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May 22, 2008

Short-Term Problem Solved

PROBLEM: Broken laptop fan causes laptop to overheat and shut down, often after mere minutes of use. Looming deadline makes lengthy fan repair time unfeasible.

SOLUTION: Block of frozen spinach placed under right rear of laptop near processor.

GLOBAL WARMING: It is my fault.

—Jonathan Schwarz

Posted at May 22, 2008 12:43 AM
Comments

You only have one computer?

Posted by: A Different Matt at May 22, 2008 01:18 AM

A single computer, a laptop no less. I bet he doesn't even run backups. Purge him! Purge him from the internets!

Posted by: buermann at May 22, 2008 01:28 AM

I know, it's embarrassing. It's like it's 1978 in my apartment. Come on over, I'll play you some of my comedy LPs.

Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at May 22, 2008 01:28 AM

I don't think the Spinach Solution abets global warming, especially if you ate the spinach once you were finished with your laptop. Now, if you had placed your laptop in the refrigerator with the door open, pulled up a chair, and typed from that position - a true engineering solution - that would be a different story.

Posted by: Aaron Datesman at May 22, 2008 06:23 AM

I don't think the Spinach Solution abets global warming, especially if you ate the spinach once you were finished with your laptop.

I'm afraid not -- once one box is thawed I have to put it back in the freezer and then take another box out. In fact, to work normally I need a cycle of about five spinach boxes. (It's a hot computer.)

Thus, I'm using lots of energy, although how this compares to the energy that would normally be needed to run the fan I do not know.

Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at May 22, 2008 06:39 AM

Possibly the spinich has to cool a large area and the fan just 'hits the spot'.

Posted by: Mike Meyer at May 22, 2008 10:17 AM

A carbon arc can burn at 10,000 degrees on 110 house current and not blow a fuse or breaker. Its all in the ampereage, if YOUR computer isn't heating up the room under normal operation then the ampereage is probably low.

Posted by: Mike Meyer at May 22, 2008 10:22 AM

I'm afraid not -- once one box is thawed I have to put it back in the freezer and then take another box out.

Ew. Don't put it back in the freezer! It's ruined now. Throw it away and buy a new one.

Posted by: ethan at May 22, 2008 12:17 PM

"It's ruined now."

I think you're overlooking its usefulness as computer coolant once it's refrozen.

Posted by: Donald Johnson at May 22, 2008 03:25 PM

I think you're overlooking its usefulness as computer coolant once it's refrozen.

Exactly. I hate to say it, but I think Ethan may just not be very technologically sophisticated.

Posted by: Jonathan Schwarz at May 22, 2008 03:45 PM

I can't think of a better use for frozen spinach. Clarence Birdseye would be proud.

Posted by: slim at May 22, 2008 07:00 PM

Suggestion: Buy another brand of frozen spinach for human consumption. That way you won't mistakenly eat the repeatedly refrozen computer coolant.

Posted by: Lynn Lightfoot at May 22, 2008 07:07 PM

Suggestion: Buy another brand of frozen spinach for human consumption. That way you won't mistakenly eat the repeatedly refrozen computer coolant.

Posted by: Lynn Lightfoot at May 22, 2008 07:07 PM

Suggestion: Buy another brand of frozen spinach for human consumption. That way you won't mistakenly eat the repeatedly refrozen computer coolant.

Posted by: Lynn Lightfoot at May 22, 2008 07:08 PM

My apologies for the triple post.

Posted by: Lynn Lightfoot at May 22, 2008 07:09 PM

Fine, reuse it. But everyone knows that thawed items never re-freeze the same again. It might work in a pinch, but it won't be luxurious.

Posted by: ethan at May 23, 2008 01:41 AM