“Committees of Correspondence” - I hope I don’t get in trouble with the NSA for using that term...
Let them read my electronic email and listen to my calls this is not my America anymore. this is obumblers aMeriKa.
All snailmail letters are tracked. remember the little long sticker on the front of the envelope?
Write a letter? By hand? Can I print it or do I have to use my cracker letters?
Please read, and if you are so disposed, sign and pass it on.
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[...]
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You can read all about it here, and in a million other places. The software is free. Note that the linked document is a manual that explains all functions of the software. There are manuals for beginners too, they only deal with what most users need.
Messages of this sort can be posted on publicly accessible message boards that do not track addresses, or that are based in free countries. Then, for all practical purposes, nobody can tell who posted what, and who read it, and who was able to decode the message.
First, as one who has taken a few years of Russian language classes, be prepared to “unlearn what you have learned”, in regard to the Cyrillic alphabet. But, have fun, just the same.
(I took the classes as what were once called ‘electives’ in high school, in 1968, because I ‘knew’ that we would one day be doing business with them on the large scale.)
Now, as for actual handwriting, first the tools.
— A nice, simple not expensive fountain pen, with a ‘medium’ nib, filled by replaceable cartridges, filled with non-permanent ink. (If you decide, later, there is a lot more inks of note, and the filling mechnics to explore, should you get to the decision to continue with a fountain pen, or not.)
— Second, a published book on handwriting, in either the Palmerian or Spencerian style of writing, or a website, since we are so married to these machines:
http://www.iampeth.com/books/palmer_budget/palmers_budget_page17.html
The Palmerian style was also called American Business Writing, at one time.
I started with one of those fountain pens that used to hang on the pins in the supermarkets, years before the Millenium. I now own a nice elder Parker 45, and a Parker Jotter fountain pen. I still use the cartridges, even with ink reservoir inserts being available, should I wish to use different inks.
I wish you well.