A gift or a present is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment. An item is not a gift, if that item, itself, is already owned by the one to whom it is given. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many countries, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may sustain social relations and 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. Gifts are also first and foremost presented on occasions - birthdays and Christmas being the main examples.
In many cultures gifts are traditionally packaged in some way. For example, in Western cultures, 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. Although inexpensive gifts are common among colleagues, associates and acquaintances, expensive or intimate gifts are considered more appropriate among close friends, romantic interests or relatives.
Gifts (2004) is the first book in the trilogy Annals of the Western Shore, sometimes called Chronicles of the Western Shore, a young adult series by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is followed in the series by Voices. Gifts won the PEN Center USA 2005 Children's literature award.
Gifts centers on two young people, Gry and Orrec, who struggle to come to terms with inherent psychic abilities. They live in a poor, mountainous, and culturally backward region, famous for its "witches" and wonder-workers. Gry is a girl who can communicate with animals; she refuses to use her gift to aid hunters, which sets her apart from many in her culture, including her own mother. Orrec is a boy whose supposed gift of "unmaking" is apparently so dangerous that he voluntarily goes through life blindfolded, to avoid causing destruction. The story reveals how Orrec and Gry cope with their gifts, and eventually leave their mountainous home for the wider world.
"Gifts" is the second single from Ray J's album All I Feel. The video was released on June 12, 2008.
A remix was released on July 1, 2008. The remix features Lil Wayne, Shorty Mack and Game.
Strategy& is a global strategy consulting firm originally established as Booz Allen Hamilton in the United States in 1914 and is now part of PricewaterhouseCoopers, which acquired the former Booz & Co. on April 4, 2014. The firm is active in a broad range of sectors, including Energy, Healthcare, Financial Services, Chemicals, Telecommunications, Automotive, Aerospace, Media, Technology and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
The company has 57 offices around the world. 70 of the world's largest 100 corporations and 400 of the largest 500 US corporations are Strategy& clients and the firm has been involved in a number of important business episodes, including the dawn of the contract system for Hollywood movies, the merger of the National and American football leagues, and the rescue of the Chrysler corporation from bankruptcy. On October 30, 2013, it was announced that PwC would buy and merge with Booz & Company (owned by Booz Allen Hamilton until 2008), including the company's name and its 300 partners, subject to a December vote of the Booz & Company partners. The deal closed on April 4, 2014, and the firm was formally renamed to Strategy&.
Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία stratēgia, "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a high level plan to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the "art of the general", which included several subsets of skills including "tactics", siegecraft, logistics etc., the term came into use in the 6th century C.E. in East Roman terminology, and was translated into Western vernacular languages only in the 18th century. From then until the 20th century, the word "strategy" came to denote "a comprehensive way to try to pursue political ends, including the threat or actual use of force, in a dialectic of wills" in a military conflict, in which both adversaries interact.
Strategy is important because the resources available to achieve these goals are usually limited. Strategy generally involves setting goals, determining actions to achieve the goals, and mobilizing resources to execute the actions. A strategy describes how the ends (goals) will be achieved by the means (resources). This is generally tasked with determining strategy. Strategy can be intended or can emerge as a pattern of activity as the organization adapts to its environment or competes. It involves activities such as strategic planning and strategic thinking.
Strategy is a solitaire card game which uses a deck of 52 playing cards. It belongs to the same family as Sir Tommy and Calculation, and this can be regarded as the more difficult cousin of Sir Tommy.
The cards in the deck are dealt one at a time. Aces, whenever they appear, are placed onto the foundations and are built up by suit. Cards that cannot yet be built are placed on any one of eight wastepiles, the top cards of which are available for play. Once a card is placed on a wastepile, the next place it will go is to foundations; it cannot be moved to another wastepile.
The game finishes after all cards are dealt to the wastepiles and all appropriate cards are built. The game is won when all cards end up in the foundations.