Articles written by Shyla Martin

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About me - Shyla Martin

Shyla loves to read classic literature, listen to music, and continue teaching tricks to her new Australian Shepherd puppy Jules.
She works as an inspector for a government contractor, and she's currently working on her first nonfiction book.

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Arts & Humanities > Writing Jobs Effects of the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) strike: 3 of 23

I agree with the Writer's Guild and their current strike. Writers are just as important in the production of a television show as the actors and producers, if not more so. Why shouldn't they get their share of the profits? They've already proven how necessary they are. Even comedians like David Letterman are lost without the...
Arts & Humanities > Asia, Africa & Mideast History The history and significance of Chinese foot binding: 1 of 7

Many cultures have mutilated their bodies in the name of beauty. The recent obsession with tanning salons and plastic surgery in the Western World are proof. However, while butt implants and lip injections seem extreme, nothing compares to the pain and effort that accompanies foot binding. Foot binding began in china during ...
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: First dates: 13 of 48

Jackie sat at her window waiting for Jerome to arrive. She'd never met him before, but she'd heard a lot of good things about him. She was more than a little nervous. After all, first dates are hard enough without adding the pressure of it being a blind date. After about half an hour, Jerome arrived, right on time. He came t...
Politics, News & Issues > Political & Economic Theory People should not be dependent on welfare: 12 of 44

During the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Welfare was created as a way of helping those that needed help most. During that era, most people were too proud. They would not ask for help, and they would not except "charity". The advent of the New Deal's public works projects helped a little, but they in no way eradicated t...
Celebrations & Holidays > Special Occasion Gifts Ideal Valentine's Day gifts for women: 9 of 23

Valentine's Day: the day most people both love and dread at the same time. Most women spend the week before wondering what their sweet will buy for them. When the day arrives, women sit anxiously at their desks waiting for a delivery. They shoot daggers with their eyes at other women who get balloons, bouquets, candy, and st...
Arts & Humanities > European History The real Count Dracula: Prince Vlad III, the impaler: 2 of 5

When you hear the name Dracula, what do you think about? Most people would immediately think of the blood sucking vampire from the popular Bram Stoker novel. The name Dracula stirs fear in many. Visions of thirsty bats circling, searching for life's elixir, biting, infecting, and spawning more to do the same. While many can ...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: First date stories: 23 of 55

My worst first date was also a blind date. It started off weird, and it just got worse. Now my friends tell this story to their friends whenever they have bad dates. My friend Christy wanted to set me up with a guy in her English Literature class. She kept telling me how great he was, and I started to wonder why he wasn't al...
Arts & Humanities > Colonial & Early American The first Thanksgiving: Separating facts from fiction: 3 of 7

The United States of America has a way of whitewashing history. When I say whit washing, I mean that they make the whites seem clean. Many stories that we've been told on a myriad of topics, from the music we listen to, to the very people we admire, have been edited. The Thanksgiving holiday is no different. Practically ever...
Celebrations & Holidays > St. Patrick's Day History of St. Patrick's Day: 4 of 9

When people think of St. Patrick's Day, images of rowing boats in green rivers, drinking green beer, and drunken jig dancing leprechauns fill the imaginations of millions. T-Shirts, beer steins, blinking buttons, and cheap plastic necklaces all shout, "Kiss Me I'm Irish!" from store shelves. Parties are held at almost every ...
Politics, News & Issues > US Elections Should the Electoral College be abolished?: 10 of 21

The 2008 Presidential Election is just around the corner, and the race is on. Issues such as the War in Iraq, Universal Healthcare, and the price of gas have come to the forefront of election talk, but there is another issue that plays peek-a-boo during every presidential election. The debate over the abolishment of the Elec...