I believe Benjamin Franklin hit on it exactly when he was sitting around the house one day fooling with keys and kites and he said, "There are ideas, and then there are ideas". The idea I had about going to Florida to escape this bitter winter was good; the idea I had about camping while there was so-so. 0f course the problem goes back many years but basically it comes down to the fact that I tend to be rather untidy when putting things away. My method has often been referred to as 'pitch and run'. Consequently last fall when camping was over for the winter I filed the camp gear by the usual method knowing I wouldn't have to dig it out until mid spring. Well February isn't mid Spring, in fact it's just over a month and a half after I managed to dig out the ski gear and the rest of the winter stuff. Because there was a group of us going to Florida camping -and because the others didnt have much in the way of camp gear the stuff had to be found. As is my usuai organized custom I left everything untij the iast possible moment. Most times when I arn trying to remember all the items for a certain sport or activity I try to think very hard about the activity and eventually all the items come to mind and I set about trying to find them. Thinking about camping out while the snow is waist deep and rapidly moving toward shoulder level is just about impossible. Every time I would start looking for camp gear Icwould find snow removal equipment. Back in the early stages of planning 1 had really been Is there anything worth watching on television? There is (you say). What? Roots. I didn't watch it. But I did see some of the goodies promised in the promos. I didn't like them. Too much violence. But then we are bombarded with violence, drugs, sex, hatred, greed: and not just on television. No. It seems we are still to be offered cop-type shows in hefty portions. Last fall I wrote saying I'd keep away from police shows with their car chases, shoot-outs and continual violence and drug themes. And I kept my promise for about six weeks. But darn it winter came early this year and I got involved again. Admit it. Aren't you tiring of the same theme with shoot-outs at stores, banks and airports: long car chases and threats nade and carried out to "Blow him/her away"? So we have corruption with crooked police, lawyers, judges, statemen and interna- tional figures from all walks of life. But do we have to have it shoved down our throats night after night. It all cornes down to dollars. Television relies on ratings. Should you decide you want CharlieChaplin or Las Vegas showgirls type of programme -- you'Il get them - providing the T.V. stations get the viewers. And it's the Book your charters nowl With Complimentary PASSPORT PICTURES NOW TAKEN AT RUSSELL TRAVEL 116 Brock St.S. WHITB 'Tu1rve sor1 s0ss er M n.St 9 looking torward to the holiday. First a week diving.on underwater walls in scuba gear in the Bahamas and then back to Florida for another week of camping and diving with the Manatee or Sea Cows, an endangered specie. . There were three vans of us going, all local divers and the timing was such that we had to drive straight to Fort Lauderdale in Florida to catch a plane. We really didn't have a lot of spare time for such things as snow storms, traffic accidents or mechanical breakdowns. All the vans were equipped with CB radios so we could be in constant communication without being in sight. We ail met in a shopping plaza in Toronto as some of the people were coming straight from work in Toronto. I began to suspect that all was not well because the vans left Toronto over an hour and a half late. Our next stop was customs in Windsor where I was sure we would have a hassle. We didn't. All of a sudden we were over the bridge and into, customs in Detroit. 1 asked the customs officer if he didn't want to register ail our scuba gear so we wouldn't have trouble getting back into Canada. He replied, "Oh they were supposed to do that back in Canada on the other side of the river". Terrific! We had to turn three vans - one with a tent trailer - in a u-turn and head back across the same bridge back to Canada customs. When we got to customs I went inside and collared a young officer and explained to him that we had some scuba and underwater camera gear we wantedto have him register so we could get it back into Canada on our retura trip in two weeks. He said, "Oh it probably isn't lecessary, how much do you have?" I replied, "About 20 thousand bucks worth". The poor guy nearly fainted. He asked us if we would list it on cards at which point we ail pulled out long'and completely iternized lists. After he put back in his bulging eyeballs it became apparent he had no intention of wading through three vans and a trailer ful of gear. He signed and signed ail the necessary paperwork and sent us on our way. Next stop Florida! Well almost.. Most of the vans were equipped with 20 gallon gas tanks. Most of the passengers weren't. We made a lot of unschedued pit stops that had nothing to do with the -comrrerciais tit pay for the programmes. Only shows with big audiences attract advertisers with big budget dollars to back and support television. Have you ever watched the old Lucille Ball shows "I Love Lucy". It was a family show. Lucy is in her 60's now and of course a millionaire. Recently she was asked again to return. She declined. O.K. so she's had her day. But her type of talent and show is unique. It was like t-e old radio programmes. People felt good after watching or listening to them. "Io one was "Blown away" or claimed "l'm a walking bonib Comedy is surely one cornerstone of entertainment and drama another. Twenty five years ago as a theatre critic I was enthralled by the story content and its unfoldient in gripping form by authors who relied on the players -- yet covered subjects including murder, sex and corruption. As an alternative to soie of the gore offerings on T.V. will someone give us the 'other side' of life -- not just the seamy side. Do you recall the Andy Griffith show. After a few episodes I called it a top-comedy-human-interest show. A few years later it was voted first in American comedy shows. You might be little impressed that Andy's son in the show "Opie" is Ron Howard, friend of "The Fonz" of "Happy Days". Dare I add I called the original Dick Van Dyke show (another winner) plus The Waltons, Ail In The Family, Columbo and Star Trek -- as winners (which they were) from their early days. I believe Canadian television has a natural winner witlh saga of its immigrants -- for draina -- and we should seek out teams of anadian comedy writers (and players) for a weelV comedy series. By the way. Some police shows have excellent talent -- and winning programmes. Barretta, Police Story, Police Woman, Streets of San Francisco. What a shame to waste talent -- better used in uplifting shows. What do you think? FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23,1977, PAGE 5 fitness of the vehicles. When we got to Georgia each vehicle was to stand guard when -we'stopped at gas stations to ensure that our tires weren't slashed or similar "accidents" that might resuit in the gas station doing some extra business With us. Thirty hours after we left the Whitby area I finally got my head into a camping mood 1 began to think of all the camping gear I should have brought but I was afraid to look into the trailer to see if I had actually remembered it. But after leaving four feet of snow on my patio and hitting 75 degree temperatures I was prepared to sleep out in the open on a blanket if necessary. However...nobody told me about sand flies. More next week. 668 - 5000 MOVED!0 Global from 305 Hopkins St. to 200 Dundas St., E. (directly across f rom Brewers Retail Store) Immediate Free Delivery No Mileage Charge 668-8000 Your Travelfs our Business Hours Mon