VOLUME 27 AUG-OCT 2008 hype FREE DATELESS IN BEIJING: Why a whole generation of men is in limbo SLEEPLESS IN SINGAPORE: How the young of Singapore are losing their edge FISTS OF FUInsideInsideRY: aa gentleman’s fight club RED,WHITE, & CONTEST HOT WIN!EPIPHONE What makes you belong? hypeGUITAR• 1 2 • hype contents. hype magazine august to october 2008 Comic artists in Singapore 11 unite in the name of passion! Singaporean youths join hands 07 in the name of patriotism Singapore’s first legalised “WE LOVE SINGAPORE” SPECIAL 28 fight club WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SINGAPORE 5. SPIRIT? Singaporeans tell what it means to be made in Singapore CONNECT SINGAPORE How 30,000 people FEATURES 7. will join hands to show their love for Singapore WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT POLITICS? Singaporeans youths do care about politics... in MEET THE NEW SINGAPOREANS Three 22. cyberspace 9. foreigners-turned-Singaporeans tell what they dig here GIRL POWER More girls are taking drumming, WANTED! – SUPERHEROES IN LIVING 24. and Jurong Green CC is the place to start 11. COLOUR One man’s mission to revitalise the comic book industry here SISTER OF LOVE How one woman strives 25. to save teenagers from self-destruction THE MARCH OF THE LITTLE BLUE 13. PENGUIN A cute Singaporean web comic THE GIFT OF TIME Young souls do their bit to pokes fun at student life 26. change the lives of the less unfortunate 14. THE WRITE STUFF Literary successes by GENTLEMAN’S FIGHT CLUB Finally, a place homegrown writers 28. to beat people up, legally BEIJING DREAMS BREAKING OUT OF THE B(rAt) TRAP Brats ENTER THE DRAGON How the face of a his- 30. beget brats; parents need to lead by example torical city has changed with the rise of China 16. FAST & LOOSE Gamblers are getting younger OUT OF LUCK, OUT OF LOVE Why young 32. and easier with money 18. men in China are finding it hard to get hitched SPEED DEMONS Life in the fast lane leave a WHEN EAST MEETS WEST – BEIJING’S 34. trail of destruction 20. HIP HANGOUTS Local bars and expat joints to visit in Beijing SINGAPORE DRIFT Youths turn to illegal 37. night racing to settle scores hype • 1 Be cautioned on the dangers 38 of current fashion trends WORK & MONEY JOBS FOR KICKS Not all part time jobs are 58. a drag SPORT ON Playing your favourite game can be 60. lucrative for a student 62. EVERY CENT COUNT$ Spending money is Get more than a mouthful at easy, but how often do youths save? these restaurants 44 REVIEWS & PREVIEWS COLONIAL FUSION Asian cuisine spiced with FASHION 63. a colonial twist KILLER FASHION G-strings, tight clothing, 38. and oversized bags can be hazardous PUTTING THE “OOMPH” BACK IN FOOD 64. Go gaga over innovative touches on familiar faves A DAY IN SINGAPORE Find out what’s cool to 40. wear this summer MOVIES Pixar’s WALL-E, Roystan Tan’s 12 65. LOTUS, and more. LEISURE MUSIC My Brightest Diamond, The Charlatans, A FEAST FOR THE EYES Cafés for those who 67. The Futureheads, Plain Sunset and Spiritualized 44. like their food and art under one roof dissected. DIFFERENT FACES OF A USB PORT Launch 46. RUN AWAY TO AMERICA Orlando beckons to 69. rockets, warm your coffee, massage your eye - a those craving sun, sea, and space USB port can multi-task just like you FLYING SOLO Grow up and embark on your TEChNOLOGY A small but mighty speaker for 47. own adventures! 70. your favourite MP3 player GO YOUR OWN WAY How three youths left 48. their parents at home to travel the world REGULARS EVENT LISTINGS ABBA, F.I.R and Paul AND HEALTH & FITNESS 71. The high School Musical SIZE ZERO IS NO LONGER THE WAY TO 50. GO The skinny look is out; girls now want their 72. EVENTS PREVIEW Important dates for music, bodies toned beer and theatre! “I’lL SLEEP WHEN I die” Why you need to BAND-AID Wise up on how to cope with a 52. schedule sleep in your diary 74. break-up, verbal abuse and schoolwork? 54. THINK IT WON’T HAPPEN TO YOUTHS? CONTEST! Create a tune and win an Epiphone AIDS, lung disease, and and diabetes don’t 75. guitar come with age limits STOP DIABETES BEFORE IT STOPS YOU 76. V.I.P. Smart and eligible sporty young man 56. You are what you eat, obesity is a slow killer ponders his greater purpose in life 2 • hype CREDITS CHONG LIBING GET HYPE AT: EditOrs [ EDITOR ] Chong Li Bing 77th Street Amelia Hong The Heeren Shops, #05-03/30 Boo Jian Wen Jeremy Far East Plaza, #01-31/35 Cheak Hong Ian Parco Bugis Junction, #03-30A DesiGNers FLash ‘N’ SPLash The Heeren Shops, #02-07/09v Goh Wei Choon Citylink Mall, #B1-16/17 Boo Jian Wen Jeremy photo by: he ruiming STUssy A&P SpeciaLists Pacific Plaza, #01-07/08 Neo Wen Tong Kristle Esther Chia ISLAND CreaMery Serene Centre, #01-05 RepOrters Chai Xiu Ling LeVI’S® Chong Zhi Wei Aaron Marina Square, #02-319 Kartini Bte Salim Ngee Ann City, Tower B, #B1-30 Lee Kai Er Alexis Parkway Parade Shopping Lee Xian jie Centre, #01-41 Lim Sheng Jie Brian Raffles City Shopping Centre, Mohsen Oliver Michael #01-32 Suntec City Mall, #01-062 Mok Teck Ching - Ong Sze Yii Wella remember when I was a kid, I knew my na See Pei Ee Joyce tional day songs at the back of my head, and DesiGNed IN SINGA­ POre Tan Sian Lin Juliet I would sing them louder than anyone else Yeo Kai Wen 25 Muhammad Sultan Road Iin my class. But, at the tender age of eight, the Ahmad Zaki Ang Hui Lin Jolynn words were nothing more than just words. Ah, Miss CLarity CafÉ Cheong Weiquan Brian those innocent and naïve days. 5 Purvis Street, #01-04 Chong Valerie Currently 18 turning 19, I finally understand Choo Wan Tian Charmaine what it means to be a Singaporean. I’ve lived here RICKS He Ruiming all my life, I know my way around here, I love the Far East Plaza, #01-95 Koh Xinyan Raewyn editorial food here, and all my family and friends are here! Lee Xuan Xian Nigel TIMBRE Singapore’s where I come from and where I’ll stay Ng Si En Dorcas 45 Armenian Street Peter Keith Rajendran on. More than exams, deadlines and home, above Sheereen Teo Su-lin all, Singapore is where I’m strongly attached to, WALA WALA Shirinderjit Kaur physically and emotionally. Nowhere in the world Holland Village 31 Lorong Sin Phuay Hiang makes me feel safer than Singapore. Mambong Teo Yin Yin We celebrate our nation’s 43rd birthday in our BLU JAZZ “We Love Singapore” special from page 4 to 15. 11 Bali Lane ADVisOrs National identity is not the only thing gripping Sng-Fun Poh Yoke the world as the Beijing Olympics open this NEBO Koh Joh Ting month. The fastest, the biggest, the best and the Ang Mo Kio Hub Choy Kok Kee most graceful feats aside, hype checks out the majesty and charm of Beijing in “Beijing Dreams” SEttLers CafÉ hype is a biannual publication by final-year print from page 16 to 21. Central Shopping Mall journalism students in the Mass Communica- tion course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic This sense of patriotism definitely comes with HOME CLUB time and maturity. hype doesn’t expect you to The Riverwalk, #B1-01/06 20 change your likings overnight but do take some hype magazine - School of Film & Media Studies time out and ask yourself, “What has your coun BOOKSActUALLY Blk 52, #07-01 try done for you?” And you’ll be surprised how a 5 Ann Siang Road Ngee Ann Polytechnic country can develop your character and shape 535 Clementi Road you into someone you never know you’d be . SOON Lee Tel: 6460 8448 26 Haji Lane Email: [email protected] Like how Tanya Chua croons to “Where I Belong” Website: www.theurbanwire.com as a theme song for National Day Parade in 2001, Singapore is definitely “where I belong, where I keep my heart and soul”. hype • 3 Look out for the SINGAPORE SPECIAL icon! What exactly is the ingapore Spirit? hypeTHE WE LOVE SINGAPORE SPECIAL “This is home, truly, where I know I must be” Showing patriotism is not just about sticking a stick-on Singapore flag tattoo on your face or singing National Day theme songs louder than usual on Aug 9. Ever wondered what the Singapore Spirit means? hype found youths who shared their views and definitions towards that. Also, see how youths express their love for the nation through planning a large-scale event, just for Singapore. Don’t forget to welcome new Singaporeans and listen to what they have to say about their decision in being here. Hear the people behind local comics out as they tell you how their passion keeps them going. And if you see the Little Blue Penguin walking around the Internet with a mind of its own, don’t be surprised! For the literary fans, hype introduces six local works just for you. Express your love for the nation differently this August! 4 • hype What exactly is the hype was curious to find out what our readers have to say, so WELLA ONG ingapore caught up with young Singaporeans and asked them what they think is Spirit? “The Singapore Spirit” CHONG QIU PING, 20, STUDENT “O-levels, A-levels.