Carl Crossman Blog

I guess just about everyone has seen somebody driving down the road while using a cell phone. The only problem with that is that it can be very dangerous. A new study found that accidents involving drivers who text are increasing dramatically. People who use the phones are easily distracted and are not keeping their eyes on the road.

The new information has raised debates on whether or not to ban cell phone use while driving. The problem is that laws are hard to enforce and many people like using their phones in their car. We’ll have to see how this debate turns out.

The end of the school year is always hectic and here we are with the county schools wrapping up this week. There are band concerts, class performances, field days, class picnics and exams to schedule and keep up with. The children are excited at the thought of a summer vacation. All of them did very well with their lessons and have excellent grades. So they deserve a nice break over the summer to play and just be kids for a while.

In 1849, the famous poet Edger Allen Poe died in a Baltimore tavern. He was known for such works as “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Pit and the Pendulum” and “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”. Poe was buried at the Westminster Hall and Buying Ground in Baltimore. That’s where the tradition comes in.

Every year since around 1949, a mysterious figure in black dress, white scarf, and wide brimmed hat would leave a half empty bottle of cognac and three roses on the stone that marks his grave. The problem is that this year, the person did not show and has left people who are interested in this mystery bewildered. Many believe the person responsible for this long time tradition was a man named David Franks who died last week.

While the tradition is in jeopardy, there is hope that someone new will pick up the torch and continue to honor the great poet far into the future.

It’s a rare thing when someone finds a true treasure. It happened recently when the Very Rev. David M. O’Connell found one. After becoming the Catholic University president, he found a picture in his bathroom that is reported to be a Rembrandt. The etching turned out to be created by the famous 17th century artist Rembrandt Van Rijn.

While the jury is still out on whether the picture is an original, it could still be worth thousands of dollars. The painting will soon be reviewed by appraisers to see whether or not it is authentic. I hope the world will gain another great work from this exceedingly talented man!

When college is over, that usually means there will be a change in your life. Such was the case with my cousin James. He is ending his college career on a high note by taking a job that was offered to him in Texas. One item that nagged James was that he may have to give up his beloved Direct TV service. He had grown used to having it and wanted to take it with him.

As always, James was in luck. It turns out that anyone can continue to receive their Direct Satellite TV service whenever they decide to move. The service is available in a multitude of states and can be transferred with little trouble. He was glad to find this out as he is a TV fanatic who loves to watch movies.

One good part about the situation was that James didn’t have to struggle in order to continue receiving Direct TV in Texas. It was easy to do it and didn’t take a lot of time, that’s always good as James seems to find many ways to occupy himself. Now that James is off to his new career, we are all proud of his accomplishments. I do worry that he will spend more time watching TV than working at his new job. But after thinking about it, I guess that won’t be my problem.