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Articles by Eleanor Ho
Massachusetts shelters lack space for homeless as winter arrives
BOSTON — As temperatures fall and positive coronavirus cases rise, advocates are concerned about homelessness in Massachusetts, where shelters remain at a reduced capacity due to the pandemic, and many are anticipating having to turn people away as outside conditions worsen. Estimates of the size of the Massachusetts homeless population hovers around the 18,000 mark, according to estimates from a 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Shelters lack space for homeless as winter arrives
BOSTON – As temperatures fall and positive coronavirus cases rise, advocates are raising concerns about homelessness in Massachusetts, where shelters remain at a reduced capacity due to the pandemic, and many are anticipating having to turn people away as outside conditions worsen. Estimates of the size of the state’s homeless population hovers around the 18,000 mark, according to estimates from a 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Shelters lack space as winter arrives
By Eleanor Ho BU News Service BOSTON – As temperatures fall and positive coronavirus cases rise, advocates raise concerns about homelessness in Massachusetts as shelters remain at reduced capacity. With outside conditions worsening, many fear that shelters will be forced to turn people away. The Massachusetts homeless population is estimated to hover around the 18,000 people, according to a 2019 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Striking While the Hand is Hot
Credit: David Madison / Getty Images This article was originally published on March 13, 2020. You might not think that a simulation meant for kids could change how something plays out in real life, but in the 1990s, the arcade game NBA Jam did exactly that. One feature of the game allowed players to be “on fire.” The more a player scored, the higher chance he or she had of scoring again.
Despite trouble with mail-in voting, early voting holds strong
By Eleanor Ho BU News Service BOSTON – More than 1.7 million mail-in ballots have been distributed by city and town clerks and local polling places are open across the state as Massachusetts residents vote early ahead of the Nov. 3 election. That’s nearly double the number of voters who cast their ballots early in 2016, showing that more people are voting ahead of the election than ever.
Chester County History Center's Conor Hepp
Photo by Tessa Marie Images The West Chester University grad took over as president of the newly renamed center. Frequenting the museums around Pennsylvania as a kid, Conor Hepp knew early on where his career was headed. Since then, he’s held positions at prestigious institutions throughout the region, including the Franklin Institute, Penn Museum and, most recently, the Barnes Foundation.
Malvern’s Alice Choi is Reinventing Family Dinners on a National Scale
Photo by Tessa Marie Images The popular home chef shares creative weekly recipes with fresh ingredients directly to more than 164,000 Instagram followers. With more than 164,000 Instagram followers, brand ambassador deals for national companies, and a slew of TV appearances, it’s a wonder that Alice Choi has time to cook, create recipes, shop for locally raised products, and be a wife and mother to her two daughters.
Q&A: Lori Brennan Executive Director of the Nature Conservancy
Photo by Tessa Marie Images The Broomall resident recently returned to conservation. Lori Brennan has spent her entire career in our region, working with People’s Light in Malvern, the Academy of Natural Sciences and the University City District. She also spent some time at the Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental organization with a reach that extends to 79 countries and territories around the globe.
6 Fun Things to Do This Halloween
Photo by Adobe Stock Ways to safely celebrate the spooky season. Even with COVID-19 lurking, there are ways to get your spooky on this Halloween. Here are some local options—with or without the kids. Sept. 18-Nov. 15 Eastern State Penitentiary Night Tours: “Terror Behind the Walls” might be cancelled this year, but that doesn’t mean Eastern State Penitentiary can’t still deliver a chilling experience.
Field to Fork Dinners Return to Chadds Ford
Photo by Adobe Stock Running from August through September, enjoy the flavors of local chefs’ cuisines in a rustic barn. SIW Vegetables’ popular Field to Fork dinner series is back. The farm-to-table dining series, which takes place on Hill Girt Farm in Chadds Ford, was delayed due to the pandemic, but is slated to return starting Aug. 5. Held in the farm’s rustic barn, this year’s dinners will look a little different than in years past.
A Vegan Burger Joint Has Opened in Wynnewood
Photo courtesy of PLNT Burger PLNT Burger is the brainchild of Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn. A new restaurant has joined the ranks within Wynnewood’s Whole Foods Market. Chef Spike Mendelsohn, known for his appearance on reality TV cooking show Top Chef, debuted a new PLNT Burger there last month. The vegan menu features reimagined American cuisine with a focus on burgers.
The Living Room at 35 East Is Hosting an Outdoor Summer Concert Series
Photos courtesy of The Living Room at 35 East | Pictured above: Greg Sover Band The intimate Ardmore music venue is showcasing its usual lineup of talent in a new format starting in July. By Eleanor Ho After closing its doors in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Living Room at 35 East is ready to bring live music back to the Main Line. The intimate Ardmore venue will launch a summer outdoor concert series with three shows slated for July and August.
What’s Missing From Childhood Today?
A young Shuar girl gathering papayas. Credit: Dorsa Amir Childhood today is radically different than it was just a few generations ago. Before the coronavirus pandemic, kids’ busy schedules included school, homework, chores, sports, music lessons and other activities. Those packed schedules often left out one key element that is crucial to growth and learning — play. That’s according to Dorsa Amir, a postdoctoral researcher and evolutionary anthropologist at Boston College.
Using Less and Getting More
Credit: Getty Images / IAISI *This piece was originally published on November 1st, 2019* It often feels like trash is piling up all around us, and that our consumption habits have put us on the road to environmental disaster. Just take a look at recycling bins stacked high with packaging boxes and takeout containers.
Striking While the Hand is Hot
Credit: David Madison / Getty Images You might not think that a simulation meant for kids could change how something plays out in real life, but in the 1990s, the arcade game NBA Jam did exactly that. One feature of the game allowed players to be “on fire.” The more a player scored, the higher chance he or she had of scoring again. Fast forward to today and you can’t escape the concept of a hot streak, or a “hot hand”' as it’s called in basketball.
Striking While The Hand Is Hot
Long before the days of mobile games and home consoles, people played arcade games. Classics like Pac-Man and Space Invaders changed pop culture but, without anyone even realizing it, another game was shaping how people would play basketball. That game was NBA Jam, developed by Mark Turmell in 1993. The game followed the normal rules of basketball, at least until a player managed to score a few shots in a row. Then, something special happened.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the cure: But for whom?
The push for the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) started out as a fight for the little guy. Before the law was enacted in 1983, patients suffering from rare illnesses like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and Tourette syndrome often had a hard time finding treatment options, since drug companies were focused on other, more common diseases. Cue the ODA.
Funding the Cure: But For Whom?
Credit: Steven Heap / EyeEm / Getty Images It’s no secret that new drugs are expensive to create. And not long ago, drug companies shied away from creating cures for diseases that affected only a few thousand people — fewer patients meant smaller profits. But in 1983, Congress passed the Orphan Drug Act (ODA) which incentivized the development of treatments for rare diseases. And it worked. Since it passed, the legislation has helped to create hundreds of new treatments for rare diseases.
The myth of the gendered brain
Men and women are different — so different that we might as well be from different planets. People often suggest that women are more in tune with emotions, whereas men are better at analytical things. The numbers themselves can seem convincing — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up fewer than 20% of employees in tech sector jobs in 2018. And if the sexes are so different, their brains must be too. Right? Well, maybe not.
Leland Stanford: an American Disruptor
Credit: Justin Sullivans / Staff / Getty Images When you hear the name “Stanford,” chances are a certain university neighboring Palo Alto in California will come to mind. But you may be less familiar with the story of Leland Stanford, the university’s founder.
The Myth of the Gendered Brain
Credit: RubberBall Productions / Getty Images It’s no secret that men and women are different — it’s the punchline of a hundred jokes, the subject of bestsellers, and part of an infamous manifesto. But does our sex really show in our brains, or is there something else at play? Gina Rippon, a neuroscientist at Aston University in the U.K. and author of “Gender and Our Brains,” argues that sex doesn’t play nearly as big a role in influencing our brains as we might think.
The Myth Of The Gendered Brain
Men and women are different — so different that we might as well be from different planets, as the saying goes. People often suggest that women are more in tune with emotions, whereas men are better at analytical things. The numbers themselves can seem convincing — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up fewer than 20% of employees in tech sector jobs in 2018. And if the sexes are so different, their brains must be, too. Right? Well, maybe not.
The Story Behind Wikipedia
Photo Credit: Terminator3D (gettyimages) “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” The urgency behind this sentiment is stronger than ever at a time when misinformation is everywhere. So how has Wikipedia, famous for allowing anyone to edit, become a paragon for truth?
The science behind our compulsion to be good
Imagining life without society or community is almost impossible, but that hasn’t stopped philosophers, monarchs, and others from thinking about it. And what they’ve wanted to know is this: Do people innately feel compelled to form societies? And when those communities are formed, how do we act toward each other? What is natural, and what is learned?
Our Compulsion to Be Good
Credit: Getty Images / Tina Terras & Michael Walter There is a famous quote from French existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre: “Hell is other people.” While some may agree with that sentiment and crave solitude, there’s a lot of evidence that people are drawn to each other. We form friendships, sports teams, knitting circles and complex societies, unlike any other species on Earth.
What’s Missing From Childhood Today?
A young Shuar girl gathering papayas. Credit: Dorsa Amir Childhood today is radically different than it was just a few generations ago. These days, kids’ busy schedules include school, homework, chores, sports, music lessons and other activities. But those packed schedules leave out one key element that turns out to be crucial to growth and learning — play. That’s according to Dorsa Amir, a postdoctoral researcher and evolutionary anthropologist at Boston College.
Remember 'reduce, reuse, recycle'? Humans actually are reducing, expert says
People have come to expect that as our economy grows, so does our use of resources — a trend many have been worried about since the environmental movement began.
Using Less and Getting More
Credit: Getty Images / IAISI It often feels like trash is piling up all around us, and that our consumption habits have put us on the road to environmental disaster. Just take a look at recycling bins stacked high with packaging boxes and takeout containers.
Feeling lonely? You’ve got company.
People are used to technology changing how they live their lives — whether it’s opening up new ways to travel, giving us access to information, or revolutionizing the way we communicate. But is tech changing how we feel too?
Feeling Lonely? You’ve Got Company
Credit: fatido / Getty Images We’ve all got friends — hundreds of them, if you believe what Facebook’s telling you — but many of us are still worried about being lonely. So worried that it might be surprising to learn that hundreds of years ago, being alone was considered a virtue. But according to Susan Matt and Luke Fernandez, both professors at Weber State University, how we view emotions is changing all the time.
In a culture of selfies and social media, how do you check your ego?
Hearing the name “DeLorean” usually calls to mind Doc Brown’s time-traveling car from the movie “Back to the Future.” But that name once represented much more: a promise of what the automotive industry could be. John DeLorean started the DeLorean Motor Company with plans to revolutionize automobile production, even more than he had during his time as a top executive at General Motors.
What’s So Bad About A Little Ego?
Credit: Caiaimage/Paul Bradbury/Getty Images Whether they’re athletes like LeBron James, entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, or entertainers like Kanye West, the richest and most famous among us are often known for having the largest egos. Why shouldn’t we follow their example? Ryan Holiday, author of “Ego is the Enemy,” tells us how ego can be a huge disadvantage - and even end careers. He also explains why he thinks our ego problem is getting worse, and what he believes we can do about it.
Approaching the Future: How We Think About Tomorrow
Credit: Flashpop/Getty Images When psychologist Walter Mischel published the findings of his famous marshmallow study, showing the impact of delayed gratification on a child’s future success, it changed how people raised their kids. But in the nearly 50 years since the study was published, questions have been asked about our ability to truly look ahead. Is teaching a child delayed gratification really all there is to making sure they succeed? How well can we predict the future, and prepare for it?
Say Goodbye To Language As You Know It
Credit: Mayur Kakade / Getty Images It seems that every time a dictionary publishes a new update, people flock to social media to talk about it. Whether they’re responding to the addition of the word “fam” or the dad joke, they always return to the question of what consequences these additions will have and if they will spell disaster for the English language. Turns out, the “updation” (new to the Oxford English Dictionary as of last year) of language isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
How is Meritocracy Damaging Our Economy?
Credit: Chayapon Bootboonneam / EyeEm Those in the highest paying jobs are working longer hours than ever before. Meanwhile, the middle class is falling behind, as employers demand more qualifications from employees. America is supposed to be a meritocracy, but perhaps meritocracies - which aim for fairness - aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
Protesters urge President Brown to remember victims of Bhopal disaster, cut ties with DowDuPont
Protestors gathered Sunday at One Silber Way to protest Boston University President Robert Brown’s ties to DowDuPont Inc., the company responsible for the Bhopal, India, crisis. FELIX PHILLIPS/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF Dozens of water bottles filled with murky brown liquid littered the surface of table tops in the George Sherman Union. The bottles symbolize the polluted water of Bhopal, India, the site of what is widely considered to be the worst industrial disaster in history.
Puppeteer Pipkins pursues puppet passion in performance
Puppeteer Brad Shur (left) performs an act called “The Kingdom” as part of his show “Cardboard Explosion.” VIGUNTHAAN THARMARAJAH/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF When renowned artist and puppeteer Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins took the stage at BU Central, all eyes weren’t on him. They were on his latest creation, Crush, a puppet made out of cardboard and cloth with two shining green eyes. With the help of his puppet, Pipkins hosted Boston University’s first puppet slam Saturday evening.
Columbia University professor shares research on transgender children at seminar series
Columbia University professor Tey Meadow recalled meeting Rafe, one of the research subjects in her new book “Trans Kids: Being Gendered in the Twenty-First Century,” as a young girl demonstrating a dance move from a Britney Spears video. The book explores the changing attitudes of parents toward transgender children and the cultural shifts that come along with them, according to Meadow. “It was evident that what was on display was far more than a performance of sexuality,” Meadow said.
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