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.

Chicago's South Side has second highest unemployment rate in the nation
Yikes.

Chicago Public Library opens mini-branch in Water Tower
In an effort to raise public awareness, the Chicago Public Library has opened a new mini-branch next to the visitor information center inside the Water Tower, right in the heart of the Magnificent Mile and the tourist section of the city, one that carries popular bestsellers only. I'm going to stop by this week and take some photos.

Radicals openly calling for death of Obama; no one is stopping them
And how are they getting away with it? By indirectly referencing it like the Bushist weasels they are, instead publishing bumper stickers and t-shirts that say "Pray for Obama" and include the Bible reference "Pslam 109:8." You know what that says? "Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow." Yeah, an open call for the assassination of the President of the United States, and no one's doing a thing about it. What magical times we live in.

Europe on Europe's pick of new EU president: WTF?
A nice article from Foreign Policy on the surprising recent pick of a virtual unknown to become the very first "President of the EU," a sorta undefined role that could eventually stay mostly a figurehead position or turn into a powerful job like the American president. Judging from this first pick, says this article, it'll be a figurehead position for at least a little while; the whole reason this Belgian was picked, they say, is because he has a reputation for not causing waves.

Regarding the complicated, politics-filled Hajj
Interesting article examining this year's edition of Islam's holiest activity, the Hajj (or yearly pilgrimage to the most important place in Muslim history, required of all Muslims at least once in their lives), and how anymore the Islamic-exclusive city Mecca that hosts it becomes a giant "smoky backroom" for all kinds of things regarding Middle Eastern politics to get hammered out.

Oprah's retirement couldn't have been better timed
Oprah leaving right as daytime TV is set to fatally tank
Two interesting articles that have come out since the announcement this weekend of Oprah's retirement, both arguing the same thing -- that daytime television is rapidly tanking in overall viewership, between all the people now working during the day and watching their TiVo'ed shows from the night before, and that Oprah is damn smart to get out of the entire industry right this moment before it all comes crashing down.

Trolling Paris' murky, artifact-filled underground by foot
Fascinating article from GlobalPost.com, in which a young reporter is taken along through an illegal nighttime tour of Paris' historic, artifact-filled underground system of tunnels, tombs and more. Includes lots of photos.