"Mine -- Taken by Katrina"

The fate of the animals left behind when Katrina hit New Orleans a few years ago is an often untold story. People who were forced to evacuate often were also forced to leave behind their furry friends. Because of the devastation many evacuees did not return, not for their belongings but also not for their pets. Animal rescue teams from around the country swooped in to save them.

Years after Katrina some of the evacuees have their lives back in order and have gone looking for their pets, which have since been adopted by new families. The stories of some of these battles for the ownership of dogs is told in a new movie: Mine -- Taken by Katrina. I got a sneak preview of this movie last week, courtesy of my friend Erin who is one of the makers.

I'm not much of a pet person, but it is a touching story nonetheless. One thing I can't help but wonder is why people would not be happy adopting a new pet from an asylum instead of fighting for a dog that they abandoned and haven't searched for in a year. There are plenty of pets in need of loving homes.

The movie isn't finished yet and the makers would love your support so they can complete their work.

Adventure Spa

I just spent a couple of days at Luna Runtun, a wonderful retreat perched high above the town of Banos, Ecuador. Luna Runtun describes itself as an "Adventure Spa," which means they organize activities such as horse back riding, mountain biking, hikes and trekkings, but also have a nice spa with treatments.

The adventure for me was a hike down into the town of Banos on the small "senderos" (trails) that lead from the hotel past a couple of crosses into the town. We hiked back up past the statue of a "Virgen."

Luna Runtun is a very nice place and it has high standards for Ecuador, with nice staff and very comfortable and clean rooms, plus hot springs with an amazing view. It is very high end, and the prices are similar to what you would pay in a Western country for a four star place.

My recommendations to make the experience even better: add binoculars to the guest rooms (which all have amazing views over the valley or to an active volcano) and make sure that bugs don't get into the food served in the restaurant.

Disgruntled Employee

Looking out of my office window late Friday afternoon I saw three helicopters hovering over a Santa Clara neighborhood just across Highway 101. I also noticed three Highway Patrol cars pulling over an SUV on the freeway and flashing lights throughout the office park area across the freeway from where I was sitting.

There have been helicopters before and I have seen many traffic stops and accidents, but this time something serious was going on. The helicopters hovered for more than an hour and made low sweeps over the neighborhood. Initially I didn't think much of it, but then I pulled up the Web site for KCBS, the local AM radio news station.

"3 Shot Dead in Santa Clara" read the headline on the KCBS Web page and a short article explained that a man hunt was on to find the perpetrator. This morning the story is a bit more detailed. The San Jose Mercury News reports:

"A recently laid-off high-tech employee opened fire inside the Santa Clara office where he used to work late Friday afternoon, police said, killing the CEO and two others and sparking a massive dragnet that spread throughout the area. "

So this is a recession or depression murder, perhaps a sign of more to come as people get laid off and get desperate instead of rational and work their way through the downturn. I must admit, this scares me.

President Obama!

Finally my European friends, family and acquaintances won't look at me with scorn when I tell them I live in the U.S. Now they will see hope and change, a new dawn for a nation that for eight years had to suffer bad leadership that has turned the world against it. I welcome President Barack Obama and am so happy that voters in America made the right decision.

Election Day

If you don't know that it is election day in the U.S. today, you've been living under a rock.

While it is election day, I don't get to vote. I am a loyal tax payer and a law abiding, legal permanent resident of the United States. Still, I don't get to vote. If I'd want to vote, I'd have to become a U.S. Citizen. That would mean giving up my Dutch citizenship--as required by the Dutch government--and I am not (yet) willing to do that.

I do vote in the Netherlands, but that doesn't mean as much on the world stage, obviously. Looking at where I'd cast my U.S. vote, California, it wouldn't make much difference on the national stage, since most Californians vote democrat. However, I would like to vote down (in the case of proposition 8) and support some of the endless propositions and initiatives on the California ballot, but alas.

In the Netherlands anyone who has lived there for more than five years gets to vote, regardless of nationality.

Indian Springs

For a friend's birthday last weekend I drove up Napa Valley to the small town of Calistoga. The friend, Carmen, had invited all her friends to come enjoy the hot springs at Indian Springs. Such a relaxing party was perfect timing for me, having just come from Las Vegas where McAfee put on its FOCUS 08 Security Conference. I haven't worked that hard before in my life.

Indian Springs is a small resort with a spa that has a cute garden for relaxing after your treatment. It is not a fancy resort, but reasonably affordable with great therapists and clean. I was expecting the hot springs to be more than one big pool (more like Termas de Papallacta in Ecuador) yet it was a fun experience and I can recommend a trip up there.

Perhaps better than Indian Springs is the drive up Napa Valley on Hwy 29 to Calistoga. It is a gorgeous trip passing through vineyards and underneath trees with changing leaves. My carpool partner and I stopped over in Yountville for coffee and pastries at Bouchon bakery. They know how to make a good croissant.

Bridge School Benefit Concert

It is a Silicon Valley classic, but for me it was the first time: The Bridge School Benefit Concert. This event, hosted and programmed by American Music Legend Neil Young, is held every year to support the a school for children with special needs.

Last weekend a few friends and I saw performances of, amongst others, Death Cab for Cutie, Sarah McLachlan, Band of Horses, Wilco, Norah Jones and Cat Power. Mr. Young himself closed the afternoon and evening.

Neil Young closes the concert. (San Jose Mercury News Photo)

I thought the concert was a lot of fun and the music, especially Sarah McLachlan and Death Cab for Cutie, was pretty darn good. But the reviewer with the San Jose Mercury News disagrees: "Bridge School Benefit Hits Low Point" was the headline in Monday´s paper. Well, if this was a low point then the other benefits must have been amazing! I´ll be back next year.