Deforesation essays

Deforesation articles Envision a spot where there are a bigger number of sorts of plants and creatures than anybody has ever observed, a spot loaded up with riddles and wonders, astonishing sights and weird sounds. Such a spot truly exists. It is known as a tropical rainforest, and it is found in numerous nations around the globe. Tropical rainforests are the place you go over multitudes of ants, fledgling eating bugs, monster night crawlers, and cackling parrots, alongside snakes skimming through the air. How energizing it is investigate. Something like this must be conceivable that is, if there are any tropical downpour woodlands left to investigate on earth! Numerous individuals everywhere throughout the world accept that the tropical rainforests are at risk for being crushed. Deforestation is a significant worldwide issue with genuine outcomes to the planet. The results of deforestation effectsly affect the atmosphere, biodiversity, and the environment, alongside compromising the social and physical e ndurance of indigenous people groups. The impacts are too incredible to even consider continueing decimating the backwoods. These suggestions accordingly have energized open objection. Concerns have since developed to incorporate other backwoods types also. Congress has considered an assortment of enactment to stem the tide of expanding deforestation and the United States has bolstered various two-sided and multilateral activities to help different nations in dealing with their timberland assets. What's more, the issue of deforestation has obtained expanding consideration in global fields, which has converted into a labyrinth like exhibit of projects, standards, and strategies with respect to backwoods. In this world, there are huge amounts of tropical timberlands in presence, running from the downpour backwoods of the Amazon to the dry forests of Southern Africa, from the beach front mangroves of Southeast Asia to the snow capped woodlands in the Andean good countries of South America. Deforestation is the lasting loss of woodlands to other land uses, for example, farming... <!

Stormwater Pollution on the Grand Strand essays

Stormwater Pollution on the Grand Strand articles The enthusiastic, family arranged Grand Strand, a blasting hotel zone along the South Carolina coast, is one of the eastern seaboard's biggest get-away focuses. Myrtle Beach, whose populace detonates from 26,000 to 350,000 individuals in the mid year, is without any help liable for 40% of the state's travel industry income (Travel Channel 2). There are a great many activities along the strand, from golf to shopping, yet the primary fascination, obviously, is the wide, alluring sea shore, 60 miles of white sand extending from the North Carolina fringe south to Georgetown. However, as the interest to visit the coastline of South Carolina keeps on developing, so does the need to evaluate the clear contamination issue inside the beach front environment. In the state, storm water spillover is a significant poison, influencing all parts of the sea shore understanding. Tempest water will be water from downpour that doesn't rapidly douse into the ground. Tempest water runs from housetops, ov er cleared regions and exposed soil, and through inclined yards and fields. Initially, storm water was viewed as spotless yet as it streams, this overflow gathers and transports soil, pet waste, pesticides, compost, oil and oil, leaves, litter, and other potential poisons. A substantial rainstorm isn't expected to send contaminations hurrying towards the sea or closest waterway; a solitary nursery hose can gracefully enough water. Water and flotsam and jetsam that streams into storm channels and sewers move straightforwardly to the sea, not to a wastewater treatment plant, the same number of accept. Tempest water spillover impacts South Carolina's seaside condition, yet in addition negatively affects the economy and the individuals. In the mid year of 1996, as South Carolina's seaside fascination kept on blooming, many got condemning of the water quality in South Carolina's sea shores. Due to an announcement from the Natural Resources Defense Council, just as a variety of nearby paper articles, residents and vacationers the same got suspicious of why S... <!

On Improving Social Abilities Effectively

On Improving Social Abilities Effectively If employers solely make their hiring decisions based on a candidate’s academic qualifications, then the whole hiring process would be cut and dried. Those who possess high IQ or stellar credentials at school or university would be hired immediately, no questions asked.However, there is more to the hiring process than just basing on cold, hard numbers. They want to get to know the candidates better, which is why they conduct a series of interviews and examination.In the same way, have you ever wondered why some people seem to have more friends or a wider circle of friends than others?There are people who just seem to naturally attract other people like bees to honey, while others have to put in a lot of effort just to get noticed, much less engage other people in conversation.If we are going to be much deeper about it, this would also explain why some people are better at building and maintaining relationships than others.There is one explanation for this: these people have skills or abilities that the others simply do not have or, even if they do, they are in smaller measures. More often than not, these are their social abilities or interpersonal skills. © Shutterstock | racornThis guide will explain 1) what are social abilities, 2) why are they important to develop, 3) important social skills to acquire, and 4) how to develop those needed skills.WHAT ARE SOCIAL ABILITIES?Humans are, by nature, social beings. They cannot help but seek out company, so being social or sociable is already an innate characteristic. We can even go so far as to say that being sociable is part of their genetic make-up. The only difference is that, some people have tapped into this characteristic while others prefer to keep it hidden or under wraps. For many, it also takes a lot of work to let out that side of them. Which is why we are here to discuss how to improve our social abilities.Social abilities or social skills may also be referred to as interpersonal or communication skills. These are the abilities that are possessed and used by individuals to interact and communicate with each other. The mode of communication may be verbal (spoken or written) or non-verbal (using body language, gestures and facial expressions).IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SOCIAL ABILITIESWe have already established that we all have social abilities; we just have to develop and improve them in order for them to be of some use to us. But why is it so important to develop these abilities? What advantages can we expect from having well-developed social abilities?The most obvious advantage would be having better and improved communication with everyone around you. In short, good social skills equal good communication. However, that statement is quite broad. So we can break it down further by identifying the advantages one could gain by using good social abilities to improve communication. Having strong and stable interpersonal relationships will actually get you far, both personally and professionally, as you will learn as we go along.Improved relations with othersRelationships take a lot of work, and this does not apply only to married couples. This applies in all relationships in general. If you have good social skills, you are quicker to identify and relate well with other people, and get them to like and even trust you. In another way, you will also be able to attract their attention, and they will feel interested in what you do and thus will be drawn to you.Another advantage you can expect from having good relationships is being able to establish a strong and solid support network. Improved work efficiency or productivityImagine working in close quarters with a person you do not understand or can’t communicate with. That is bound to cause some friction. Picture yourself in a very important meeting where you cannot be civil with a colleague that you do not like as much as the others.I am betting that the meeting will not go as well as planned, and any agenda or problem will be hard to resolve simply because of the communication problem.Improved professional lifePeople who are better connected and have good social skills usually end up ha ving better career prospects. At work, they are the people who leave a better impression than others, so they are usually the ones that are considered first for promotions or pay raises. Compare a person who prefers to keep to himself, seated in his own small corner of the office and isolating himself from everyone else as he goes about his work. Compare that to a person who works just as hard, but still manages to take the time to be sociable with his co-workers, superiors and subordinates. Between the two, it is clear that the latter will have better chances of advancing in his professional career than the former.Higher confidence levelsIt’s almost a given that one’s self-esteem will get a major blow if they are not on good terms with other people. Having no friends certainly does not do anything for your confidence, because that sense of being alone, of not belonging anywhere or with anyone, or even not being liked by anybody, is bound to take a toll on a person.Improved heal th and well-beingHow do you feel knowing that you are in good terms with people around you? Doesn’t it make you feel better, knowing that you can easily talk to them, share your thoughts and even joke around? You do not have to be too stressed about keeping up appearances, or walking on eggshells around them.You don’t have to feel too pressured or suffer anxiety thinking about how to avoid those you are not in good terms with. Stress-free and anxiety-free, you can pay more attention to the important things.KEY SOCIAL ABILITIES THAT YOU’D WANT TO FOCUS ONWe can come up with a long list of social skills that a person could possess, but let us narrow that list down to the abilities that you would want to have if you want to get ahead, both in your personal and professional life.Listening skillsFor you to talk to someone about anything, it’s important to know how they feel about the topic. Unless you listen to what they say, this is not possible to achieve. When you listen, you will also show concern since you will be accepting and appreciating your partner’s input in the matter. Verbal skillsWhen we speak of social skills or communication skills, the first thing that comes to mind is the ability of a person to start a conversation and sustain it or keep it going. Verbal skills involve the choice of words we use as well as the tone, pitch and volume of voice that we use when speaking those words. One can tell so much by how the tone of a person’s voice changes while saying something.Non-verbal communication skillsSometimes, what we don’t say with words actually speak more volume. The things that we do not say with our moves have much more impact when conveyed in other ways, such as a look on our face or a gesture made with our arms.Body language is also very important when communication, which is why it is also important to be mindful with how we express ourselves through our bodies.Building rapportSometimes rapport happens naturally when we think th at we ‘hit it off’ with someone else without necessarily putting any effort. However, sometimes it has to be built by finding overlapping areas of interest, being empathic and developing bonds.It is a skill that can help you make some good connections with people who might end up being very instrumental in your life.Use the following conversation starters to build a rapport quickly.[slideshare id=45718859doc=7m8euzedqes97pn4plyt-signature-c98f80ac8802cd358535a2bb1a3b359fdccf6cfe99d751feba47ded20ef006cd-poli-150311132009-conversion-gate01w=640h=330]Display of empathyMost times in life the view get flawed and we tend to look at things only from our own perspectives. While it may sound perfectly normal, it makes you appear selfish and as a result it can make other people fear associating with you.With empathy, you will look at things from the other person’s perspective and try to understand how they feel. Empathy is one of the most important social skills to have because it helps you identify other people’s needs and the perception you create.Ability to keep calmFinally, you need to be in control of your nerves when under pressure. A study by TalentSearch has shown that 90% of top performers have the ability to remain calm and composed even during stressing and demanding situations.HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SOCIAL ABILITIESAlthough we all have social abilities within us the moment we were born, it is a fact that not all of us are actually making use of them, or even making any efforts on developing them.This may stem from a fear of rejection by others, or uncertainties about how to reach out and connect with others. Some take on the attitude of “what if they do not like me back?” “What if they won’t acknowledge me?” “What if I go about it the wrong way?” “What if, no matter what I do, they will not accept me?”Asking these questions and going through these scenarios in your head over and over is not going to help or accomplish anything. You hav e to take action and actually do something. One step towards that direction is to make an effort to improve your social abilities.#1 Know thyself.Since you want to improve yourself, it’s important that you know yourself first. No one knows you better than yourself, so you already have an idea about your identity and what makes you tick. However, this should not stop you from looking into other ways to get to know yourself better.Talk to family, friends, co-workers and other acquaintances. You will be surprised at how much you’d learn about yourself when you talk to other people. Sometimes, how others perceive you might be worlds apart from how you perceive yourself. You may think you come across as friendly and approachable to some, when they actually find you too assertive or even aggressive. Take note of what you get from others and compare it with what you think about yourself.Take assessment tests, particularly those focused on social skills. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding these tests online depending on the trait that you want to test, but you may also approach the professionals and get a psychologist administer the test to you. This will give you another perspective of your social abilities.Using all the information you gleaned, you should:Reconcile the differences in perspectives. Your family may look at you one way, and your friends in another way. It is also possible that the people you work with have an entirely different perspective of your personality. This is normal, because we tend to act one way when with people we are close with than with people we are only on professional terms with. Try to determine the factors for these differences, so you can put clearer reasons on why people perceive you in various ways.Identify your strengths and weaknesses. This is actually another important reason why you should take the time out to know who you are â€" how you see yourself and how others see you. You will learn what areas you need to cont inue doing well at, and which areas need more work on. #2 Experiment and practiceThis is where the “a lot of work” we kept mentioning comes in. Improving your social skills does not happen overnight. It takes time â€" a very long time for some, even. At first, you may even come across obstacles and your efforts do not pan out the way you expect to, but you have to keep practicing.Go out and mingle. We all have our comfort zones. Sometimes, we prefer to be by ourselves because we just like it better that way. But you cannot hope to learn how to communicate better if you stay away from everyone else. Seek them out. Talk to people. Spend time with them. At first, it may be awkward but again, let me remind you, that should not deter you from keeping at it.Focus on your trouble points. Prioritize on working on the weaknesses that you have identified earlier. If you find yourself falling short when it comes to nonverbal communication, you will have to be more mindful with your actions . The key points to consider are:Ability to look at other people in the eyes while talking. Others may think you are impolite if you are addressing them while looking somewhere else.Ability to maintain eye contact for more than a brief moment. People tend to take your words seriously if you are able to hold their gaze while you are communicating.Posture, such as how you stand, how you sit, how you hold your head up. Slouching, keeping your head down or standing while slightly bent at the waist may look like you are lacking confidence, or have too much of it.Facial expression, or any tics or mannerisms that may show on your face. Many times, those who unconsciously make faces while talking with others are misunderstood and their words misinterpreted.Positions and movements of arms and legs. For example, crossing your arms while talking to others may be a defense mechanism when you are nervous but will only come across as arrogance to the person you are speaking with.Quality of voice while talking. This encompasses the tone, pitch and volume of your voice. Naturally, they should be in keeping with the circumstances, the subject matter, the nature of conversation being conducted, and the people you are speaking with.Actively seek out feedback. Of course, you want to keep apprised of how you are progressing. You may think that it is enough for you to evaluate the results yourself, but then again, getting others’ feedback will give you a fresh and new perspective. You see, you may think that you are doing well when others think that you aren’t really getting anywhere. In some cases, other people engage an “experiment buddy” to keep a close eye on them. It may be a family member or a close friend. This buddy will give you their opinion on how you are doing so far.Learn about coaching and seeking feedback from Robert Kaplan. #3 Be consistent about it.Consistency is very important. What if you become sociable with your co-workers, talking with them freely and even sharing meals or coffee with them for a week, and then completely distancing yourself again the next week? This will only be viewed as erratic behavior on your part, and we all know how most people react to those with erratic or moody behavior.You can go about it slowly, but surely. Some feel pressured to quickly improve their social skills and make friends. As a result, they end up coming across as aggressive or too forward, to the point of being condescending. They run the risk of bulldozing over others and imposing themselves on other people just to gain acceptance. This will undoubtedly backfire, and you’ll get the opposite result.#4 Show confidence.This may be quite difficult at first, especially for those who are not really outgoing or who have trouble communicating with others. But even the smallest amount of confidence will help in getting you started on your road to improving your social abilities. If you do not believe in yourself and think that you will never hone your social skills then, in all likelihood, you never will. But if you put your mind to it, then you’re halfway there already.Remember that you already have social abilities to begin with. You just have to tap into them and improve them. We are all born with social abilities, but not all of us are born with good social skills. Sometimes, some of us need to work more than others to turn these social skills into something good and beneficial. This way, you won’t be wasting what you already have in abundance, and you can actually benefit from it in the present and well into the future.Another thing you have to remember is that improving social abilities involves, more often than not, a lot of trial and error. What will work for one may not work for another, and vice versa.It takes a lot of work, and a lot more practice. The important thing is to never stop trying to improve these skills. The moment that you stop, the growth of your social abilities will be stunted, and so will your opportunities.

Using the French Passive Infinitive

Even though the French infinitive translates as to verb, the French infinitive sometimes needs to be preceded by a preposition. This phenomenon can be divided into two categories: verbs that must be followed by a preposition (see lesson) and the passive infinitive, which you will learn about in this lesson.The passive infinitive occurs when a sentence is written in such a way that the infinitive has a passive, rather than active, meaning. This construction requires the preposition à  . Compare these two sentences:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je veux dire quelque chose.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jai quelque chose à   dire.The first sentence, I want to say something, is active - this want is an active state of mind. The second sentence, I have something to say, is passive: the speaker is using this construction to emphasize the something to say, rather than the action of actually saying it. It might help to literally translate it as I have something to be said.The passive infinitive occurs most commonly with indef inite words, including negative indefinites. This is not a definitive list, but it should give you a good idea about when and how to use the passive infinitive. Indefinite Pronouns   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je cherche quelque chose à   lire.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Im looking for something to read.  Ã‚  Ã‚  En voici un autre à   corriger.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heres another one to correct.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aimes-tu les films  ? En voici plusieurs à   voir.  Ã‚  Do you like movies? Here are several to watch. Negative Pronouns   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il ny a rien à   manger.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theres nothing to eat.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elle nen a pas une seule à   partager.  Ã‚  Ã‚  She doesnt have a single one to share. Indefinite Adjectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je cherche une autre voiture à   louer.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Im looking for another car to rent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il regarde chaque peinture à   vendre.  Ã‚  Ã‚  He looks at each painting to be sold.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il y a maintes choses à   faire demain.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many things to do tomorrow. Negative Adjectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je nai aucun argent à   te prà ªter.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I dont have any money to loan you.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il ny a pas un seul ordinateur à   utiliser.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There isnt a single computer to use.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il na nulle sagesse à   communiquer.  Ã‚  Ã‚  He has no wisdom to impart. Indefinite Article or Number   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il me reste une maison à   vendre.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have one house left to sell.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elle a trouvà © un chien à   adopter.  Ã‚  Ã‚  She found a dog to adopt.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jai achetà © quatre tartes à   partager avec le groupe.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I bought four pies to share with the group. Presentatives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Cest difficile à   dire.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Its hard to say.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il y a beaucoup de choses à   faire à   Paris.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are a lot of things to do in Paris.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Voici les và ªtements à   laver.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Here are the clothes to wash.Note that sometimes cest and il est must be followed by de rather than à   - learn more. Sentence Fragments The passive infinitive may also be used in fragments:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ãƒâ‚¬ vendre  Ã‚  Ã‚  For sale  Ã‚  Ã‚  Maison à   louer  Ã‚  Ã‚  House for rent

The Scientific And Ethical Considerations Of Art Technology

Many factors have influenced the history and technology of painting such as geography, religion, national characteristics, historic events, and the development of new paint technology which help to shape society. In this paper I will start off by discussing the various technologies and tools that are used in painting today. Next I will go over the history as well as the earliest form of paintings which help shape society in that specific period of time. I will also discuss some of the new technological advancements in painting and other forms of art. I will go over the sociological and ethical considerations of art technology. This paper will also discuss the various paintings that were either influential or controversial for society as†¦show more content†¦Then there was the use of oil paintings and paint brushes. Paint brushes were first used throughout the prehistoric times, when wall and cave drawings that used some type of brush. Brushes have been discovered in Egypt, which were made from split palm leaves, and were also used by the ancient Greek and Romans. Today the technological artist would use forms of spray brushes or robotic painting which is controlled digitally. Painting tools have come a long way from using simple brushes to robotic painting. Without the innovations in the tools of painting, our society’s vision of art would not look the same. The two pictures below shows a cave painting from the early prehistoric and Egyptian Pyramids. The cave paintings from prehistoric days showing the type of artwork and also shows the dirt and other forms of liquid used to make the painting. These paintings were also painted on the floors, ceilings, and other ancient rocks forms. Cave painting such as the picture above helped society record their life teachings and encapsulates what time was like during these prehistoric times. Cave paintings also brought much history on the different forms of art that were available to create. Egyptian pyramids were also a huge stepping stone in constructing large architecture. These large monuments provided a sort of blueprint on how the structures were made that time. Civilization around that time did not have much

Latinos in America Free Essays

What is an American? This is a difficult question to address, especially concerning Latinos who only speak English. Many Latinos in the United States, consider language a point of high controversy. Some consider speaking spanish an essential part of being Latino , while others consider it a barrier that will prevent the assimilation into the American culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Latinos in America or any similar topic only for you Order Now Tanya Barrientos, like many other Latinos, wrestled with this very issue her entire life. Growing up as a Latina came with many stereotypes, speaking Spanish being one of the most negative characteristics for Barrientos. As society changed its views and learned to accept this diversity in language, Barrientos learned to embrace her heritage. The true question lies within her reasoning for this change in her perception, but was it for the right reasons? What makes this country great is that you can be both: A Spanish speaking latino that is fully emerged in American society. Being American is not about the language you speak but about your ideals and how they fit in the American way of life. Many Americans don’t realize that the choice in language is not determined by the individual but lies in the choice parents or caregivers. This choice is one that will haunt individuals for the rest of their lives. In Barrientos’ case, her parents decided it would be best for her to only speak English. As Barrientos grew up, she embraced her parents choice, saw this as a positive trait, one that differentiated her from most Latinas. She enjoyed defying expectations. Since childhood, she felt that speaking Spanish translated to been poor, holding less desirable jobs and discrimination towards the Latino community. It is because of this that she enjoyed attending a public school that attracted few Latinos, she wanted to distance herself from the rest. In her opinion, not speaking Spanish gave her an edge over other Latinos and allowed her to successfully fit into the American Anglo society. In her own words, it made her feel superior and American. Society pushed her to want to stay away from her heritage and embrace the melting pot as a full fledge citizen. Prejudice or stereotypes should not affect the way you feel about your ulture or background. If society is going to view you in a negative way because the way you look or where you come from, they will do so regardless of what you do. This should make you embrace your heritage and take pride in what makes you unique. This is especially true when it pertains to language, which is something that cannot be perceive by looking at a person. In Barrientos’ case it did not make sense to refuse a language when society would already perceive t he stereotype due to ethnicity. In her situation, not speaking Spanish made her feel like as if society did not view her as a Latina, when clearly by the comments from school staff and most likely other untold accounts, it didn’t make a difference. To others who did not know her, she was still a Latina, no different than the rest who were Spanish speaking. She had very little sympathy or affection for other latinos and held many negative views of her own culture. She tried to differentiate herself from the Latino community as much as possible, and succeeded. In a way she had become what she was avoiding, holding prejudice and acquired a feeling of superiority towards Spanish speaking Latinos. Barrientos was concerned about blending in with society, this meant being seen as â€Å"white†. In her mind white meant American, you could not be American if you spoke Spanish. As she puts it Spanish associated you with the radical thinking of Mexican-Americans or Afro-Americans. While emerging yourself in the society you live in is positive, refusing/denying your culture is not the best way to do it. She pushed her culture away because it did not have anything positive to give her, it would only bring her problems and misfortune. Barrientos did not care to even be considered Latina. That is what a selfish, insecure individual would do. It wasn’t until society view about Latinos and Spanish changed, that she started relating her culture to something positive. Once the realization that being Latino and speaking Spanish was not a negative but a positive, she began to change. In her own words it was time to take pride, but as she puts it, it felt fake, because in a way it was. It wasn’t until she had something to gain, that she wanted to fit in. It seems that is the overall theme of her life, always trying to fit in, but only when its most convenient for her. This attitude will never truly allow her to belong. Even after trying to learn Spanish, other Latinos notice that she was different. Her entire life she worked on putting up walls between her and the Latino community. She outcasted herself for so long and then found it very difficult to connect with her own community. I suspect it was not just the language but her attitude and demeanor as well. In a society as complex as the one in the United States, it is important to realize that you can never fit in with the entire population. If you try to conform to what others want, you lose a part of your individualism. It is also important that in the process of assimilating you do not end up alienating others in your same situation. At the end of the day, you can not change the preconceived notions that come with belonging to a specific ethnic group, but you can choose to embrace your culture and enjoy that part of your life while still emerging in the American way of life. How to cite Latinos in America, Papers

Playscript of the Gift of the Magi free essay sample

Jim: Oh, no problem, my dear. I’ll set it up right now (Smile). (Sets the tree up, steps away from it) Jim: You see, you have a wonderful husband who can put anything to rights. (The tree falls over again. Della laughs) Jim: You’re laughing at me. Della: At both of us. Jim: And why is that? Della: Because we work so hard for our happiness. And sometimes even against the laws of gravity. Jim: But we are happy, laws or no laws. (Both of them smile. Suddenly, Jim kisses on Della’s hair) Jim: Della, you look so lovely! I love your hair. It was the first thing I noticed about you when I met you. I loved it then, and now it’s even longer and more beautiful than it was. Della: But my hair is less valuable than your grandfather’s watch! The dearest thing you have. We will write a custom essay sample on Playscript of the Gift of the Magi or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jim: However I have no chance to wear it. Della: Oh, Jim, your watch should have a beautiful long chain and fob, so you wouldn’t have to be embarrassed about showing it off Jim: But you are more valuable to me†¦than any thing†¦that I†¦own. (Della looks at the watch. It’s 7g30 o’clock) Della: Oh, it’s too late. You have to go to work right now. Jim: Oh, I forget. See you later. (kissing on Della’s cheek) Della: (coming to the house and looking out the window) Scene 2: Jim: (on the way to work and seeing the Christmas atmosphere on the street) Della: Tomorrow will be Christmas! I will buy a special gift for my husband and make Jim surprise at it. (She begins to count the money) Della: Five cents, nine cents, fourteen, twenty-four, twenty-seven†¦one dollar seventy, seventy-five, six, seven, eight, nine, dollar eighty, eighty-five, six seven. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. Surely that can’t be all. But I have counted it three times, it doesn’t change a thing. It’s still one dollar and eighty-seven cents. I’ve been saving all my pennies, nickels and dimes for months so that I could buy Jim something really special this Christmas. I saved these coins by bargaining with the grocer, the vegetable man, the butcher, the baker or even the candlestick maker. Della: One dollar and eighty-seven cents? That’s it? I knew that I hadn’t saved nearly as much as I wanted to, but†¦a dollar eighty-seven? I couldn’t possibly buy Jim anything with that! (Della sits at the table recounting the money yet again. Jim, elsewhere on the stage counts from his pocket into his hand) Jim: One dollar. A dollar ten, twenty, thirty, thirty-five,†¦ (Look in another pocket) Jim: Thirty-six, seven, eight. Wait, wait!!! (Tries a third pocket) Jim: A nickel and a penny. One dollar and forty-six cents. Della: one dollar, eighty-seven cents (Della look so sad and cry) Jim: Poor Della. She deserves a nice Christmas gift! However, what of her Christmas with one dollar and forty-six cents? What have I done? What a miserable, thoughtless, self-serving, heartless creature I am. What on earth can be done? Jim: I will miss it so much, but†¦but it will all be worth it to give Della the kind of Christmas†¦that she really deserves. And after all, it was just a pocket watch†¦ a valuable, family heirloom pocket watch. Well, it doesn’t matter! No pocket watch could ever be more important to me than my Della. Della (look at the mirror and comb her hair): Oh, why don’t I exchange my hair for a meaningful gift for my husband? Oh, no†¦I can’t I can’t†¦ It’s so terrible if I cut my hair! I can’t imagine anyone cutting off their hair and selling it. No, no; that would be a silly thing to do†¦I could never sell my hair. However, I love Jim more than myself. It’s time to do something for him. (Della runs out of the house) Scene 3: Hairdresser: May I help you? You want to cut your hair, don’t you? Please come in Della: Please excuse me. I†¦I would like to sell my hair to you. I fear my nerves have the gotten the best of me. Hairdresser: It’s your hair not your nerves I’m interested in. Step over here and sit down. (Della does) Well, hair worth seeing for once. Good color. Good texture. Sit down, I’ll chop it off. Della: Well, you see†¦ Hairdresser: I do see. Della: How much money could you give me for my hair? Hairdresser: Twelve dollars. Are you Ok? Della: twenty-five Hairdresser: fifteen Della: twenty-one Hairdresser: eighteen Della: done Hairdresser: Fool, I would have paid twenty! (She picks up her scissors) Hairdresser: Step into the other room. You will regret this all your life. (Della runs out of the hair store) Scene 4: Storekeeper: Ah. Welcome back. The girl with the boy with the gold pocket watch. Good heavens, what have you done to yourself? Della: Oh, please don’t Storekeeper (Staring at her): Well, hair grows. Della: The platinum watch fob you showed me? Storekeeper: Still in the case. Twenty-three dollars I believe I said. Della: You had said†¦twenty-one. Storekeeper: Had I? Twenty-one then. Della: but you see, I haven’t twenty-one Storekeeper: You haven’t twenty-one? Della: Nineteen ninety-seven actually. Storekeeper: Really? Afraid I couldn’t do that. Della: Oh please. I’ve set all my hopes on it. Please help me. Storekeeper: Now don’t cry. I can’t stand tears, I always cry myself. Della: (Hopefully) So you’ll sell it for what I have? Storekeeper: No. Mouths to feed, you see. Della: Well, of course you must see to your family. It’s final then, the price? (She nods) Della: A merry Christmas madam, to you and yours. (Starts to go) Storekeeper: Wait. (She turns) Storekeeper: Take off your scarf girl. (She does) Storekeeper: Poor thing. You look like a plucked chicken, You may have the fob for twenty dollars. Della: I’ve only nineteen ninety-seven Storekeeper: (He stares at her) Take it for heaven’s sake! (Gives her the fob, she gives him her money) Della: Thank you. Thank you, thank you. You are the very spirit of the season! (She exits) Storekeeper: Lord help you when he sees you. I hope the lad’s worth it. (The set is changed back to Della’s flat. She takes off her coat, puts the fob in a drawer and picks up a hand mirror). Scene 5: Della: Oh, thank goodness Jim isnt home yet! Im so excited! I cant wait until he sees what Ive bought for him. I know hell love it. I only hope he still loves me! Oh, nooo! What have I done? When Jim sees this, hell say I look like a like a nun! But what could I have done, oh, what could I have done with a dollar and eighty-seven cents? No! No, Im not sorry I did this, and I wont be, no matter what. This gift is just what Jim needed. Thats worth any price to me, any price at all. (LOOKS IN MIRROR AGAIN) Oh, please, make him think Im still pretty! (AFTER A BEAT) No no, I should give Jim more credit than that. He doesnt love me for my hair! That would be silly. No, he loves me for me; he loves me for who I am, not for what I look like! (ANOTHER GLANCE INTO MIRROR) (The door opened and Jim stepped n and closed it) Jim: Della are you home Della: Yes, Jim, Im here. Jim: Good, Im glad youre home. Why do you have that shawl on your head? Della: I um um shawl? What shawl? Jim: Oh, it doesnt matter anyway. Merry Christmas, Della! (PICKS HER UP AND SPINS HER AROUND. SHAWL FALLS OFF HER HEAD) Merry, merry, merry, merry (DAZED WHEN HE SEES HER HAIR, HE FALLS BACKWARD STRAIGHT BACKED ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND) Della oooooooh, Della. (GETTING UP AND RUSHING TO HER) Now, I want you to stay calm but I think your hair is falling out. Della: Jim, my hair is not falling out. Jim: (HES REALLY LOST IT NOW) Wait, maybe its here. (PICKS UP SHAWL, SHAKES IT, LOOKING FOR HAIR, FINDS NONE) Della: Jim, my hair is not falling out! Jim: Then one of us is crazy, and I hope its me! Della: Jim, dont look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and I sold it, because I just couldnt have lived through Christmas without giving you a gift! Jim: No you cant do that I wont let you do that! Della: Ive already done it, Jim. Jim: Umh? Della: Im me without my hair, arent I? You do still love me dont you? Jim: Uhm Uh oh, of course I do. But Della, you dont understand. Your our hair is gone! Della: (BEGINNING TO CRY) Itll grow back. Jim: Yes, I know, but Della your hair is gone! Della: Jim, are you all right? Jim: Ive got to find it. (STARTS LOOKING IN STRANGE PLACES, MESSING UP THE APARTMENT, AS DELLA FOLLOWS HIM, STRAIGHTENING UP BEHIND HIM) Della: You neednt look for it, Jim, I told you I cut it off and sold it so I could buy you a Christmas gift. You dont really mind, do you? Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered, but nobody could ever count my love for you. So, should I put the chops on the stove, Jim? Jim: (SLOWLY RETURNING TO REALITY) Your hair is Della: Gone! Yes, Jim, now snap out of it. Please. Just say Merry Christmas and lets be happy! Jim: (DAZED) Did you sell your hair? (DELLA HANDS HIM THE CARD. HE READS IT, STILL DAZED) Oh, I guess thats how they make wigs. Della: Oh, Jim, open your gift tonight, all right, on Christmas Eve? Jim: But Della Della: Oh, Jim, Ill just die if I have to wait until tomorrow! Jim: But, Della everything is I dont know; everything is all wrong. Della: What do you mean? Jim: Your hair, Della. Its gone! Della: Im sorry, Jim. Im sorry I never realized you love me for my hair, and not for me. Jim: Della. Della: But dont worry! See, I can wear this shawl over my head for the next three years, and you wont ever have to look at me! (SHAWL IS OVER HEAD NOW) My hair will be grown out by then, and you can love me again. (SHE IS CRYING HERE. ) Jim: Della Della, I love you! Id love you if you were bald, and toothless, with six legs, and three eyes, and a big wart on the end of your nose! (THINKING OUT LOUD) I probably wouldnt take you out very much, but I would love you. Della, I dont think theres anything in the way of a haircut or a shampoo or or a shave that could make me like my girl any less. But if youll open this package (GIVES IT TO HER), I think youll understand why you had me going there for a while at first. (DURING DELLAS NEXT ACTION JIM HANGS UP HIS COAT AND HAT. DURING DELLAS NEXT LINE JIM IS CONTINUALLY TRYING TO REMIND DELLA THAT HER HAIR IS GONE BUT CANT GET A WORD IN EDGE-WISE. ) Della: (OPENS PACKAGE AND GASPS) The combs! Oh, Jim, the combs from the store window on Broadway! Those beautiful pure tortoise shell combs with jeweled rims! Side and backthe whole set! Oh, Jim, thank you so much!! Ive admired these combs through the window for months. But theyre so expensive, I never thought theyd be mine! Oh, theyre beautiful, and theyre just the right shade for me! Oh, theyll look so pretty in my ha Jim, Jim, my hair is Both: Gone! Jim: Yeah, I know. Della: (HALF LAUGHING, HALF CRYING) Youre right, Jim, I do understand what you meant. But its not really that bad. My hair grows so fast, Jim! Ill just wrap these beautiful, wonderful combs up again, and keep them safe until my hair grows back out. Jim: Three years? Della: By then, the combs will be three hundred times more special, and three thousand times more beautiful. Jim: And youll be three million times more beautiful. Della: So you DO hate my short hair! Jim: No, Della, I didnt mean that, I was just. Oh, how do I get myself into these things? Della I know, you said there was a gift for me. You already opened yours; could I open mine? Della: Oh, yes! I cant wait for you to see it. You dont know what a nicewhat a beautiful, nice gift I got for you! I know youre going to love it. Its the perfect thing! Jim: (UNWRAPS GIFT, FINDING BOX) Oooh Its a box. Della: Open it, silly! You dont think Im going to tell you what it is. Jim: (OPENS BOX, [LONG REACTION] THEN HE HOLDS UP THE CHAIN, STARING) Oh, Della. Della: Isnt it a dandy, Jim? Its platinum! Jim: (CALMLY) Platinum (THEN) Platinum!! (HE IS NOW REALIZING HOW MUCH HER HAIR WAS WORTH TO HIM, AND HOW MUCH HIS WATCH WS WORTH TO HER) Della: I ransacked the stores all over town to find it. Its the perfect chain for your watch! Now you never have to worry about that old leather strap again, and you can show off your watch a hundred times a day. Lets see how it looks, Jim. Take out your watch; Ill put it on for you. Jim: (STILL IN SHOCK) Uh I dont know, Del. Its such a beautiful gift. Maybe it should wait until tomorrow. Or better still, lets keep it with the combs, until your hair grows out. Della: Jim, dont you like it? Jim: Aw, Della, its the best its the most beautiful thoughtful gift anyones ever given me. (TURNS AWAY) Della: Then whats wrong? Jim: Della I sold my watch to get the money to buy those combs. Now suppose you put those chops on the stove? Della: You WHAT Jim: (STARTING TO EXIT SL) I know, Ill put the chops on the stove! Della: No, what did you just say? Jim: I sold my watch to buy you those combs. Della: Thats what I thought you said. Jim: Dont be angry. Della: Im not angry. DELLA GRABS JIMS WATCH POCKET AND LOOKS IN) Jim: What are you doing? Della: I suppose its not going to grow back, is it? Jim: Not likely, no. Della: Oh, Jim, weve both been so foolish- (BEAT) -especially you! Jim: (LONG MUG) No, Della, I dont think weve been foolish at all. Now think about this. If we had had money to buy these things with, it would have been well, really nice. Wed be able to use them, and every thing would be hunky-dory. But just think, Dell, think how special these beautiful, wonderful (NOTICES HOW DELLA HAS TRIED TO PUT THE COMBS IN HER SHORT HAIR TO LUDICROUS EFFECT) seless gifts are to us now. We didnt just give of our wallets, Della, we gave of our hearts, too. Isnt that what giving is supposed to be all about? Aw, Della, I think these were the the wisest gifts we could have possibly given each other. Della: You know, Jim, I think youre right. Lets keep both of our gifts together in here (GETS PLAIN WOODEN BOX FROM DESK; PUTS GIFTS INTO IT) Itll be our secret buried treasure. Jim: Merry Christmas, Della! Della: Merry Christmas, Jim! (HUG. DELLA CLEARS UP WRAPPING PAPER AND RIBBONS, AND EXITS BRIEFLY SL, AS THE FOURTH WALL COMES DOWN FOR THE LAST TIME)