Put your computer to sleep fast
I found this tip: (Two seconds to sleep) on the Apple site. As my new MacBook Pro doesn't go to sleep when I shut the cover, it is very helpful. Here is the tip:
Want the fastest way to put your Mac right into a deep, sleepy-bear hibernation-like sleep (no whirling fan, no dialogs, no sound — nuthin’ — just fast, glorious sleep). Just press Command-Option and then hold the Eject button for about 2 seconds and Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. It doesn’t get much faster than that.1
[1] Apple - Pro - Tips - Two Seconds to Sleep, http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/quicksleep.html, viewed July 5, 2006↩
