INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It can be difficult to hear the note if there's a lot of noise going on around you. Move to a room that doesn't have a television or radio going, if possible. If you're outside, you may need to move inside for a moment. Play the note on the computer, your phone, a piano, a tuning fork, or a metronome, which sometimes has a tuner built in. Listen carefully to hear the pitch of the note. Play it again if you need to. Work on the "A" string first. That's the string that's the second smallest. Some violins have fine tuners on just the E string, while others have one on the E and A strings and still others have one on all strings. Follow the string down to find the fine tuner for that string. The fine tuners look like tiny screws on the tailpiece, which is located where the strings end near the chin piece. The pegs are the knobs on the far end of the violin. If you're holding the violin facing you with the pegs at the top, the right top is the "A" string, the right bottom is the "E" string, the left top is the "D" string, and the left bottom is the "G" string.

SUMMARY: Move somewhere quiet to tune your violin. Listen to the sound of the note. Find the fine tuners. Find the right peg for the string.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Your total costs consist of both fixed and variable costs for a specific number of units of a product or service. Your fixed costs are costs that do not change over the time period you're evaluating. In contrast, variable costs can be altered and may increase or decrease depending on the circumstances.  Capital expenditures such as equipment would typically be fixed costs. The amount you pay each month to lease your business space would also be a fixed cost. Variable costs include your utilities, employee payroll, and the supplies that are used to produce your product or service. These costs are variable because they generally will increase as your production level increases. Calculate variable costs for each output level or production interval. Add the variable costs to the fixed costs to get your total costs. Once you have your total cost, you can figure out the average cost for each unit of the product or service you sell. At each output level or production interval, simply divide the total cost by the number of units.  For example, if your total cost to produce 500 widgets is $500, your average total cost per unit is $1. But if your total cost to produce 600 widgets is $550, your average total cost per unit at that quantity is $0.92. You can also calculate the average fixed cost and the average variable cost. Your change in cost is measured in the same way that the change in quantity is. Deduct the costs for the smaller production interval or output level from the costs for the larger one. This amount is your change in cost for that particular interval. For example, if it costs you $500 to produce 500 widgets and $550 to produce 600 widgets, your change in cost would be $50.

SUMMARY: Calculate your total production costs. Find the average cost for each unit. Subtract the old cost from the new cost to get the change in cost.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep in regular contact with you friends to maintain the relationship.  Try to call at least once a week to chat with them and check-in.  By talking once weekly, you will ensure that you don’t miss any important news or updates that your friend might have. Text throughout the week and share funny stories or updates. Call them to vent occasionally and let them vent to you, too. If you know they have major events going on in their life right now, call to see if they’re okay or want to talk about it.  Share the important stuff about you, too! Let them know about your classes, love interests, and family. Make a note of their birthday on your calendar or in your planner so that you don’t forget.  Always call or text them on their birthday. Send them a card or buy them a gift to show your love. Even if you don’t text each other updates all the time, stay connected to each other via social networks.  Like and comment on their statuses and pictures.  If they post something sad or exciting, check in with them to show support. Instead of keeping things inside, share this sensitive information with others. Have a crush on someone?  Tell your friend. Be trustworthy so your friends feel comfortable sharing things with you, too. Don’t tell their secrets to anyone. If your friend is going through something, try to help them through it.  Sometimes, they just want to talk, so provide a listening ear.  But if they need help, try to offer that.  When you need advice, ask them for it.  Always be encouraging to one another. Say something like “I know you’re really stressed about the test, but I can study with you if you want.  We can go over questions tonight.”

SUMMARY: Talk at least once per week. Stay updated on each other's lives. Remember their birthday. Stay connected on social media. Share secrets. Ask for and provide advice.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You may exert a lot of energy wrestling with your shortcomings, but this only keeps you stuck. Take a moment to label what the issue is and sit with the knowledge that your reaction to this issue is within your power.  For instance, if you feel defeated about your low income, admit that aloud. Say, “My salary affects the way I view myself. I feel helpless.” Now, empower yourself by imagining that only you can do anything about the situation. You might say something like, “I am the only one who can improve my income.” Remember that you don't have to be perfect. Learn to accept your weaknesses and shortcomings if they're things you can't change, and find ways to work around them. Acceptance is all about empowerment, so take a look at your shortcomings and decide if you want to work on them or just leave them be. If you want to change, devise a plan using  SMART goals to improve in these areas.  Your goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Avoid vague goals like "I want to be happy." A good SMART goal might be: “I want to go up for a promotion to improve my income or apply for higher-paying jobs. I will do this by the end of the month.” Try not to overwhelm yourself— only take on one shortcoming (like income) at a time. Some shortcomings can't be changed, and that's OK. For example, if you think your height is a shortcoming, that's something you can't change. Instead, work on accepting that part of yourself and turning it into a positive. Notice negative or self-defeating language and start to question its validity. Ask yourself questions: Is there evidence to prove this claim? Does that statement make you feel bad about yourself? Is there another more empowering way to look at the situation?  For example, you may think “I will never get better at the guitar.” Change the self-talk to something more realistic, like “If I practiced more, I can get better at the guitar. But, right now, my guitar-playing is not a top priority." This revision helps you view situations more realistically and from a position of self-acceptance (i.e., “I'm okay with not being a great guitar player because it's not my top focus” BUT “I could be better, if I wanted to.”). Become more aware of when you are comparing yourself to others. When this happens, go back to your strengths list and remind yourself of all the ways you are uniquely gifted. Typically, you are making comparisons when negative self-talk happens. For example, maybe you criticized your own guitar-playing after hearing a friend play. Spot the negative, critical, and judgmental people in your life and start spending less time with them. These are the people who make a lot of comparisons, gossip, or focus on the negative aspects of situations. Others can get inside your head and undermine your ability to be self-accepting. Getting distance from negative people can help improve your self-acceptance.

SUMMARY:
Take ownership for your shortcomings. Set realistic goals if you want to change. Challenge negative self-talk. Drop the comparisons and see that you are unique. Remove toxic or negative people from your life.