Its the terror of knowing

It’s the terror of knowing DID YOU KNOW? Norah Jones is the daughter of sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar. So Ive got a photographic record of picturesque Barcelona, but I figure that can wait a few days. Because I got to thinking this afternoon. The other day Mike, who I may or may not know, asked What are you thinking about doing for grad school? and the emphatic answer is I DONT KNOW! I NEED SOME TIME TO THINK! So here are a few of my thoughts on the subject right now, which I hope will give you some insight into being an MIT undergrad. 1. I think that, along with most of the chemical engineering Class of 2007, Im getting a little tired of being in school right now. Not that this is MITs faultMIT is, of course, the greatest school that will ever exist in the entire universebut after three years of problem sets, finals, UROPs, all-nighters, super burritos, Pour House, and everything else, most of my classmates arent too excited about the prospect of another 4.5 6 years of higher education including 2 years of classes and a 250-page final paper. Now, this might be a result of the chemical engineering curriculum at MIT, which is structured to hit you with most of your major classes and labs between your sophomore spring and your junior spring. True storylast semester my fellow UROP Adam 07 produced a paper for the one-semester class 10.26: Project Laboratory in Chemical Engineering that was longer than the thesis written by his grad student over a 6-year period. My own work paled in comparison, a mere 84 pages of graphs and charts detailing effectively two weeks of research. So, understandably, coming right out of 10.26, not many of us are excited about getting our own research projects in grad school. But Im going to take it pretty easy next year and try to take a few more interesting humanities classes that Id always neglected, so maybe I wont be so stressed out when it comes time to pick a grad schools. 2. The discipline I chose, Chemical Engineering, doesnt really need graduate work. If you go into something like chemistry or biology or another scientific field, the nature of most undergraduate curriculums is such that youre probably going to need more than a bachelors degree to get a chemistry- or biology-oriented research job. Otherwise you might end up as a lab tech or something like that. Engineering doesnt really work that wayalthough more jobs are open to you with a masters degree or PhD, from what I understand there are jobs in industry open to people with only bachelors degrees. Some people in my class are looking for work to get a feel for industry, then planning to return to grad school with a more balanced perspective between industry and education. The 29-year-old grad student I currently work with in lab took this approach. A few of my classmates are even searching for the much-coveted holy grail of a nice company that will pay for you to go back to grad school. Not even everybody in my chemical engineering class even wants a chemical-engineering related job, though. Some are selling out and going into finance right out of undergrad. Some are pre-med, devoting like the next ten years of their life to the poverty-stricken pursuit of higher education. This is why they tell probably everyone that chemical engineering is absolutely the most versatile major, even though they really only say that at chemical engineering faculty luncheons and choice of major fairs. 3. I cant go to MIT for a PhD. Now, this isnt a bad thing, because after four years of Boston winters and twenty years in the (relative) Northeast, I think I might be ready for a slight change of scenery anyway. But, in case you might be wondering, almost every engineering course does accept MIT undergraduates with appropriate qualifications into their PhD programs. The lone exception is chemical engineering, because professors have decided there are too many similarities between the engineering and curricula. For this reason, most of the science courses also refuse graduate admission to MIT undergraduates, with the recent exception of biology. In fact, in the chemistry curriculum, most grad students are required to take classes like 5.04: Principles of Inorganic Chemistry II with undergrads, for whom its an elective. I have heard people ask whether, for this reason, it might be better to go somewhere else for undergrad and then go to MIT for grad school instead. Well, I have no regrets doing it this way so far. The chemical engineering PhD program here seems to be great based on grad students Ive talked to, but Im sure there are other opportunities out there for you. 4. And do I really want a PhD right now? Another option, detailed by Mitra, is to go for a five-year Masters of Engineering degree. Currently, you can get these in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Biological Engineering, even without overloading on courses in your undergrad and ending up looking like some caffeine-addled toddler. Its not quite the same as an Master of Science, which you would get in most two-year programs. In fact, for the chemical engineering degree, instead of doing a thesis, you go out into workplaces and solve problems for actual companies. One grad student I know got to go to General Mills and use knowledge of steam tables to engineer the spherical shape of Cocoa Puffs. The only problem with this option is that if I decide that I later want a PhD, well, there was a year of higher education that I kind of wasted. 5. Well, I dont really want to know what I want to be when I grow up. If anything, MIT has only confused my childhood dreams, but in a good, horizon-broadening way. Coming into MIT, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew upan actuary (at the time, it was rated as the #2 job in the world in terms of profitability and lack of stress). Two majors later, I really dont know where my MIT education is going to take me yet. Right now, as a result of my UROP (turning turkey carcasses into oil), Im mostly interested in energy, but I could see that changing depending on the opportunities that came along, and I feel confident that there are a lot of jobs where my chemical engineering knowledge will be useful. Somehow I cant shake the feeling I might make a difference to the human race. But that difference could require a PhD to find, or it could need me to get right out of undergrad and start looking for it. Sometime during freshman year, I realized that finding success at MIT is not quite as easy as it was in high school, when I got good grades and applied to top colleges just because it was the right thing to do. There are lots of different paths to happiness that dont involve getting all As and overloading on classes. The exception is if you are pre-med, in which case yeah, getting good grades and applying to top med schools is pretty much your only goal. See you when youre 30! So I think I just talked myself into grad school with this entry, but well see what I think when I wake up tomorrow. For now, Ive been looking at applications and thinking of essay topics in my free time at work, and Ill try my best to rock the career fairs at MIT (open to all students, by the way), so hopefully you can get another entry to this effect next April. Then I will achieve my ultimate dream of pulling an Alex Doonesbury on my blog. You know why I am having so much trouble deciding? Because there is no gradschool.mitblogs.com. Get on it, Ben Jones! And other college admissions departments too! I know youre reading this! I have Statcounter! Next up, some real rambling this time in La Rambla, in Barcelona!

Islam, Science, and Evolution - 1370 Words

Since the 1800’s, the influence of Darwin’s theory of evolution has been taken into thorough consideration and repetitively debated to whether human biological development evolved from chimpanzees through out time along with the idea of how all life on earth came to existence. In fact, this theory has struck such a high level of controversey that it primarily became a crucial idea of intellectuality discussed within the West and around the world. Science and relegion have been the greatest factors which have shaped and mended values and ideas of western societies, essentially making a lasting impression on human history. Most writers and theologians believe that science and relegion are ideaologies which condradict one another and carry†¦show more content†¦Given the novel Science and Religion by John Brook, he has emphasised that religion has been defined in terms of a belief in supernatural beings or in terms of a commitment to some transcendent other, which serves to integrate ones life (6). Another example would be T.H. Janabis Clinging To A Myth where Bertrand Russell describes how science depends on perception and influence; its credibility is due to the fact that the perceptions are as such as any observer can test (15). And that is where problems arise. Since science functions within a world-view in regards of natural phenomena as the produce of life while the hypothesis of creation concerning the evolutionary theory cannot be tested, people automatially assume that creationism removes itself from the scientific realm. The term evolution essentially means very slow changes or particular alterations through out time. Muslims, the nation of Islam, agree with creationism and hold true to the fact that the Holy Quran consists of accurate information revealed about human exitence and that God created the world, the rest of the universe and all life forms many thousands of years ago. Since controvercial levels are high, individualists and organizations decided to create different belief systems in regards to evolution and creation hence each one must be specifically noted. Naturalistic evolution is a widespread belief system whichShow MoreRelatedCommon Threads Throughout Judaism, Christianity, and Islam1233 Words   |  5 PagesThe monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have over many thousands of years established many traditions and beliefs. Many of these are from their respective book of scripture such as the Bible, Torah, or Qu’ran. Others are from the interpretation of the religions over the many years from their leaders and the generational stories that have been passed down. Many of these can be seen as quite similar between the religions, but others can be considered unique to each one ofRead MoreA Look at Prominent Worldviews1349 Words   |  6 Pagesthat says anything about biogenesis, chemical evolution or Cambrian explo sion. However this doesn’t mean that Christianity refutes science as a whole. Islamic world view is somewhat similar to Christianity. Being theistic as Christianity, Islam also worships one God, being Allah. Differences are that Islam believes that man is innately good and nurture has made one bad. They think the fall of Adam and Eve did not made human innately bad. Also, Islam imposes fundamental five pillars that tells howRead MoreIslam and Continuities1628 Words   |  7 Pages  South Asia  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Latin America  Ã‚  Ã‚   North America †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Analyze the changes and continuities in China from the Zhou to the Song. Be sure to address political, social and economic factors as well as outside influences. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Trace and analyze the evolution of slavery and serfdom from prehistoric times to the end of the 19th century in TWO of the following regions. East Asia  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Mediterranean  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Eastern Europe  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sub-Saharan Africa †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Analyze the changes and continuities in the nature ofRead MoreThe Theory of Evolution754 Words   |  4 PagesRunning Head: EVOLUTION The Theory of Evolution By Student’s Name Name of University Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been a topic of controversy since it was promulgated in the late 1800s. Nonetheless, its tenets remain strong, with many modern day scientists making discoveries that support Darwin’s theories of evolution, natural selection, and survival of the fittest. In The Origin of Species, Darwin calls the process of natural selection or survival of the fittest, the preservationRead MoreLife As A Wonder That Begins At Birth And Ends When One Dies864 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscusses the life’s great questions and their answers from religions. Also, it compares the answers from the Islam and Christianity perspective. Religious traditions provide answers One of the puzzling life questions is the origin of human beings. People are curious about their origin and concerned what happened to their ancestors (McCabe, 2010). Science through the theories of evolution and the Big Bang theory has tried to explain the origin of life. Unfortunately, the theories are associated withRead MoreReflection On Creationism821 Words   |  4 PagesFor decades, evolution and creationism have been a topic of a broader debate between science and religion. As a product of twelve years of Catholic school education, my knowledge of evolution is biased. One teacher, specifically, refused to teach the concept of evolution because it conflicted with her personal beliefs as a practicing nun. My biology teacher, however, taught evolution through multiple perspectives. I am a faith-filled individual with a scientific mind. There is too much scientificRead MoreThe Media And Its Popularity933 Words   |  4 Pagestheologians have always existed even before the cradl e of civilises ion. the Sumerians, some 6,000 years ago. Religious figures believe that nature was not a seltoriginating mechanism but It is the work of a more superior being. So is region backed by science or do they contradict? This controversy Is disputed in many societies and some even incorporate it in politics. This topic is still a hotspot in today s media and its popularity has led it to be debated and discussed in many universities aroundRead MoreReligion Is The Most Important Aspect Of A Person s Life1057 Words   |  5 Pagesfor its contributions in mathematical science, trade and commerce, and the great teaching of the Quorum. In ancient times where cultural warfare and battles among various ethnic groups have destroyed important developments in science, Muslims strived to preserve the heritage of the ancient world. Through a codified, systemized, explained, criticized system, Muslims took over teachings that were created by other cultures and preserved or adopted their science to be translated and preserved in theirRead MoreThe Battle Of Creationism And Evolutionary Theory869 Words   |  4 Pagesmatter. Evolution in itself is a theory proposed by Charles Darwin in 1859. Grossly simplified, the theory states that life evolved from non-life; the concept of descent with modification. This theory arouses conflict because many Christians believe that it negates the literal interpretation of the biblical creation story. It is from this story that the theory of creationism began. While some may argue that creationism deserves to be taught alongside evolutionary theory within the science curriculumRead MoreEs say on Faith as a Basis of Knowledge in Religion1606 Words   |  7 Pagesfaith as basis of knowledge has been regarded as a controversial issue, especially in religion. This is mainly because religion is archaic, there are no traces of evidence but people strongly believe in it and they consider it as the truth. In science as the other area of knowledge, faith is founded on philosophies that scientist have proposed and disproved based on data. Nonetheless, faith is something that’s very personal and a lot of emotion is involved, especially when people genuinely consider

Essay President George Washington Bush’s Second Inaugural...

Since President Abraham Lincoln’s great second inaugural address (May 4th 1865) nearly 150 years ago it was a long existing habit for the President’s inaugural address to present a quite ambiguous demand for diplomacy and transformation of the world. President Bush’s second inaugural address was no different. It set forth President Bush’s ambitious perception of the United States’ role in progressing of liberty, democracy, and freedom worldwide â€Å"with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world† . In spite of persuade his public to adhere to his arguably over ambiguous goal, President George W. Bush uses a rhetoric approach that blends parts of pathos and ethos with precise word choice to create ethically and emotionally charged†¦show more content†¦To create common ideals and values President Bush relies on the assumption that he has successfully created a common history by saying that because we have a common history â₠¬Å"America’s vital interests (ideals) and our deepest beliefs (values) are now one.† The establishment of common ethics is done in the same subtle manner as the establishment of common morals. When he is addressing the â€Å"peoples of the world† he is making promises on behave of the United States to support those who would seek liberty, freedom, and democracy. He then addresses his â€Å"fellow citizens† once again in paragraph 22 and says that we have â€Å"accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon.† In other words the US already has obligations to help the spread of freedom so either the audience supports his goal to end tyranny or they are dishonorable and thus unethical. Because President Bush’s address is ideological, it relies heavily on the assumption that his world views, religious views, and ideals line up with those of the audience. If there were discrepancies in any of the three, his argument would fall flat. He began his address by presenting his world view with the statement that, â€Å"for as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny - prone to ideologies that feedShow MoreRelatedLaunching The Presidency. Dr. Kristen Coopie Allen. Alyssa1479 Words   |  6 PagesLaunching the Presidency Dr. Kristen Coopie Allen Alyssa Hamilton 5 April 2017 Inaugural Address Paper Inaugural addresses have in many respects been the first clear indication to the American public of what they have signed on to for the next four to eight years. Especially with the media in recent decades, elections have become so clouded in argument and contradiction that the inaugural address is our first chance to really listen to the new president’s goals and aspirations, without any significantRead MoreYales Five Stage Developmental Model - Ronald Reagan - Steps of First Campaign - Persuasion - Annalysis of Speeches2797 Words   |  12 PagesYale’s five stage developmental model gives us examples of what should happen from the beginning to end of a political campaign, product-line marketing scheme, or ideological campaign such as Christianity or Scientology. In the case of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan, you can see these steps put into action during his first run for the Presidential Office back in 1979. Yale’s model identifies the first step in the five stages as Identification. According to the text, Charles U. LarsonRead MoreThe Impact Of Black Friday On American Symbols, Values And Interests6556 Words   |  27 PagesCenter, New York City, around 9:00 a.m. local time. Half an hour later, the third jetliner crashed into the Pentagon, whereas the forth one, supposedly on its way to Washington D.C., crashed somewhere in Pennsylvania. However, the implications of that Black Tuesday were far more complicated than the mere reported facts. To President George W. Bush, the operations that were carried out against his country did not merely represent â€Å"acts of terror† on American symbols, values and interests, but they represented

Music Concert Report Free Essays

Concert Report Guidelines Listening to live performances is an essential part of learning to appreciate and understand music. Treat this report as though you were a music critic writing for your local newspaper. In other words, what did you like/not like and why? Here are some general guidelines to help you listen, think, and write about a concert. We will write a custom essay sample on Music Concert Report or any similar topic only for you Order Now Basic Information to Include When and where did the concert take place? How many pieces were performed? What were they called and how many movements were in each? Who composed each piece? Who were the performers (name of the ensemble and/or names of the soloists)? If there was a conductor, what was his or her name? What types of instruments were played and/or what types of voice parts were featured? Was there any special purpose to the concert? If so, explain. General Questions to Keep in Mind What was your general reaction to the concert? How did the performance sound to you? Was the music performed well? Were the musicians rhythmically â€Å"together†? Were they playing/singing in tune? Did any instruments or voices stick out? How would you rate the musicians’ technical ability and the energy of their performance? Did they seem well prepared for the concert? Which composition did you like best? Why? (e. g. , what specifically did you like about the piece itself or the way it was performed? ) Which composition did you like least? Why? Did any of the compositions trigger an emotional response from you? What were your specific feelings or thoughts in response to the music? Specific Points to Consider You may want to focus your discussion and analysis of the concert on one or more of the following points. Describe what you heard and observed using the following musical terms, elements, and concepts discussed in class when applicable. Genre (symphony, concerto, string quartet, etc. ) Stylistic period (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc. ) Mood (emotion conveyed by the music and performers) Pitch To what extent does pitch vary throughout the piece? How do changes in pitch reflect changes in mood? Rhythm (beat, accent, tempo, meter, syncopation) How were the elements of rhythm used to create special or interesting musical effects? Dynamics (level of sound) Identify changes in dynamics and discuss the effect these changes create. Tone color (bright, brassy, warm, ringing, hollow, etc. Mode (major, minor) Harmony/Melody Discuss the balance (or lack of it) between the melody and its â€Å"accompaniment. † Did you hear consonance, dissonance, or a combination of both? Motives/Themes Identify and note where individual motives and themes are first introduced and subsequently reappear in each piece. Texture (monophony, homophony, polyphony, etc. ) Form (sonata form, A B A, theme and variations, etc. ) Using the music al terminology and concepts covered in class, discuss the most interesting musical elements or features of the pieces that were performed. Compare the pieces from this performance with other compositions you have studied in class, noting similarities and differences. (Note: In selecting a composition from class, you may want to look for a piece by the same composer, from the same style period, or of the same genre as the piece(s) from the performance. ) How does this concert compare to the performance(s) you attended previously? Describe the behavior of the performers and the audience. What, if any, interaction occurred between the two? What kind of behavioral expectations do performers and audiences bring to the concert? How are these expectations satisfied or frustrated? Other VERY Important Information Concerts should be semi-professional/collegiate level or above. (For example, attending a younger sibling’s high school band concert will not be accepted. ) The purpose of these concerts is to attend a concert you might not normally attend in an attempt to expand your horizons. This means attending a rock/country/pop concert is out of the question. A good rule of thumb is when debating whether a concert is appropriate or not, ask your professor! Once you attend a concert, please submit the report within five days of the event. Any papers handed in beyond that point will NOT be accepted. Paper requirements: a minimum of two pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins. Please edit your paper for accuracy. Include the program (or ticket stub if no program is given out) with the report. Organizations With Community Events Calendars on the Web: AM: http://performancestudies. tamu. edu/ Blinn: http://www. blinn. edu/odonnell/index. htm MSC OPAS: http://opas. tamu. edu/ Arts Council – Brazos Valley: http://www. acbv. org/ KBTX: http://www. kbtx. com/ KAMU: http://events. publicbroadcasting. net/kamu/events. eventsmain How to cite Music Concert Report, Essay examples

Of Mice and Men Essay Example

Of Mice and Men Paper Of Mice and Men† is a book depicting the effects of the 1930 Great Depression. Unemployment rates were at their height. Workers were constantly travelling around the country, moving from job to job, which left them no time to bond or build relationships with their fellow workers. A key theme running through the book is loneliness, symbolised by the place where the novella is set, the town of Soledad, which means â€Å"solitude†. The theme of loneliness is explored in a variety of different ways and in a highly sophisticated and nuanced fashion. Loneliness is shown as occurring in people for a number of different reasons, for example racism, social rejection, etc. This essay will discuss how Steinbeck presents loneliness within the first 3 sections of this novella. One character who is very lonely is Candy. Candy’s only friend is his dog who Candy is persuaded to have put down. George and Lenny escape isolation by having each other and are therefore happy to live alienated from the rest of the world. Candy had his dog and yet this does not compensate for his loneliness. When his dog is killed, he is left with no-one. He therefore wants to be part of their dream, and tries to persuade them by making a will and; â€Å"leave my share to guys in case I kick off†. This shows his wish not to be alone. In addition we see Candy’s loneliness when he says: â€Å"A guy on a ranch don’t never listen nor don’t he ask no questions†. The use of the phrase â€Å"guy on a ranch† suggests that ranch workers, as a collective unit, are lonely. This attitude is brought out earlier in the book when George says: â€Å"Guys like us are the loneliest guys in the world†. We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Steinbeck conveys the idea that all ranch workers are lonely, and for a man to keep to himself is the social norm. Another character who is portrayed as very lonely is Curly’s wife but for very different reasons. Curly’s wife seeks the attention of any man she meets. She is the only women on the ranch and feels mistreated by her husband. She tries to flirt with the other men perhaps to make Curly feel small and neglected, or maybe because she feels lonely and isolated on the ranch. Firstly, in section 3 she says; â€Å"Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely†. This immediately gives us the impression that she is lonely. She feels isolated and she lacks human interaction. Furthermore, the fact that she married Curly makes her even more isolated as he gives her little freedom and controls every aspect of her life. This is shown by the fact that she is given no name, rather named â€Å" Curly’s wife† suggesting she belongs to him, thus highlighting his control over her life. In contrast to these characters we see a friendship between George and Lenny built on necessity and genuine affection. Although George becomes angry at Lenny in section 1: â€Å"I got you! You can’t keep a job and you lose me every job I get†, his care for Lennie is highlighted by his adamant request for Lennie to stay with him when he threatens to leave him; â€Å" no look I was just fooling! † the imperative shows the urgency and plea and the punctuation emphasises this. This desperate plea for Lenny to stay with suggests that they George does really want to be with him, regardless of what he says. However their relationship is ambiguous. Although George shows affection towards Lennie, he often talks about wanting to be alone. In portraying George’s desire for solitude, Steinbeck shows that solitude and loneliness are different things. Solitude is not necessarily always a bad thing yet loneliness is. In conclusion, I believe that not all of the characters in â€Å" Of Mice and Men† are lonely although loneliness is a major theme in the novella.

buy custom Nursing Home Resident Rights and Responsibilites essay

buy custom Nursing Home Resident Rights and Responsibilites essay The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established in 1996 to improve the efficiency in the VA. The law was established to ensure privacy and protection of personal information in the medical field. However, its implementation raised numerous questions in the department of veterans affairs. The office of the general counsel was however established in order to answer the many questions submitted by the veteran administration. The law therefore limits access to medical information without his or her consent. Its enactment seeks to ensure that medical practitioners and the related organizations guard the privacy of their patients and clients information in the VA. This was done in conjunction with the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations. Before HIPAA enactment patients confidentiality was drastically eroded and the health maintenance organization had a complete dominance over the patients information in the VA. The behavior had enormously eroded confidence in the health profession and had consequently exposed them to some legal actions. But HIPAA was later enacted to provide strict confidentiality and limit the disclosure of patients health information which could reveal his identity. HIPAA privacy rule in the VA provides protection of medical information and also gives health care providers, health plan and other health care clearing houses the right to access patients medical information when need arises (Watts, Hynes Kopp, 2003). Among the key patient rights in the department of veteran affairs includes, respects and non-discrimination. This was enforced to ensure that all patients were treated with dignity and respect. They are also entitled to information disclosure and confidentiality. Likewise patients in the Veteran Affairs have a right to participate in their treatment decisions. And in case you are not satisfied with the treatment processes, you can file a complaint without any fear of retaliations. And the medical practitioners will be obligated to an explanation for their action (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2006). Buy custom Nursing Home Resident Rights and Responsibilites essay

South Americas Uruguay and Its Geography

South America's Uruguay and Its Geography Uruguay is a country located in South America that shares its borders with Argentina and Brazil. The country is the second smallest in South America, after Suriname, with a land area of 68,036 square miles (176,215 sq km). Uruguay has a population of just over 3.5 million people. 1.4 million of Uruguays citizens live within its capital, Montevideo, or in its surrounding areas. Uruguay is known as being one of South Americas most economically developed nations. Population: 3,510,386 (July 2010 estimate) Capital: MontevideoBordering Countries: Argentina and BrazilLand Area: 68,036 square miles (176,215 sq km)Coastline: 410 miles (660 km)Highest Point: Cerro Catedral at 1,686 feet (514 m) History Prior to European arrival, the only inhabitants of Uruguay were the Charrua Indians. In 1516, the Spanish landed on Uruguays coast but the region was not settled until the 16th and 17th centuries due to hostilities with the Charrua and a lack of silver and gold. When Spain did begin to colonize the area, it introduced cattle which later increased the areas wealth.In the early 18th century, the Spanish founded Montevideo as a military outpost. Throughout the 19th century, Uruguay was involved in several conflicts with the British, Spanish, and Portuguese. In 1811, Jose Gervasio Artigas launched a revolt against Spain and became the countrys national hero. In 1821, the region was annexed to Brazil by Portugal, but in 1825, after several revolts, it declared its independence from Brazil. It did decide, however, to maintain a regional federation with Argentina.In 1828 after a three-year war with Brazil, the Treaty of Montevideo declared Uruguay as an independent nation. In 1830, the new country adopted its first constitution and throughout the rest of the 19th century, Uruguays economy and government had various shifts. In addition, immigration, mainly from Europe, increased.From 1903 to 1907 and 1911 to 1915 President Jose Batlle y Ordoà ±ez established political, social and economic reforms, However, by 1966, Uruguay was suffering from instability in these areas and underwent a constitutional amendment. A new constitution was then adopted in 1967 and by 1973, a military regime was put in place to run the government. This led to human rights abuses and in 1980, the military government was overthrown. In 1984, national elections were held and the country again began to improve politically, economically, and socially.Today, due to several more reforms and various elections throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s and 2000s, Uruguay has one of the strongest economies in South America and a very high quality of life. Government Uruguay, officially called the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a constitutional republic with a chief of state and a head of government. Both of these positions are filled by Uruguays president. Uruguay also has a bicameral legislative assembly called the General Assembly that is made up the Chamber of Senators and the Chamber of Representatives. The judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court. Uruguay is also divided into 19 departments for local administration. Economics and Land Use Uruguays economy is considered very strong and is consistently one of the fastest growing in South America. It is dominated by an export-oriented agricultural sector according to the CIA World Factbook. The major agricultural products produced in Uruguay are rice, wheat, soybeans, barley, livestock, beef, fish, and forestry. Other industries include food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, and beverages. Uruguays workforce is also well educated and its government spends a large part of its revenue on social welfare programs. Geography and Climate Uruguay is located in southern South America, with borders on the South Atlantic Ocean, Argentina and Brazil. It is a relatively small country with a topography consisting mostly of rolling plains and low hills. Its coast regions are made up of fertile lowlands. The country is also home to many rivers and the Uruguay River and the Rio de la Plata are some of its largest. Uruguays climate is warm, temperate and there are ​rarely, if ever, freezing temperatures in the country. More Facts About Uruguay 84% of Uruguays terrain is agricultural88% of Uruguays population is estimated to be of European descentUruguays literacy rate is 98%Uruguays official language is Spanish Sources CIA - The World Factbook - Uruguay. Central Intelligence Agency.Uruguay: History, Geography, Government, and Culture- Infoplease.com. Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Uruguay. United States Department of State.Uruguay - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia.com.