UK British News Megathread - aka CWCissey's news thread

https://news.sky.com/story/row-over-new-greggs-vegan-sausage-rolls-heats-up-11597679

A heated row has broken out over a move by Britain's largest bakery chain to launch a vegan sausage roll.

The pastry, which is filled with a meat substitute and encased in 96 pastry layers, is available in 950 Greggs stores across the country.

It was promised after 20,000 people signed a petition calling for the snack to be launched to accommodate plant-based diet eaters.


But the vegan sausage roll's launch has been greeted by a mixed reaction: Some consumers welcomed it, while others voiced their objections.

View image on Twitter


spread happiness@p4leandp1nk
https://twitter.com/p4leandp1nk/status/1080767496569974785

#VEGANsausageroll thanks Greggs

7
10:07 AM - Jan 3, 2019

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Cook and food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe declared she was "frantically googling to see what time my nearest opens tomorrow morning because I will be outside".

While TV writer Brydie Lee-Kennedy called herself "very pro the Greggs vegan sausage roll because anything that wrenches veganism back from the 'clean eating' wellness folk is a good thing".

One Twitter user wrote that finding vegan sausage rolls missing from a store in Corby had "ruined my morning".

Another said: "My son is allergic to dairy products which means I can't really go to Greggs when he's with me. Now I can. Thank you vegans."

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pg often@pgofton
https://twitter.com/pgofton/status/1080772793774624768

The hype got me like #Greggs #Veganuary


42
10:28 AM - Jan 3, 2019

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TV presenter Piers Morgan led the charge of those outraged by the new roll.

"Nobody was waiting for a vegan bloody sausage, you PC-ravaged clowns," he wrote on Twitter.

Mr Morgan later complained at receiving "howling abuse from vegans", adding: "I get it, you're all hangry. I would be too if I only ate plants and gruel."

Another Twitter user said: "I really struggle to believe that 20,000 vegans are that desperate to eat in a Greggs."

"You don't paint a mustach (sic) on the Mona Lisa and you don't mess with the perfect sausage roll," one quipped.

Journalist Nooruddean Choudry suggested Greggs introduce a halal steak bake to "crank the fume levels right up to 11".

The bakery chain told concerned customers that "change is good" and that there would "always be a classic sausage roll".

It comes on the same day McDonald's launched its first vegetarian "Happy Meal", designed for children.

The new dish comes with a "veggie wrap", instead of the usual chicken or beef option.

It should be noted that Piers Morgan and Greggs share the same PR firm, so I'm thinking this is some serious faux outrage and South Park KKK gambiting here.

 

[Mound Dweller]

Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell BTFO, Total Model Death.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vwg73xndeo/https://archive.is/fkvWH

Spoiler: H&M to use digital clones of models in ads and social media

Fashion retailer H&M is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to create digital "twins" of 30 models.
It says it will use the AI doppelgangers in some social media posts and marketing in the place of humans, if given permission by models.
"We are curious to explore how to showcase our fashion in new creative ways – and embrace the benefits of new technology – while staying true to our commitment to personal style," said its chief creative officer Jörgen Andersson in a statement.
Despite H&M's claim it would not change its "human-centric approach" some fear the move could impact other models, photographers and make-up artists.
American influencer Morgan Riddle called H&M's move "shameful" in a post on her Instagram stories.
"RIP to all the other jobs on shoot sets that this will take away," she posted.
The Swedish fashion giant, which also operates Arket, Cos, Monki, & Other Stories and Weekday, says it has more than 4,000 stores worldwide across 75 markets.

Watermarks and signposting​

The initiative was first reported by industry publication Business of Fashion.
H&M told the outlet that models would retain rights over their digital replicas and their use by the company and other brands for purposes such as marketing.
Its images are likely to be initially used in social media posts, with watermarks that make their AI use clear, it added.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok require users to disclose the use of AI to create realistic content, and it is labelled as such to inform audiences.
H&M also said models would be compensated for use of their digital twins in a similar way to current arrangements - which sees them paid for use of their images based on rates agreed by their agent.
Paul W Fleming, general secretary of trade union Equity - which represents fashion models in the UK - said models having full control over their likeness and fair pay for its use was "vital".
"Whilst we support brands who appear to be moving in this direction, this must be backed up by the widespread adoption of AI protections in union agreements and legislation that protects workers' rights," he told the BBC.
Equity, like many other trade unions representing performers and creatives, has been campaigning for better protections for workers amid an explosion of AI-generated content and initiatives online.
"Unfortunately, the current landscape has little to no such protections," Mr Fleming added, citing mass, illegal scraping of their model members' work by big tech and AI developers without their consent.
Fashion firms including Hugo Boss and Levi Strauss & Co have also dabbled in using generative AI for product images.
Denim giant Levi's said in 2023 it would trial the use of AI-generated model images as a way to "increase diversity".
Following criticism, it clarified it would not scale back live photoshoots with models.

• What is AI, how does it work and what are the concerns about it?

Generative AI can create photo-realistic images in response to simple text prompts at high speed and low cost.
Because of this, it has been seized upon by many industries and firms as a way to meet demands for content such as marketing material.
But its use by fashion and beauty brands has sparked backlash amid concerns its increased adoption could reduce job opportunities.
Some fear it may lead to less work for production staff on photoshoots, including photographers, stylists, make-up artists and lighting assistants.
The company says it is working with Swedish tech firm Uncut on the development of the model's AI likenesses.
Uncut says on its website it is "helping big brands say goodbye to outdated production methods" and making content creation "simpler, smarter and more affordable".
For some models, however, having a so-called "AI twin" can allow them to take on more work and avoid travel.
"She's like me, without the jet-lag," said model Mathilda Gvarliani in a H&M image shared with Business of Fashion.
Mr Fleming, though, told the BBC that models are still "being forced to sign unfair contracts which deny them their rights to ownership and fair compensation".
"This is an abhorrent violation when all of our likenesses are incredibly personal to each of us," he added.

South Park was right yet again, this sort of advancement is gonna be like the mine closures but for city "people" isn't it?

 

[Chunky Salsa]

It's so over lads. Anyway.

 

[Goose the Redeemer]

It says it will use the AI doppelgangers in some social media posts and marketing in the place of humans, if given permission by models.
[...]
H&M also said models would be compensated for use of their digital twins in a similar way to current arrangements - which sees them paid for use of their images based on rates agreed by their agent.

So they're not replacing the models, but actually the photographers?

 

[-Jack-]

I'm using TOR now, just to keep up with a fat, fucking retard in Kuwait and to artistically sperge about the Ukraine war...thanks Keir!

I hope having TOR doesn't put me on some list, It's incredibly slow.

 

[FedPostalService]

I'm using TOR now, just to keep up with a fat, fucking retard in Kuwait and to artistically sperge about the Ukraine war...thanks Keir!

I hope having TOR doesn't put me on some list, It's incredibly slow.

I hate that we all need the opsec of a paedophile now just to say the gamerword. I fucking hate the government.

 

[A-Logato]

So just avoid being retarded and posting inflammatory shit under your real name and location. I spoke before earlier in the thread how far behind most people are when it comes to shit relating to the internet; I don't think people posting on this site or practice even minimal OPSEC (like not posting under their real name) are in any sort of trouble. People really need to consider the scale of the internet, how many people use it and how little manpower our authorities have in trying to police all of it. Even the Ofcom letter Null received put the mission of assessing how 'dangerous' his own website was on him. If you avoid making their jobs really easy for them, and don't do shit that forces them to put in more effort, then you're safe.

You would be honestly shocked just how much they can get out of you on the internet and all the petti bullshit that gets you on a watch list. They track your SIMs and read what you do via mobile data (namely browser data) and yes they do actively share this data around the British 3 letters.

This is stuff you would probably presume they are already doing already but it's the sheer scale of the whole operation that's scary. They can track you down to the exact street in live time and begin digging through and spying on you remotely through the phone. Also they love to abuse the crap out of this, the Police will make up dumb BS like missing person without any evidence and ask for a very long list of SIM data and geographical data on an individual and they'll happily hand it over without even needing a warrant, even the people who operate it just use it for petti bullshit like spying on family members and Ex girlfriends.

 

[FuckedOffToff]

It's all very "Show me the man, and I'll show you the crime" in this country at the moment, so while we'll all be wise, be uninteresting, and practise our best opsec, the truth is, if they want to fuck you over for something, they will.
We know they don't want to do real police work, and aren't fit for it, so the internet is the main focus. "Nothing to hide, nothing to fear" is only said by the terminally naive.

 

[-Jack-]

Can we please change the disgusting American flag? Bongs are still here, I don't identify with that flag.

 

[Chunky Salsa]

Can we please change the disgusting American flag? Bongs are still here, I don't identify with that flag.

It's pretty funny ngl. Maybe change it every so often to reflect the VPN use.

 

[missnaptime]

I hate it on this fucking island so much. You can't fucking breathe without some fuckshit occurring now. Like??? What crime have I committed for looking at stupid people acting retarded?

 

[Mr Bunny]

Can we please change the disgusting American flag? Bongs are still here, I don't identify with that flag.

Nope, no Bongs where found when I lay claim to this thread, and you third worlders are always terrible when comes to forming coherent threads. So now it's just another slice of America.

 

[Otterly]

What crime have I committed for looking at stupid people acting retarded?

Laughter is banned. Please report to gulag 23. Comrade Kier will sentence you after he’s finished off lord Alli.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

Nope, no Bongs where found when I lay claim to this thread, and you third worlders are always terrible when comes to forming coherent threads. So now it's just another slice of America.

If anything, it should be Islamic flag, as there's more of them in Britain than there are yanks and it would be a funny nose-snub to the government.

OT - I'm shocked to hear how many people have little to no knowledge of how easy it is to track you through your phone, even the 'legal' side of it. There are more loopholes through giving apps your location, data, username, real life information (especially if you're retarded enough to have facebook app+nig post on farms).
While not impossible on a PC, it's more hoops to jump through. Make it hard work for them to pin anything on you and they'll go for long-hanging fruit instead. Just, don't be the fruit.

 

[missnaptime]

Laughter is banned. Please report to gulag 23. Comrade Kier will sentence you after he’s finished off lord Alli.

Sorry sir, didn't realise sir, long live the Soviet Islamic Republic of Britain, heil kier and 2+2=5.

Censorship is love, war is peace, a man in a dress is a woman...

 

[-Jack-]

I thought Ofcom was a joke ngl, there would be some faggot on strictly come dancing and there would be a few "complaints" and that's it..now this? Are we in China?

 

[A-Logato]

And if you wondered if it couldn't get any worse? Well guess what there's more!

"Ninja swords will be banned by this summer"

I'd say total weeaboo death on the British Isle but they just took away their Katanas to commit Seppuku with.

 

[Morethanabitfoolish]

I thought Ofcom was a joke ngl, there would be some faggot on strictly come dancing and there would be a few "complaints" and that's it..now this? Are we in China?

Ofcom are a joke, their investigation of GB News that they've no lost on appeal has made that a matter of record but their auspice is how the BBC got as bad as it is. That they are also taking crowd sourced complaints from the Good Law Project hammers it home. I look forwards to them explaining that the BBC can fund Hamas propaganda as their next big one. The news they would be involved with policing the internet made my skin crawl and now it is reality I am even less happy.


Let's have some lighter news

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80y85ennejo

A pod of dolphins delighted onlookers as they happily played for about an hour around their boat.
Adam Case of Woolverstone Marina and Lodge Park on the River Orwell near Ipswich said the mammals were spotted playing in the water just before 09:00 GMT on Wednesday.
"As we approached we killed the engines to drift in and they actually came a bit closer. They were nosy and came over to say hello," said Mr Case.
However, conservation group the Cetecean Research and Rescue Unit said their move inland was concerning.
"These are a pelagic, offshore and highly gregarious species. It is rare to see such dolphins so close to shore, which suggests all may not be well," a spokesman said.

The dolphins were seen in waters close to the Orwell Bridge
Mr Case said his manager had never seen dolphins in the river in his 24 years working at the marina.
"We must have sat out there a good hour or so before we headed back," said Mr case.
"They were still there when we left and were heading up the bridge to explore further."
It is thought the six dolphins might have been following fish as the tide was coming in.
Mr Case said it was a magical experience to witness the creatures.
"We got a real treat this morning, it was incredible," he said.
"It lifted our spirits and really made everyone's day."

 

[Vesperus]

I hate that we all need the opsec of a paedophile now just to say the gamerword.

Paedophiles don't need opsec, they have government support. Sometimes government jobs.

 

[BrightonAndHoveAlbion]

Can someone explain how I can still access this on my phone but not PC? Im a retard-sorry.

I just want to keep up to date with Chantal (Foodie Beauty) and get triggered in by ziggers.

Look into Mullvad VPN, they have an app that 'just werks' for Android and iOS. Can be used on your PC as well. Much faster than TOR.

 

[Kier Starmer]

I hate that we all need the opsec of a paedophile now just to say the gamerword. I fucking hate the government.

Your comment made me choke on my Irn Bru, Bravo. The sugar free version does not taste like shit either. I rank it with the king of sugar-free sodas, Pepsi Max.