URLs starting with shii.org/b/ are external links that are not part of shii.org. /b/ is a private URL shortening service.
No, because all these links were created by me (or very close friends whom I trust).
When you shorten a link using tinyurl, snurl, or a similar service you admit the possibility that the link shortening service will go down, and your link will become useless.
This is the same argument for why you should take your blog off of LiveJournal and put it on your own domain, but it's a lot simpler to do. Just install your own URL shortening software and put it on your website.
Currently the only free software is Phurl. It's kind of hideous but it works.