Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Become an independent thinker, and go against the grain. Be a leader, not a follower of trends! Focus on the greater good. Develop a sense of humor. Stay traditional, even when society changes around you.

Answer: Curmudgeons take pride in being contrarians. They don't just take the popular positions or the easy ones. They aren't scared to go against the grain.  Most settings actually need contrarians, although they can ruffle feathers. Academia is one field that some experts believe has a lot of curmudgeons. Of course, if you have the job protection tenure affords, you can afford to risk being contrary to people in power. Curmudgeons do not go along with the group in order to get along. They are willing to tick everyone off to voice their stance on an issue, even if they become unpopular as a result. The old Winston Churchill quote comes to mind: “You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” Learn to think for yourself. If a popular media figure says something is great, you don't care for it. Curmudgeons don't need to have the newest gadget or the biggest house.  Curmudgeons are the setters of trends. They have their own minds, values, and trends. They are willing to be the one person wearing the bow tie in the group. Their dress often highlights the fact they stand outside the group. Curmudgeons cultivate their individuality in literature, movies, and food, as well as dress. Above all, they stay true to their own likes. They aren't chameleons who adopt the interests of others or the whole. At their best, curmudgeons can be the way they are because they are caring people working for a cause or to champion a set of principles. There is such a thing as a “lovable curmudgeon.” The kind of curmudgeon you should want to be is the grumpy guy (or gal) who's willing to say what it takes to make things right even if he or she gets painted in a negative fashion as a result, but who does it for a greater good, not to harm someone else.  Deep down, many curmudgeons are caring people who put the interests of others first, and in fact think they are serving some greater good by complaining. They are willing to risk their jobs and reputations to advance values they hold dear. There is something admirable about that. What curmudgeons are not is cruel. They don't try to punish or hurt individuals; they are too busy warring against systems for that. They aren't mean. Grouchy? Yes. Cruel? No. Curmudgeons aren't always super serious. They can dominate a stage with a big, charismatic personality. They like attention.  Tell good stories. Work up some good short stories that tell about interesting experiences you've had or people you've known. Learn how to time them so they are never boring or repetitive. An ironic twist at the end is helpful. Find the humor in at least five things you see every day. Smile or laugh and catch someone's eye to share the moment. Curmudgeons are throwbacks. They are the guys who stick to the old ways as the world changes around them. Poke around the attic, garage or basement until you find that old thing you used to use, rather than buying something new.  You will see this in the way they dress. The typical curmudgeon wears a flannel shirt and grumpy old man hat. You don't have to do this. Just be aware that you won't find a curmudgeon acting slavish to a trend. They don't care about “fitting in” or seeming modern. They might prefer vintage dress. In terms of attitude and values, curmudgeons will stick to a core set of principles even if, at times, the world changes around them. Sometimes they advance the positions of their childhood. Curmudgeons know who they are and what they believe in. They aren't insecure.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Budget the time necessary to revise or rewrite your report. Check spelling and grammar. Check your formatting. Critically examine your work. Have your report reviewed.

Answer: Your first draft of your report should be just that: a first draft. You should expect to revise and rewrite your report several times before submitting it to your teacher for a grade or to your boss for evaluation. Leaving enough time to make the appropriate and necessary edits and changes is important if you want to write a particularly great report. You should do a thorough review of your report for both spelling and grammar. Remember that your computer’s spell check will not catch every error. For example, you may mix up the use of the word “there” with “their.” This will not be caught by a spell-checker, so do not depend on this function alone. Paying attention to the small details of your report (such as spelling and grammar) will improve the overall quality of your report. Make sure that you have complied with any specific requirements in your assignment or project description. You may need a title page, a certain type or size of font, or margins of a particular size. Revision should be more than just proofreading; instead, revision should be a critical examination of your work. Ultimately, you will want to look for errors that detract from the overall quality of your report, and this may mean deleting or rewriting large portions of your report. Ask yourself: Does my report fulfill its goal? If not, you may need to consider significant revisions. If possible, have a trusted friend, peer, or colleague read your report. In addition to proofreading for spelling and/or grammar errors, he or she may be able to provide critical and productive feedback. This can help your report go from good to great.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Put your bed in a corner of the room. Add a wardrobe and a chest of drawers for clothing. Add a nightstand to your room.

Answer: Make sure it is neatly made and has fresh bed clothes that match the colour scheme of your 'apartment'. If you have a built in wardrobe, you can keep using that, or, use that space as a different area of your apartment and add a free standing wardrobe. Place it by the bed. You can place on it your alarm clock and maybe a lamp for reading in bed. Also keep this aiming toward to color scheme. Add a small bookcase for some of your favorite books, alternatively, you could put your bookcase in your lounge area, next to the propped up mattress.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Be careful when choosing wool as your tatting thread of choice.

Answer:
Wool can be used for tatting but the yarn quality is vital. The wool must be very smooth in its texture; avoid any wool that shows signs of fluffiness, knotting, grabbing, etc. If you're not sure, test it first by sliding a piece up and down the shuttle to see how easily (or not) it glides when pushed. A wool that slides easily will be suitable for the tatting project. Also check the instructions for your given project and see the note in "Tips" below.