Jocelynn L. Taylor
Bio
I love writing and was finally convinced to put some of my work out there!
Follow me @chachi_taylor on Instagram! I would always love to hear any reviews, constructive criticism, or to just talk about writing and books!
Stories (23/0)
Bonneville Salt Flats
There are many places that people hear about and immediately think that it will be fun. Museums, foreign countries and cities, unimaginable landscapes, and exciting amusement parks are all exciting places to visit. People don’t think ‘exciting’ when they hear the words ‘salt flats’. It sounds boring. There is nothing there. What could you possibly do on salt flats? The answer: walk. You drive and drive so you can get to walk on some salt. Despite the unappealing description, it is very much worth it.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Wander
Audio v. Physical Books
A haggard mother, balancing a baby on her hip while trying to get any amount of housework done, stares at the long neglected bookshelf and instead puts headphones on to listen to her favorite author's new release. An elementary school kid comes home and, grumbling, has to read 20 minutes from their parents' choice of chapter book. A college student is listening to the textbook as they take a jog. They didn’t have time to sit down and read through the latest chapter at their study desk. Tired and needing to relax, a worker can come home and grab their choice of news articles or magazines to sift through. A teacher tiredly reads through and grades her 23rd paper on comparisons. All of these people have one thing in common. Literature.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Education
St. Valentines' Day Massacre
There are some great unsolved mysteries in America. The Boston Heist Paintings. The Zodiac Killer. What happened to the escapees at Alcatraz. Anything to do with Area 51. Today though, I will be talking about something else. It is a mystery that captures everyone’s attention. A mystery that has already been solved, but never proven. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. On Valentine’s Day in 1929, seven gang members were shot in a Chicago warehouse, hit by a rival gang run by the infamous Al Capone. Unable to prove Capone's connection legally, we may only speculate what, today, would have been a straightforward case. Today, I will be telling you a brief history of Chicago’s gangsters, the massacre itself, and the resulting effect the shooting had on the criminal justice system at the time.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Criminal
The Founding Fathers
"To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions." Benjamin Franklin said this in an effort to explain to people that they must take action as well as they assume things. One of the things that people assume is that the founding fathers would be disappointed in the America of today. On the surface, this seems true. Pick up any news report and you will find horror stories about what is happening in America. Political tensions are at an all time high. Poverty seems to be an endless struggle. The good that should be so prevalent in the world, the good that the founders fought for, seems to have vanished.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Serve
The Reality of Ranch Animals
Food is important. Everyone needs to eat in order to survive. Thankfully, there is no need for people to go and slaughter their own meat anymore, as there are markets and grocery stores that provide food nicely packaged and easy to prepare. Unfortunately, this level of comfort comes with a degree of ignorance. Over the past few years, it has become increasingly obvious that people, Americans specifically, do not know how their food is made. This applies to many things, including meat. Ranchers are a big part of the food industry, raising animals such as cows and chickens to later be killed by businesses to provide the packaged meat we find in grocery stores. However, raising an animal is a commitment that takes money and time, two things that really hinder the money-making process. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see the animals be neglected and mistreated to the point of deliberate abuse. Meat production is directly influenced by how the animals are treated. Healthy ranch animals are important to the food industry because it decreases chances of disease outbreaks and strengthens the economy, as well as creates a good image for the food production and overall industry.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Feast
Shelters and Rescues
Watching Sarah McLachlan singing ¨Silent Night¨ with abused, malnourished dogs and cats cowering in the corner of a dirty cage is a commercial that most people recognize. The ASPCA put out these commercials to promote adoption from an animal shelter. Animal shelters are places for animals to go when they don't have a home. They might have been strays, their owners could not keep them, or any number of other reasons. Shelters, breeders, and pet stores are all places where animals are adopted or sold to people. Animal shelters have some glaring disadvantages compared to the other two options. Most people avoid shelters because they think that any animal they get from there would be ‘faulty’ or aggressive. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. By leaving animals in the shelter and letting them become overcrowded and underfunded, disease and stress spread. Good, adoptable animals have to be put down due to stress-induced aggression, illness, and a lack of space.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Petlife
Beware the Fall
A Spanish proverb states, ¨Pride comes before [the] fall.¨ So many people, revered or hated, have been influenced by hubris or ego. Sometimes, pride can lead to great people taking up the mantel, Other times, this can have disastrous consequences. As it is so common among people as a whole, pride has a large part in how society is shaped through the generations. It molds the individual, whether by personal traits or another's actions, and builds up vastly different societies on very similar foundations. This is very evident in plays, books, and articles, such as “The Importance of Being Earnest” and Persuasion. Pridefulness is a main factor in the social norms and behavior of people.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Education
Second Chances
It was not raining. I thought it should be. When you see these scenes in movies, the main character always rushed up to the door with his hair dripping in his face, gleaming wet and somehow still perfectly done. Rain sets a mood. It shows the worry that is building in someones gut. It shows the anxiety pouring down on them, soaking them to the bone. It shows resolution. A sad shot of someone walking away, defeated so thoroughly that the world turned against them. A streak of sunlight breaking through the desolate clouds, lighting up the road for a future with no more rain. A future that people rarely get.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Fiction
How to (Potty) Train Your Doggy
Training a puppy is very hard work but it is worth it in the end. Training your puppy will save you a lot of heartache, and probably a headache, in the future. In order to make sure that your puppy is a good, potty-trained, polite member of society, there are a few steps that you need to take. Hopefully, this guide will help you navigate all the different parts that are involved in potty-training the new member of your family.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Petlife
The Doctor and Danny
My cousin and I have conversations of the utmost importance. More often than not, these conversations revolve around books, movies, and TV shows. One particular discussion of ours was centered on Doctor Who. Working under the assumption that you, dear reader, are aware of the show given you clicked on this article, it should suffice to say that you understand the subject of regeneration in the context of Doctor Who. My cousin sent me a text one day saying that the Eighth reincarnation (or regeneration) of the Doctor would not be compatible with meeting another character, Danny Pink.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in Geeks
From Cloth to Revolution
The Ming treasure voyages consisted of 317 ships. Columbus had a fleet of 17. One changed the way the world went about trading and another opened the door to unknown people, riches, and property. These feats were made possible by the invention of the sail. Archaeologists and scientists alike have been unable to identify where the first sail originated. However, it led the way for exploration and a new beginning. The function of a sail allows the sail ships’ captain to sail into, perpendicular to, or away from the wind. This maximizes the potential places a ship can reach and the effectiveness in travel. Evolved from a simple square shape to a triangle for effectiveness, the sail has single-handedly revolutionized the way that human beings explore the world around them. Understanding basic laws of nature, exploration, and technological advancements are all contributions that the invention of the sail has to society and humans in general.
By Jocelynn L. Taylor3 years ago in FYI