My pal J.D. Rhoades, master of redneck noir and the best legal mind in Carthage, N.C., posits that this blog takes its name from the fact that I am "one of them Floridians." Well, yes, I am. And sure, it does. I have a peninsular POV.
But it's also a humble homage to one of my favorite books, written by the late John Keasler, columnist for the Miami News. Published way back in 1958, "Surrounded on Three Sides" is the tale of Flat City, FL, a place that wants no part of so-called progress in the form of the unbridled development that has come to plague the state. And its hero, Paul Higgings, a former NY p.r. guy, comes up with the "hard unsell," a way to discourage tourists, investors, developers and all others who would mess with the place he calls home. Later, John D. MacDonald took his own riff on the same theme and it surely inspired Carl Hiaasen's most wonderful "Tourist Season." Thanks to the University Press of Florida the book is still in print.
Buy it, read it, rage on...
7 comments:
I did not know this, Thanks for the recommendation.
A belated welcome to the ether. And in advance, whenever I make an offensive post in this place, blame Dusty.
In fact, I blame Dusty for almost everything, including that incident with the hooker in Phoenix.
Yes, I was holding the gun when it went off, and yes, I had negotiated the deal for the Mexican brown tar, but Dusty was the one who started mixing rum and tequila.
His fault, all his fault.
She was a hooker? And I just thought I was doing great with her!
[/arthur]
Dusty who?
*waves*
Welcome to the blogasphere, Bob. Love the blog title.
I always thought I was surrounded on three sides when I lived up in Michigan. (Where the state motto is "If you seek a beautiful peninsula look around you." Since changed to: "Give me your cash, mutha.")
Now live in the Florida peninsula. Can't remember if we even have a state motto here. Maybe something like, "If you seek a place to hide out, come down here."
Bob:
I am sure that you know this. But in case you do not, John's son Mark is a fishing guide on Cat Island in Bhahamas. Cat woulld make an interesting venue for Zack.
Post a Comment