Links & Resources


You Can't Help being a Grumpy Old Sourpuss. It's how your brain is.


Science has discovered that curmudgeons and grumps are actually born that way. We know that little babies are really cranky, but some of them grow out of it. Not all of them. "Psychologist Dr David Zald of Vanderbilt University in Nashville has identified a tiny part of the brain which he believes governs people's tendency to have regular bouts of irritability, anxiety or anger. The more active that part of the brain, the more likely someone is to suffer bad moods."
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/feb/17/medicalscience.world

Does Grumpiness Affect the Eco-System?


Bob Banner, from Pilgrimage Press explains that - There's a particular belief among humans that when we are grumpy (and I'm including irascibility, complaining, whining, angry, moody, mean-spirited, ill-willed, and that 'don't look at my eyes you butt-brain attitude...') we feel like it's okay to wear it around with us like a crown of jewels. If I don't bug anybody they won't bug me and it's okay to hang onto the mood. But what we don't understand is that by hanging onto it we are actually cultivating grumpiness. The seed has hit the soil, and we are busily and preciously composting and watering it so our grumpiness will grow strong and healthy.
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http://www.pilgrimagepress.org/bestof/grumpy.htm

The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches


By Jeff Yeager One of the key aspects of being a curmudgeon is that spending money is painful. Even if you have millions of dollars, spending any of them is actually difficult. Is it because we're cheap? Is it because we've become fondly attached to each piece of money? Is it that we get unconditional love from money, and it won't let us down...unless we spend it? These are not easy questions to answer, and philosophers have studied them for thousands of years. Jeff Yeager has come to understand at least the cheapskate part of the equation, so you may want to take a look at what he's written.
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http://www.ultimatecheapskate.com/index.cgi

National Grouch Day - October 15th


We here at the ISOC have known for centuries that curmudgeons and grumps, grouches and old biddies are priceless resources. The human race is doomed anyway, but at least there are a few things we can do about it. Not many, and things can always get worse, but we can talk about that later. For now, everyone should know that there is finally a national recognition movement underway, to bring to light the value of old farts who spend a lot of time reminiscing about how much better things used to be in the old days.
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http://www.nowpublic.com/strange/today-national-grouch-day-got-problem