The next time you are stuck in traffic, look around you. Not at the cars, but the passengers. If you are in America, the chances are that one in 75 of them will be killed by a car—most of those by someone else’s car. Wherever you may be, the folk cocooned in a giant SUV or pickup truck are likelier to survive a collision with another vehicle. But the weight of their machines has a cost, because it makes the roads more dangerous for everyone else. The Economist has found that, for every life the heaviest 1% of SUVs or trucks saves in America, more than a dozen lives are lost in smaller vehicles. This makes traffic jams an ethics class on wheels.

Each year cars kill roughly 40,000 people in America—and not just because it is a big place where people love to drive. The country’s roads are nearly twice as dangerous per mile driven as those in the rest of the rich world. Deaths there involving cars have increased over the past decade, despite the introduction of technology meant to make driving safer.

Weight is to blame. Using data for 7.5m crashes in 14 American states in 2013-23, we found that for every 10,000 crashes the heaviest vehicles kill 37 people in the other car, compared with 5.7 for cars of a median weight and just 2.6 for the lightest. The situation is getting worse. In 2023, 31% of new cars in America weighed over 5,000lb (2.27 tonnes), compared with 22% in 2018. The number of pedestrians killed by cars has almost doubled since 2010. Although a typical car is 25% lighter in Europe and 40% lighter in Japan, electrification will add weight there too, exacerbating the gap between the heaviest vehicles and the lightest. The Ford F-150 Lightning weighs around 40% more than its petrol-engine cousin, because of the battery that moves all those lithium ions from cathode to anode.

Read it all.

The Economist just published a deeply-researched story about car bloat, and it's very, very damning:

"For every life that the heaviest 1% of SUVs and trucks save, there are more than a dozen lives lost in other vehicles."

Well worth your time: https://t.co/eHalcNkiBX pic.twitter.com/1RBfAooX6V

— David Zipper (@DavidZipper) September 1, 2024

O Eternal Lord God, without whose aid we cannot do the things that we would: Look mercifully upon the waywardness of our hearts, and strengthen us against evil; that as citizens of thy holy kingdom we may walk henceforth in the power of the Spirit, and bring forth fruit to thy glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Morning everyone hope you are well. Wandering around the Coniston Fells away from the main paths it's fantastic how many becks and cascades that are dotted around. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/4HbTS6MNjL

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) September 5, 2024

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.

–Psalm 37:3-5

English garden pic.twitter.com/lmGopAhsva

— Veritatis Cupitor (@English1Maiden) September 5, 2024

O Our God, we believe in thee, we hope in thee, and we love thee, because thou hast created us, redeemed us, and dost sanctify us. Increase our faith, strengthen our hope, and deepen our love, that giving up ourselves wholly to thy will, we may serve thee faithfully all the rest of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

—The Narrow Way, Being a Complete Manual of Devotion with a Guide to Confirmation and Holy Communion (London: J. Whitaker and Sons, 1893)

Morning everyone hope you are well. Morning mist clearing over Brothers Water. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/REaR3Uzpb0

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) September 4, 2024

Now when day came, there was no small stir among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him and could not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesare’a, and remained there. Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and they came to him in a body, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and made an oration to them. And the people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory; and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.

–Acts 12:18-25

Avalon gate. The gate at the bottom of Glastonbury Tor at sunrise. pic.twitter.com/VfPjfltYmE

— Michelle Cowbourne (@Glastomichelle) September 4, 2024

“I was thinking how can this be? How can somebody who’s clearly lived a long time and worked so hard be out here in this heat pushing carts,” Swensen said.

According to the heat index for that day, it felt like 111 degrees. Swensen was already heading home to put her groceries away but couldn’t shake the feeling of seeing McCormick outside, pushing the shopping carts, so she returned.

Swensen approached McCormick and learned he worked at the store to make ends meet. He has been pushing shopping carts outside for 23 years. Living off $1,100 in Social Security each month, McCormick’s bills totaled $2,500. He worked at Winn Dixie to fill the gap.

Read it all or you can enjoy the video.

The British biologist J. B. S. Haldane once quipped that “there is no great invention, from fire to flying, which has not been hailed as an insult to some god”. The concept of “playing God” is a well-known cultural trope. For most people the phrase implies Promethean hubris, an arrogant overextension of human capabilities and ambitions beyond what is appropriate, potentially leading to unforeseen and uncontrollable consequences. But who decides what humanity’s “proper” limits might be? Might the quest for a deeper understanding of our world be an act of service, aimed at safeguarding our world on the one hand and promoting human flourishing on the other?

Playing God: Science, religion and the future of humanity by Nick Spencer and Hannah Waite offers an engaging and helpful overview of the contemporary debates on these themes. Both writers are associated with the London-based Theos think tank, which hosts public debates, discussions and lectures about religion and society. Although the theme of “playing God” is emphasized in the work’s main title, its focus is better seen as an exploration of the interaction of science and religion in discussing a series of questions raised, but not answered, by technological advance.

Read it all.

'The question shifts from whether we should play at being God to how we should do this.'

Alister McGrath (@alisteremcgrath) on what theology might teach us about technological hubris
https://t.co/KsRh8JBYti

— The TLS (@TheTLS) August 23, 2024

Annapolis historian Janice Hayes-Williams remembers visiting this graveyard with her uncle, George Phelps Jr., in 2001. As they wandered through it that day, he keptmuttering to himself. “Jesus. … Jesus. … Jesus.”

“It was overwhelming to my uncle and me,” Hayes-Williams, 67, recalled on a hot July morning as she walked past the numbered markers. “The word that came to mind was ‘disposable.’”

“We both kept saying, ‘A cemetery of patients and no names? No names?’ It was more than unbelievable,” she said. “This is not how you treat human beings.”

Read it all.

Their graves were marked only by numbers. She fought to find their names. https://t.co/vFukMCQVze

— Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) August 31, 2024

‘The best stories begin with a wound’–TLS January 2022.

Do not let its simplicity beguile you into missing its significance–KSH/.

🍃Guten Morgen ☀️ pic.twitter.com/LM2vy7TZF7

— 💫Stein_harmonie🍀🧚‍♀️ (@SteinHarmonie) September 3, 2024

We are back to normal posting mode after taking a break during the later summer for vacation and special projects–KSH.

Sunshine and lower humidity this morning at Surfside Pier. Feels good! 📸 Lisa Rieither #scwx #ncwx pic.twitter.com/VKSqqMTT23

— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) September 3, 2024

Eternal God, who didst raise up thine servant Phoebe as a deacon in thy church and benefactor of the Gospel, such that she took the message of thine Apostle Paul into the very heart of a hostile empire; grant unto us thy same grace, that aided by her prayers and example, we too may take the Gospel unto the ends of the earth, Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

September 3: Commemoration of Saint Phoebe, DIACONESS, "servant of the Lord among the faithful of Cencreas (Corinth), who attended to Saint Paul and many others, as the apostle himself writes in the letter to the Romans [16, 1-2]" (Roman Martyrology). pic.twitter.com/KD2obYvLQo

— Leo the Great (@LeotheGreat19) September 3, 2024

Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Ander weer op komst. Fijne dinsdag😀 #natuur #landschap #zomer #Rhenen #ElstUt #Elsterbuitenwaard #Nederrijn #zonsondergang #mooieluchten pic.twitter.com/JQyt0VFDub

— Tjark Dieterman (@DietermanTjark) September 3, 2024

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your mantle around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and told that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are mad.” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell this to James and to the brethren.” Then he departed and went to another place.

–Acts 12:1-17

Un, deux, trois, soleil, Sion ☀️☀️☀️🇨🇭#valais #suisse #Switzerland pic.twitter.com/Ultbm9oxtd

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) September 3, 2024

On this three day weekend, when we rest from our usual labors, loving Father, we pray for all who shoulder the tasks of human laboring the marketplace, in factories and offices, in the professions, and in family living.

We thank you, Lord, for the gift and opportunity of work; may our efforts always be pure of heart, for the good of others and the glory of your name.

We lift up to you all who long for just employment and those who work to defend the rights and needs of workers everywhere.

May those of us who are now retired always remember that we still make a valuable contribution to our Church and our world by our prayers and deeds of charity.

May our working and our resting all give praise to you until the day we share together in eternal rest with all our departed in your Kingdom as you live and reign Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

–-The Archdiocese of Detroit

In 1894, President Cleveland signed a bill that declared #LaborDay a national holiday.https://t.co/jdF8qHxTJz pic.twitter.com/GcCrF2SJkq

— Presidential Trivia (@triviapotus) September 2, 2024

O Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Sunday morning sunrise from the Cross st Belin UMC in Murrells Inlet. 📸 Travis Huffstetler. #scwx #ncwx pic.twitter.com/IPOnZimt2J

— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) September 1, 2024

Almighty God, who in Christ Jesus hast fulfilled to the sons of men thy ancient word of promise: Grant us grace to lay hold upon that promise by a living faith, that we may receive thy gift of righteousness, and at the last may enter upon our eternal inheritance; through the merits of the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good morning Charleston, South Carolina 🫶🫶🫶 pic.twitter.com/0E40mG0mNG

— Charleston Daily (@ChuckTownDaily) August 31, 2024

O Holy Spirit the Comforter, Spirit of Jesus, come Thou upon us and dwell within us.  Not of ourselves, but of Thee is our life.  Teach us that we may know; cleanse us and purify us within; strengthen us to persevere, lest we fall away from Thee.  Come into us, Thou Who art already there, that by Thine arrival again Thou mayest enter into Thy possession anew.  And out of worldly death in which we languish create in us the life that shall make us as Thou art, through inward unity in which we are one with Thee.  Come, then, eternal Spirit, Who with the Father and the Son art one God, and abide with us for ever.     

Friday greetings #ogunquit #maine #sunrise ⁦@KatieWGME⁩ ⁦@ChristianWGME⁩ ⁦@JeffWGME⁩ @aysiawgme ⁦⁦@DanWGME⁩ ⁦@MalWGME⁩ ⁦@LaurenOHealy⁩ ⁦@EmilyWGME⁩ ⁦@RyanWGME⁩ ⁦@StormHour⁩ ⁦@WGME⁩ pic.twitter.com/rccFhpWXXB

— Realtor Rick 💙 (@rick03907) August 30, 2024

O Lord Jesus Christ, only-begotten Son of Thine eternal Father, Thou hast said that without Thee we can do nothing.  O Lord, I embrace with faith and with my whole heart and soul what Thou hast said.  Help me, a sinner, to finish the work which I now undertake for Thee; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.     

Jolie balade entre la frontière Suisse et italienne, Col du Gd-St-Bernard🇨🇭🏔️🇮🇹#valais #suisse #switzerland #italy @valaiswallis @MySwitzerland_e pic.twitter.com/EzcVhJMRcV

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) August 29, 2024

May the grace of the Lord Jesus sanctify us and keep us from all evil; may He drive far from us all hurtful things, and purify both our souls and bodies; may He bind us to Himself by the bond of love, and may His peace abound in our hearts.     

A view that you can’t ignore – this is the Wrekin seen from Cressage Bridge, with a wonderful display of clouds and blue sky reflected in the River Severn. I always check out the conditions when I drive past, and last week was no exception. #Shropshire pic.twitter.com/m3jzaJmglr

— ShropshireAndBeyond (@ShropsAndBeyond) August 28, 2024

O Blessed Lord, who by thy word and example hast shown us the meaning of neighbourliness and the way of love: Grant that we may learn to recognize as our neighbour every fellow man who needs our help, and to serve him with a love that is costly and unselfish, like thine own love for us.  We ask this for thy name’s sake.

Respirer… profiter… déguster… paysage de rêve, Lac de Tseuzier, Anzère🏔️💛💙🏔️🌺🇨🇭#valais #suisse #switzerland @valaiswallis @Anzere365 @MySwitzerland_e pic.twitter.com/mlMM37H2xp

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) August 27, 2024

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Morning everyone hope you are well. Wise Een Tarn Boathouse on Claife Heights. Amazing how many vantage points there are with the Langdales as a backdrop. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict@keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/ep8qM6xbmY

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) August 26, 2024

Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

away from it all#hiking #weekend pic.twitter.com/u7rhaAtoNe

— Portmann Carrick (@PortmannCarrick) August 25, 2024

 O God, Who movest in love unceasing, and dost give to each man his appointed work: help us steadfastly, and as in Thy sight, to fulfill the duties of our calling; that when our Lord shall take account of us, we may be found faithful in that which is least, and enter into His eternal joy.

–Frederick B. Macnutt, The prayer manual for private devotions or public use on divers occasions: Compiled from all sources ancient, medieval, and modern (A.R. Mowbray, 1951)

Morning everyone hope you are well. The heather is still in bloom. Here on my favourite, Lingmoor Fell with the Langdales as the backdrop. Have a great day. #LakeDistrict @keswickbootco pic.twitter.com/XzMEZw7ii9

— Rod Hutchinson (@lakesrhino) August 24, 2024

Lord, I have sought Thy face; Thy face, Lord, will I seek; O hide not Thou Thy face from me.  Raise me up out of myself unto Thee.  Cleanse, heal, quicken, enlighten the eye of my mind that it may look unto Thee.  Grant that my soul may collect its strength once more, and with all the power of my understanding strive after Thee, O Lord.  Surely Thou art life and wisdom, and truth, and goodness, and blessedness, and eternity, and everything that is truly good.    

A red sky kind of night over Loch Linnhe- have a wonderful Friday, friends #ScotlandisNow #StormHour #photography #photooftheday #landscape #OutAndAboutScotland #landscapephotography @VisitScotland @ScotsMagazine #friends #ThePhotoHour #stvsnaps #beautiful #Scotland#sunset pic.twitter.com/fGxd4H2lSE

— Mike Wood (@MikeMikwd) August 23, 2024

God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us:
through your Spirit remind us of your goodness,
increase your grace within us,
that our thankfulness may grow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen (edited slightly-KSH).

where the river turns#treeride pic.twitter.com/0Rw44k65c6

— Portmann Carrick (@PortmannCarrick) August 22, 2024

O Gracious God, whose blessed Son set forth thy love towards mankind, in his miracles of healing and mercy, making both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak: Grant that our ears may be opened to thy Word, and our tongues loosed to proclaim it to others, and to further the spreading of thy gospel among all nations; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good morning 🌅 pic.twitter.com/keNtQIgA89

— Sharon Welby📷 (@sharonwelby1) August 21, 2024

O Almighty God, who hast revealed thyself in him who veiled his Godhead that he might unveil thy glory, and hast made him the eternal sacrifice and only priest of men: Grant that by the power of thy Holy Spirit the veil on our hearts may be taken away, and we may look on him who loved us and gave himself for us, and so be changed into the same image from glory to glory, until at last we shall see him with unveiled face, for evermore.

I’m taking the whole day & night off today so it was a given I woke up at 4.30am & went to chase this mornings sunrise in #Aberdeen & it was a beautiful thing 🌄 ❤️ Have a terrific Tuesday everybody ✌️😍 pic.twitter.com/cZKc7acgj7

— Natalie Hood (@NatalieAHood) August 20, 2024

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Merveilleux décor d’une douce soirée, Sion 💖💚💛💙🇨🇭#valais #suisse #switzerland #lake pic.twitter.com/HnAMeY1mRm

— Délèze Dominique (@DelezeD) August 19, 2024

Keep your Church, O Lord, by your perpetual mercy; and because without you the frailty of our nature causes us to fall, keep us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable for our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Grand Rising.
Good Sunday lovely people in my phone.#WeekendMotivation #sundayvibes #summer #weather #sunrise #GoodVibesOnly #StormHour #jefinuist #outerhebrides #scotland pic.twitter.com/RArxf8w9Y4

— DaliMach (@frenchscotjeff) August 18, 2024

O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of  truth, Who art in all places, and finest all things, the treasure of blessings, and giver of life, come and abide in us.  Cleanse us from all impurity, and of Thy goodness save our souls.

–Frederick B. Macnutt, The prayer manual for private devotions or public use on divers occasions: Compiled from all sources ancient, medieval, and modern (A.R. Mowbray, 1951)  

Saturday sunrise over Charleston! pic.twitter.com/lpuyDIZUiA

— Joey Sovine Live 5 (@JoeySovine) August 17, 2024