Read it!

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
Michael Ondaatje
Random House, $29.95
What an odd book from Booker Prize winner (The English Patient) and Toronto resident Michael Ondaatje. Odd, but also engaging, informative, insightful and ultimately totally engrossing. Here Ondaatje has five conversations in four different cities - San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto - with legendary film editor and sound designer Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, American Graffiti, The Conversation and The Godfather movies). Ondaatje befriended Murch on the set of The English Patient and became intrigued by how much an editor added to a film's overall design and how much the task paralleled his own work in crafting a novel. A must read for aspiring writers (or film editors) as well as an entertaining and engaging book for anyone looking for something a little different from one of Canada's finest writers.




Build it!
Sumo-Bot
McGraw-Hill Ryerson, $157
Hobbyists can take their skills to a new level with Sumo-Bot. The kit comes complete with pre-assembled printed circuit board (no soldering required), dual channel remote control, robot hardware including collision-sensing infared LED and a CD-ROM with programming instructions and file chapters of robot building tips and tricks. Sumo-Bot is also pre-programmed with four behaviors including random movement and maze solver. Build two and start you own sumo competition. Available at local bookstores or on-line retailers.

Know it!
Whether you are hanging out with friends, relaxing at home or attending a
party this holiday season, chances are you may be exposed to the dangers of
second-hand smoke. That's why Health Canada has introduced its new Second-hand Smoke Diseases campaign. Here's just a few facts to ponder:
- Second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, 50 of which are associated with or known to cause cancer.
- Any level of exposure to second-hand smoke damages health: exposure for
as little as 8 to 20 minutes causes physical reactions linked to heart and stroke disease.
- If you are a non-smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke increases your chance of lung cancer by 25 percent, heart disease by 10 percent.
For more info on smoking and second-hand smoke, log on to www.GoSmokefree.ca


Hear it!

8 Mile
Shady/Interscope
The soundtrack inspired by Eminem's first feature film is, like the controversial rapper himself, a little controversial. The Parental Advisory for Explicit Content on the album's cover is there for a reason. Be that as it may, fans of Eminem will not be disappointed - especially with the title song - and there's also a couple of stand-out performances from Macy Gray ("Time of My Life") and Boomkat ("Wasting My Time"). Gangstarr, Young Zzz, Nas, 50 Cent and D12 also make an appearance.

Frida
Universal/Miramax
Don't worry about the fact that almost all the lyrics are in Spanish. Think Buena Vista Social Club and let yourself be transported to another time and place by this evocative collection of songs that stir up Mexican memories - even if you've never been there. Composer Elliot Goldenthal says: "Song is everywhere in Mexico, you are sung to and you are expected to sing." There's even a throaty, sensual and heartfelt song recorded 40 years ago by Chavela Vargas who was once Frida Kahlo's lover. She also does a present day recording for this album - "La Llorona." And if the only Spanish word you know is "cerveza," the liner notes give English translations for all the tunes.
Die Another Day
Warner Bros.
Do-diddle-ooo-do-do-diddle-ooo ... do-do-do-do; do-do-do - Sound it out. Does that sound like the Bond theme music to you? You'll find a few fractured versions of that familiar theme on this recording featuring Madonna doing the titled "Die Another Day" tune. The blond ambitionatrix throws in a little Frampton Comes Alive talkbox thing on her song. Standouts on the CD are track six "Welcome to Cuba" that has a nice Herb Alpert at the Copacabana mood to it and the Sharks vs Jets West Side Story feel on track 11, "Laser Fight."