Hello, 2012!

A couple of hours ago, I was sat down by an acquaintance (who’s likely to be mentally unstable since she follows the Twilight chronicles) to watch the trailer of the new .lm that’s running in the cinemas. And I became confused as to whether it was a trailer about the supernatural imaginings of Stephanie Meyer or an advertisement campaign against teenage pregnancy. In short, the film is about a teenager who is knocked up by a vampire, and now runs the risk of being mauled by werewolves or giving birth to some equally unnatural thing. The moral of the story? Use a condom.

Our year-end issue brings a wealth of entertainment and ideas, starting with a party guide that will take you to some of our favourite spots in Singapore, as well as the newest outlets in town and the .nest cocktails that you could possibly concoct without needing a chemistry set.

We’ve also found some of the best-dressed gents in Singapore and trundled them in front of the camera, proving that the term “stylish Singaporean men” isn’t an oxymoron.

The flood and embrace of the supernatural, taking to the streets all over the world as well as on the screens .The Walking Deadis back for a second season, and the University of Winchester just held its first zombie conference – is seen by some economists and critics as a commentary of the current stagnant state of our world and society. Zombies are, apparently, a metaphor for a global economic system that’s eating itself alive. Fortunately, Europe’s woes (and by extension, America’s) appear to be soothed by refreshed government leadership; it remains to be seen if the solutions adopted by the authorities will be upheld.

Naturally, this month is also the season of travel, gifting and all-round indulgence and inebriation. The year 2011 has been fraught with complications whether natural or man-made, social, political or economic in nature. But the new year ahead looks to be kicking off with a calmer state of mind – 2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives by the United Nations, as well as the centennial of Alan Turing, celebrated mathematician and the inventor of the modern computer, without which, we wouldn’t have Facebook status updates to look at.

From the August Manteam, here’s wishing you a marvellous month and a toast to the new year.

Best regards,

Darren Ho
MANAGING EDITOR
darren.ho@burda.com.sg