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Hype Malaysia
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
From Ice Trays To Middle Fingers: 9 Of The Most Unserious K-pop Merchandise
Buying merchandise of your favourite K-pop group is part of the fan culture because, for many, it's how they show their love for these idols. While most K-pop merchandise is either cute (see: NCT Wish's plushies mascot keychains) or extra (see: NMIXX's seashell MP3 player), some idols decided to go the unhinged route with their merchandise. Of course, you can find some weird bootleg K-pop merchandise, but these items that we'll list are merchandise released by the actual companies, and some are even designed by the idols themselves. If you're looking for something unique ,K-pop stuff, check out these unserious – and unhinged – products: BIGBANG Daesung 'Ice, Nose, Lips' Ice Trays Being one of the funniest idols in the K-pop industry means you have to have one of the funniest merchandise. Daesung's 'Ice, Nose, Lips' ice tray is a witty pun on his groupmate Taeyang's hit song, but it's also an ice tray that he released as part of his 2014 solo tour in Japan. The best part? The ice tray is a mould of his actual nose and lips. BIGBANG Eye & Face Mask Speaking of BIGBANG, the group also has their fair share of interesting merchandise, having been in the K-pop industry for nearly two decades. However, the most unserious BIGBANG merchandise has to be their eye and face masks, featuring the eyes and lips of each member. The eye masks are also double-sided so you can choose to either open or close the 'eyes'. EPIK HIGH Park Kyu Bong Lightsticks EPIK HIGH may not be idols, but that didn't stop them from creating some of the most talked-about merchandise in the K-music industry. For their official lightstick, the trio went the 'undoubtedly hip-hop route' with a middle finger lightstick. They also made a keychain version, so fans can bring their f*cks everywhere they go. EPIK HIGH Seasons Greetings Of course, EPIK HIGH didn't just stop at making unserious lightsticks because they also made what appeared to be the funniest calendar any K-pop act can create. The trio took the family portrait theme and put their fun spin on it, dressing up as 'Squid Game' characters, farmers and more. SHINee Matchsticks Candles are common merchandise, but the match or lighter often gets left out of the set. Enter SHINee-brand matchsticks. These matchsticks themed to the group's official colour, pearl aqua green, were released as part of their 12th anniversary in 2020. Unfortunately, it seems more fans will save these matches instead of using them for their intended use. Idol Hangers Yes, these are hangers with idols' faces on them so you can pretend that your favourite member is wearing your clothes. Idol hangers originated from J-pop culture, but some K-pop groups and idols, including TWICE's Jeongyeon, have started producing them for their merchandise line. Fun fact: some J-pop male idols even go shirtless for their fans to give the hangers a better visual impression. TWICE Tzuyu Trash Can For TWICE's first world tour, each of the members designed a special merchandise and Tzuyu's happened to be a grey trash can. The design even featured the words 'trash can' to highlight its actual purpose. While the idea seemed odd at first, the product proved to be the most popular member-designed merchandise because it was the first to sell out. SEVENTEEN Seungkwan Scraping Massage Tool Beauty tools are all the rage, and since K-pop stars are at the forefront of the beauty scene, it's no surprise that one of them will release a beauty tool as merchandise. However, the idol in question was SEVENTEEN's Seungkwan, who created a scraping massage tool meant to reduce puffing and bloating in the face. SM Entertainment's Idol-themed Food Products A few years back, SM Entertainment had a cafe that operated on the first floor of the SM Entertainment Communication Centre building in Seoul. Sadly, it has ceased operations, but when it was still open, fans could purchase SM idol-themed food, including EXO instant noodles and Red Velvet fish sticks.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Newsweek
Where to Rock Climb: The Top Spots Worldwide
Geyikbayiri and the Antalya region are important climbing areas and, with some 1,500 routes, have more than any other part of Turkey. But there are more than 1.25 million climbing routes around the world — even in the Arctic and the Antarctic, though two-thirds are in Europe. Check out these top climbing spots around the world. Yosemite National Park — California, U.S. As a global hub for climbers, Yosemite (below) has to be on the list. It is renowned for towering granite formations such as El Capitan and Half Dome. It caters to all experience levels, offering everything from accessible beginner climbs to demanding multiday routes. It has a rich climbing history and gained additional fame with the documentary movies Free Solo and The Dawn Wall. It can draw heavy crowds of climbers during busy seasons, but that doesn't detract from the beauty. View of El Capitan as speed climbers Hans Florine, of Lafayette, Calif., and Yuji Hirayama, of Japan attempt a new record of climbing the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on June... View of El Capitan as speed climbers Hans Florine, of Lafayette, Calif., and Yuji Hirayama, of Japan attempt a new record of climbing the Nose route of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on June 29, 2008. Their time was 2 hours, 47 minutes, just shy of the record of 2 hours and 45 minutes. More Michael Maloney/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Red Rock Canyon — Nevada, U.S. Climbers head to Las Vegas for a different thrill to gamblers—Red Rock Canyon (below), located about 25 miles from the Strip. Its striking Aztec sandstone offers over 2,000 climbing routes, ranging from beginner-friendly 45-foot sport climbs to towering 2,200-foot traditional routes for seasoned adventurers. The area's warm, dry climate provides an extended climbing season, though, like Yosemite, it often draws large crowds during peak times. Rock climber on Aztec Sandstone, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada. Rock climber on Aztec Sandstone, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada. Marli Miller/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Kalymnos — Greece For climbers, Kalymnos (below) is undoubtedly the most famous of the Greek islands. High quality limestone cliffs at various angles tower close to the blue Aegean, which makes for a breathtaking backdrop for climbing. With well over 4,000 routes, Kalymnos has a wide range of grades, including plenty of opportunities for lower and intermediate-level climbers as well as steep and overhanging routes for experts able to manage the most limited holds. Another possibility here is deep-water soloing—climbing without safety gear but with the sea below in case of falls. Climbers take part in the 2019 annual Climbing Festival in the island of Kalymnos on October 4, 2019. - The festival has attracted some 400 sports climbers from across the globe. Climbers take part in the 2019 annual Climbing Festival in the island of Kalymnos on October 4, 2019. - The festival has attracted some 400 sports climbers from across the globe. ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Catalonia — Spain Spain is brimming with opportunities for climbing and some of the best are in the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia in the northeast. Siurana and Margalef are at the top of the list for many climbers. Although they lie quite close together in a stunning location, the rocks are quite different. Siurana's limestone often requires sustained technical climbing and fewer prospects for beginners. Margalef's conglomerate offers some easier routes though also plenty of super-hard ones. Fontainebleau — France About 40 miles southeast of Paris is the world-renowned bouldering destination of Fontainebleau—also known for its chateau. Sandstone rocks offer some 30,000 boulder problems of differing levels and make it the most developed such location globally. The climbing here is not on ropes so it's recommended to use crash pads to reduce the risk of injury, even if they may not be required for all climbs. The rocks are at different spots in the forest, so an app or guide is helpful for finding your way around. Krabi — Thailand Railay Beach and Tonsai in southern Thailand have been drawing climbers from around the world for years. The limestone has plenty of pockets and features that make for exciting routes across a range of difficulties, including for beginners. It is all set amid verdant tropical jungle that extends down to white beaches and the blue sea. The Thai food is an added attraction. Krabi is far from being the only great climbing place in Thailand. Crazy Hose Buttress near the northern city of Chiang Mai is well worth a visit with excellent routes and benefits from being much less crowded. Céüse — France Among the many climbing options in France is Céüse, which has been described by some as "the best crag in the world." It is known for routes that are long, hard and steep, and its limestone rock is of very high quality. It's also on the top of a 6,500-foot mountain with incredible views over southern France. It's mostly a place for climbing in summer and the altitude means it can be chilly even then. Climbers also need to allow up to an hour for walking to the crag. Yangshuo — China Rock climbing's popularity has soared in China and possibly the biggest outdoor center is Yangshuo (below) near Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Province. It has more than 1,000 sport climbing routes on its limestone karst formations, including some beginner routes. Its hills jut like rows of green teeth among the rice fields. Climbing in Yangshuo is credited in part to a (non-climbing) visit by former U.S. President Richard Nixon to admire the spectacular landscape—particularly Moon Hill, with its natural arch. Walking hikers in the Peak forest karst 004. Walking hikers in the Peak forest karst 004. iStock/Getty Rocklands — South Africa The globally renowned bouldering spot of Rocklands (below) in South Africa is celebrated for its excellent sandstone boulders and breathtaking landscapes. Situated in the Cederberg Wilderness Area, it lies roughly two-and-a-half hours by car from Cape Town. The beautiful orange and gray sandstone with featured and varied holds offers some 4,000 boulder problems as well as some sport and trad climbing routes. Be prepared for coarse rock that can be tough on the hands. Hikers exploring Cederberg Mountains trail on sunny day. Hikers exploring Cederberg Mountains trail on sunny day. Westend61/Karsten Koch/Getty Patagonia — Argentina The primary rock climbing area in Argentina's Patagonia region is El Chaltén, which is known for its towering spires of granite. It is a hub for big mountain multipitch climbing routes that involves climbing several routes in succession to allow the scaling of big walls. Sometimes, that can take days. However, it also has some routes for sport climbers of lower levels or is useful practice for climbers preparing to take on the bigger challenges. Summer is the best time for climbing here. Athletic male climbs outside on a boulder with men spotting. Athletic male climbs outside on a boulder with men spotting. Cavan Images RF/Getty The Grampians — Australia The Grampians National Park (above) in Victoria, Australia, is a globally recognized climbing hotspot with an immense variety of challenges. Famed for its impressive sandstone features and wide variety of routes, it offers something for everyone from novice climbers to seasoned experts. There are both short sport climbs and challenging multipitch routes. The park is also a top destination for bouldering, featuring a vast range of problems from easy to extraordinarily difficult.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I found a lump on my neck I thought was flu but it was cancer'
Ezzy Pearson's cold symptoms of a runny nose, exhaustion and a persistent cough turned out to be a type of cancer When Ezzy Pearson felt a lump on the side of her neck, she was not immediately worried. She has just started at university and put it down to "freshers' flu", a common sickness many new university students contract after meeting lots of new people. However, what started as a runny nose, fatigue and a persistent cough turned out to be a form of cancer known as Hodgkin lymphoma. Ezzy, from Bristol, was just 18 when she received her diagnosis. She said: "On the Wednesday of Freshers' Week, I noticed a lump on the side of my neck and just felt really rubbish. I was constantly carrying around a box of tissues and assumed it was just Freshers' Flu. But when it hadn't cleared up after a month, I went to the GP." Following several blood tests, she was referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. Following a biopsy on the unusual lump in her neck, she was given the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer originating from the body's lymphatic system, a crucial part of our immune defence. Despite undergoing six months of chemotherapy, she sat all her first-year university exams, including one just hours after a treatment session. Fast forward nearly two decades, Ezzy, 37, is now cancer-free and participating in the Race for Life in honour of her mum, Jo, who tragically lost her battle with lung cancer at 64. Ezzy - now holding the role of Commissions Editor at BBC Science Focus magazine - is vowing to support the research that gave her a second chance at life. Ezzy said: "If I'd been born 30 years earlier, that diagnosis could have been a death sentence. But thanks to advances in research - much of it funded by organisations like Cancer Research UK - I had access to treatment that saved my life." READ MORE: Simple food change 'lowers blood pressure' in 2 hours - and it's not cutting salt READ MORE: High blood sugar and pressure can be lowered by eating these carbohydrate - filled foods She was heartbroken when she lost her mum, saying: "I was devastated when my mum died. She was a smoker, and I know there's a lot of stigma around lung cancer because of that - but it's more complex than people realise. Everyone deserves compassion and support, no matter how their illness came about." She remembers her mother as an inventive Scout leader, and feels her own creativity and writing talents are inherited from her. Now settled with her partner Sam, whom she met shortly after losing her mother, Ezzy continues looking forward. Although Jo and Sam never got the chance to meet, Ezzy has discovered touching ways to bridge the gap. Ezzy will have the honour of setting off the start of this year's Bristol Cancer Research UK Race for Life wearing her late mother's engagement ring. Ezzy said: "After my mum passed, I started wearing her engagement ring on my right hand. When Sam and I signed our mortgage together, I moved it to my left. It was my way of letting her know I planned on keeping him, even if I couldn't tell her in person." The event will take place on Sunday, June 22, where Ezzy will trigger the starting horn for almost 2,000 runners bracing themselves for either the 5k or the 10k at The Downs in Stoke Road. They will all be rallying for Cancer Research UK's leading fundraising event in Bristol. Ezzy continued: "I'm so excited and honoured to be starting Race for Life Bristol. It's a powerful reminder of how far we've come in cancer research - and how much more we can achieve together." She urged others to join in, saying: "Race for Life is just a great experience. It's not about being the fastest or the best. It doesn't matter if you run, walk or hop like a bunny - it's about coming together and doing something fantastic for a great cause." The upcoming weekend is full of fundraising activities, kicking off with Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids obstacle races on Saturday, June 21. In the south west alone, around 37,300 individuals receive a cancer diagnosis each year. The Race for Life, sponsored by Standard Life (a part of Phoenix Group), brings communities together through a variety of events such as 3k, 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, and Pretty Muddy Kids runs across the nation. The series gathers millions each year to raise crucial funds for cancer research. Cancer Research UK's spokesperson for the South West, Ruth Amies, said: "We're incredibly grateful to Ezzy for being our VIP starter at Race for Life Bristol." She added: "No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it." Talking about the event's success and its significant role, she said: "We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years." Ruth added: "Our events are strictly non-competitive which means everyone can have a go- and love every minute. There's no pressure to finish in a certain time, just give it what you can. Lace up and join in. "Whether people are living with cancer, taking part in honour of or in memory of a loved one with cancer, in it for the medals or just for the fun of fundraising, there is a place for everyone." Since launching in 1994, Race for Life has welcomed more than 10 million participants who've raised copious amounts vital for research efforts.
The Mainichi
22-05-2025
- The Mainichi
Japan Post worker arrested after allegedly phoning woman via number on package
TOKYO -- A Japan Post Co. employee was arrested May 21 after allegedly using personal information from a shipping label on a package to call a woman and tell her he was spying on her. Yoichi Nose, a 39-year-old resident of Tokyo's Ota Ward, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)'s Kamata Police Station on suspicion of attempted coercion and violating the Postal Act. He is specifically accused of accessing the mobile phone number of a woman in her 20s written on the shipping label on a Letter Pack envelope while on delivery duty between Jan. 28 and 29, when he was working at Kamata Post Office in Ota Ward. He then allegedly called the woman on Jan. 31, saying things like, "I'm secretly filming your apartment," and, "Can I upload a video of you changing clothes on YouTube?" He also reportedly told her, "If you want me to stop, how about we meet at Kamata Station?" Investigative sources say the package was addressed to an airline company, where the woman was recently hired. According to the MPD, there was no prior relationship between Nose and the woman. He reportedly admitted to the charges, telling police, "I would have called any woman. I just wanted a reason to talk." Nose also ended the call without conveying a detailed meeting location, and reportedly told investigators, "Saying things to a woman one-sidedly got me excited." Police believe that Nose took photos on his smartphone of postal items addressed to or sent by women that showed their phone numbers and then calling them over the past four or five years. Around 100 pictures of such items, apparently taken since July 2023, were found on his confiscated smartphone. In response to inquiries, Japan Post told the Mainichi Shimbun, "We are still in the process of confirming the facts, so we will refrain from issuing any comments. We will cooperate with the investigation and take strict measures if the allegations are confirmed."
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEO of Birmingham Airport Authority speaks on planned parking rate increases
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — President and CEO of the Birmingham Airport Authority, Ronald Matthew, said the parking deck, remote parking and event parking will all see changes in operation. Those changes include dedicating the entire bottom level of the deck to rental cars and adding a parking guidance system. Dogs in the ballpark: The Birmingham Barons' first Wet Nose Wednesday of the season 'There will no longer be people circulating through the garage to find that spot. The guidance system will tell you specifically where those spots are, guide you to it and when you pull into it the lighting will change,' said Matthew. Matthew said it's all a part of the airports parking modernization plan and the goal is to ease capacity constraints and improve customer experience. 'People are coming to Birmingham, they're choosing to fly out of Birmingham, and we need to respond to that and address the areas that we're seeing as problematic, and right now parking one of those areas,' said Matthew. The change is something some frequent flyers said is needed, but it comes at a cost. Sam Star's journey from Alabama to 'RuPaul's Drag Race' 'The parking guidance system alone is estimated to cost somewhere around $2 million, the new revenue control system will be somewhere around that if not more than that. They are expensive and so we have to generate the revenues to be able to do that,' said Matthew. That revenue will come from increasing rates, according to the Birmingham Airport Authority. Hourly parking per 24 hours will go from $24 to $26. Daily parking per 2 hours will go from $12 to $17. Hourly increments per hour in all lots will go from $1 to $2. Parking in the Economy Lot per 24 hours will remain $10. The other change is the discontinuation of the Commuter Parking Program on December 31, 2025. The program gives discounts to a select group of airline employees who are based in other cities and work out of other airports. Matthew said Birmingham Airport Authority employees currently do not pay to park but that could soon change, as the rate could go up to ten dollars. With that being said, Matthew said the companies, including the Birmingham Airport Authority, will cover that cost for their employees and the money will fund the reconstruction of the employee parking spaces. Matthew said they are anticipating changes to expand the parking to begin in the fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
