What French Idiom Means You Still Have a Lot of Work

With all the French boulangeries (bread bakeries) and pà ¢tisseries (pastry shops), where bread is sometimes sold, too),  you wonder why anyone would still make their own bread. And thats exactly what this common expression refers to. Meaning of Avoir du Pain sur la Planche Believe it or not, making bread is really hard work. The dough is simple enough, but then you have to work it, and that takes time and a lot of energy. This expression literally means to have some bread on the wooden board. But the actual meaning refers broadly to the difficult process of making bread: You have to make the dough, let it rise, roll it out, shape it, let that rise, and bake it. Imagine doing this at home every few days several times over. Thus, the phrase really means:  to have a lot to do, to have a lot on ones plate, to have ones work cut out for oneself, to have a lot of work ahead.   Examples Jai dix articles à   à ©crire pour About.  I have  10  articles to write for About. Jai encore du pain sur la planche!  I still have a lot of work ahead of me! As you can see in this example, we often say  avoir  encore  du pain sur la planche. Bread has been a staple in the French diet since the ancient Gauls.  Granted, for most of that time it was a much denser, heavier loaf than the light, crusty baguette of today. So when people had dough on their wooden bread board, they knew they had a lot of work ahead of them. Even though home bread making is no longer common in France, the essence of the process—the very hard work—has been etched in  the French memory. It survives with a new memory of stopping at the  boulangerie every day for a warm, aromatic loaf, usually a baguette. Delicate as this bread may seem, its still plenty utilitarian: Slices of baguette become  tartines  with butter and marmalade for breakfast; long sections of, say, six inches get split in half lengthwise and filled with a little butter, cheese and ham for light lunchtime sandwiches;  and hunks are cut or torn off for dinner to soak up delicious sauces and juices. French bread can also become something of an eating utensil, with one hand holding a fork or spoon while the other hand uses a smallish piece of baguette to push food onto the metal utensil. Because bread is a staple thats  deeply ingrained in the culture, French bread has inspired tens of expressions  in the language,  from  gagner son pain (to make a living) to  nul pain  sans peine (no pain, no gain) and  tremper son pain de larmes (to be in despair).

Assistive Technology Essay - 1440 Words

As we live in the information age, our present society places technology on a high pedestal. This pedestal contains all of the hi-tech, yet sophisticated gadgets, gizmos, and all of the other novel items that are inundating our households. Items such as computers and cell phones enable us to communicate via e-mail, text message, and video (Stodden, Roberts, Picklesimer, Jackson Chang, 2006). Innovative items may be taken for granted but if we understand their significance and how they help us live in a technology driven and dependent world then we are better able to appreciate their value (Lahm, et al., 1996). We may not know it and may not have an underlying disability but we are utilizing basic technology (e.g. phones, calculators)†¦show more content†¦Through examination of research, readers will gain an awareness of AT as well as its implications for individuals with disabilities. It’s critical to understand that although AT helps people perform everyday tasks , each individual has unique needs. These needs are contingent on their disability and what works for one individual may not work for another (Hetzroni Shrieber, 2004). In that case, there is no easy answer when it comes to AT. AT does have its flaws and unfortunately will never reach perfection (Borg, Larrsen, Ostergren, 2011). As a democratic society we can closely examine the problems that plague AT and hopefully formulate a solution that will meet the needs of everyone. Moreover, in order to meet individual needs it’s vital that we explore research that’s focused on the use and types of AT (Alper et al., 2006). Understanding the use and types of AT will provide us with knowledge on how AT helps facilitate individuals to perform activities in the eminent realm of technology (Borg et al., 2011). Types of Assistive Technology AT products are designed for individuals that are affected by certain disabilities whether physical or cognitive. These products should be compatible and tailored to meet individual specific needs (â€Å"Types,† n.d.). Importantly, they promote an individuals ability to travel, interact, and communicate with others while acting asShow MoreRelatedAssistive Technology1683 Words   |  7 Pages| Assistive Technology Evaluation | EDU 620 Meeting Individual StudentNeeds With Technology Instructor: Deborah Naughton | | Rhonda Reed | 11/20/2013 | | Assistive Technology Evaluation Assistive technology evaluation must be in an initial or three year reevaluation. In addition, to the assistive technology is that it’s an ongoing process which is driven by a lot of changes in the student needs, but not limited to the participation, access, curriculum, or environmental changesRead MoreAssistive Technology3767 Words   |  16 Pageswalking, eating, washing or driving has necessitated the incorporation of technology into health and social care to enable these people improve their capabilities. There are over 3000 technologies that have been designed to enable these people live productive and fulfilling lives independently. However, when using these technologies, there are several ethical and safety considerations that require to be met. The assistive technologies have been beneficial both to the health and social care organizationsRead MoreAssistive Technology And Instructional Technology1551 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn t think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential.† –Steve Ballmer Technology can be very empowering especially for children who are exceptional. In understanding both Assistive Technology and Instructional technology one may begin to see how they can both beneficial to studentRead MoreAssistive Technologies For The Classroom1752 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Assistive technologies are any device or aid that makes completing a task easier. From something as simple as large print for the vision impaired, to more complex assistive technologies like hearing aids for the hearing impaired. Assistive technologies are designed to make life and learning easier. The use of assistive technologies inside the classroom is dependent upon many factors. From what support is provided by the school and other agencies, to the standards and regulations thatRead More Assistive Technology for Computing Essay1139 Words   |  5 PagesAssistive Technology for Computing One thing that programmers generally don’t take into account when they’re typing out code is How accessible is my program or website going to be for someone who’s impaired in some way? Unfortunately, this has become a problem in our society which many people are hoping to fix. Already, there’s a huge assortment of products - software, hardware, accessories, etc. - to accommodate those with impairments or disabilities of every sort. Here, we will see the technologyRead More Assistive Technology Essay example2112 Words   |  9 PagesAssistive Technology Abstract: Assistive technology is one way that individuals with learning disabilities have been able to overcome the difficulties with comprehension that they possess. This form of technology comes in many forms, ranging from low to high technology devices. These devices, some as simple as a highlighter, help to organize and keep on track the individual with a learning disability. Assistive technology has many benefits to a student and helps individuals to compensate inRead MoreAssistive Technology Solutions For Students With Learning Disabilities769 Words   |  4 PagesAssistive Technology Solutions Technological advances have increased access to the curriculum for students with learning disabilities. Assistive technology are the devices and services used to maintain or improve the capabilities of a student with a disability (Dell, Newton, Petroff, 2011). Through these technologies, students with learning disabilities are able to complete tasks in the classroom that they were otherwise, unable to achieve. Prior to the availability of assistive technology, aRead MoreShould Assistive Technology Be Disabled Students With Disabilities Education Act ( Idea )812 Words   |  4 PagesDisabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1997 and IDEA 2004 provided disabled students with options for assistive technology in the classroom as well as assistive technology services. It is through these mandates that Individual Educational Plans (IEP) began to include assistive technology options. The IDEA 2004 â€Å"law mandates that assistive technology devices and services be provided to students with disa bilities if the technology is essential for accessing education-related resources. (Dell, Newton, Petroff, 2012Read More Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Essay1863 Words   |  8 PagesAssistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Assistive technology plays an important role in the learning process for individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is defined as any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. (Maushak, Kelley Blodgett, 2001, p. 419) Assistive technology is very beneficialRead MoreTechnology : Assistive Technology1655 Words   |  7 Pageswould need crutches. Crutches are an important piece of technology know as assistive technology. The spectrum is extremely broad for assistive technology, and has been changing dramatically since the 1900s. It can range all the way from crutches, to a software device that can read where your eyes are looking to improve communication. Assistive technology is a broad term for any assistive, adaptive, or rehabilitative device. Assistive technology is defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product

Labor Practices of Dole Bananas free essay sample

A look at the labor practices of a world leading fruit company. This essay lists the questionable labor practices of a leading fruit company called Dole in the U.S. The author argues for the unfair labor practices of this world-leading fruit company and examines the reasons behind them. Includes suggestions for improvements. Dole Food Company, with its headquarters in Westlake Village, California, is one of the few multinational corporations that control the worldwide trade of bananas with 25% of the market. Dole bananas are produced in Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Philippines and the Canary Islands. We will write a custom essay sample on Labor Practices of Dole Bananas or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Bananas grown in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras are for markets in North America, Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean and selected Asian markets. Bananas from the Philippines are transported to Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Europe imports bananas from Latin America, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Guadalupe, Martinique, Jamaica and the Canary Islands.

Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage free essay sample

The decline of marriage in the West has been extensively researched over the last three decades (Carmichael and Whittaker; de Vaus; Coontz; Beck-Gernshein). Indeed, it was fears that the institution would be further eroded by the legalisation of same sex unions internationally that provided the impetus for the Australian government to amend the Marriage Act (1961). These amendments in 2004 sought to strengthen marriage by explicitly defining, for the first time, marriage as a legal partnership between one man and one woman. The subsequent heated debates over the discriminatory nature of this definition have been illuminating, particularly in the way they have highlighted the ongoing social significance of marriage, even at a time it is seen to be in decline. Demographic research about partnering practices (Carmichael and Whittaker; Simons; Parker; Penman) indicates that contemporary marriages are more temporary, fragile and uncertain than in previous generations. Modern marriages are now less about a permanent and inescapable union between a dominant man and a submissive female for the purposes of authorised sex, legal progeny and financial security, and more about a commitment between two social equals for the mutual exchange of affection and companionship (Croome). We will write a custom essay sample on Romantic love is a poor basis for marriage or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Less research is available, however, about how couples themselves reconcile the inherited constructions of romantic love as selfless and unending, with trends that clearly indicate that romantic love is not forever, ideal or exclusive. Civil marriage ceremonies provide one source of data about representations of love. Civil unions constituted almost 70 per cent of all marriages in Australia in 2010, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The civil marriage ceremony has both a legal and symbolic role. It is a legal contract insofar as it prescribes a legal arrangement with certain rights and responsibilities between two consenting adults and outlines an expectation that marriage is voluntarily entered into for life. The ceremony is also a public ritual that requires couples to take what are usually private feelings for each other and turn them into a public performance as a way of legitimating their relationship. Consistent with the conventions of performance, couples generally customise the rest of the ceremony by telling the story of their courtship, and in so doing they often draw upon the language and imagery of the Western Romantic tradition to convey the personal meaning and social significance of their decision. This paper explores how couples construct the idea of love in their relationship, first by examining the western history of romantic love and then by looking at how this discourse is invoked by Australians in the course of developing civil marriage ceremonies in collaboration with the author. A History of Romantic Love There are many definitions of romantic love, but all share similar elements including an intense emotional and physical attraction, an idealisation of each other, and a desire for an enduring and unending commitment that can overcome all obstacles (Gottschall and Nordlund; Janowiak and Fischer). Romantic love has historically been associated with heightened passions and intense almost irrational or adolescent feelings. Charles Lindholms list of cliches that accompany the idea of romantic love include: love is blind, love overwhelms, a life without love is not worth living, marriage should be for love alone and anything less is worthless and a sham (5). These elements, which invoke love as sacred, unending and unique, perpetuate past cultural associations of the term. Romantic love was first documented in Ancient Rome where intense feelings were seen as highly suspect and a threat to the stability of the family, which was the primary economic, social and political unit. Roman historian Plutarch viewed romantic love based upon strong personal attraction as disruptive to the family, and he expressed a fear that romantic love would become the norm for Romans (Lantz 352). During the Middle Ages romantic love emerged as courtly love and, once again, the conventions that shaped its expression grew out of an effort to control excessive emotions and sublimate sexual desire, which were seen as threats to social stability. Courtly love, according to Marilyn Yalom, was seen as an irresistible and inexhaustible passion; a fatal love that overcomes suffering and even death (66). Feudal social structures had grounded marriage in property, while the Catholic Church had declared marriage a sacrament and a ceremony through which Gods grace could be obtained. In this context courtly love emerged as a way of dealing with the conflict between the individual and family choices over the martial partner. Courtly love is about a pure ideal of love in which the knight serves his unattainable lady, and, by carrying out feats in her honour, reaches spiritual perfection. The focus on the aesthetic ideal was a way to fulfil male and female emotional needs outside of marriage, while avoiding adultery. Romantic love re-appeared again in the mid-eighteenth century, but this time it was associated with marriage. Intellectuals and writers led the trend normalising romantic love in marriage as a reaction to the Enlightenments valorisation of reason, science and materialism over emotion. Romantics objected to the pragmatism and functionality induced by industrialisation, which they felt destroyed the idea of the mysterious and transcendental nature of love, which could operate as a form of secular salvation. Love could not be bought or sold, argued the Romantics, it is mysterious, true and deep, spontaneous and compelling (Lindholm 5). Romantic love also emerged as an expression of the personal autonomy and individualisation that accompanied the rise of industrial society. As Lanz suggests, romantic love was part of the critical reflexivity of the Enlightenment and a growing belief that individuals could find self actualisation through the expression and expansion of their emotional and intellectual capacities in union with another (354). Thus it was romantic love, which privileges the feelings and wishes of an individual in mate selection, that came to be seen as a bid for freedom by the offspring of the growing middle classes coerced into marriage for financial or property reasons. Throughout the 19th century romantic love was seen as a solution to the dehumanising forces of industrialisation and urbanisation. The growth of the competitive workplacewhich required men to operate in a restrained and rational mannersaw an increase in the search for emotional support and intimacy within the domestic domain. It has been argued that love was the central preoccupation of middle class men from the 1830s until the end of the 19th century (Stearns and Knapp 771). However, the idealisation of the aesthetic and purity of love impacted marriage relations by casting the wife as pure and marital sex as a duty. As a result, husbands pursued sexual and romantic relationships outside marriage. It should be noted that even though love became cemented as the basis for marriage in the 19th century, romantic love was still viewed suspiciously by religious groups who saw strong affection between couples as an erosion of the fundamental role of the husband in disciplining his wife. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries romantic love was further impacted by urbanisation and migration, which undermined the emotional support provided by extended families. According to Stephanie Coontz, it was the growing independence and mobility of couples that saw romantic love in marriage consolidated as the place in which an individuals emotional and social needs could be fully satisfied. Coontz says that the idea that women could only be fulfilled through marriage, and that men needed women to organise their social life, reached its heights in the 1950s (25-30). Changes occurred to the structure of marriage in the 1960s when control over fertility meant that sex was available outside of marriage. Education, equality and feminism also saw women reject marriage as their only option for fulfilment. Changes to Family Law Acts in western jurisdictions in the 1970s provided for no-fault divorce, and as divorce lost its stigma it became acceptable for women to leave failing marriages. These social shifts removed institutional controls on marriage and uncoupled the original sexual, emotional and financial benefits packaged into marriage. The resulting individualisation of personal lifestyle choices for men and women disrupted romantic conventions, and according to James Dowd romantic love came to be seen as an investment in the future that must be approached carefully and rationally (552). It therefore became increasingly difficult to sustain the idea of love as a powerful, mysterious and divine force beyond reason. Methodology In seeking to understand how contemporary partnering practices are reconstituting romantic love, I draw upon anecdotal data gathered over a nine-year period from my experiences as a marriage celebrant. In the course of personalising marriage ceremonies, I pose a series of questions designed to assist couples to explain the significance of their relationship. I generally ask brides and grooms why they love their fiance, why they want to legalise their relationship, what they most treasure about their partner, and how their lives have been changed by their relationship. These questions help couples to reflexively interrogate their own relationship, and by talking about their commitment in concrete terms, they produce the images and descriptions that can be used to describe for guests the internal motivations and sentiments that have led to their decision to marry. I have had couples, when prompted to explain how they know the other person loves them say, in effect: I know that he loves me because he brings me a cup of coffee every morning or I know that she loves me because she takes care of me so well. These responses are grounded in a realism that helps to convey a sense of sincerity and authenticity about the relationship to the couples guests. This realism also helps to address the cynicism about the plausibility of enduring love. The brides and grooms in this sample of 300 couples were a socially, culturally and economically diverse group, and they provided a wide variety of responses ranging from deeply nuanced insights into the nature of their relationship, to admissions that their feelings were so private and deeply felt that words were insufficient to convey their significance. Reoccurring themes, however, emerged across the cases, and it is evident that even as marriage partnerships may be entered into for a variety of reasons, romantic love remains the mechanism by which couples talk of their feelings for each other. Australian Love and Marriage Australians attitudes to romantic love and marriage have, understandably, been shaped by western understandings of romantic love. It is evident, however, that the demands of late modern capitalist society, with its increased literacy, economic independence and sexual equality between men and women, have produced marriage as a negotiable contract between social equals. For some, like Carol Pateman, this sense of equality within marriage may be illusory. Nonetheless, the drive for individual self-fulfilment by both the bride and groom produces a raft of challenges to traditional ideas of marriage as couples struggle to find a balance between independence and intimacy; between family and career; and between pursuing personal goals and the goals of their partners. This shift in the nature of marriage has implications for the quest for undying romantic love, which according to Anthony Giddens has been replaced by other forms of relationship, each entered into for its own sake, for what can be derived by each person from a sustained association with another; and which is continued only in so far as it is thought by both parties to deliver enough satisfactions for each individual to stay within it (qtd. in Lindholm 6). The impact of these social changes on the nature of romantic love in marriage is evident in how couples talk about their relationship in the course of preparing a ceremony. Many couples describe the person they are marrying as their best friend, and friendship is central to their commitment. This description supports research by V. K. Oppenheimer which indicates that many contemporary couples have a more egalitarian collaborative approach to marriage (qtd. in Carmichael and Whittaker 25). It is also standard for couples to note in ceremonies that they make each other happy and contented, with many commenting upon how their partners have helped to bring focus and perspective to their work-oriented lives. These comments tend to invoke marriage as a refuge from the isolation, competition, and dehumanising elements of workplaces. Since emotional support is central to the marriage contract, it is not surprising that care for each other is another reoccurring theme in ceremonies. Many brides and grooms not only explicitly say they are well taken care of by their partner, but also express admiration for their partners treatment of their families and friends. This behaviour appears to be seen as an indicator of the individuals capacity for support and commitment to family values. Many couples admire partners kindness, generosity and level of personal self-sacrifice in maintaining the relationship. It is also not uncommon for brides and grooms to say they have been changed by their love: become kinder, more considerate and more tolerant. Honesty, communication skills and persistence are also attributes that are valued. Brides and grooms who have strong communication skills are also praised. This may refer to interpersonal competency and the willingness to acquire the skills necessary to negotiate the endless compromises in contemporary marriage now that individualisation has undermined established rules, rituals and roles. Persistence and the ability not to be discouraged by setbacks is also a reoccurring theme, and this connects with the idea that marriage is work. Many couples promise to grow together in their marriage and to both take responsibility for the health of their relationship. This promise implies awareness that marriage is not the fantasy of happily ever after produced in romantic popular culture, but rather an arrangement that requires hard work and conscious commitment, particularly in building a union amidst many competing options and distractions. Many couples talk about their relationship in terms of companionship and shared interests, values and goals. It is also not uncommon for couples to say that they admire their partner for supporting them to achieve their life goals or for exposing them to a wider array of lifestyle choices and options like travel or study. These examples of interdependence appear to make explicit that couples still see marriage as a vehicle for personal freedom and self-realisation. The death of love is also alluded to in marriage ceremonies. Couples talk of failed past relationships, but these are produced positively as a mechanism that enables the couple to know that they have now found an enduring relationship. It is also evident that for many couples the decision to marry is seen as the formalisation of a preexisting commitment rather than the gateway to a new life. This is consistent with figures that show that 72 per cent of Australian couples chose to cohabit before marriage (Simons 48), and that cohabitation has become the normative pathway to marriage (Penman 26). References to children also feature in marriage ceremonies, and for the couples I have worked with marriage is generally seen as the pre-requisite for children. Couples also often talk about being ready for marriage. This seems to refer to being financially prepared. Robyn Parker citing the research of K. Edin concludes that for many modern couples rushing into marriage before being set is irresponsiblemarrying well (in the sense of being well prepared) is the way to avoid divorce (qtd. in Parker 81). From this overview of reoccurring themes in the production of Australian ceremonies it is clear that romantic love continues to be associated with marriage. However, couples describe a more grounded and companionable attachment. These more practical and personalised sentiments serve to meet both the public expectation that romantic love is a precondition for marriage, while also avoiding the production of romantic love in the ceremony as an empty cliche. Grounded descriptions of love reveal that attraction does not have to be overwhelming and unconquerable. Indeed, couples who have lived together and are intimately acquainted with each others habits and disposition, appear to be most comfortable expressing their commitment to each other in more temperate, but no less deeply felt, terms. Conclusion This paper has considered how brides and grooms constitute romantic love within the shifting partnering practices of contemporary Australia. It is evident in the midst of significant social and economic change and at a time when individual rights and freedom of choice are important cultural values marriage remains socially significant (Simons 50). This significance is partially conveyed through the language of romantic love, which, while freighted with an array of cultural and historical associations, remains the lingua franca of marriage, perhaps because as Roberto Unger observes, romantic love is the most influential mode of moral vision in our culture (qtd. in Lindholm 5). It is thus possible to conclude, that while marriage may be declining and becoming more fragile and impermanent, the institution remains important to couples in contemporary Australia. Moreover, the language and imagery of romantic love, which publicly conveys this importance, remains the primary mode of expressing care, affection and hope for a partnership, even though the changed partnering practices of late modern capitalist society have exposed the utopian quality of romantic love and produced a cynicism about the viability of its longevity. It is evident in the marriage ceremonies prepared by the author that while the language of romantic love has come to signify a broader range of more practical associations consistent with the individualised nature of modern marriage and demystification of romantic love, it also remains the best way to express what Dowd and Pallotta describe as a fundamental human yearning for communion with and acceptance by another human being (571).