Dancin' and Sign Language

Dance Like Nobody Is Watching from Ryan on Vimeo.

Sign Language from Ryan on Vimeo.

Sony VAIO NS

After having a Gateway for almost five years, I finally purchased a new laptop yesterday from Best Buy. My Gateway crashed, completely, a couple of months ago and I wanted to get something before school started this fall. After having an AMD processor, I wanted to try Intel because I wasn't overwhelmed with the Gateway's speed and multi-tasking. I decided to go with the Sony VAIO with Intel Pentium Duo Processor for the price and the performance.

It came down to four choices: The Sony VAIO, Dell Inspiron, HP, or Toshiba Satellite. After comparing the three and reading numerous reviews, Sony won me over. The screen size ("15.4) is perfect. Most people do not realize, the bigger the screen...the bigger the laptop. I didn't want something that was too bulky. It comes with 3GB of RAM, but it can add an additional 5 GB if needed. That is 4 GB more than the competition in this price range. Wireless B, G, and N router connections. 4 USB ports. High Def audio. And...what put me over the top...up to 4 hours for battery life. That is a good hour longer than any of the competition in this price range. The setup was quick and it wasn't loaded with "bloatware" like HP and Dell include on every model.

The only problem I had with setup was trying to connect to the Internet. Upon initial setup, all laptops have to be connected to a router for recognition. This is to allow for a secure setup. Wireless cable and Wi-Fi are two different stories. If everyone had Wi-Fi, Internet access would be a breeze. However, most houses, like mine, are setup with wireless connections that make access a little tricky..especially when setting up a new laptop to an existing secured network. Alas, I got it working and everything is running smoothly!

Mayo Clinic

Remember when President Obama (it never gets any easier typing that) went in front of ex-Caterpillar employees and told them that the company would re-hire those laid off if the stimulus bill passed? Sounded great, right? Well, that was until the Caterpillar CEO stepped in and said that "promise" never happened.

So now, we move onto the issue of healthcare. Yet another piece of the pie that the good ol' United States government is trying to consume. As Obama has been campaigning for this overhaul plan, he has, on numerous occasions, used the Mayo Clinic as an example of what could be.

Yes, I can see it now, Statists having their hands in every aspect of our "Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness." Normally, it wouldn't be so bad. These dreams have only bee "what if" nightmares for the past 50(+) years. However, as the Statists are now running the show, these nightmares are coming true...unfortunately.

The Mayo Clinic (remember that great example for the Obama Administration?) had this to say about the current plans to overhaul the healthcare system:

Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite.

In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a fundamental lever – a change in Medicare payment policy – to help drive necessary improvements in American health care. Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of transformation in American health care will wither. The real losers will be the citizens of the United States.

Notice the last line, "The real losers will be the citizens of the United States."

As of January 20, 2009, we already lost.

Warning: Oral Surgery

Warning! If you do not do well with seeing pictures of medical procedures, please do not scroll down. This post is an update of a recent oral surgery and the pictures are graphic in nature.




This past Tuesday, I had oral surgery done by Dr. Constantin Farah at the Center for Advanced Periodontal & Implant Care. At a recent visit to my dentist, Dr. Brandau, he advised me to seek an opinion from Dr. Farah for a gum graft procedure. Apparently, my gum line was receding around a few of my teeth, which can damage the tooth and roots, and he wanted it taken care of before I started teaching again in the fall.

Good call, Dr. B!

I could have never taught with my mouth like this!

For the procedure, Dr. Farah took about an inch of gum lining from the roof of my mouth and attached it to the front gum line above my canine tooth. He also pulled down my gums in several areas (apparently we have two layers of gums and my top layer was pretty weak). The procedure lasted about 45 minutes and I didn't feel a thing. I even got to watch Sports Center! However, that good feeling went away quickly. By the next morning, I looked like I had been in a bar fight the previous evening. The whole left-side of my face was swollen and three days afterwards I developed a black-eye. It will take about 2 weeks for the swelling to subside and about 6 weeks for the gums to look like new. Eating, one of my favorite things, is not so fun anymore. I have to chew on the right side of my mouth and all of the food has to be cut in "bite-size" portions. Good times!

Anyways, here are some pictures (basically for me to keep an account of) that were taken today (4 days after the procedure)... and again...if you do not like seeing medical procedures...come back another day!

Bruising from the surgery...

New gum line attached (and swollen!)...

Roof of mouth where gums were taken...

Backyard Pool

Untitled from Ryan Kumpf on Vimeo.

Birthday Picnic in the Park

Since Megan was working during the day on my birthday, Kayley treated me to a picnic in the park. We ate sandwiches, swang on the swings, and went down the slide. Even though it was hot out (mid 80’s), we had a lot of fun this afternoon. Here our some pictures:

Michael Jackson: 1958-2009

Today, while Kayley and Megan went to the pool, I stayed behind to do some research for my last graduate class. While I was working, I had Michael Jackson’s memorial service on. As I watched the “pre-service” coverage, I thought this would be “all ’bout Michael.” As I watched the service…it was, but God’s love shown brightly on the biggest stage possible. Today, all over the world, people saw God’s testimony through a man that many people would not have associated with our Christian God. Instead of celebrating Michael alone, the world celebrated God for his creation. Those who spoke at the service made that vividly clear.

Isn’t He amazing?

His works are continually unimaginable.

His stage became ours.

In one of the biggest television moments of all time; the testimony of God is what lite up the stage. Michael Jackson was a great talent, but God gave him his gifts. We are seeing a celebration of God around the world…what an awesome thing to witness!