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.