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To The Best Of Our Knowledge

In her book, "Do Metaphors Dream of Literal Sleep?: A Science-Fictional Theory of Representation," Seo-Young Chu argues that science fiction is a kind of "high-intensity realism."  She spoke with Jim Fleming.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Youngstown, Ohio is the center of the Rust Belt.  During steel's heyday, Youngstown was a city of nearly 200,000. Now, it’s under 70,000. The steel mills closed in the 1980’s, people left, and no one replaced them. Steve Paulson sat down with urban planner Justin Hollander talk about what to do next - what Hollander calls "smart decline."

 

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Journalist Ted Conover tells Steve Paulson that wise guards accept that they rule with the consent of the prisoners, and recalls a few of his most dramatic encounters with inmates.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Photographer Rachel Sussman has documented 30 of the oldest living things in the world.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

What do you do when you’re an African-American filmmaker living in a country full of people who dress up in blackface at Christmastime?  You pick up a camera. Roger Ross Williams  talks about his new documentary,  "Blackface." It's about the traditional Dutch celebration of "Black Pete" -- a Santa's helper who dresses in blackface, an Afro wig, red lipstick and big hoop earrings.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

The Wailin’ Jennys talk about the joys and mystery of harmony, and sing a few examples. 

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

William Powers had returned home from abroad, in shock at the excess of American culture. Then he found a woman he calls Dr. Jackie Benton, living sustainabily in a 12 x 12 house in rural North Carolina.  He tells her story in the book "Twelve by Twelve."

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Timothy Ferris is the author of nearly a dozen books of popular science, including “Seeing in the Dark: How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril.”

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