Ryan McFarland

I can’t help it. I like stuff. I have a closet full of outdoor gear. I have everything necessary to bike, hike, camp, climb, ski (xc or telemark), kayak, snowshoe… I have a gps and rock climbing protection. I have multiple sleeping bags, mattress pads, and backpacks. When i go into an outdoor store i strain to find anything that i actually need. I am, as we called each other at Philmont, a gear queer.

My need for the latest gadgets does not seem to end with outdoor equipment. I have a cell phone that is a full PDA, digital camera, mp3 player, and has a wireless internet connection. Of course, i feel the urge to expand my technical geekyness. I want a computer in my car. I want a touch screen monitor and the ability to play mp3s from a hard drive. I want to be able to pop in a DVD. I want to have the cradle to my cell phone allow my computer to connect to the internet. I want the computer to have built in wireless capability so i can pull into my driveway, connect to my home network, upload new music, and then drive off. There are already some that do all that and more.

In unrelated news, I do not have the urge to have a whimsical cover for my vacuum cleaner. I am interested in learning how to melt iron in my microwave at home.