So, on April 20th 2021, the jury in the case of the State of Minnesota vs. Derek Michael Chauvin (Court File No.: 27-CR-20-12646) found the defendant guilty on counts of unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony (count I), third-degree murder, perpetrating an eminently dangerous act (count II), and second-degree manslaughter, culpable negligence creating an …
In the United States, June 14—or Flag Day—commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Well, I'm not in the US, but I am very proud to hold my own Virtual Flag Day... If you have ever waved one of these, Take …
Over the last week or so, I have read a number of fountain pen blog entries which begin with something akin to, "I usually try and stay in my lane..." or "I try to stay apolitical...". Well, here at Writing for Pain and Pleasure, I've never really had a lane as such, and I've never …
Continue reading It’s Not About Politics, And Yet It Is, And Must Be.
I must preface this by stating that everything I write here is purely my own opinion and personal feelings about this topic. I am a guest writer on this blog, and my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions or feelings of anyone else. The murder of George Floyd has seared my soul. I will …
I received the following comment a few days ago (with some follow-up in a similar vein), from someone who read at least one post of mine, and replied via the encrypted e-mail service "protonmail.com". EMail Address: ausoz@protonmail.com IP Address: 37.120.215.243; 45.152.182.131 Although, of course, these are probably not their real IP addresses, and I'm not …
I don't write much poetry—and after you read my efforts below, no doubt you'll feel that's probably the right choice, and that's the way it should stay. However, following the recent arrests of a couple of very good friends of mine, protesting the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York a couple …
*** ADVERTISING FEATURE THAT ISN'T REALLY*** Another Russian Give Away!! After yet another marketing drive for yet another red, white, and blue fountain pen called The Benjamin Franklin Christopher Robin All-American Freedom! Or some such other load of old crap that just doesn't exist under the current fascist regime, we have an alternative pen that …
Continue reading The All-American Death of Democracy Fountain Pen!
At the foot of the Statue of Liberty, a few lines from Emma Lazarus' 1883 poem The New Colossus are inscribed on a brass plaque... Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my …
Continue reading The USA: Injustice and a Failure of Humanity on the 4th July
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