Florida, as we know, is a civilization in decline, but fortunately it appears to be declining at a slow enough pace that you and I can still live our lives and bow out before the check comes. The F State, first, is a daily guide to your neighbors — a constant reminder that you need to give some of the people you cross paths with a little extra room in life. Just as important, though, the F State is a gauge for your own well-being — things may be going badly in your life, but not as badly as in these guys' lives.
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2006.