To describe your problems to a rubber-duck or other inanimate object. Common in software development, the act of describing your problem (as to a mailing list, friend, or a rubber duck on
top of your monitor) often leads to finding the solution just a few moments later. In the mailing list
case, rubber ducking would then be to mail the list again saying "Ok, that was
dumb, but now I'm stuck on the part where...", then to discover THAT solution immediately after hitting SEND. Repeat, ad lib,
fade.
"
Sorry to
spam the list -- I'm just rubber
ducking, this morning. Problem solved. Nothing to see here, move along..."