Sent to papers jord she came and I loved her like mad. And still I do. She played with me, uly 23 2010 Title: Department of Happiness. Dear editor, I propose a new Department for our soon to be “Country Sint Maarten. It will be called “The Department of [National] Happiness”. It will report chagrin and sadness and help to alleviate any discomfort. 'Life, liberty, and the pursuit …' The notion of politicians trying to make private individuals happy is not new. It can not be argued that the aim of government should be to bring as much happiness to as many people as possible. Even if the US Declaration of Independence in 1776 points out the inalienable rights of man including "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” there is a dirty trick in these words. No commoner of ordinary wits sees through this, let me explain. You have the right to pursue happiness, to pursue it, not to have it. You must stay a disgruntled lot, always pursuing, that is your right. But getting it should make you stop slaving away for the big corporations. You will never get happiness, the voyage towards it is the goal not the arrival. You are programmed to want a bigger car, better salary, a second house and what not. However, We are not the USA and we must always remember that as our New Country Sint Maarten, in these changing times it finds immense new challenges and opportunities. Whatever work we do, whatever goals we have – and no matter how these may change in this changing world – ultimately without peace, security and happiness we have nothing. That is the essence of the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. My most important goal is the peace and happiness of our people and the security and sovereignty of the nation. Henceforth, as even more dramatic changes transform the world and our nation, as long as we continue to pursue the simple and timeless goal of being good human beings, and as long as we strive to build a nation that stands for everything that is good, we can ensure that our future generations for hundreds of years will live in happiness and peace. As Zen Captain of this nation, my duty is not only to ensure your happiness today but to create the fertile ground from which you may gain the fruits of spiritual pursuit and attain good Karma. I end with addressing our most important citizens - our youth. The future of our nation depends on the worth, capabilities and motivation of today’s youth. Therefore, I will not rest until I have given you the inspiration, knowledge and skills so that you not only fulfill your own aspirations but be of immense worth to the nation. This is my simple duty. A strong motivated young Sint Maarten guarantees a strong bright future. Here is my prayer for Sint Maarten - that the sun of peace and happiness may forever shine on our people. I also pray that while I am but Zen Captain of a small Caribbean nation, I may in my time be able to write here to promote the greater well-being and happiness of all people in this world – of all sentient beings. We can bring greater peace, happiness and prosperity to our country. I am confident because I know the worth and character of our people. You are the true jewel of this nation. As citizens of a slowly emerging land you treasure the qualities of a good human being – honesty, kindness, charity, integrity, unity, respect for our culture and traditions, love for our country and for God. Throughout our history our parents have upheld these values and placed the common good above the self. My deepest concern is that as the world changes we may lose these fundamental values on which rest our character as a nation and people. Be vigilant and stay focused on happiness, With warm regards, Captain Honeybranch Zen

 Hello again, dear reader...

While I woke up today I thought about my car, and what idiotic heavy piece it is, the weight of it compared to what it does for me. A light car weighs a ton, 1000 kilos, that is 2200 lbs, a medium car 1100 lbs more, that is 1500 kg and a heavy one 2000 kilos and over! [Multiply kilo by 2.2 to get pounds.] Please realize what we are doing, we are dragging more than a ton of metal with us to get our body with a weight of about average 75 kilo from A to B! Realize how ridiculous this is! That we drag 15 to 30 times our own weight around to get somewhere. The heavier the car, the more gas we burn. That produces the dreaded greenhouse gasses that heat up the atmosphere, that melt the pole caps, that raise the sea level, make the polar bears extinct, drives the Eskimos from their hunting grounds and destroys low laying islands. It also changes the climate and hurricanes these years are stronger than those in our parents and grandparents times. I have been greatly troubled to learn this and used as small a transport as possible, that is to say: a 5 gear 125cc engine on two wheels, weighing less than twice my own weight, a mere 140 kg, a smart and fast going motorbike of Asian origine that carried me (and a passenger) with ease over any steep hill around the island. Untill an inattentive [surely intoxicated] driver in a big car hit me when I was standing still, waiting for traffic to pass. Now forever invalid I had to return to drive a 4 wheels transport of 1160 kilos with a 1600cc engine, dragging more than a ton with me wherever I go. More than 12 times of what is needed to transport me. This is disgusting. And it is still a moderate car, not a big SUV or pick up truck. See on the back of many vehicles the displacement, 1.6 is 1600cc, 2 liter is 2000cc, there are cars of 2800cc and more. That is crazy and a little, no very criminal, I will vote for the politician who will restrict the weight of vehicles on the island. In order to spend less on road maintenance, and environmentally conscious, in order to sleep quiet and know that I have done what I can for my world, my planet, for my children's future. Tax vehicles by weight, and discriminate between a light and a heavy car, let carowners pay for what they do to our world, get real mister politician, wake up.

Just to let you know what [unconsciously] plays in my head: Before I woke up today I was abducted by three unknown men, who took me to the airport, gave me another name and a Swiss passport, then flew me in a small jet to an American airport, I have no idea where, and there put me on a plane to Germany where they left me alone. From the German airport I was to fly on to Switzerland. I understood from talk with the 3 goons that they were secret service and that I was an undesired entity and therefore deported, extraordinary rendered, so to say... Then I woke up and realized it was a dream.

Did it mean maybe  that I better shut up lest I get deported???

Chamba Chada