Looking for ways to escape or shift blame is a fundamental part of life. Here’s a survival guide full of ready-made excuses, from the student’s classic “My dog ate my homework,” to the motorist’s “Was that sign the speed limit, Officer? I thought it was the town’s population,” to the dieter’s “I wasn’t getting enough to eat on one diet, so I had to go on three.” You’ll welcome these ready-made alibis and cop-outs for business, school, sports, family, romance, and other situations where you might find yourself in hot water.