Also in this issue:

Anthony Morris talks Botox and blue-bottles with British actor Kris Marshall; in the lead up to the Australian stage adaptation of Yes, Prime Minister, Albert Ehrnrooth catches up with the TV show’s original writers; Angela Meyer meets Mateship with Birds author Carrie Tiffany; Fiona Scott-Norman proffers a thoughtful meditation on the subject of noses; and, in ‘Roving Eye’, we revisit some extraordinary portraits by the late photojournalist Eve Arnold.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Ron from Perth. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Street Soccer player Ahmed in Melbourne, Sharon in Perth and Nathan C in Brisbane.

Sadly in ‘Streetsheet’ this edition, we also farewell our dear friend Jacquie, who died on 26 December. Jacquie worked as a Big Issue vendor in Sydney, selling the magazine around Rozelle and packing the magazine as part of the Women’s Subscription Enterprise. She was popular with Big Issue staff and fellow vendors and also with members of the public. We’ve received a lovely letter from a Rozelle local – published in ‘Your Say’ – who told us how much Jacquie will be missed.

Also in this issue:

Matthew Pejkovic meets Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy director Tomas Alfredson; Andy Murdoch talks flippers and the future with sci-fi writer Alastair Reynolds; Mic Looby remembers swimming in a pair of hand-me-down Y-fronts and a thin layer of cooking oil; ‘Oz Kulture’ expert Patrick Witton presents his unique take on the life and times of Rupert Murdoch; and, in ‘Roving Eye’, we present images from the People and Planet international photography competition.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Mary from Adelaide. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Owen and Ken in Melbourne and Mick F, Kerrie, Robert S, Lillian and Trevor in Sydney.

Warwick Sprawson dons a jumpsuit and heads to Parkes, NSW for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival; Agony Aunt Sophie Quick counsels a lovelorn war-history buff and a man who covets Barbra Streisand’s wheelbarrow; and ‘Oz Kulture’ expert Patrick Witton investigates the totemic significance of the esky. We even have two great short-fiction reads from Josephine Rowe and our very own books editor, Chris Flynn.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Alex from Sydney. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Owen in Melbourne, Mick F in Sydney and Grisel and Katrina in Adelaide. Former vendor Adrian from Melbourne has also contributed a great illustration.

Also in this issue:

Lily Partland goes camping in Iran; Nick Argyriou talks grunge and golf with Dinosaur Jr frontman J Mascis; Chris Flynn goes gaga over photographer Terry Richardson’s photobiography of Lady Gaga; and Helen Razer mounts a convincing case that brown rice “tastes like the inside of a Mullumbimby yurt”.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Tammy from Brisbane. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Felix in Melbourne, Mick and ‘Bikini’ Athol in Sydney and Sam, Daniel and David in Adelaide. There’s also a great photo of Adam, who is well known to Melbourne readers. He sells around the CBD and is famous for his exceptional rhyming and rapping skills.

Also in this issue:

Heidi Maier meets her literary heroes, Jonathan Franzen and Ann Patchett; Alice Tynan reveals the hits and misses of this summer’s cinema offerings; Tom Hawking encounters a taxidermy tableau of stuffed chipmunks (among other things) on a musical tour of Nashville; Gerard Elson pronounces Stephen King “a softie” in his review of King’s new book, 11.22.63; and in ‘Roving Eye’, we roll up our sleeves and charge into the woolsheds of outback Australia.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Phil from Melbourne. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Jan in Canberra, Steve in Brisbane, Sarah in Perth, Gabriel in Melbourne, Katrina in Adelaide and Lillian and Mick F in Sydney. 

Also in this issue:

Larry Schwartz discusses the enduring appeal of ABC Radio National’s pioneering radio show, Music Deli; Lee Zachariah examines the reigning dictators of cinema; Suzannah Marshall Macbeth accepts the challenge of Buy Nothing New Month; Brad Dunn reviews the new Haruki Murakami novel, 1Q84; and in ‘Roving Eye’, we take a peak at the work of finalists from the Centre for Contemporary Photography’s 2011 Documentary Photography Award.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ is Daniel from Willunga in South Australia. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Donna in Melbourne, as well as Raelene, Diane, Glenn F and Bill from Sydney. In ‘Your Say’ this edition we have tweets and letters from readers praising the poetry of super-talented vendor Leo, whose poem about Steve Jobs, ‘Godspeed, Our Generation’s Gutenberg’ was published in last edition’s ‘Streetsheet’ (Ed#393).

Many have tried and failed to bring Tintin to the big screen. Now two of cinema’s big guns – Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson – explain how they finally did it. But will The Adventures of Tintin be a hit…or hubris? And Tintin tragic Anthony Morris reveals a lifetime’s devotion to Hergé’s hero.

Also in this issue:

In time for World Television Day, we remember the man who electrified the small screen, then faded from view; now in his fifties, former Dead Kennedys’ frontman Jello Biafra maintains the rage – if not the wage; Helen Razer explains her neurosis over tuberoses; and in ‘Roving Eye’, kids living beside a Kathmandu rubbish dump snap up the chance to focus on their lives.

Also in this issue:

Norwegian Wood director Tran Anh Hung discusses adapting Haruki Murakami’s famous novel; it’s the end of REM as we know it and Doug Wallen reflects that they’ve done fine; Kerry O’Shea catches up with screenwriter and crime novelist Lynda La Plante; and, in ‘Roving Eye’, we time-travel to the 1950s and wander the streets of New York and Chicago with a mysterious and reclusive photographer, Vivian Maier.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile’ features Darren from Melbourne. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Melbourne vendor Kimba, Sarah W and Frank from Perth, Daniel K from Adelaide and Stephen G from Brisbane. Some weeks ago, we farewelled a much-loved vendor, Eddie, who died suddenly in Canberra. This edition’s ‘Streetsheet’ includes further tributes to Eddie from his Canberra vendor colleagues, Bianca and Michelle.

Also in this issue:

Simon Keck meets much-loved Australian children’s author, Andy Griffiths; Clem Bastow gives five stars to the Chemical Brothers’ Hanna: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack; Tim Kroenert talks nature, nurture and the chimpanzee documentary Project Nim; and, in ‘Roving Eye’, photographer Jessie Boylan shows how mining near the Watut River in Papua New Guinea is impacting on local communities.

This edition’s ‘Vendor Profile features Eddie from Sydney. And we have ‘Streetsheet’ contributions from Dennis from Canberra, Owen D and Gordon from Melbourne, Jacqui H and Michael F from Brisbane and roving vendor Glenn F, who is travelling the country and meeting colleagues in every state. On a sadder note, we farewell a much-loved Canberra vendor, who recently passed away. Vale Eddie. You will be sorely missed.

Adam Curley reflects on 28 years of Red Hot Chili Peppers as the band releases a 10th album; Rachel Power talks to writer and musician Peggy Frew about her debut novel; Rochelle Siemienowicz chats with director Fred Schepisi about his first Australian-made film in more than 20 years and, in ‘Roving Eye’, photographer Claire Martin meets the squatters and misfits populating the Slab City decommissioned military site in the Colorado Desert.

This edition we talk to Matthew from Brisbane for our ‘Vendor Profile’. Our ‘Streetsheet’ contributors are Sarah from Perth; Grant from Canberra; Clarissa from Melbourne; Nathan from Brisbane; and Kerrie, Craig and Mick F from Sydney.