Benjamin Henry Latrobe United States Capitol - 1360 Words

Benjamin Henry Latrobe: United States Capitol The United States of America was founded upon the motto E Pluribus Unum â€Å"out of many one†. Out of the 196 countries found in the world, the United States of America sticks out as the pinnacle. The United States is the most powerful country in the world and the most important building that resides in it is the United States Capitol. A number of architects were assigned with the task to design and oversee the building of the United States Capitol, but Benjamin Henry Latrobe played the most influential role in creating the building we know and love today. The United States Capitol is one of the most architecturally and fundamentally important buildings in the world because in it resides the†¦show more content†¦At the age of twenty, he took a tour around Europe studying the renowned buildings and architecture of the late-18th century, including the Pantheon in Rome. He was sent to Samuel Pepys Cockerell to formally study architecture and he took a Civil Engineering internship led by prominent John Smeaton. After learning this background knowledge of the field, Latrobe decided to start his own business. He was not very successful only receiving commissions from few minor projects and this led his business to bankruptcy. His first wife ended up dying due to childbirth, as a result, he decided to move to America in 1795 in hopes of starting fresh. This risk was very well rewarded. Benjamin Henry Latrobe ended up designing the Bank of Pennsylvania, St. John s Church, Decatur House, the Roman Catholic Cathedral and most importantly the United States Capitol. He ended up remarrying and had a son Henry Sellon Boneval Latrobe that too became a very successful architect. On September 3, 1820 at the age of 56, Benjamin Henry Boneval Latrobe died of yellow fever in New Orleans while completing the city s municipal water system started by his son. He was placed at Saint Louis Cemetery in New Orleans next to his son who had died three years earlier from th e same disease. The United States Capitol, the home of American democracy is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. The building of the Capital reflects the

Capital Punishment And Its Effect On Society - 2096 Words

Throughout history, capital punishment has been practiced in many areas in regards to major crimes. Capital punishment is the execution of a convicted criminal as a punishment for the committed crimes, with methods of execution that include electrocutions, gas chambers, lethal injections, etc. Capital punishment has more recently been taken into moral standards, resulting in more than half of the United Nations’ members abolishing its use. (http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/) However, the death penalty remains legal in 32 states in America to this very day. The Utilitarian ideology supports capital punishment, arguing that it decreases crime and is best for the whole of society. In contrast to Utilitarianism, many people oppose the death†¦show more content†¦2. pg. 9-10). This is a consequentialist theory that focuses on the ends rather than the means, in which actions must be observed in order to decide the action’s morality. The most important matter is the amo unt of happiness or unhappiness that is created as a consequence of an action. When determining the amount of happiness, Mill says that everybody must account for one, meaning that everyone’s happiness value is equivalent. In regards to punishment, Utilitarianism defines this as taking someone’s life or their freedom by ways of capital punishment or imprisonment. Good consequences, such as protection and safety, are to be maximized for society. Mill was a proponent of capital punishment because he believed it offered multiple benefits to society. In his speech â€Å"Speech in Favor of Capital Punishment,† Mill stated, â€Å"we endeavor to devise some punishment for the living criminal which shall act on the human mind with a deterrent force at all comparable to that of death, we are driven to inflictions less severe indeed in appearance, and therefore less efficacious, but far more cruel in reality.† According to Mill, the primary benefits of capital pun ishment are incapacitation and deference. Comfort and gratification were also secondary benefits of capital punishment. The

Midtermquestion obesity Free Essays

Generally, much of the blame for obesity’s widespread existence in Western society is placed upon poor lifestyle. In the case of the former, the increasing pervasiveness of a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by long periods of inactivity (such as sitting in an office) with little to no exercise, in addition to a decreasing amount of leisure time being spent on physical activity, as opposed to video games and television viewing. (Bleich, et. We will write a custom essay sample on Midtermquestion obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now al., 2007) In the case of the latter, over-eating remains a problem, despite advances in nutritional awareness. Additionally, the increasing reliance on fast-food meals, with their energy dense composition, have quadrupled the calorie intake of the average American over the period between 1977 and 1995.   (Lin, et. al., 1999) Genetics also play a part in the development of obesity. Excess calorie intake and how it translates into body mass is affected by various factors such as the genes which regulate metabolism, appetite and adipokine. Additionally, there are various genetic conditions that have been identified as symptomatized by obesity (e.g. Bardet-Biedl syndrome, leptin receptor mutations and MOMO syndrome). Farooqi O’Rahilly (2006) have also noted that obesity has a hereditary component. Chakravarthy Booth (2004) have also theorized that certain ethnicities may be more prone to obesity, as an evolutionary means of taking advantage of abundance in between long periods of food scarcity. As such, the genetic disposition towards obesity is an advantage in surviving famine, but a maladaptive trait in a society with food stability. Obesity may also be affected by medical illnesses such as Cushing’s syndrome, growth hormone deficiency and hypothyroidism. The treatment of some illnesses may also lead to fluctuations in weight, as a side effect of medication taken (e.g. antipsychotics, fertility meds). Quitting smoking has also been recognized as a cause of moderate weight gain, due to the resulting loss of appetite suppression. Also, some psychological disorders such as bulimia or binge disorders contribute direct risks of obesity. The mechanisms of neurobiology also contribute to the development of obesity. In addition to leptin (which regulates the intake and expenditure of energy) substances such as ghrelin (which regulates short-term appetite) are linked with the maintenance of obesity. (Flier, 2004). Other such substances include adiponectin which regulates glucose, cholecystokinin which stimulates the digestion of fat and protein, and PYY 3-36 which responds to food intake by reducing appetite. Finally, social determinants contribute to obesity by significantly affecting the habits formed that contribute to obesity. In a 2004 study, it was noted that there was an inverse correlation between wealth and obesity, suggesting that lower income individuals rely on cheaper fast food for nourishment. (Zagorsky, 2004). Also, a 2007 study followed more than 32,500 individuals over a span of 32 years and found that changes in body mass of friends, and siblings were reliable predictors of changes in subjects, regardless of geographical distance, suggesting that the acceptance of one’s body mass has an influence on changes in body size. (Christakis Fowler, 2007) REFERENCES Bleich, S., Cutler, D., Murray, C. Adams, A. (2007) Why Is The Developed World Obese?. Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 29. Retrieved May 5, 2008 from: http://www.nber.org/papers/w12954.pdf Lin, B.H., Guthrie, J. Frazao E. (1999) â€Å"Nutrient contribution of food away from home†. In: Frazao, E. (Ed). America’s Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences. Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 750, US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Washington, DC, pp. 213–239. Farooqi, S., O’Rahilly, S. (2006) Genetics of obesity in humans. Endocrine Review, Volume 27. Chakravarthy, M.V., Booth, F.W. (2004). Eating, exercise, and â€Å"thrifty† genotypes: connecting the dots toward an evolutionary understanding of modern chronic diseases. Journal of Applied Physiology, Volume 96. Flier, J.S. (2004). Obesity wars: molecular progress confronts an expanding epidemic. Cell, Volume 116, Issue 2, pp. 337-350. Zagorsky, J.L. (2004) Is Obesity as Dangerous to Your Wealth as to Your Health? Res Aging Volume 26, pp. 130-152. Christakis, N.A., Fowler, J.H. (2007) The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years.†       How to cite Midtermquestion obesity, Essay examples

Midtermquestion obesity Free Essays

Generally, much of the blame for obesity’s widespread existence in Western society is placed upon poor lifestyle. In the case of the former, the increasing pervasiveness of a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by long periods of inactivity (such as sitting in an office) with little to no exercise, in addition to a decreasing amount of leisure time being spent on physical activity, as opposed to video games and television viewing. (Bleich, et. We will write a custom essay sample on Midtermquestion obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now al., 2007) In the case of the latter, over-eating remains a problem, despite advances in nutritional awareness. Additionally, the increasing reliance on fast-food meals, with their energy dense composition, have quadrupled the calorie intake of the average American over the period between 1977 and 1995.   (Lin, et. al., 1999) Genetics also play a part in the development of obesity. Excess calorie intake and how it translates into body mass is affected by various factors such as the genes which regulate metabolism, appetite and adipokine. Additionally, there are various genetic conditions that have been identified as symptomatized by obesity (e.g. Bardet-Biedl syndrome, leptin receptor mutations and MOMO syndrome). Farooqi O’Rahilly (2006) have also noted that obesity has a hereditary component. Chakravarthy Booth (2004) have also theorized that certain ethnicities may be more prone to obesity, as an evolutionary means of taking advantage of abundance in between long periods of food scarcity. As such, the genetic disposition towards obesity is an advantage in surviving famine, but a maladaptive trait in a society with food stability. Obesity may also be affected by medical illnesses such as Cushing’s syndrome, growth hormone deficiency and hypothyroidism. The treatment of some illnesses may also lead to fluctuations in weight, as a side effect of medication taken (e.g. antipsychotics, fertility meds). Quitting smoking has also been recognized as a cause of moderate weight gain, due to the resulting loss of appetite suppression. Also, some psychological disorders such as bulimia or binge disorders contribute direct risks of obesity. The mechanisms of neurobiology also contribute to the development of obesity. In addition to leptin (which regulates the intake and expenditure of energy) substances such as ghrelin (which regulates short-term appetite) are linked with the maintenance of obesity. (Flier, 2004). Other such substances include adiponectin which regulates glucose, cholecystokinin which stimulates the digestion of fat and protein, and PYY 3-36 which responds to food intake by reducing appetite. Finally, social determinants contribute to obesity by significantly affecting the habits formed that contribute to obesity. In a 2004 study, it was noted that there was an inverse correlation between wealth and obesity, suggesting that lower income individuals rely on cheaper fast food for nourishment. (Zagorsky, 2004). Also, a 2007 study followed more than 32,500 individuals over a span of 32 years and found that changes in body mass of friends, and siblings were reliable predictors of changes in subjects, regardless of geographical distance, suggesting that the acceptance of one’s body mass has an influence on changes in body size. (Christakis Fowler, 2007) REFERENCES Bleich, S., Cutler, D., Murray, C. Adams, A. (2007) Why Is The Developed World Obese?. Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 29. Retrieved May 5, 2008 from: http://www.nber.org/papers/w12954.pdf Lin, B.H., Guthrie, J. Frazao E. (1999) â€Å"Nutrient contribution of food away from home†. In: Frazao, E. (Ed). America’s Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences. Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 750, US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Washington, DC, pp. 213–239. Farooqi, S., O’Rahilly, S. (2006) Genetics of obesity in humans. Endocrine Review, Volume 27. Chakravarthy, M.V., Booth, F.W. (2004). Eating, exercise, and â€Å"thrifty† genotypes: connecting the dots toward an evolutionary understanding of modern chronic diseases. Journal of Applied Physiology, Volume 96. Flier, J.S. (2004). Obesity wars: molecular progress confronts an expanding epidemic. Cell, Volume 116, Issue 2, pp. 337-350. Zagorsky, J.L. (2004) Is Obesity as Dangerous to Your Wealth as to Your Health? Res Aging Volume 26, pp. 130-152. Christakis, N.A., Fowler, J.H. (2007) The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years.†       How to cite Midtermquestion obesity, Essay examples