Saturday Good Reads

Trump Mania continues and shows no sign of abating. The candidate apparently doesn’t have to do any advertising; the media, Mitt Romney, and the punditry class are giving him all the ink and air time he needs. And I’m trying to remember the last time I didn’t see “Trending: Trump” on Facebook and Twitter. R.R. Reno at First Things has some insightful words. And Rod Dreher quotes one of his readers at length on the appeal of Donald Trump.

This was a great week for poetry and a great week for photography. Take a look at the British Life Photography Award winners. Tim Good’s winter walk. And Jack Baumgartner’s flow of art. And some folds in time from Oxford American.

The "Fifth Beatle," George Martin, died this week. The Los Angeles Times has a story (and video) on Martin cruising through L.A. to meet Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, to talk about the song "God Only Knows." It's wonderful. (Hat tip: Janet Young.)

And the Acappella Company is back with another hymn. The human voice is an amazing instrument. Put some dozens of them together, and you have an amazing orchestra.

Life and Culture

What Trump Teaches Us – R.R. Reno at First Things.

Reason for Being: A Christian Vision for the Arts – James Clark at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics.

It’s called decorum, and it’s not all bad, America – David Murray at Writing Boots.

American Dignity - Rod Dreher at American Conservative.

Writing

What My Daughters Have Taught Me About Writing – Mick Silva.

Chasing our collective ghosts – Billy Coffey at What I Learned Today.

Poetry

Sheldon Vanauken – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

Five Three-Line Poems – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

There Are Those Days – Diane Walker at Contemplative Photography.

The body politic – Troy Cady at T(r)oy Marbles.

White Latrine – Brendan MacOdrum at Oran’s Well.

Losers Like Us - Natasha Head at The Tattoo Parlour.

80 Degrees and Sonny in Charleston - Marjorie Maddox at Curator Magazine.

Art and Photography

The Flow of Art in Life – Jack Baumgartner at The School of the Transfer of Energy.

A Warm Walk on a Cold Day – Tim Good at Arts by Tiwago.

Folds in Time – Stephanie Dowda at Oxford American.

British Life Photography Awards – BBC.

Faith

The only certainty in the world is Jesus Christ – Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Music

Watch George Martin cruise through L.A. to talk "God Only Knows" with Brian Wilson - Randall Roberts at the Los Angeles Times.

Christ the Rock – The Acappella Company

Painting: The Artist’s Sister, oil on canvas by Filipp Malyavin (1869-1940).