Travel Less - Go Green - But Pay Higher Taxes

One of the first things we'll likely see in the Obama regime will be higher gasoline taxes. The figure tossed around seems to be a minimum 10 cent/gallon increase to make up for the loss of money coming in because Americans are driving less.

On the other hand we're encouraged to drive less and thus "go green" by using less fuel. Now it's proposed we'll be punished with more costly gasoline due to an increased tax.

Will this cause people to drive even less? And then a cycle of more taxes by a regime that promised better living?

"Staycation" - The Latest in "Green" Travel

"Going Green" now appears to result in vacations called "staycations," those that keep you close to home. Apparently, one advantage is using less fuel if you aren't driving or flying long distances.

• Does this mean you stay in your own home and take day trips.
• Do you drive within your state or an adjacent one and stay at a motel/hotel there?
• Do you go camping close to home...at a campground, if not in your backyard?
• Do you take a hiking, backpacking jaunt to save on gas?
• Do you take picnic lunches rather than eating out?

Have you taken a "staycation?" I'd enjoy hearing about it.

Happy New Year's from Green Vagabond Traveler

May 2009 be a wonderful year for you.

It's cold (3 degrees F.) and windy here where I live.

But we're looking forward to a grand 2009.

What are your "green" goals for the coming year?

Magazines Online in an Eco-Friendly Conscious World

Eco-consciousness

Saving trees and deleting the energy intensive processes involved in turning trees into paper is termed as being "eco-friendly" or "eco-conscious." We're finding that more and more print publications are developing an online presense.

Some have an online edition as well as a print one. Others are discontinuing their print versions as they publish solely online.

My husband received a notice from a magazine he subscribes to that starting with the February issue, it will only be available online. He can no longer receive a print issue. If he doesn't desire this, he can get a refund. However, he says, even though he prefers a print edition, he does need the magazine for the information it contains for keeping current in his business.

My daughter found that her favorite quilting magazine has developed an online subscription which costs less than the print version. The publisher will be offering both, but one wonders for how long.

Some newspapers are opting for more and more of their material online, as people go there to read and advertisers prefer having their ads online.

How will this affect the traveler?

For those who like to take magazines and newspapers along when you travel, how will it affect you? Is there some way you can download the publication on one of your electronic gadgets and read this way?

Which do you prefer? Or have you been carrying magazines electronically?

Do You Like Giveaways? Here Are Some for the Youngsters in Your Life

One Book Two Book Giveaways

If you're a fan of giveaways (random drawings), you'll find a series of giveaways at a blog I co-write, One Book Two Book, running from Dec. 2-7.

Check out the rules and leave comments at the following links. You can enter any or all of the giveaways. These items will make great Christmas gifts for youngsters, too.

Book Swim Giveaway
Readeez DVD Giveaway
Baby Can Read Giveaway
Wii Pop Star Guitar Giveaway
Fly Me To The Moon Giveaway
Giveaway - Celebrity Arthur Book from Speakaboos
Giveaway - Countdown to Bedtime Soundbooks
Giiveaway - ECO Baby Organic Playdough
Baby Potential Teacher Onesie Giveaway
Natural Pod Giveaway
RideMakerz Giveaway
Happy Green Bee Giveaway
Mead Writing Fundamentals Giveaway

ENJOY!

With Ethanol Our Gas Mileage Decreased Drastically

When our gas mileage dropped drastically, we realized the last gas station in town to hold out on ethanol spiked gasoline had succumbed. Now there was no place to buy a product that enabled us to get excellent mileage and have an undamaged engine.

For ethanol, no matter what they say, decreases gas mileage and decreases a vehicle's longevity. So, ultimately we'll use more gasoline (more dependence on foreign oil and less corn for food) and will have vehicles that wear out faster and need more repairs.

Save the planet! At what expense?

DO YOU TRAVEL TO GREEN COUNTRIES?

Green Countries

In school the other day, the teacher I was working with talked about green countries. The countries of the world are rated according to their environmental practices. In other words you're looking for the countries that are most eco-friendly.

Those with the best practices (according to whatever scale is being used...this wasn't brought out in the article the teacher was reading) rank high on the list. They go downhill from there.

As with any poll or ranking, it depends on the questions asked, the organization doing the asking, and what the expectations are. If a country ranks low on this scale, perhaps it would rank higher on someone else's rating system.

Anyway, it shows that good environmental practices are being noticed. If you want to travel to other countries, you can check out to see how they rank and decide whether you want to travel there.