If you’ve spent any time poring over the nutritional facts on your bread's packaging, you've probably noticed that some loaves, rolls, and buns harbor surprisingly high amounts of sugar. Subway’s bread contains quite a bit, too—so much, in fact, that Ireland’s supreme court doesn’t even consider it bread.
The case in question was an appeal by Bookfinders Ltd.—the company in charge of Subway’s Irish franchise—which claimed that it should’ve been exempt from paying certain taxes detailed in Ireland’s Value-Added Tax Act of 1972 (VAT). The act doesn’t tax basic items like bread, tea, and milk, but it does tax what the court called “more discretionary indulgences” like pastries, chips, and chocolate.
In order for a product to qualify as “bread,” however, the amount of fat, sugar, or bread improver cannot “exceed 2 percent of the weight of flour included in the dough.” The sugar in Subway’s bread weighs five times that limit. According to The Guardian, there are 5 grams of sugar in a 6-inch Subway roll, which is more than twice what you’d consume in two digestive biscuits and just 1.4 grams less than what you’d find in a jaffa cake. (A McDonald’s Big Mac bun, interestingly enough, packs in 5.8 grams of sugar.)
Bookfinders Ltd. wasn’t actually disputing the sugar content itself. Instead, the company contended that the VAT’s use of the phrase “each ingredient” meant that Subway’s bread qualified for the tax exemption as long as it didn’t exceed the 2 percent limit for all three ingredients: fat, sugar, and bread improver. The court pushed back, arguing that there was enough context in the rest of the passage to conclude that too much of any ingredient barred the product from being considered bread.
“The function of a court interpreting legislation is not the same as that of a pedantic school teacher correcting a student’s English and perhaps inculcating an appreciation of the precise use of language,” Justice Donal O'Donnell wrote in the ruling [PDF].
Bookfinders Ltd. tried other angles, too, but to no avail. The court dismissed the appeal, and the company did not secure any refund. Though the ruling could cause other Irish sandwich vendors to double-check the sugar levels in their own products, you probably won’t see Subway changing its labels anytime soon.
“Subway’s bread is, of course, bread,” a representative told The Guardian.
[h/t The Guardian]
There are a lot of pros to Zoom meetings: You can wear pajama pants, you can mute yourself so no one hears your music in the background, and you can even turn your video off if you’re having a bad hair day. But there are also a lot of headaches. Whether your laptop video camera only works half the time or your microphone cuts out with every other word you say, the Zoom struggle is real.
To make your WFH life easier—or to help you get by in a socially distant office—we’ve curated a list of products that will make your Zoom experiences a little more enjoyable. Zooms may not always be as easy as in-person meetings, but at least you’ll be able to (momentarily) forget that you’re not sitting in the same room as all of your favorite coworkers.
1. Logitech C270 Webcam; $53
This budget-friendly webcam from Logitech is perfect for a simple camera that still gets the job done. The Logitech C270 is designed for high-definition video that, at 30 frames per second, has the ability to self-adjust to its lighting conditions, making nearly any room suitable for a Zoom call. The camera also has a noise-reducing mic that will allow your coworkers to hear you even if your background is on the noisy side (You: 1. Barking dog: 0).
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2. Logitech Pro Webcam; $149
If you’re doing nothing but Zoom meetings these days, you might want to try the Logitech C920 Pro. The model offers a 78-degree field of view and a 1080p HD picture that will ensure your image is crystal clear and wide enough to allow your unruly cat to make an appearance without interrupting too much. The Logitech C920 also sports two mics—one on each side—and has a frame rate of 60fps, making it an ideal choice for live video.
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3. Saicoo LED Desktop Lamp; $90
If you want to look your best during your Zoom calls—even if you’ve just rolled out of bed—you’re going to want some good lighting. This Saicco LED lamp has a touch-sensitive panel that allows you to easily control color temperature and brightness. It’s also built with a special light reflection feature to reduce eye fatigue. The Saicco lamp even has a built-in charging port, so you’ll be able to hop off your Zoom and onto a conference call without ever needing to check your phone battery.
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4. Ubeesize Ring Light With Tripod Stand; $40
For a great light that doubles as a phone stand, you’ll want to try this combination tripod and ring light from UBeesize. This set comes with three different lighting rings—warm light, cool light, and day light—which can all snap directly onto the tripod. You can adjust each ring to 11 brightness levels, and the set even comes with a remote for your smartphone that can turn your camera on without awkwardly having to adjust it before a presentation.
Buy it: Amazon
5. Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Mic; $100
You’ll feel like an old-timey radio host (and not just like you’re running through your weekly update with your boss) with this digital condenser mic from Shure. The microphone has a custom-tuned microphone to provide high-quality sound, and it has both iOS and USB connectivity to make it easy to link to whatever device you’re using. There's also a Shure app that syncs with your microphone for easy recording, editing, and sharing afterward.
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6. Logitech Noise-Canceling Headset; $50
A headset is a great solution for improving both sound and speaking quality, especially if you do more phone Zooms than video. This model from Logitech lets you easily adjust the volume or mute the microphone via its in-line audio control button, and it even has an LED indicator light so you’ll know whether you’re actually on mute during a meeting. These headphones are designed to cancel out any outside noises, but you can also easily adjust the microphone to muffle sound on your end, too (which makes it great for when you're snacking while chatting).
Buy it: Amazon
7. Ubeesize Phone Tripod; $14
UBeesize’s portable tripod will ensure your Zoom game is always on point no matter where you are. This tripod is built to last, with flexible legs that are reinforced with a rubber coating, sturdy foam, and nonstick feet. And it comes with a remote control for your phone that can be used up to 30 feet away
Buy it: Amazon
8. Comfilife Gel-Enhanced Seat Cushion; $33
Whether you’re working from home or commuting to the office part-time, many of us are sitting a lot more these days. To make your Zoom meeting feel more like a trip to the spa, a memory-foam seat cushion may be just what you need. This cushion is ergonomically designed to reduce pressure on your tailbone and improve your posture with each use. You can double up your back support with an additional lumbar support pillow, so you can sit up nice and tall for every meeting without discomfort.
Buy it: Amazon
9. Fictional Map Wall Art
For a Zoom backdrop that’s much cooler than a green screen, hang up a map from your favorite novel or video game for a look that’s both stylish and personal. Many of Redbubble’s maps are custom-cut or custom-made to ensure that they’re high quality, and some also come with tools or materials to help with framing. The independent artists over at Redbubble have maps inspired by The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Zelda, and more, so no matter what you’re into, you’ll be able to bring a little pizzazz everywhere you (virtually) go.
Buy it: Redbubble
10. Vintage Travel Posters; Various
If you’re more into real places, Redbubble has an incredible wealth of vintage-inspired travel posters to give you that air of prestige and culture you never knew you needed until now. With posters for locations like Cote D'Azur, the Adirondacks, Amsterdam, and Chicago, your new wall art will make you feel like you’ve spent the last few months on vacation (even if your longest journeys these days consist of walking from your desk to the kitchen and back again).
Buy it: Redbubble
11. TIJN Blue Light Glasses; $16
Looking alert during meetings is always key, but it’s especially important during Zooms. Give your eyes a break with these blue light glasses from TIJN. The frames can effectively block 100 percent of harmful UV rays and relieve eye fatigue, allowing you to get through any grueling conference calls without looking tired. The frames are super light and abrasion-resistant, too, and they’ll be comfortable and durable enough to last you for however long virtual meetings are the norm.
Buy it: Amazon
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Even if you’re not any particular fan of country music, it still takes a cold heart not to enjoy Dolly Parton. The enduring entertainer recently had a hit podcast, Dolly Parton’s America, that chronicled her life and career, and her most recent album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, is full of festive songs.
Parton is also celebrating the holidays with a line of home goods from Williams Sonoma that includes a gingerbread log cabin designed to look like her childhood home.
Yes, it’s that wholesome.
The Dolly Parton for Williams Sonoma line includes baking mixes, cookie kits, and linens. A Holly Dolly Sugar Cookie Mix ($17) takes a Southern approach to a baking classic, while the Holly Dolly Cookie Baking Kit ($30) includes cookie cutters in the shape of musical notes and instruments. Aprons for kids and adults ($25-$40), along with oven mitt sets ($40), are also available.
If you’re not up for baking, you can grab a Dolly Parton Guitar Cookie ($11 for two), which comes prepackaged and shaped to resemble her guitar.
For the die-hard Parton fan, there’s the Dolly Parton Log Cabin ($130), inspired by the Tennessee home where Parton grew up. You can even have it personalized.
The Holly Dolly line is available at Williams Sonoma stores or on their website.
[h/t Sounds Like Nashville]
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