A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to social cohesion. Economists have elaborated the economics of gift-giving into the notion of a gift economy. By extension the term ''gift'' can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad, especially as a favor, including forgiveness and kindness.

Presentation

When material objects are given as gifts, in many cultures they are traditionally packaged in some manner. For example, in Western culture, gifts are often wrapped in wrapping paper and accompanied by a gift note which may note the occasion, the recipient's name, and the giver's name. In Chinese culture, red wrapping connotes luck.

Occasions

The occasion may be:

Expression of love (Valentine's Day) or friendship.

Expression of gratitude for a gift received.

Expression of piety, in the form of charity.

Expression of solidarity, in the form of mutual aid.

To share wealth.

To offset misfortune.

Offering travel souvenirs.

Custom, on occasions (often celebrations) such as

* A birthday (the person who has his or her birthday gives cake, etc. and/or receives gifts) This is most commonly from a family member or girlfriend/boyfriend.

* A potlatch, in societies where status is associated with gift-giving rather than acquisition.

* Christmas (People give one another gifts, often supposedly receiving them from Santa Claus.)

* Saint Nicholas (People give each other gifts, often supposedly receiving them from Saint Nicholas.)

* A wedding (the couple receives gifts and gives food and/or drinks at the wedding reception.)

* A wedding anniversary (each spouse receives gifts.)

* A funeral (visitors bring flowers, the relatives of the deceased give food and/or drinks after the ceremonial part.)

* A birth (the baby receives gifts, or the mother receives a gift from the father known as a push present.)

* Passing an examination (the student receives gifts.)

* Father's Day (the father receives gifts.)

* Mother's Day (the mother receives gifts.)

* Exchange of gifts between a guest and a host, often a traditional practice.

* Lagniappe.

* Retirement Gifts

* Congratulations Gifts

* Engagement Gifts

* Wedding Gifts

* Anniversary Gifts

* Birthday Gifts

* House Warming Day Gifts

* New Baby Gifts

Legal aspects of gifts

At common law, for a gift to have legal effect, it was required that there be (1) intent by the donor to give a gift, and (2) delivery to the recipient of the item to be given as a gift.

In some countries, certain types of gifts above a certain monetary amount are subject to taxation. For the United States, see Gift tax in the United States.

Religious views

Lewis Hyde remarks in ''The Gift'' that Christianity considers the Incarnation and subsequent death of Jesus to be the greatest gift to humankind, and that the Jataka contains a tale of the Buddha in his incarnation as the Wise Hare giving the ultimate alms by offering himself up as a meal for Sakka. (Hyde, 1983, 58-60)

In the Eastern Orthodox Church the bread and wine that are consecrated during the Divine Liturgy are referred to as "the Gifts." They are first of all the gifts of the community (both individually and corporately) to God, and then, after the epiklesis, the Gifts of the Body and Blood of Christ to the Church.

In the Judeo-Christian tradition God is seen as the source and giver of all good things: ''But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!'' 1 Chronicles 29:14 New Living Tradition (NLT). Life on earth is considered one of God’s gifts: ''And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.'' Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NLT).

In the Christian tradition Jesus is seen as a gift of God, ''For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.'' John 3:16 (NLT) The Holy Spirit is also seen as a gift of God: ''Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'' Acts 2:38 (NLT). Eternal life is considered one of God’s gifts to believers: ''For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.'' Romans 6:23 (NLT)

God also is seen as giving all people spiritual gifts to enrich their lives, help others, and to build up the church: ''However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.'' Ephesians 4:7 (NLT).

Ritual sacrifices can be seen as return gifts to a deity.

See also

Alms

Altruism

Atonement

Charity (practice)

Debt relief

Gift (law)

Gift tax

Gift wrapping

Giving Circles

Green Gifting

Friend gift

Random act of kindness

Red packet

Regiving

Xenia (Greek)

Further reading

Marcel Mauss and W.D. Halls, ''Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies'', W. W. Norton, 2000, trade paperback, ISBN 0-393-32043-X

Lewis Hyde: ''The Gift: Imagination and the Erotic Life of Property'', 1983 (ISBN 0-394-71519-5), especially part I, "A Theory of Gifts", part of which was originally published as "The Gift Must Always Move" in ''Co-Evolution Quarterly'' No. 35, Fall 1982.

Jean-Luc Marion translated by Jeffrey L. Kosky, "Being Given: Toward a Phenomenology of Giveness", Stanford University Press, 2002 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 0-8047-3410-0.

Category:Giving

az:Hədiyyə bn:উপহার ca:Regal cs:Dar cy:Anrhegion Nadolig da:Gave de:Geschenk es:Regalo eo:Donaco eu:Opari fa:هدیه fr:Cadeau gl:Agasallo ko:선물 (물건) hi:उपहार id:Hadiah it:Dono he:מתנה ht:Kado lt:Dovana hu:Ajándék nl:Cadeau ja:贈り物 no:Gave nn:Gåve pl:Dar (obiekt) pt:Presente (comportamento) ro:Cadou ru:Подарок simple:Gift sk:Dar fi:Lahja sv:Gåva ta:அன்பளிப்பு th:ของขวัญ uk:Подарунок bat-smg:Duovena zh:禮物

Carl Erik is an actor in gay pornography.

Awards and nominations

1996 Grabby Awards winner of ''Promising New Performer" in "Trying it on for Size" (Studio 2000).

See also

List of pornographic movie studios

List of Grabby recipients

List of male performers in gay porn films

List of pornographic movie studios

List of gay porn magazines

References

External links

Category:Actors in gay pornographic films Category:Living people

fa:کارل اریک id:Carl Erik

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Ray J
background	solo_singer
birth name	William Ray Norwood Jr.
born	January 17, 1981
origin	Carson, California, United States
instrument	Vocals
genre	R&B;, hip-hop, pop
occupation	Singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, rapper
years active	1995–present
label	Atlantic, Knockout/Deja 34, E1, Koch Entertainment, Elektra
associated acts	Brandy, Diplo, Gucci Mane
website	www.rayj.com
notable instruments	}}

William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.

Early life

William Ray Norwood Jr. was born in McComb, Mississippi to Willie Norwood and Sonja Bates-Norwood. His older sister Brandy is a multi-platinum recording artist, and his father Willie Norwood is a well-known gospel singer. from Rochester MN. His first cousin, Snoop Dogg, is a multi-platinum recording rapper .

Music career

Everything You Wanted (1997)

Elektra Records in 1995 and recorded his debut album ''Everything You Want'' the next year. "Let It Go" appeared on the ''Set It Off'' soundtrack. It peaked number 25 in the U.S. and number 11 in New Zealand. The second single peaked at number 54 on the U.S. R&B; chart. In 1997, he was dropped from the label. He produced, putting together the music for several commercials and a few of the demos for his second record.

This Ain't a Game (2001)

Ray J recorded "Another Day in Paradise" with Brandy, which was a Top Ten success in Austria, UK, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, the Netherlands and number 11 in Australia and France. The song was the lead single of the R&B;/Hip Hop tribute ''Urban Renewal'', in which he co-produced and performed songs. Norwood also worked with The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins and Lil' Kim, and several other producers and singers for his second studio album ''This Ain't A Game''. The album was released in 2001. The lead single "Wait A Minute" peaked at #30 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart and #8 on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Formal Invite" followed at #54 on the R&B; chart.

Raydiation (2005)

After a two year break, Norwood returned to recording studios, adding the finishing touches on his third studio album ''Raydiation'' with help from producers such as Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, R. Kelly, and Rob Egerton. A joint venture by Sanctuary Records and Ray-J's own label, independent Knockout Entertainment, the album was finally released on September 27, 2005 in North America after several delays, debuting at number forty-eight on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 18,321 copies in the first week. The album's lead single "One Wish" was a top 20 success in the US, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. ''Raydiation'' eventually sold over 400,000 copies domestically.

All I Feel (2008)

Knockout Entertainment announced a multi-million dollar album deal with Koch Records and Shaquille O'Neal's "Deja 34" entertainment company. The first album for this deal is Ray J's fourth album ''All I Feel'', which features The Game and Yung Berg among others. It was released on April 1, 2008. The album's first single is "Sexy Can I" featuring rapper Yung Berg peaked at number three on the Top Singles (Hot 100) for six weeks. A video for the track, directed by R. Malcolm Jones, was shot in December 2007. J stars in the Black Christmas movie Dark Christmas under the direction from Deon Taylor.

Raydiation 2 (2010-present)

Ray J is currently working with his sister Brandy Norwood on their collaboration album Trust, Knowledge & Opportunity & his upcoming solo album Raydiation 2 with his first single "Last Wish" The sequel to his 2005 smash hit "One Wish" both produced by hit maker Rodney Jerkins.

Other Ventures

Acting career

Early in his life, he moved with his family from McComb, Mississippi to Carson, California, and in 1989 started appearing in television commercials for different companies. In 1989, at the age of eight, Norwood began auditioning for and appearing in television commercials; he played the foster son in "The Sinbad Show, from 1993-1994. This period in Norwood's life would shape his acting career to come. According to Bradley Torreano of allmusic, "his easygoing image and boyish looks appealed to the producers of Brandy's television show, ''Moesha''", giving him a role on the UPN series starting in 1999 as Dorian "D-Money". In 2005, Norwood joined the cast of UPN's ''One On One'', where he played the character of D-Mack for the final season. On both shows, Ray's character was related to Brandy's (cousin/half-brother on ''Moesha'', brother on ''One on One'').

Reality Television

In 2009, Norwood starred in his own VH1 reality dating show, For the Love of Ray J. The show premiered on February 2, 2009. For his show on March 24, 2009 he released the soundtrack/studio album called ''For The Love Of Ray J''. On November 2, 2009, the show's second season premiered. In 2010, Norwood and his sister Brandy Norwood premiered the VH1 reality series ''Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business'' along with their parents. He also played the role of Roberto in the movie Christmas At Water's edge in 2004.The show debuted in April 2010 and chronicled the backstage happenings of both siblings, while taking a bigger role in their family's management and production company, R&B; Productions.

Personal life

Ray J is the brother of singer Brandy Norwood and first cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg. He has dated Kim Kardashian.

Sex tape

In February 2007, a pornographic home video he made with Kim Kardashian was 'leaked'. Kardashian sued Vivid Entertainment for ownership of the tape. In late April 2007, Kardashian dropped the suit and settled with Vivid Entertainment for $5 million..

Discography

;Studio albums

''Everything You Want'' (1997)

''This Ain't a Game'' (2001)

''Raydiation'' (2005)

''All I Feel'' (2008)

''Raydiation 2'' (2011)

;Soundtrack albums

''For the Love of Ray J'' (2009)

Filmography

Film

''Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored'' (1996)

''Mars Attacks!'' (1996)

''Steel'' (1997)

''Christmas at Water's Edge'' (2003)

''Envy'' (2008)

''A Day in the Life'' (2009)

Television

''Black Sash''

''BET Countdown''

''All That'', guest singer

''Wild N Out''

''Television Ads'' (1989–1993)

''The Sinbad Show'' (1993–1994)

''Moesha'' (1999–2001)

''One on One'' (2005–2006)

''For the Love of Ray J'' (2009–2010)

''Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business'' (2010–present)

References

External links

On Set of Ray J’s Video Last Wish

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from California Category:Actors from Mississippi Category:African American film actors Category:African American musicians Category:African American rappers Category:African American television actors Category:American male singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American child actors Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Musicians from California Category:Musicians from Mississippi Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Los Angeles County, California Category:People from McComb, Mississippi Category:Rappers from Los Angeles, California

de:Ray J es:Ray-J fr:Ray J it:Ray J ja:レイ・ジェイ pl:Ray J pt:Ray J simple:Ray J fi:Ray J sv:Ray J

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Gabriel Iglesias
Birth place	San Diego, California, U.S.
Birth date	July 15, 1976
Medium	Stand-up, television
Active	1997–present
Genre	Comedy
Subject	Mexican American culture, race relations, satire
Website	Official website
Footnotes	}}

Gabriel J. Iglecias (born July 15, 1976), known professionally as Gabriel Iglesias, is an American standup comedian and actor, known for his shows ''I’m Not Fat… I’m Fluffy'' and ''Hot & Fluffy''.

Early life

Gabriel Iglesias was born Gabriel J. Iglecias in San Diego. He is of Mexican-American Heritage. His mother placed a letter "c" in his surname in retaliation for his father's absence during his birth, though he does not use this spelling in his every day life, preferring to use the one with the "s". He and his mother lived in Riverside, Corona, Santa Ana, Baldwin Park and Compton before settling in Long Beach, where Iglesias spent most of his life growing up.

Career

Iglesias appeared in season 6 of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series ''All That'' in 2000.

Iglesias' comedy employs a mixture of storytelling, parody, characters, and sound effects that bring his personal issues to life. He often references about his weight, talking, for example, about how little dancing it takes for him to work up a sweat at the nightclub, or how hearing his girlfriend coo the words "chocolate cake" over the telephone works in a manner akin to phone sex for him. He sometimes refers to the "Five Levels of Fatness", and labels himself as the fourth (six levels in his last Comedy Central special).

Iglesias appeared on the Galavision TV show ''Que Locos!''. He subsequently was guest-starred on the ABC sitcom ''My Wife and Kids'', and the Fox TV animated comedy ''Family Guy''. His stand-up has been featured on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'', ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', ''The Late Late Show'', ''Good Morning America'', ''Showtime at the Apollo'' and BET'S ''Comic View''. On the big screen, he has appeared in the independent films ''El Matador'' and ''The Surfer King'', in which he played the role of Aokee, a water park concession manager.

Iglesias was a contestant on the fourth season of reality TV series ''Last Comic Standing'' in 2006, surviving elimination to become one of the final eight comics. He was disqualified at that point for having used a smuggled BlackBerry to communicate with family and friends, which violated the rules of the show.

In November 2009 Comedy Central released the DVD of the show ''Gabriel Iglesias: I'm Not Fat... I'm Fluffy''.

Credits

2011: ''Conan''

2009: ''Just for Laughs''

2009: ''The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien''

2008: ''Kickin' It''

2007: ''Gabriel Iglesias''

2007: ''Live at Gotham''

2006: ''The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson''

2003: ''Comedy Central Presents: Gabriel Iglesias''

2002: ''Tonight Show with Jay Leno''

2002: ''My Wife and Kids'', Nabu

2000: ''Premium Blend'' Season 3, Episode 8

2000: ''All That''

Discography

''We Luv Fluffy'' (2009)

Filmography

''El Matador'' (2003)

''The Surfer King'' (2006)

''Hot and Fluffy'' (2007)

''Comedy Central's Stand Up Picks - Part 3'' (2008)

''I'm Not Fat... I'm Fluffy'' (2009)

References

External links

Official website

Latinostandup.com

Gabriel Iglesias on Myspace

Comedians.jokes.com

Gabriel Iglesias on Facebook

Duck, Allison. "Gabriel Iglesias: fabulously fluffy" ''Las Vegas Weekly''; July 23, 2009

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from San Diego, California Category:American television actors Category:American film actors Category:American comedians Category:American people of Mexican descent

nl:Gabriel Iglesias

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Aselin Debison
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Aselin Debison
Birth date	June 27, 1990
Origin	Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genre	Pop
Years active	2002–present
Label	Sony Music CanadaEpicAselin Music Inc.
Website	AselinDebison.com }}

Aselin Debison (born June 27, 1990) is a Canadian pop and Celtic music singer.

Career

Debison began her singing career in 1999, when she was asked to sing at a rally of protesting miners in her hometown. Soon after this performance she began working on a Christmas album ''The Littlest Angel'' which was released in 2001. In 2002, she was spotted by Sony Classical president Peter Gelb at the East Coast Music Awards. Her debut album ''Sweet Is the Melody'' appeared that same year.

In October 2002, Debison was chosen to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Ontario, during her visit to Canada for her Jubilee celebration.

Debison sang with country music artist and Runrig vocalist Bruce Guthro on a CBC (and later a PBS) special entitled "Aselin Debison: Sweet Is the Melody". She performed selections from her debut album and also classic Cape Breton Island songs, such as the Island's anthem. During her tour to promote ''Sweet Is the Melody'', she performed in New York, Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, Korea.

One track from the ''Sweet Is the Melody'', Debison's cover of the distinctive Israel Kamakawiwo'ole medley arrangement Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World, became popular in Korea and Japan. (This song has been frequently, and incorrectly, attributed to American singer Norah Jones.) Thanks to its inclusion in soft pop compilation albums such as Sony Music Korea/Splash Music's 2003 ''Crossover Romance'', it became a firmly established element of ambient music in many parts of east Asia. Debison also did covers of "Driftwood" a song by the Scottish band Travis and Garth Brooks' Christmas song "Gift." Several other tracks from ''Sweet Is the Melody'' were also included in Korean and Japanese pop compilations. Debison's version of Mike Oldfield's "Moonlight Shadow" entered the pop music top 20 in many parts of Japan. "Sweet is the Melody" peaked at album number 10 on the Billboard charts and 55 on the authoritative Oricon pop charts in Japan. In Jan 2010, Debison's Asian success extended to Hong Kong, with "Sweet as the Melody" reaching number 60 on the KKBox Hong Kong classical album chart and the single "Moonlight Shadow" reaching number 46

In March 2005 Debison released her second album, ''Bigger than Me'', and the singles "Life" and "Faze" have been popular on light rock and pop radio. Whereas Debison's early recordings consisted of cover versions, for ''Bigger than Me'' she wrote the material herself with assistance from Dave Thomson (co-founder of teen pop band Wave) and producer Thomas "Tawgs" Salter (initially renowned as a member of the 1990s Canadian rock band Dunk).

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has hailed Debison as the next Céline Dion. Debison received official congratulations for her musical success in a resolution from the Nova Scotia provincial legislature in April 2002.

Personal life

Since her last album, Debison has been almost completely out of the public eye. However, a fourth album called "Homeward Bound" has recently been released on her own label and is available to buy on cdbaby.com and itunes. The new single "Close to You" has been released.

She is currently enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, studying Human Kinetics and planning to continue on in Education

She has many uncles, aunts, and cousins in Glace Bay and all over Cape Breton Island.

She is engaged to be married to fellow musician Jonathan Ettinger.

Discography

Studio albums

Date of Release	Title	Label
2001	''The Littlest Angel''	[Aselin Music Inc.]
October 2002	''Sweet Is the Melody''
February 2005	''Bigger Than Me''
2010	''Homeward Bound''	[Aselin Music Inc.]

Filmography

''Easter Seals Telethon'' (1998) TV Series .... Herself

''Sweet is the Melody'' (2003) Public TV Special ... Herself

''Rita MacNeil's Cape Breton'' (2007 – CTV) TV Series .... Herself

References

External links

Official Facebook Fan Page

CBC program guide

"Life" music video

Muchmusic biographical page

Category:1990 births Category:Canadian female singers Category:Living people Category:People from Glace Bay Debison,Aselin Debison,Aselin

de:Aselin Debison es:Aselin Debison it:Aselin Debison ja:アゼリン・デビソン