity pets" a whole new meaning.
• If you do not know about downhill skating, you are missing out. Of course, a Russian skater won the recent world championship in this extreme sport, called ice cross. Be sure to check out the video.