Low Down

                             Worldwide these are easily the most common road fatalities, probably accounting for more than 50 per cent of the third of a million road deaths each year. In the densely populated areas of the globe where vehicles are greatly outnumbered by people, such as Southern Asia, parts of Africa, and the Middle East and Central America, pedestrian casualties form a significant part of the total mortality. Most pedestrians are struck by motor cars or trucks, and the type of vehicle makes a difference to the dynamics of the impact, which - unlike injuries to vehicle occupants - is an  acceleration  not a  deceleration  process. Primary injuries are caused by the first impact of the vehicle on the victim, while secondary injuries are caused by subsequent contact with the ground. Some writers also use the term 'tertiary inj...

Medium of instruction has been contended historically in the Inner Circle. Early in the 20th century, the primary methodology used was grammar translation where grammatical structures were explained in the home language and translation from one language to the other was the goal of instruction. With the development of the audiolingual method, teachers were required to use English only, with learners practicing English through imitation and drilling. The rationale for using only English was that the more learners heard and used English, the faster they would acquire it, and that listening and speaking preceded reading and writing. This sometimes led to quite farcical applications as teachers tried to explain abstract concepts to beginning learners. When communicative approaches became popular, again the target language was required as the MOI.       A number of di ff erent models have been used to teach bilingually, but in most cases, the goal has been to ensure learners ca...

  The technique of criminal profiling has proliferated over recent decades, despite a remarkable lack of empirically rigorous evidence concerning its accuracy. Notwithstanding the absence of evidence, the very circumstance of the continued use of profiles by police investigators is often regarded as proof of their accuracy. This phenomenon is essentially informed by an “operational utilitarian argument.” Namely, anecdotal evaluations of criminal profiles sponsor their continued use. A series of empirical studies that systematically test the reliability of such anecdotal evaluations concerning the perceived accuracy of criminal profiles. The results of these studies demonstrate the unreliability of anecdotal evaluations and highlight the weakness of such an argument. On an intuitive level, fictional portrayals of criminal profiling may serve to fuel the impression of the merit and accuracy of the practice in assisting investigators. The second factor relates to the general environme...