Below are simple links to other interesting stuff I've come across on the web in the last day or two; they may or may not concern literature or photography, or indeed the arts at all. You can click here to learn more about how I compile this list and what software I use, if you're interested.

Should we fear 'China Is Unhappy?'
Have you heard yet about this new book sweeping China? It's a nonfiction piece called "China Is Unhappy," written by a collection of right-wingers there, a nationalist manifesto that argues that the West is "encircling" the country with their constant harping and criticisms, and that impotent current leaders there are rolling over to them like the dogs they are. As the Daily Beast reports here, that's nothing new -- this is not much more than the updated version of a similar book from 15 years ago -- but now, China is rapidly becoming a world power, making the call for hardline nationalist unity not only much more attractive to many locals, not only much more possible than ever before, but also much scarier to the rest of the world. Now, please know that there's a lot of dissension in China over such a theory right now as well; but the book is also #1 this month at the Chinese version of Amazon, so take from that what you will.

Under Obama, Iraq death toll is down to nearly zero
Amazing news this month from Iraq, and yet more proof of how good it was that we elected President Obama: under his new strategy for the area, the American death toll there last month was under ten people, the lowest monthly number since we invaded the country in 2003 to begin with. Of course, the article doesn't address how many Iraqis were killed in the same period (no American or British war article ever does), and they also note that violence is way up in Afghanistan, where we are about to embark on a major new surge as well; but still, I think this is pretty solid and inarguable proof that what Obama is now doing in the Middle East is working, or at least working a hell of a lot better than anything Bush ever did. It makes me feel a little more confident in the major new operation we're about to embark upon next-door to there.

Gingrich: "Non-crazy conservatives are close to starting new political party"
For the last six months I've been predicting this: that the takeover of the Republican Party by uneducated superstitious racists (leading to their rout in the '08 elections and buffoonish floundering ever since) could eventually become so overwhelming, all the non-crazies might just leave the GOP altogether and simply start a brand-new political party for conservatives. (This has happened before, with the old liberal "Federalist" party, accused of treason after the War of 1812; they too fell apart, with some members joining the existing "Democratic Republican" party and some forming the new "Whig" party.) And now, here's GOP party star Newt Gingrich, saying EXACTLY the same thing in a recent public speech: that if the Republicans don't get their sh-t together and do it soon, they're going to find all the non-Rush-Limbaughs actually quitting and forming a brand-new conservative party in time for the 2012 elections. Ignore the warning signs at your own risk, GOP.

Rumor: GOP will be booting Steele at next meet-up
A short but interesting rumor being reported over at the pretty reliable and bipartisan Politico.com: that GOP higher-ups are right now as we speak trying to force controversial party head Michael Steele to call for a special session, ostensibly to talk about "stimulus politics" but in reality an excuse to call for a party-wide vote of 'no confidence' in Steele himself, and therefore be able to kick him out of his position and have a new election. True? I guess we'll all be finding out soon, won't we? Hmm!

Sun-Times: "As 'ER' goes, so goes NBC"
Is NBC set soon to become only the second national television network in history to go out of business? Here, an intriguing news/opinion piece from the Associated Press (reprinted in the Chicago Sun-Times) arguing just that, and that the declining fortunes and eventual end of flagship show 'ER' this week actually mirrors the fate of the entire network over the last fifteen years. When the show started, after all, it was regularly pulling in 30 million or more an episode; the series finale this week, though, had only 10 million, not only the biggest audience they've had in years but the top-rated show in the entirety of NBC's lineup that week (which still only made it #20 among all networks). NBC essentially blew it, this article opines, through a combination of factors: evermore corrupt and lazy executives, a refusal to acknowledge new competition, an irrational belief that the status-quo would last forever. An intriguing read that makes you realize that their days really are numbered.

Raimi confirms: "Meddling studio execs hijacked awful 'Spiderman 3'"
It's something most people have guessed at ever since it came out, but in a recent 'Empire' interview Sam Raimi confirmed it -- that after having almost sole control over every aspect of 'Spiderman' 1 and 2 (turning them both into massive hits), meddling studio executives came in and essentially took over 'Spiderman 3,' adding such fan-popular characters as Venom against Raimi's wishes, and otherwise mauling the script until it was a nearly unfilmable mess. See, angry fanboys? You were right! And here's why I guess Raimi now feels okay with divulging this; that as part of his deal for parts 4 and 5, he got an agreement that he would once again be in sole charge over all decisions. Well, glory be to that -- an actual smart decision being made in Hollywood. It happens so rarely that it's always jolting when it does.

NBC's Boston affiliate refuses to air prime-time Leno
So how interesting is this? The owner of the NBC affiliate in Boston (the seventh largest TV market in the US) is convinced that airing Leno at 10 pm (9 pm for us Midwesterners) is going to be a ratings killer, so asked permission to bump it an hour to almost when it aired before; NBC denied the request, so he's decided to just pull the show altogether, and replace it with a special earlier edition of the local news. Now NBC is saying that that's a breach of contract, and that they'll pull his affiliation if he does so; and he's now countered by saying that it's perfectly legal, and that he'll sue NBC back to the stone age if they try yanking his affiliate status. Yeah, not exactly the kinds of headlines I think NBC was hoping for, when they first made this announcement.