Search Engine for Children

Finding a good search engine for children can be a struggle but here is one that seems better than most to Phil Bradley.

Kiddle (http://kiddle.co/) works by filtering results by site and word. They try to ensure that the first three results have been chosen by their editors, the next few pull results from content on safe and trusted sites that are written to appeal to children. [The rest of the sites come from Google safe search, so while they may not be appropriate in language, there should be no inappropriate sites.]

It uses big thumbnails on its results page and a large Arial font.

Google adverts are displayed as well but these seem to have been vetted.

Inappropriate content seems to be screened out by blocking certain words, but this inadvertently also blocks terms children may search for (e.g. blue tits).

Information presented is of good quality and appropriate for children to learn from. The results of a search on 'how to self harm' addressed the issue sensibly and from the viewpoint of not harming.

While sexual terminology is blocked, there appears to be no block on words such as 'murder', 'shooting', 'bombing', 'revolver' and 'handgun' (though 'gun' itself was blocked).

There are search options for the web, images, news and videos.

The content seems to be for age 10 and above - but you should check this out yourself.

Phil Bradley in CILIP Update, February 2016

Animals in Translation

Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin & Catherine Johnston. Bloomsbury, 2006. pbk: 0747566690 / 978074756694

This is one of several books that Temple Grandin, autistic herself, has written on autism.  These are my notes of the points which struck me most. All her books are well worth reading.

Autistic people think in pictures not words, but often talk out loud to help organize thinking, and may be able to express conclusions in words. They tend to build a library of stock phrases and sentences to use in conversation and, in common with others with disabilities, need be taught even ‘simple’ things like getting dressed as a series of small tasks.

Inattentional blindness – normal people don’t see things if they are not expecting them. Autistics may see them more often – as visual thinkers are more detail-oriented. But people always seem to recognize sight and sound of their own name, large-sized objects and cartoon happy faces (but not sad ones).

Need to take care not to assume animals think like humans. Owner assumed dog felt guilt as always ran off when found with rubbish on floor; but also ran off when taken into room with rubbish already on floor – just associated rubbish on the floor with trouble.

Vision is important to animals; monkeys can be trained as easily with a view out of a window as the reward as with food.

Animal vision differs from human vision, having a limited colour spectrum. Certain things ‘jump out’ for animals and autistics, such as contrast in illumination – animals never like going from bright light into the dark as it temporarily blinds them, although prey animals (e.g. cattle) have good night vision.

Dogs have poor visual acuity, with fewer cones in their retinas, but better night vision. Good human vision is 20/20 but typical dog acuity is 20/75 – dog has to stand 20 feet away from something a human can see at 75 feet. Near-sighted dogs have even worse visual acuity; there is some variation by breed.

Most animals have panoramic vision and can be distracted by what is behind them. They do have some binocular vision for sense of depth. Human retina has a fovea – round spot of best vision. Animals from open habitats (cats, dogs, cattle) have a visual streak. Animals lowering their heads as bulls do before charging, or sheepdogs before herding, are probably lining up the image on their visual streak.

‘Visual cliff’ is common to people and animals and seems to be an inbuilt signal of danger. A dark colour on the ground is interpreted as being deep – babies won’t crawl over it. Animals have better contrast vision so may see it as a false visual cliff – as with cattle grids. A poor man’s cattle grid is to paint bright white lines across a road – the contrast is enough to deter cattle unless highly motivated (mother separated from baby, much better grazing); however, once crossed they learn it is not a danger. Completely colour-blind people are better at interpreting reconnaissance photos.

Colour vision varies among species.

Birds: ultraviolet, blue, green, red.

Humans, some primates: blue, green, red.

Most mammals: blue, green. (see best a greenish (safety vest) yellow and a bluish (purple iris) purple.

Sharp contrast draws the attention of an animal and either distracts or scares – but novelty is the real issue, even for an item seen before in a different context. On their own, they will investigate a novel stimulus but not if it is forced on them – curiosity means they can pick up danger signs in their environment. They are less scared of people lying down.

Animals also react to rapid movement – prey animals run away, predators chase. Novel high-pitched sounds will cause cattle to baulk as they activate the part of the brain that responds to distress calls. Intermittent sounds are worst – can’t relax as waiting for next sound.

Brain is layered. The reptilian brain (the oldest part) = basic life support, the Pleomammalian brain = emotion. Neomammalian brain = reason and language. Humans have much the biggest neocortex; they generalize from one situation to another, animals far less. Dogs must be trained to same task at both class and home.

TG speculates that developmental disorders happen less in animals as their frontal lobes are less well developed. Frontal lobe functions are the first to go, whether from traumatic head injury, developmental disability, old age or even lack of sleep, perhaps because other part of the brain connects to the frontal lobes, so any brain damage can present as frontal lobe damage. TG notes that autistics have normal frontal lobes but imperfect input to the lobes.

Evolution works on the use it or lose it principle, but if not important for survival or reproduction, weak or defective genes can be passed on. Fixed action patterns (rooster courtship dance, hens receptive position) can be disrupted by single trait breeding, which can have unexpected effects on other areas.

Pure white (albino) animals and humans have more neurological problems. Dalmation dogs are closest to albinism, more likely to be deaf and ‘airheads’; collies bred for narrow heads, less brain room so less intelligent; labradors are opportunistic eaters, always hungry, and notorious chewers – maybe a side effect of breeding for calm temperament. Colour of skin more important than colour of fur. Albino rats are perhaps not best for drug research (though typical) as melanin binds to some chemicals. ‘White’ humans evolved and are not albino.

Owners tolerate worse behaviour in purebreds; in USA, purebreds are responsible for c.74% of all fatal attacks on people. Genetically dogs are juvenile wolves; they stop developing emotionally and behaviourally at the wolf puppy equivalent of 30 days.

Children’s frontal lobes are still growing and don’t mature until early adulthood; their emotions are more straightforward than adults’. Autistics have decreased connectivity in the cortical regions and between cortex and sub-cortex.

Normal people suppress bad memories in their unconscious (verbal overshadowing) but autistics recall everything (so can’t watch violent movies). Language seems to act as a filter.

Interest, curiosity, anticipation – primary emotion, the ‘seeking’ circuit. Some evidence that drugs (e.g. cocaine) stimulate this not the pleasure centre. Humans enjoy any kind of hunt (collecting, finding facts, searching for the meaning of life in church or philosophy seminar). The ‘seeking’ circuit fires when searching for food but stops when eating – this explains novelty seeking. Animals prefer new toys initially, even if in poorer condition or less interesting than old toys. Children are the same with toys, adults with clothes, cars, etc. Newness is pleasurable.

Normal people use different parts of the brain to recognize an object versus a face. Autistics use the object recognition area for both faces and objects.

Autistics tend to have extreme sense perceptions (hearing and seeing things that others do not) as well as being super-sensitive to sensations. All children need to be touched but autistic children feel over-whelmed by normal touching and have to be de-sensitized. Rock & Mack think the brain does a lot of processing before allowing something into the consciousness – explaining visual inattention and implicit cognition (subliminal perception). Locomotor play seems to help brain development (cf. effect of too much tv watching, computer game playing?).

Need to socialize dogs not just to own toddlers but also to other peoples – dogs don’t generalize. No domestic animal should be reared in isolation. Pet owners need to socialize new kittens and puppies not long after they bring them home. In the wild, animals are free to come and go, socialize with other local animals; dogs kept in gardens and only out on a leash prevents proper hierarchy establishment. Dog owners must establish themselves as the alpha animal. Make rolling on to his back (submissive position) fun –stroke chest or belly fur. Enter the house first, put hand in feeding bowl while he’s eating. Working dogs should not be bought as pets.

All animals, but especially prey animals, mask pain unless alone. Pain is a frontal lobe activity; since animals have smaller frontal lobes, it is likely they experience less pain or are less upset by the pain. Insensitivity to pain (and cold) is on the checklist of symptoms for autism.

Animals and humans learn some fears (e.g. of snakes) from others. Such learning, like any intensely emotional learning is permanent; procedural learning (riding a bicycle) also seems to be permanent but not observational learning. Animals and humans can get over a learned fear but never forget it.

Slow fear: scary stimulus to thalamus (base of brain) for analysis – identify snake – amygdala – feel afraid [24 secs]. Fast fear: stimulus straight to amygdala – feel afraid [12 secs]. Operate simultaneously: fast fear is the quick and dirty route getting you out of likely danger quickly, slow fear is the precision route.

Gifted children perform well on multi-faceted (multi-component) tasks.

Single: choose blue one from coloured squares.

Double: green dog not green cat or red dog.

Triple: big polka-dot circle.

Four: big bear and little square. Gifted children can do this at age 3, average at age 6.

Early human / wolf association; humans seem to have learned wolf behaviours (not exhibited by any other primate) such as loyal same-sex and non-kin friendships, highly territorial, hunting in groups, complex social structures. Fossil records show that whenever a species becomes domesticated, its brain gets smaller. That of the horse shrank by 16%, pigs by 34% and dogs by 10% - 30%. Humans may have been ‘domesticated’ by dogs as the human brain shrank by 10% at the point they started burying their dogs. In all domestic animals, the forebrain and the linking tissue in the corpus callosum shrank, but in humans the mid-brain (emotions and sensory data) and olfactory bulbs (smell) got smaller. It seems that humans took on the planning and organizational roles and dogs the sensory tasks in the partnership.

Animal welfare regulators tend to draw up long checklists of problems / violations. TG advocates setting high standards (works better than zero toleration) and correcting all problems.

TG identified 5 key measures for abbatoirs, etc., each with a compliance level (100%, 97%, etc.). For example, 5 acts of abuse means automatic failure on that measure. However, each key measure can be caused by a variety of things (which will all need to be rectified), but for the actual audit only 5 factors need be measured.

END

Avoiding Scams

Don't fall victim to the scammers.

• Banks, the police and other legitimate organisations never ask for your bank account details and passwords over the phone. If you are suspicious take the person's name and phone number and hang up. Put your phone down. Call your bank using the number on your statement either using another phone line or ensure you get the dialling tone first to ensure the caller is not still connected (fraudsters stay on the line in the hope of intercepting your call).
• HM Revenue & Customs never uses email to tell customers about tax rebates or ask for personal and bank account details. If you get an email, delete it immediately.
• Some emails initially look like they come from genuine companies, but ask you for personal details by clicking on links and attachments. The wording may flag warning signs - beware spelling mistakes or an unlikely overseas address; delete it.
• The new rules that allow over-55s to cash in pension funds have generated new scams offereing pension reviews and fake investment opportunities. Anyone offering financial advice should be on the Financial Conduct Authority Register (fca.org.uk). Advice on spotting scams is available at pensionwise.gov.uk and the PensionWise service offers a free face-to-face or phone guidance session with Citizens Advice or the Pension Advisory service.
• Cold callers pretending to be experts from Microsoft tell you your computer is infected and try to persaude you to download expensive software - which is really malicious software (malware) which they use to access your computer. Hang up immediately. If you have already downloaded the software, report it immediately to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) and tell your bank to be on the alert too.
• Be careful searching for online sites to renew your passport, driving licence or European Health Insurance Card. Sites may look genuine but charge fees for services that are free. Use the Government website (gov.uk) to renew passports, licences or EHICs. When paying online, check the web address starts with https, as this encrypts the transaction to protect your details.

Caught Out?

• Report scams to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040) or the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline (0345 404 0506.
• Use antivirus software and keep it updated. Go to Microsoft, AVG and Avira for good free versions. Some banks offer free software for online customers.
• Set up a spare email account you can use just for deals and discount emails. 

Feature in Good Housekeeping September 2015

The British Population (1992)

The British population by David Coleman and John Salt (Oxford University Press, 1992)

A useful historical review of the British population and how it has changed over time, though does not take account of issues after 1992, when the book was published.

Demography of UK a paradigm of restraint even within the unique setting of N.W Europe. West European marriage typically late and variable, so fertility generally low and adaptive to economic trends. English population density and mortality lower, crises less frequent than on continent. UK relatively free from civil strife and invasion for 900 yrs. Unusual ethnic and religious homogeneity till recently with consequent freedom from ideologically or racially fuelled civil wars. Possible connection with avoidance of more absolute forms of autocracy and grosser forms of inequality, early rise of constitutional government, security of property, protection from Counter-reformation, spread of Roman law.

Marriage only took place when the new household it created could be supported. The ‘diverging devolution’ form of inheritance in the West permits property inheritance to offspring of either sex (instead of via descent groups or lineages) and implies absence of dowry (thus indicating that marriage neither supported or controlled by parents) and therefore delayed marriage. Anglo Saxon tradition of individual ownership and property rights, concentration of land inheritance to firstborn son reinforced the pattern, as did boarding out youth of both sexes as servants.

Black death 1348. Dominant factor in W. European mortality for 300 yrs. May have helped European populations escape Malthusian trap (pop. increases up to level of subsistence, growth then chokes on the restricted food supply and the low wages it creates). By Tudor times, the UK demography features of free market in land, labour and food, plus freedom from feudal pressures to marry/remarry (more free than in Europe) prevented development of classical peasant economy, encouraged geographical mobility and later marriage.

1500-1700 Households typically 4.7 persons (1992 was 2.6 persons), seldom contained family members outside the nuclear family. Neither 3 generation or closely related people plus spouses households were common. Elderly often lived alone, this by choice in 17th C. Mortality meant that c.40% of households could have been 3 generation but only 20% were. Households were augmented by lodgers and c.30% included servants (resident household and farmworkers), mostly unmarried males and females aged 15-30; c.75%M and c.50%F spent time in service, at any one time one third of 15-25 yr olds were in service. Rare situation outside N.W. Europe. Encouraged geographical mobility. Also from 1630 there was overseas migration.

W. European marriage pattern late (M 26-27, F23-24), high proportion lifelong celibate (M 10-15%, more F). Late marriage depresses final family size (c.5-6 children per woman). Protracted breast feeding, longer birth spacings. English fertility uniformly low, little regional variation unlike some continental countries.

1700-1900 Fast population growth, earlier marriage, larger families. Family limitation within marriage from 1850’s. Fall in mortality - public sanitation, fewer cases of  cholera, typhoid, TB (affects F more than M), smallpox, safer childbirth. Agriculture coped by increased output up to 1800, later by imports subsidised by manufacturing. At the end of the 19th C, infant mortality accounted for 20% of all deaths; reduced by pastuerisation of milk, clean drinking water, better education for women. Children faced diphtheria (now controlled by immunisation), scarlet fever (virulence has declined steeply, reason unknown), measles (a ‘crowd’ disease, fast moving, short lived, needing a large pop. to remain endemic, sensitive to nutritional state of victim), whooping cough (as a bacterial disease now curable, but more difficult to vaccinate against as it strikes those under 1 yr old - over 80% of each cohort would need to be vaccinated to eliminate it). Typhoid and cholera (both transmitted by food an water contaminated by faeces of infected person) eliminated in 19th C by segregation of sewage from drinking water.

Until after WWI, 95% of households rented accommodation. By the end of 19th C., almost all houses had a WC or privy, even if outside; most from medium size up had internal bathroom (ahead of other Europeans). 

By late 18th C, lagged response to better wages and farming output, earlier marriage (22F, 23M) and only 5% did not marry; fertility all-time high c.1800. By 1840 marriage age higher, fertility lower again. From 1870 average family size fell from 5 to 6 down to 2 within 60 yrs, an unprecedented transition, unrelated to marriage levels; limitation of family size only happens if (a) morally acceptable, (b) practicable and (c) in family interest.

1930 to present. In 1981, UK one of world’s most densely populated countries, 242 persons per sq km, wide variation since 75% of population if urban. Total fertility rate in England and Wales: 2.14 (1951), 2.94 (1964), 2.38 (1971), 1.77 (1977), c.1.8 since then. Rates in Europe in 1989: UK 1.8, Italy and West Germany 1.3 (the lowest in world history). US data suggests human sperm count per ejaculation about half of value 25 yrs ago (possible link with chemicals which mimic effects of oestrogens from plastics industry and pesticides has been suggested). Relative frequency of non-identical twins approximately halved in UK and Western countries; sex ratio at birth fell from 106.3M (1971-75) to 104.8 (1988); both believed partly dependent on female sex hormone levels. Approx. 15-20% of married couples childless after 20 yrs. Historical data suggests that 3% of couples sterile from start of reproductive life, risk of sterility rises up to age 35, then rises more steeply (6% at 25, 24% at 40). Median age of menopause 51 in Western society today.

Abortion affects illegitimate birth rate rather than overall fertility. Termination of extra-marital conceptions 40% (1976), 36% (1986). Abortions uncommon within marriage (7% in 1986) but varies with age (4% for 20-24 yrs, 43% for 40 yrs) as higher risk of congenital abnormalities increases with age. Ratio of abortions to live births is 500:1000 in UK and other industrial countries but 1500:1000 in Japan, Denmark and Sweden. Actual no. of conceptions in Sweden is much lower than in UK, possibly due to comprehensive sex education. Parents of teenage mothers were usually themselves married young, had only primary education, manual occupations and came from large families. Over 50% of teenage marriages end in divorce by 25 yrs after marriage. In USA, sex education is forbidden in many schools, highest teenage birthrate in western world despite relatively high abortion ratio.

Most preferred family size is 2. People who feel in control of their lives plan fertility more effectively. Life control associated with higher education and income, occupational position and success. A wider use of existing contraceptive methods by non-users and a change from IUD use (has high failure rate) to more effective methods would bring abortion rate down 46%. By 1992 some 70% of births still occurred within marriage, but more than 25% outside marriage, though often within an informal union. Married women who work have fewer children than women who do not, delay birth of 1st and 2nd child, compress childbearing into their late 20’s and the second five yrs of marriage and avoid 3rd and subsequent births. Age at maternity is delayed by career/work and remarriage. While 2 child family average this century, not all families are 2 child. Of the 1946 female birth cohort at age 36, 52% had 2 children, 16% had 1 and 32% had 3 plus. Tendency for 4 plus families to have more unintended children. Large families in social class V determined partly by ignorance and fear of sex and contraception and some disapproval of contraception.

In 1989, 66% of households were owner/occupiers, 24% rented from local authority, 6% rented privately, 2% from a housing association. Owner/occupiers tend to delay childbearing due to heavy housing costs early on; intending council tenants may marry and start a family early thus increasing chances of house allocation via points system.

Cohabitation pre-marriage increasing: 50% before first marriage, 58% before all marriages. Cohabiting couples predominantly childfree. Couples who divorce and remarry in their late 20’s often want a second family, so woman may have a 3rd or 4th child. Marriage breakdowns may be more likely where 4 plus children. 18th C marriages almost as frequently broken by death; remarriage, a series of families and complex step relationships common. Highest risk of divorce in first 5-10 yrs of marriage. Various legislations easing divorce produced bulges as they cleared long dead marriages not previously dissoluble. Underlying trend shows signs of flattening (as in USA and elsewhere) - poss. due to decline since early 1970’s of divorce-prone early marriages. Remarriages are twice as vulnerable to divorce as first marriage.

Ratio of workers to pensioners in 1920’s was about 8 : 1, now about 3.3 : 1. Increasing numbers over 75; those over 75, and espec. over 85, more likely to need sheltered or full institutional care. Increasing % of lone parent households, many on welfare benefit.

AIDS chiefly centred in Central Africa, but now occurs world wide, prob. originated by mutation from monkey virus. Of those who test positive for HIV, at least 20% (and poss. most) will contract AIDS or AIDS related complex; of these, most will die. Life expectancy in infected and infectious state is 7-10 yrs, but typically only 1 yr after diagnosis. Some Ugandan hospital admissions for other causes have 15% HIV positive; estimated 2.5 million African adults infected by 1987. AIDS is a problem as it is chronic, diagnosed late, and spread by two popular but private activities.

If smoking and so its related lung cancer and heart disease deaths reduced and medical advances prevent or defer death from other causes, a final average age of 85 and ultimate age of 115 have been suggested. Poorer countries with a more egalitarian income distribution, educated populations and broad if simple medical coverage, tend to have better mortality figures than expected from their low average income (China, Ceylon, some southern Indian states, Cuba).

Ethnic minorities. In general, before 20th C, immigrants to UK did not establish substantial minority populations which preserved their own language, religion or way of life. This has changed since 1940. Difficulty of estimating numbers - birthplace may or may not indicate ethnic origins; birthplace of parents may identify immigrants or ethnic populations now, but not in succeeding generations. Immigrant populations are strongly concentrated geographically - caused by job and accommodation availability and initial settlements are close to port of entry. Only one wife is allowed into UK from a polygamous marriage.

Immigrant populations: men often outnumber women as they often settle first and wives and families follow, have higher fertility initially. Asian average fertility declining to just below 3. The rate is still 5+ for mainly Muslim Pakistanis and Bangladeshis (marriage at a young age and almost universal). Asian households less often nuclear. RC fertility differentials are disappearing, Italian fertility the lowest in Europe; in England RC fertility is around average for country, in N.Ireland is higher. Immigrant populations from third world often have marked sex preferences for boys, keeping family size up until required number of boys born. [The authors note that Asian women tend to be illiterate; Muslim women reticent about sex and ignorant about contraception; few married Asian women go out to work.] Only c. 1% of all current marriages are ethnically mixed but c.10% of current marriages with at least one ethnic partner are ethnically mixed. South Asians less likely to marry outside the ethnic group. ‘Mixed-origin’ children can be from a variety of pairings; within each pairing the offspring can vary in physical characteristics.

END

To Peel a Kiwi Fruit

The flesh of a kiwi fruit can be very soft, making it difficult to peel.

Try slicing both ends off the kiwi, then push a teaspoon just under the skin (so the back of the teaspoon is against the inside of the skin), right through to the other end. Sweep the spoon around the fruit, push out the flesh and you've peeled the kiwi fruit.

In Good Housekeeping, October 2015