http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog TO LOVE MERCY portrays 1940s Chicago from the South Side to Riverview -- with stops at Comiskey Park (White Sox), Bronzeville, Midway Airport, Maxwell Street and the Loop -- with a focus on two boys, one from Bronzeville, one from Hyde Park. Mon, 24 May 2010 15:26:54 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Sorry, this is shameless self-promotion. I have won First Prize, Best Non-Print Marketing Effort, in the annual Specialized Information Publishers Foundation competition, for "Who Was Ron Wayne?", an e-mail marketing effort that launched the investment advisory service known as "Portfolio 2020." This is the premier award in what used ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/05/24/i-won/ This morning, precisely three months -- THREE MONTHS! -- since I had my right knee totally replaced, Dr. Connell gave me the green light to quit physical therapy and get back on the tennis court. Doubles OK now, singles when you're feeling up to it.   THREE MONTHS!!!   Before I go ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/05/07/a-boy-and-his-knee/ Watching TV. All day. Well, six hours anyway. I wouldn’t miss tomorrow’s health care political extravaganza. I’m planning to crack open a brewski and a bag of Cheet-Os, and splay out in front of the boob tube for the full six excruciating hours. C-Span on steroids. What’s wrong with me? Don’t I know ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/02/24/what-im-doing-tomorrow/ I'd like to bring your attention to an event 700 miles away, but one you may wish to attend just the same -- Chicago Day at the Bethesda (MD) Library on Saturday, Oct. 24. There'll be Chicago-style hot dogs, deep-dish pizza and headliners galore, including -- • Scott Simon of NPR on ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/10/19/chicago-day/ I received quite a few responses to my last posting, "Traffic Court." That's typical. There are about 850 people on this distribution list and they (you) respond in droves whenever I post. (I post on the Web too, at http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/, but I don't think anyone reads it there. I've spoiled ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/05/21/traffic-court-redux/ I appeared in Traffic Court today. I'd been stopped for going 44 in a 30 zone. I was guilty but, naturally, crestfallen. Despite the careless way I drive (anyone will tell you so), I hadn't had a moving violation on my record for a long time -- 10 years or ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/05/20/traffic-court/ Dear Friend of Frank, I was on television yesterday, not once but twice. In the morning I was interviewed by an eighth-grader at Westland Middle School in Bethesda MD, and in the evening I read from TO LOVE MERCY at an event in a Baltimore coffee shop, the Koba Cafe, sponsored ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/04/23/tv-or-not-tv/ I am not a sports fan and never have been. I paid a huge price for this when I was a kid, living as I did among White Sox and Cubs fans of the most rabid variety, e.g., 8-year-olds. During one sidewalk dispute, I failed to know some fact so ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/01/17/shaved-head/ As an old ex-Chicago newsman, I for one am hoping Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich resists the calls to resign. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. Guys like Blagojevich have been making Chicagoans merry since Matthias “Paddy” Bauler, the 19th Century ward boss, uttered his deathless words, “Chicago ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2008/12/12/blagojevich-dont-go/ It's been hard to concentrate. All week. Monday I couldn't write, so I assuaged some guilt and manned the phones for Obama for six hours. Tuesday I couldn't write, think or do anything -- except vote, then plan for the big evening. Our dear friends Nick and Tory were coming ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2008/11/05/paste-on-a-big-smile/