Boy has it been hot...and muggy. Coast is always cooler than Inland even 10 minutes by car but today we broke all records..at 7:00 pm it is still 80 and 70% humidy at my house..
Anyone notice Portland OR over 100?
Is this what they mean by global warming?

Anyone have any tips on how to stay cool without air conditioning??

Oh, those of us in Portland definitely noticed how how it was! How to survive without a/c? Our solution was to have central air installed

Yes, I noticed it was 103 yesterday and 101 the day before.
But it is a dry heat lol and we have wonderful a/c in our apt.
Without a/c, go to a movie. I always freeze in movies

Weird temperature deviations, even for the wild microclimates here in California. Yesterday I left my office in Santa Monica. The outside temperature as shown on my dashboard thermometer: 74F.

The temperature 80 minutes later at Long Beach Airport, where I exited the freeway: 98F. At 6:20 PM.

And it's muggy too. We usually miss the real "monsoonal" weather one gets inland in, say, Tucson. Well, at least no hurricanes to worry about-- yet!

Come visit South Carolina. Our heat and humidity will grow hair on your back.

"Our heat and humidity will grow hair on your back"
So that is what makes that happen!!

to stay cool, i usually take frequent cold showers and leave the hair and shirt wet.

So Go, what you're saying is that, had I stayed in Louisiana where I was born, I'd be Robin Williams-style hairy?

"Honey, we need to weed whack my shoulders, it's Tank Top Season!!"

No thanks, I'll take my chances here with the San Andreas fault and the Botoxed power-shoppers...!

rjw, you got out in time. Our men are back waxed.

"Take a pull on the Jack baby, here we go....rip......"

One of the things I hated about summers in the Portland (and Eugene) area was that so many houses are built with large plate glass windows that can't be opened. So you have to get AC or boil. This is still happening even with new homes.
Our last summer in the Portland area, the house we lived in had south facing floor to ceiling windows in the living/dining room--and wall to wall carpeting. Large pieces of plate glass that let the sun and heat in (even with the blinds drawn). The temperature in that room rose to 115 degrees on several days. So we spent all our time in the kitchen/family room because we were able to fit an AC unit in a kitchen window. If we'd had tile or wood floors and windows that opened, the l/d room could have been comfortable with just a fan. But instead, during the summer it was simply wasted space.
If we ever move back to the Portland area and build a home, we're going to make sure every room has windows that can be opened. And put tile or wood floors in most rooms--in winter we can put down area rugs to keep warm and in summer we can roll them up to enjoy cooler floors.

How to stay cool? Sharper Image sells something looking like a large plastic horse-shoe you put on your neck, somebody told me it helps when it's hot.

I have one of those "looks like a horse collar around your neck" from Sharper Image--Is is called a "Personal cooling system"" -IMO it is worthless...It has a little battery operated fan that blows "cool" air up under your chin or on the back of your neck--depending what way you put it around your neck...
My favorite and cheap appliance is a spray bottle. filled with ice water..You can spray it on your face and/or body.. More technical apparatus is a "mister" I found one in sport store..A cylinder is filled with water, built in hand pump. to build up pressure..--releasie small clamp ---you have your own " misting wand" Some even have a way to pin it to you collar or tank top strap then all you have to do is release clamp for a brief spray..I have seen this same arrangement with attached fan..
And then there is the Non-technical method my grand-mother used-- wet terry hand towel around your neck .
I endorse all of the recommended methods.after living in the Sacramento valley for many years..
good luck

93 degress here in Northwest Montana today with 18% (correct 18%) humidity!

Pleasant and 84F high in San Jose. Was 68F at 9pm. We were supposed to be in Portland Monday - Thurs this week, but we had to cancel due to work issues.