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.