diff --git a/app/helpers/sync_helper.rb b/app/helpers/sync_helper.rb
index b5350105..dbe9bb42 100644
--- a/app/helpers/sync_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/sync_helper.rb
@@ -1,21 +1,23 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
 module SyncHelper
   def dirtify(save_it = true)
-    dirty = true
-    attempts = 0
-    save! if save_it
+    self.dirty = true
+    self.attempts = 0
+    self.save! if save_it
   end
 
   def undirtify(save_it = true)
-    dirty = false
-    attempts = 0
-    save! if save_it
+    self.dirty = false
+    self.attempts = 0
+    self.save! if save_it
   end
 
   def increment_attempts
-    increment!(:attempts)
+    self.increment!(:attempts)
   end
 
   def max_out_attempts
-    update_attributes!(:attempts => Settings.notes.attempts + 1)
+    self.update_attributes!(attempts: Settings.notes.attempts + 1)
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/evernote_note.rb b/app/models/evernote_note.rb
index d6b7dc53..7c4d2fe3 100644
--- a/app/models/evernote_note.rb
+++ b/app/models/evernote_note.rb
@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ def syncdown_one
           logger.info I18n.t('notes.sync.rejected.tag_missing', error_details)
           undirtify
         end
-        
+
       elsif cloud_note_ignorable?(cloud_note_tags)
         logger.info I18n.t('notes.sync.rejected.ignore', error_details)
-        max_out_attempts
+        undirtify
 
       elsif cloud_note_updated?(cloud_note_metadata.updated)
         logger.info  I18n.t('notes.sync.rejected.not_latest', error_details)
-        max_out_attempts
+        undirtify
 
       else
         # If this is a new EvernoteNote, we only create a note here since many CloudNotes will be created
diff --git a/spec/models/cloud_note_spec.rb b/spec/models/cloud_note_spec.rb
index 94721293..9fdebd86 100644
--- a/spec/models/cloud_note_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/cloud_note_spec.rb
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-describe CloudNote do
+# encoding: utf-8
 
+describe CloudNote do
   let(:note) { FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(:note) }
   let(:cloud_service) { FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(:cloud_service) }
-  before {
-    @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(:cloud_note, :note => note, :cloud_service => cloud_service)
-  }
+  before do
+    @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.build_stubbed(
+      :cloud_note,
+      note: note,
+      cloud_service: cloud_service)
+  end
 
   subject { @cloud_note }
 
@@ -17,6 +21,11 @@
   it { should respond_to(:content_hash) }
   it { should respond_to(:update_sequence_number) }
 
+  it { should respond_to(:dirtify) }
+  it { should respond_to(:undirtify) }
+  it { should respond_to(:max_out_attempts) }
+  it { should respond_to(:increment_attempts) }
+
   it { should belong_to(:note) }
   it { should belong_to(:cloud_service) }
 
@@ -27,62 +36,85 @@
   # it { should validate_presence_of(:note) }
   it { should validate_presence_of(:cloud_service) }
 
-  it { should validate_uniqueness_of(:cloud_note_identifier).scoped_to(:cloud_service_id) }
+  it do
+    should validate_uniqueness_of(:cloud_note_identifier)
+                                  .scoped_to(:cloud_service_id)
+  end
 
-  describe "need_syncdown scope should contain all dirty notes" do
-    before {
-      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, :dirty => true, :attempts => 0)
-    }
-    CloudNote.need_syncdown.last.should == @cloud_note
+  describe 'dirtify should mark it dirty' do
+    before { @cloud_note.dirtify }
+    its(:dirty) { should == true }
+    its(:attempts) { should == 0 }
+  end
+
+  describe 'undirtify should mark it not dirty' do
+    before do
+      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, dirty: true, attempts: 1)
+      @cloud_note.undirtify
+    end
+    its(:dirty) { should == false }
+    its(:attempts) { should == 0 }
   end
 
-  describe "need_syncdown scope should increment attempts when requested to" do
-    before {
-      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, :attempts => 0)
+  describe 'increment_attempts should increment attempts' do
+    before do
+      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, attempts: 0)
       @cloud_note.increment_attempts
-    }
+    end
     its(:attempts) { should == 1 }
   end
 
-  describe "need_syncdown scope should not contain dirty notes that have been retried too often" do
-    before {
-      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, :dirty => true, :attempts => Settings.notes.attempts + 1)
-    }
+  describe 'max_out_attempts should increment attempts' do
+    before { @cloud_note.max_out_attempts }
+    its(:attempts) { should >=  Settings.notes.attempts }
+  end
+
+  describe 'need_syncdown should contain all dirty notes' do
+    before do
+      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, dirty: true, attempts: 0)
+    end
+    CloudNote.need_syncdown.last.should == @cloud_note
+  end
+
+  describe 'need_syncdown should not contain dirty notes retried too often' do
+    before do
+      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note,
+                                        dirty: true,
+                                        attempts: Settings.notes.attempts + 1)
+    end
     CloudNote.need_syncdown.last.should == nil
   end
 
-  describe "a cloud_note is disincluded from need_syncdown when max_out method is applied to it" do
-    before {
-      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, :dirty => true)
+  describe 'is disincluded from need_syncdown after max_out_attempts' do
+    before do
+      @cloud_note = FactoryGirl.create(:cloud_note, dirty: true)
       @cloud_note.increment_attempts
       @cloud_note.max_out_attempts
-    }
+    end
     CloudNote.need_syncdown.last.should == nil
   end
 
-  describe "run_evernote_tasks should syncdown pending notes" do
-    before {
-    }
-    it "should de-activate a note that is not in a required notebook" do
-      # xxx
+  describe 'run_evernote_tasks should syncdown pending notes' do
+    it 'should de-activate a note that is not in a required notebook' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should de-activate a note that has been deleted in the cloud notebook" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should de-activate a note that has been deleted in the cloud' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should de-activate a note not tagged with __PUBLISH (or synonyms)" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should de-activate a note not tagged with __PUBLISH (or synonyms)' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should not update a note tagged with __IGNORE (or synonyms)" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should not update a note tagged with __IGNORE (or synonyms)' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should not request full data if content hash has not changed" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should not request full data if content hash has not changed' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should request full data if content hash has changed" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should request full data if content hash has changed' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
-    it "should syncdown resource if it has changed" do
-      # xxx
+    it 'should syncdown resource if it has changed' do
+      pending 'Need to add this test.'
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/resource_spec.rb b/spec/models/resource_spec.rb
index 827c6295..06b43aaf 100644
--- a/spec/models/resource_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/resource_spec.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
 describe Resource do
   let(:note) { FactoryGirl.create(:note) }
   before { @resource = FactoryGirl.create(:resource, note: note) }
@@ -31,10 +33,43 @@
   it { should respond_to(:dirty) }
   it { should respond_to(:attempts) }
 
+  it { should respond_to(:dirtify) }
+  it { should respond_to(:undirtify) }
+  it { should respond_to(:max_out_attempts) }
+  it { should respond_to(:increment_attempts) }
+
   it { should validate_presence_of(:note) }
   it { should validate_presence_of(:cloud_resource_identifier) }
   it { should validate_uniqueness_of(:cloud_resource_identifier) }
 
+  describe 'dirtify should mark it dirty' do
+    before { @resource.dirtify }
+    its(:dirty) { should == true }
+    its(:attempts) { should == 0 }
+  end
+
+  describe 'undirtify should mark it not dirty' do
+    before do
+      @resource = FactoryGirl.create(:resource, dirty: true, attempts: 1)
+      @resource.undirtify
+    end
+    its(:dirty) { should == false }
+    its(:attempts) { should == 0 }
+  end
+
+  describe 'increment_attempts should increment attempts' do
+    before do
+      @resource = FactoryGirl.create(:resource, attempts: 0)
+      @resource.increment_attempts
+    end
+    its(:attempts) { should == 1 }
+  end
+
+  describe 'max_out_attempts should increment attempts' do
+    before { @resource.max_out_attempts }
+    its(:attempts) { should >=  Settings.notes.attempts }
+  end
+
   describe 'file_ext should return correct file extension' do
     before { @resource.update_attributes(mime: 'image/png') }
     its(:file_ext) { should == 'png' }
@@ -42,22 +77,20 @@
 
   describe 'blank_location should return path for blank file of same format' do
     before { @resource.update_attributes(mime: 'image/png') }
-    its(:blank_location) { should == File.join(Rails.root, 'public', 'resources', 'cut', 'blank.png') }
+    its(:blank_location) do
+      should == File.join(Rails.root, 'public', 'resources', 'cut',
+                          'blank.png')
+    end
   end
 
   describe 'cut_location should return path to the cut image' do
-    pending 'Need to add this test'
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(caption: 'IMAGE CAPTION') }
-    # its.cut_location(160, 90, 500, 0, 0, 0).should =~ /\/public\/resources\/cut\/image-caption-160-90-500-0-0-0.png/
+    pending 'Need to add this test.'
+    # its.cut_location(160, 90, 500, 0, 0, 0).should
+    # =~ /\/public\/resources\/cut\/image-caption-160-90-500-0-0-0.png/
   end
 
   describe 'template_location should return path to the cut image' do
-    pending 'Need to add this test'
-    # before {
-    #  @resource = FactoryGirl.create(:resource, :note => note, :mime => 'image/png', :caption => 'IMAGE CAPTION')
-    # }
-    # @resource.cut_location(160, 90, 500, 0, 0, 0).should =~ /\/public\/resources\/cut\/image-caption-160-90-500-0-0-0.png/
-    # @resource.template_location(16, 9).should =~ /\/public\/resources\/templates\/#{ @resource.cloud_resource_identifier }-16-9.png/
+    pending 'Need to add this test.'
   end
 
   describe 'need_syncdown scope should contain all dirty resources' do
@@ -65,41 +98,71 @@
     Resource.need_syncdown.last.should == @resource
   end
 
-  describe 'needs_syncdown scope should not contain dirty resources that have been retried too often' do
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(dirty: true, attempts: Settings.notes.attempts + 1) }
+  describe 'needs_syncdown should not contain maxed_out, dirty resources' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(dirty: true,
+                                  attempts: Settings.notes.attempts + 1)
+    end
     Resource.need_syncdown.last.should == nil
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to file_name if mime type is not image and file_name is available' do
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(mime: 'application/pdf', file_name: 'ORIGINAL FILE NAME') }
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to file_name if mime type is not image and
+            file_name is available' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(mime: 'application/pdf',
+                                  file_name: 'ORIGINAL FILE NAME')
+    end
     its(:local_file_name) { should == 'original-file-name' }
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to caption if mime type is image and caption is available' do
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to caption if mime type is image and caption
+            is available' do
     before { @resource.update_attributes(caption: 'IMAGE CAPTION') }
     its(:local_file_name) { should == 'image-caption' }
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to description if mime type is image, caption is nil and description is available' do
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil, description: nil, file_name: 'IMAGE DESCRIPTION') }
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to description if mime type is image,
+            caption is nil and description is available' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil,
+                                  description: nil,
+                                  file_name: 'IMAGE DESCRIPTION')
+    end
     its(:local_file_name) { should == 'image-description' }
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to file_name if mime type is image, caption is nil, description is nil, and file_name is available' do
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil, description: nil, file_name: 'ORIGINAL FILE NAME') }
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to file_name if mime type is image, caption
+            is nil, description is nil, and file_name is available' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil,
+                                  description: nil,
+                                  file_name: 'ORIGINAL FILE NAME')
+    end
     its(:local_file_name) { should == 'original-file-name' }
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to cloud_resource_identifier if mime type is image, file_name is empty and all else is nil' do
-    before { @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil, description: nil, file_name: '') }
-    its(:local_file_name) { should == @resource.cloud_resource_identifier.parameterize }
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to cloud_resource_identifier if mime type is
+            image, file_name is empty and all else is nil' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil,
+                                  description: nil,
+                                  file_name: '')
+    end
+    its(:local_file_name) do
+      should == @resource.cloud_resource_identifier.parameterize
+    end
   end
 
-  describe 'local_file_name is set to cloud_resource_identifier if mime type is image and all else is nil' do
-    before { 
-      @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil, description: nil, file_name: '')
+  describe 'local_file_name is set to cloud_resource_identifier if mime type is
+            image and all else is nil' do
+    before do
+      @resource.update_attributes(caption: nil,
+                                  description: nil,
+                                  file_name: '')
       @resource.valid?
-    }
-    its(:local_file_name) { should == @resource.cloud_resource_identifier.parameterize }
+    end
+    its(:local_file_name) do
+      should == @resource.cloud_resource_identifier.parameterize
+    end
   end
 end