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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."

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

10 Years in Iraq - Brian Turner

"Night in Blue" a poem by Iraq war veteran Brian Turner. He served as an infantry team leader with the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Unit in Iraq.  His book of poetry about the war is called, “Here, Bullet.”

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A.O. Scott on the Art of Criticism

In his new book “Better Living Through Criticism,” A.O. Scott distills his decades-long career into a simple to read manifesto that not only explains the qualities of a good critic, but argues their fundamental importance to any culture.

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Albert Glinsky on the Theremin

Albert Glinsky is the author of “Theremin: Ether Music and Espionage.” The book is a biography of Leon Theremin and a history of the instrument that bears his name.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

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.

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Andrew Solomon on Depression

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

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

An Anishinaabe Poem and Creation Story

Here's an Anishinaabe poem and creation story by Kimberly Blaeser, the Poet Laureate of Wisconsin. It's the story of the lowly muskrat, and it reminds us that we are constantly building new worlds - and have been doing so since before the beginning of time.

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