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To The Best Of Our Knowledge

An Architect Under Siege in Syria

Not all architecture in the Arab world glitters like a golden dome. Some are being shelled to dust by war. Such is the horrifying story of Homs, Syria.  Once a cosmopolitan and tolerant city of more than one million, Homs has hosted clashes between rebel groups and President Bashar Assad’s forces since 2011. Those clashes have mortared and shelled the city into an oblivion. Thousands of residents have been killed. Most of the remaining have fled. But not all.

Marwa al-Sabouni and her family have stayed. Marwa al-Sabouni has her PhD. in Islamic architecture and wrote a compelling memoir about architecture and destruction in Homs called “The Battle for Home.”

Marwa al-Sabouni spoke with Anne Strainchamps via Skype from her apartment in Homs, Syria.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Anna Rabinowitz on "Darkling"

Poet Anna Rabinowitz found a shoe box full of old letters and photos of family and friends killed in the Holocaust.  She wrote the poem "Darkling" to feature their voices.   We also hear excerpts from the opera "Darkling."

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"Utopia or Bust" - Benjamin Kunkel

Benjamin Kunkel is not only a bestelling novelist and co-founder of the literary magainze n+1. He tells Steve Paulson why he's also a become Marxist public intellectual. 

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A Week at the Airport - Alain de Botton

Alain de Botton talks about his book, "A Week at the Airport."

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Alan Huffman on Opposition Research

“Scoundrel” is such an old-fashioned word.   I mean, who uses it anymore?  Aren’t there any scoundrels today?  We looked no further then the world of political opposition research.

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Alva Noe on Embodied Consciousness

Philosopher Alva Noe says it's a mistake to regard consciousness as strictly a product of our brain.  He says consciousness is something we do.

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Andrew Solomon on Depression

Andrew Solomon talks with Steve Paulson about his own experience with depression, and why depressive illness is becoming more common.

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"Every Empire Eventually Falls"

National security, civil liberties, terrorism...those issues obsessed Romans 2,000 years ago just as they obsess us today. Renowned classicist Mary Beard says we have lots to learn from Ancient Rome, including insights into how empires rise and fall.

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