What it's like in a newsroom when bad things happen

Gun violence in schools is a fact of life in today's America.
That's the one thing none of us can deny.
My wife teaches in the School District of the City of York. She has for four years. Before that she taught in the South Western School District, at Catholic schools, in her home town of Waverly, N.Y. and in Rochester, N.Y.
I have no doubt in my mind, after watching my wife care for me and our son, that she would lay down her life for a student.
Too often, in today's world, we vilify teachers. We complain that they're public servants and shouldn't make so much money. We moan and groan about their pensions. We argue about what they can teach our kids.
Sure, there are some bad teachers out there, but most of them deserve more respect than we as a society give them.
A couple times each year, I'm reminded about how dedicated teachers are. I'm not just talking about the tragedies that engross our nation.
It's not that rare that the police scanner at work says that Molly's district has been locked down.
When that happens my heart aches.
Terrifying thoughts run through my head: Is she safe? Is she suffering? Are her students safe? Is she lying in a puddle of blood?

It needs to be said

I don't think I've held Michael this tightly since the night he was born. I hugged him and Molly in our kitchen and I prayed for those children in Connecticut. The kids in the school, the teachers, the first responders, and, yes, even the villain who took the lives of so many innocent people.
I prayed for him because one day he was a child like Michael. A child who smiled, who took a first step, who giggled at the things children giggle at.
Oh, I know he did terrible, atrocious, unforgivable things today. But his inhumane actions do not take away the fact that at one point he was a child of promise. Of hope. Of love.
I've never understood how someone could take a life. Any life, for that matter. But to take the lives of children is inconceivable.
Look, it's inevitable that this country will one day overcome its issues with gun violence. At some point, we're going to cast aside the wingnuts and dingbats, settle down at the table and have a grown-up conversation about how to solve this problem.

Why we named our son Michael Scott

When people found out we named our son Michael Scott, many assumed it was because of the character on "The Office" played by Steve Carrell and created by Ricky Gervais.
Sure, I'm from the Scranton area. Sure, Molly and I love the show. But anyone who names their son after a bumbling boss from a sitcom has issues. OK, we have issues, but not those issues. Anyway, it's about time we explained how we chose his name.
The funny thing is that so many people thought I'd name our son after a Major League hero.
Everyone joked that we'd name our son Cole, Cliff or Roy after one of Philadelphia's Four Aces, or Chase, Ryan or James, after one of the Phillies cornerstone players (Utley, Howard and Rollins). Even Molly thought I might push for a baseball name. 
I told her that if I was ever going to name my son after a ballplayer that I could be talked into Christy Mathewson or Lou Gehrig, but the only player that means enough to me to name a child after him would be Jackie Robinson.

The hypocrisy of many "Fighting Irish" fans

My parents constantly took me to Irish events as a kid. Music festivals, stores with Irish merchandise, bars* with Irish regalia on the walls. So I regularly heard about the persecution of the Irish by the British, the wealthy, the British, the media and the British. I remember hearing a man at an Irish Cultural Society gathering railing against Harrison Ford - my favorite movie star - because he had the gall to be in a movie that depicted the Irish as drunk war-mongers. This was when "Patriot Games" came out, so I was probably about 10-years-old. I still hear relatives complain about being persecuted today, as if the Irish of today have the same problems as the clans in Killarney during the 1700s and 1800s. Ewan McGregor's character in "Angels & Demons" was changed from Italian to Irish and that was cited for Hollywood's hatred of the Irish. Of course, Hollywood loves the Irish**, but that's beside the point. The point is that many of my relatives, and other proudly Irish people, see the world mocking them at nearly every turn. Except, of course, the one that's most obvious. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame University. Let's start by stating the obvious: If you love Notre Dame because it's a very good school, because its football team has a wondrous history, because you root for some of the kids on the team or, simply because you like the colors Blue and Gold, that makes perfect sense. You're 100 percent within you're rights there. But if you love Notre Dame because they have an "Irish" football team, you are being, quite simply, moronic. Especially if you're quick to point out the rampant persecution of the Irish. Let's look at the facts. Notre Dame was founded, not by Irish, but French Catholic priests. Well, at least it wasn't founded by the British. The athletic teams weren't known as the Fighting Irish until decades after they took up football. It's still unclear as to where the name first came from. Some claim in was because of an alumnus with a sports column in New York. Other claim it was because either Michigan or Northwestern fans were mocking the squad by chanting "Kill the Irish." Either way you look at it, they were called the Fighting Irish because of their tenacity and grit. That's something for the Irish to be proud of. If fact, people should have been proud of the Irish connection up until 1965. That's when that hideous leprechaun officially became the mascot. Prior to that it was some Irish terriers. Now, however, with their pugnacious mascot ready to get into fisticuffs at the drop of a bowler, it's insane that anyone who complains about portrayal of the Irish in the media would ever think that mascot is OK. Think about it. He's the same stereotype that angers many proud Irish. So if you like Notre Dame for a rational reason - the history, the scholarship, the campus, the colors - then, by all means, keep on rooting. If you love them because they're "Irish," an don't mind the pugnacious Mick brandishing his fists, then keep on rooting. But if you think they're "Irish," and are easily offended by other portrayals of the Irish, you're nothing more than a hypocrite. * Sure, you could make the joke that my being brought to bars as a child is a sign of being brought up Irish Catholic. I'd say my love of family, willingness to lend a hand to those in need and determination are signs of being brought up Irish Catholic. Being at the bar was just a sign my parents made bad decisions. ** Ahem, John Ford. Ahem, Edward Burns. More evidence: An Irishman has played James Bond and, now, Abraham Lincoln. Two of the greatest heroes in British fiction and American history.

Being thankful on Nov. 1

A lot of my Facebook friends, namely Joan Concilio and Courtney Cashour, will spend this month posting what they're thankful for every day. Since I can't figure out how to schedule Facebook posts, I'm going to knock this out in one rip. Nov. 1. For the first time, I can be thankful for having a son. Michael has given us so many things to be thankful for. His smile. His hugs. The way he makes other people smile. The way he cries whenever he sees Randy Parker. The past 11 months have brought so many unexpected joys.

Michael is ready for Sandy

The 10 movies I can't wait to watch with Michael as he grows up

As the entertainment editor, I have to put the movie reviews in our weekly entertainment section.
Today, thanks to its upcoming rerelease in 3D, I was reminded of "Finding Nemo."
 If you haven't seen it, you're cheating yourself. Not only is it one of the finest movies Disney and Pixar have put out, it's one of the most enjoyable movies of all time.
While I was editing the column, I thought about Michael. Someday we're going to watch it together.
I've thought about other movies that I'm going to enjoy watching with Michael as he gets older. But some of these movies, like "The Sting," "Jaws" and "The Shawshank Redemption," we'll have to wait a bit to watch together. Plus, I don't know that he'll particularly enjoy those movies.
But watching some kids movies with Michael will be such a blast. Here are the 10 Movies I can't wait to watch with Michael as he grows up.