If there's one thing the titular character of popular Apple TV show Ted Lasso would ask you to do, it's to "believe". Now, one eagle-eyed developer is asking us to do the same, as he thinks he's deciphered the series' protagonist's famous shortbread recipe.
The award-winning show tells the story of Ted Lasso, a loveable American sports coach who flies to the UK to manage a struggling London football team, and in it he uses these buttery biscuits to win over Rebecca, the club's owner.
Every day, Lasso presents her with a small pink box packed with shortbread biscuits, which we later discover he's been baking himself.
Much to her own chagrin, Rebecca loves them.
See a clip in which Ted Lasso gives Rebecca some biscuits here:
At the end of Apple's Spring Loaded event, which was held last week, there was a "little easter egg", writes developer David Smith in a blog post titled Following the Shortbread Crumbs.
"Apple teases that they are about to reveal Ted Lasso’s secret shortbread recipe. Just as it is about to scroll into frame it cuts off," Smith writes.
"This sounds like an internet treasure hunt to me, which I’m always here for."
Smith was able to read the fractional letters and make out the following:
1 1/2 cups / 340 grams cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2 inch pieces plus more for greasing pan
He then Googled the phrase, to find it matches a The New York Times recipe for bittersweet brownie shortbread by Melissa Clark, although it's slightly different to Lasso's.
"No other instances of that exact string seem to exist that I could find," says Smith. "So this has to be the recipe that they were referencing. Although, this is a two-part recipe and only the first part seems to be what Ted would make."
Smith then documents his attempt at making the shortbread himself. "I wouldn’t say that I am particularly proficient at baking… but as Ted would say… I gotta believe."
Thankfully, Smith says the result of his attempts in the kitchen "tasted delicious".
"Even though my baking skills would certainly get me relegated from the ‘Premier League’ of Baking, I was able to pull this one off. 10/10, would recommend."
At the event, Apple also debuted the new trailer for the second season of the show, and it has been viewed more than three million times since.
The new season will be released on Friday, July 23.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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The study of 13 essential drugs showed costs in the United States were about 300 per cent higher than the global average, followed by Germany at 126 per cent and 122 per cent in the UAE.
Thailand, Kenya and Malaysia were rated as nations with the lowest costs, about 90 per cent cheaper.
In the case of insulin, diabetic patients in the US paid five and a half times the global average, while in the UAE the costs are about 50 per cent higher than the median price of branded and generic drugs.
Some of the costliest drugs worldwide include Lipitor for high cholesterol.
The study’s price index placed the US at an exorbitant 2,170 per cent higher for Lipitor than the average global price and the UAE at the eighth spot globally with costs 252 per cent higher.
High blood pressure medication Zestril was also more than 2,680 per cent higher in the US and the UAE price was 187 per cent higher than the global price.
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The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
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January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
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June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
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He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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