Problem solving

I generally like to solve problems. Your experiment is not working? Here are five ways you could figure out why. You screwed up the protocol? Well, to salvage something from the experiment, do this. An undergrad I worked with told me that when he was trying to figure something out, he would ask himself, "What would Jenski do?" When he did what he thought I would do, it always worked.

I can come up with solutions outside the lab too. For example, I can come up with an easy solution to the following dilemma:

So I was watching the Red Sox game with a Yankees fan, who also may be the BIL guy, out at a bar last night. Towards the end of the game, he says that we need to figure out a way to hang out and not have both of us need to drive afterwards (essentially so that we don't have to watch what we drink). He apparently debated about taking a cab to meet up with me, but would have felt bad drinking a bunch and me not be able to because I had to drive home.

I kept what might be one obvious solution to myself, although I guess I could suggest my staying in his second bedroom. A friend had a better unassuming solution that I ask my friend who lives in the city if I can stay at her place after going out with the dude...to which I added, I can always text her if I don't need her couch...