Although Summer hasn't quite arrived yet on the West coast, East coast'ers are smack in the middle of a good 'ole heatwave. Staying cool while at your desk is essential for productivity, so if your office has sub-par air flow, gets stuffy in the Summer, or you always seem to sweat while in your cubicle (even in the Winter), here are five geeky tricks to staying cool while at work.
Though it's not the "Dislike" button that you were all hoping for, Facebook took a step in the right direction by adding a new feature that allows you to unlike a fan page right from your news stream. Previously, in order to "unlike" a fan page, you'd have to visit the actual page to do so. 
Now, just by clicking on the hide button (now a big X in the upper right corner of a post), you'll see a new option to "Unlike Page" and "Mark as Spam" alongside the usual "Hide This Post" or hide the user from appearing in your stream.
Once my BFF when it came to hiding annoying friends or oversharing colleagues, this handy tool now allows me to unlike a page I'm no longer a fan of with just a few clicks.
Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member Lilkimbo from the Assisted Living group:
Hi ladies (and gentlemen). Casa's post about air conditioning got me thinking about fans. I am currentlly in the market for a vintage-looking (but not actual vintage) floor fan. The best one I've found so far is the Allaire Telescoping Floor Fan from Restoration Hardware (pictured). But, I'm wondering if you ladies have seen any other good options out there. If I can't find anything else, I'd be willing to shell out the $230 for the Restoration Hardware fan, but I'd prefer something cheaper and I don't think I'd be willing to buy anything more expensive. Any suggestions?
For Dyson, innovation is a breeze. My favorite vacuum brand has just released a new fan, the Dyson Air Multiplier ($299.99-329.99), which is very unconventional. The fan uses a trademarked technology to draw in air and amplify it 15 times, producing an uninterrupted stream of air, instead of using the blades or grills we're accustomed to. The omission of blades means there's not only no noisy air-chopping, but that it's also safe and easy to clean. You can effectively stick your hand through its annular aperture and remove it unharmed! Sounds pretty fabulous to me. It also has a handsome, unfussy shape, which I like. Can't wait to try it!
Last week I had one of those freak out moments when my laptop started acting like it had been possessed, as I had zero control over it. When it booted in safe mode, I knew it was time to get some backup assistance, and let's be honest, an involuntary safe boot on a Mac is almost like the blue screen of death on a PC.
Thankfully another resident geek guru came to my rescue and we both agreed that the 100-degree weather could be impairing my MacBook. And without further ado, he quickly installed one of his "fan favorites" (hee hee), smcFanControl. This free download allows you to control the built-in fan on every Intel Mac to make it run cooler. Macs are already insanely hot, so being able to rev up your fan from the default setting in hot weather definitely helps your Mac cool down. I've had it on full for the past week and it seems to be helping. Oh, and it also indicates the temperature of your laptop, so you can monitor whether you need the fan turned up.
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Once it turns into "Hot Sun in the City," it's practically game over unless you have a stellar air conditioning system or some handy devices to help you stay cool all Summer long. Here are just a few of my favorite fun gadgets that will surely keep you and your electronics cool throughout the hot months.
Thanks to AT: NY for reminding me that now is the time to switch your ceiling fan blades' direction so they are moving clockwise. Just flip the switch at the base so that the blades rotate clockwise (that's when you're looking up at it from below). By switching your fan's rotation seasonally, you can save 10-15% on your heating bill and as much as 40% on your cooling bill in the summer. Plus it will help to make winter feel a little bit cozier.
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We all know how important it is to keep our laptops off our laps and bed covers so they can stay ventilated and cool and we all know what happens when we don't, but are we really so lazy that we need stands that let us lie flat and work on our computers? Thanko has created an aluminum/steel laptop stand that's USB powered and features two fans that blow room-temperature air into your hot laptop. While the stand allows you to lay back in bed, you can also use it in more practical positions — such as on a table, sitting up in bed or in a chair. I find the notion of working at the computer while laying down almost laughable, but I do like the simplicity and practicality of this stand, which because of the fact that it's USB powered won't require any additional outlets.
What's your solution to keeping cool on a hot day? Do you drink lots of water, stay in the shade, or maybe you use one of these carbine hook fans? I don't know what your fashion sense is, but when I saw these fans on 7Gadgets my initial reaction was eek! Even though they come in a variety of colors and conveniently clip on a belt loop, I can't imagine having one of these fans dangling from my shorts. Although I'd definitely consider keeping one in my bag to pull out during a sweatstache emergency! What are your thoughts?
