Scott Hanson
@scotthanson.de
Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar. Born in California, now in Germany near Hamburg.
So if we take an afternoon nap on New Year’s Day, is it because we partied too long last night? Or are we still jet-lagged from our return flight from the US? Or both?
January 1, 2026 at 5:08 PM
So if we take an afternoon nap on New Year’s Day, is it because we partied too long last night? Or are we still jet-lagged from our return flight from the US? Or both?
Happy New Year from Frauke and me! May 2026 bring you a lot of “Schwein”, the German symbol of good luck. That pig is very special to us ever since Frauke’s heart valve replacement last year (from a pig, of course). 🐷🍀
December 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Happy New Year from Frauke and me! May 2026 bring you a lot of “Schwein”, the German symbol of good luck. That pig is very special to us ever since Frauke’s heart valve replacement last year (from a pig, of course). 🐷🍀
Just to please me, James #dinnerforone
December 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Just to please me, James #dinnerforone
Preview of coming attractions
December 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Preview of coming attractions
On our trip to the US we were able to obtain these historic artifacts: Hardee’s “Rise and Shine” mugs from 1986.
December 31, 2025 at 7:56 AM
On our trip to the US we were able to obtain these historic artifacts: Hardee’s “Rise and Shine” mugs from 1986.
Back home from our spontaneous Christmas trip to Minnesota. Blizzard delayed our arrival, blizzard delayed our departure, but the weather was OK in between.
December 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Back home from our spontaneous Christmas trip to Minnesota. Blizzard delayed our arrival, blizzard delayed our departure, but the weather was OK in between.
Scheduled to fly back tomorrow, but blizzard is forecast so we may not make it to the airport. We’d like to postpone until Monday. Currently on hold (both on messenger and on phone) with Delta to change. Estimated wait time: 2 hours 30 minutes.
December 28, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Scheduled to fly back tomorrow, but blizzard is forecast so we may not make it to the airport. We’d like to postpone until Monday. Currently on hold (both on messenger and on phone) with Delta to change. Estimated wait time: 2 hours 30 minutes.
Fifth Christmas dinner: Goose with dumplings and red cabbage at 6 pm on the 26th. My wife brought our traditional German 2nd Christmas Day dinner to Minnesota. Goose from South Dakota.
December 27, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Fifth Christmas dinner: Goose with dumplings and red cabbage at 6 pm on the 26th. My wife brought our traditional German 2nd Christmas Day dinner to Minnesota. Goose from South Dakota.
Fourth Christmas dinner: Ham and meatballs at my cousin’s at 6 pm on the 25th. Half the guests cancelled so it was just the three of us. There will be leftovers.
December 26, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Fourth Christmas dinner: Ham and meatballs at my cousin’s at 6 pm on the 25th. Half the guests cancelled so it was just the three of us. There will be leftovers.
Third Christmas dinner: Turkey and meatballs at the VFW at noon on the 25th. It’s the quieter of the Christmas days, and we went out. Free-will donation.
December 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Third Christmas dinner: Turkey and meatballs at the VFW at noon on the 25th. It’s the quieter of the Christmas days, and we went out. Free-will donation.
Second Christmas dinner: German Raclette American style at 8 pm on the 24th. We found a grill on Amazon, Raclette cheese at Lunds & Byerlys deli in the Twin Cities, and all other ingredients improvised locally.
December 25, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Second Christmas dinner: German Raclette American style at 8 pm on the 24th. We found a grill on Amazon, Raclette cheese at Lunds & Byerlys deli in the Twin Cities, and all other ingredients improvised locally.
First Christmas dinner: Norwegian Klub with ham at noon on the 24th. Not really a Christmas meal, but a traditional meal in winter.
December 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
First Christmas dinner: Norwegian Klub with ham at noon on the 24th. Not really a Christmas meal, but a traditional meal in winter.
My wife left one of her medications at home, so we’re exploring the US rural health care system to get a replacement prescription.
December 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
My wife left one of her medications at home, so we’re exploring the US rural health care system to get a replacement prescription.
German Bundesrat just passed tax package including reduced VAT for food in the hospitality industry. 👍👍👍
December 19, 2025 at 10:41 AM
German Bundesrat just passed tax package including reduced VAT for food in the hospitality industry. 👍👍👍
Almost white-out driving conditions greet us in Minnesota. We’re stopping at the next motel and will try again tomorrow.
December 18, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Almost white-out driving conditions greet us in Minnesota. We’re stopping at the next motel and will try again tomorrow.
Germany's train service is one of Europe's worst. How did it get so bad? (Spoiler: chronic underinvestment)
Germany's train service is one of Europe's worst. How did it get so bad?
You won't arrive on time and may not even get a seat. Your booking might get lost. Things have gotten so dire that a foreigner has been brought in to shake things up.
www.npr.org
December 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Germany's train service is one of Europe's worst. How did it get so bad? (Spoiler: chronic underinvestment)
U.S. Wants to Persuade Four Nations to Leave EU (Spoiler: Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland)
U.S. Wants to Persuade Four Nations to Leave EU
"The Trump administration wants to persuade four more countries to leave the European Union to 'Make Europe Great Again', according to reports of a longer, still-classified version of the U.S. national security strategy released last week," the Times of London reports."There are also suggestions
politicalwire.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
U.S. Wants to Persuade Four Nations to Leave EU (Spoiler: Austria, Italy, Hungary, Poland)
Traveling to the US with an ESTA in 2026.
Traveling to the US with an ESTA in 2026
It looks like the ESTA application process is about to get quite a bit more complicated. Check this proposal for changes to the process: Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Arrival …
herve.bzh
December 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Traveling to the US with an ESTA in 2026.
‘Ruined my Christmas spirit’: McDonald’s removes AI-generated ad after backlash
‘Ruined my Christmas spirit’: McDonald’s removes AI-generated ad after backlash
Commercial in Netherlands depicting festival-season chaos at ‘most terrible time of year’ prompted flurry of criticism online
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:50 AM
‘Ruined my Christmas spirit’: McDonald’s removes AI-generated ad after backlash
How the dollar-store industry overcharges cash-strapped customers while promising low prices
How the dollar-store industry overcharges cash-strapped customers while promising low prices
A Guardian investigation reveals Dollar General and Family Dollar stores often fail to honor their shelf prices – charging more at checkout for everything from frying pans to Frosted Flakes
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:10 AM
How the dollar-store industry overcharges cash-strapped customers while promising low prices
Funeral today. Weather is appropriate.
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Funeral today. Weather is appropriate.
Germany’s far left saves Merz from potential humiliation on pensions
Germany’s far left saves Merz from potential humiliation on pensions
The Left party’s decision to abstain from a vote on pensions bails Merz out of an immediate political mess that threatened to undermine his coalition.
www.politico.eu
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Germany’s far left saves Merz from potential humiliation on pensions