Marketing Campaign for a Successful Product Launch Essay - 3

Marketing Campaign for a Successful Product Launch - Essay Example outhern Africa market will seek to inform the senior management team of the multinational company on how each of the selected promotional tool is appropriate in accomplishing the marketing objectives as well as the overall business objectives. Secondly, the manager in-charge of the South African market will demonstrate in this report how the recommended promotional tools will be implemented in order to make the marketing campaign successful. In most occasions when a business enterprise seeks to venture into a new market or it is about to release a new brand of product or service into the market, it usually engages in aggressive marketing campaigns. The marketing campaigns are mainly intended to create greater hype in the market, which will make the target audience eager to try or experience the newly released product and/ or service. In addition, the marketing campaign should be able to sustain the long-term growth of the business in the market or increased sales of the new product and/ or service. This therefore means that the marketing campaign should be devised properly in the first place to guarantee success of the entire process; this is according to Hollensen (2010). In this present report, Nokia’s manager for the Southern Africa market seeks to convince the company senior management team that the promotional tools he has picked are the most appropriate and effective in ensuring that both Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 record success in the South African market. For the purpose of carrying out a successful marketing campaign in South Africa, the manager in charge of the Southern Africa market picked four promotional tools that comprise of advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, and public relations. Hollensen (2010) in her studies described advertising, as any form of marketing communication that is used to reinforce what the target audience already knows about the product or service, and to convince, or encourage the target audience to purchase the

Malware Discussion Essay Example for Free

Malware Discussion Essay The use of malware is a way for attackers to gain access to person information from a personal computer or company information from an organization. There are several types of malware which include virus, rootkits, and worms. Each malware serves different purposes to achieve the goal of an attacker. An attacker could be envious of a past lover and could send a virus to their email to shutdown the operations of their computer. A disgruntle employee could send a worm to their old company and slow down production of the company. A random person looking for a thrill could set up a rootkit on a company’s network to gain access to company secrets. Each malware is given a name specified for its cause, for example the Trojan Worm. The name is given to this virus because of the activity that happens once it is executed. Viruses are named by antivirus companies who avoid using proper names. The Melissa virus was named by its creator, David Smith, for a Miami stripper. This paper will discuss 5 different types of malware and inform the targets for these attacks. Discussion of Malware The first malware that will be discussed is the Melissa Virus. This virus was detected on the 26th of March 1999. This virus is a Microsoft Word macro virus that is delivered as an E-mail attachment. The virus is activated when an attachment named, list. doc is opened. When it is activated, the Melissa virus searches the Microsoft Outlook address book and sends a message to the first 50 names. This virus proliferates itself as users open the attachment. Melissa doesn’t work on Outlook Express, just Outlook. The message appears to come from the person just infected, which means that the message will seem to come from a recognizable email address. Melissa doesn’t destroy files or other resources, but has the possibility to immobilize corporate and other mails servers. The origin of the Melissa virus is from an Internet alt. sex newsgroup and contains a list of passwords for various Web sites that require memberships. Melissa also has the ability to disable some security safeguards. Users of Microsoft Word 97 or 2000 with Microsoft Outlook 97, 98, or 200 are most likely to be affected. When the virus attacks, it can infect the copy of Microsoft Word that is installed as well as any following Word documents that are created. It can also change the setting of Microsoft Word to make it easier for the computer to become infected by it and succeeding macro viruses. Users of Word 97 or 2000 containing any other E-mail programs can be affected also; the difference is that Melissa will not automatically redistribute itself to the contacts through other E-mail programs. It can still however infect the copy of Microsoft installed on the machine. This infected copy can still be shared with others if a document is created in the infected copy and distributed through E-mail, floppy disk, or FTP. Although the virus won’t appeal to the mailout on a Mac system, it can be stored and resent from Macs. To avoid this virus, it is suggested to not double-click any file, such as an E-mail attachment, without scanning it first with antivirus software, regardless of who it is from. The next malware to be discussed is SQL injection which is an attack where malicious code is placed in within strings that are shortly passed on to an example of SQL Server for parsing and implementation. A form of SQL injection consists of direct placing of code into user-input variables that link with SQL commands and executed. An attack that is not as direct, inserts malicious code into strings that are intended for storage in a table or as metadata. The malicious code is executed once the stored strings are linked into a dynamic SQL command. In SQL Injection, the hacker uses SQL queries and ingenuity to get to the database of susceptible corporate data through the web application. Websites with features as login pages, support and product request forms, feedback forms, search pages, shopping carts and the general delivery of dynamic content, shape modern websites and provide businesses with the means necessary to communicate with prospects and customers are all vulnerable to SQL Injection attacks. The reason behind this is because the fields available for user input allow SQL statements to pass through and query the database directly. SQL Injection flaws are introduced when software developers create dynamic database queries that include user supplied input. There have been several reports of SQL attacks, dating back to 2005. The websites that have became victim to these attacks range from Microsoft U. K. to Lady GaGa’s website. To avoid SQL injection flaws, it is suggested that developers need to either: a) stop writing dynamic queries; and/or b) prevent user supplied input which contains malicious SQL from affecting the logic of the executed query. The next malware discussed will be Stuxnet. Stuxnet is a computer worm that targets Siemens industrial software and equipment running Microsoft Windows, and was discovered in June 2010. Although Stuxnet isn’t the first attack to target industrial systems, it is however the first discovered malware that actually moles on and weakens industrial systems. Stuxnet is also the first malware to include a programmable logic controller rootkit. Stuxnet is designed to target specifically Siemens supervisory control and data acquisition systems that are configured to control and monitor specific industrial processes. The PLCs are infected by Stuxnet weakening the Step-7 software application that is used to reprogram these devices. Stuxnet is different from other malware as it only attacks computers and networks that meet a specific configuration requirement. Stuxnet contains a safeguard and if Siemens software isn’t discovered on the infected computer will prevent each infected computer from spreading the worm to more than three others, and to erase itself on June 24, 2012. Along with other things for its victims, Stuxnets contains code for a man-in-the-middle attack. Stuxnet will spread through removable devices such as an USB drive in a Windows operating system by using a four zero-day attack. After it has infected the removable drive, it uses other utilizations and techniques to infect and update other computers inside private networks. Stuxnet infects Step 7 software by infecting project files belong to Siemen’s WinCC/PCS 7 SCADA control software and weakens a key communication library of WinCC called s7otbxdx. dll. It is recommended by Siemens to contact customer support if and infection is detected and advises installing Microsoft patches for security vulnerabilities and prohibiting the use of third-party USB flash drives. Next, Zeus, also known as Zbot virus will be discussed. This virus is geared toward financial institutions such as banks. Zeus was first discovered in July 2007 after being used to steal information from the US DOT. Zeus is set up to infect a consumers PC, and wait until the log onto a list of targeted banks and financial institutions and steal their credentials and sends them to a remote server in real time. Zeus can also inject HTML into a page that is provided by the browser, this displays its own content instead of the actual page from the bank’s web server. By doing this, it is able to obtain users information such card numbers and pins. According to SecureWorks, ZeuS is sold in the criminal underground as a kit for around $3000-4000, and is likely the one malware most utilized by criminals specializing in financial fraud. According to Lucian Constantin, Zeus is one of the oldest and most popular crimeware toolkits available on the underground market. Up until this year the Trojan could only be acquired for significant sums of money from its original author. However, a few months ago the source code leaked online and now anyone with the proper knowledge can create variations of the malware. Also according to SecureWorks, The latest version of Zeus as of this date is 1. 3. 4. x and is privately sold. The author has gone to great lengths to protect this version using a Hardware-based Licensing System. The author of Zeus has created a hardware-based licensing system for the Zeus Builder kit that you can only run on one computer. Once you run it, you get a code from the specific computer, and then the author gives you a key just for that computer. This is the first time they have seen this level of control for malware. The CTU recommends that businesses and home users carry out online banking and financial transactions on isolated workstations that are not used for general Internet activities, such as web browsing and reading email which could increase the risk of infection. The last malware that will be discussed is the Blaster worm also known as Lovsan, Lovesan, or MSBlast. The Blaster worm spreads on computers that have Windows XP and Windows 2000 as an operating system and was detected in August of 2003. The creator of the B variant of the Blaster worm, Jeffrey Lee Parson was an 18 year old from Hopkins, Minnesota. He was arrested on August 29, 2003, admitted to the creation of the B variant, and was sentenced to 18-months in prison in January 2005. A Windows component known as the DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) interface which is a known vulnerability of Windows is taken advantage of by Blaster. The DCOM handles messages sent using the RPC (Remote Procedure Call) protocol. Vulnerable systems can be compromised without any interaction from a user, according to Johannes Ullrich, chief technology officer at the SANS Internet Storm Center, which monitors threats to the Internet infrastructure. According to Mikko Hypponen, manager of antivirus research at F-Secure in Helsinki, Blaster unlike the Code Red worm, which contained code for a similar attack against the IP address of White House’s main Web server, targets the windowsupdate. microsoft. com domain, which prevents Microsoft from changing the address of the domain to sidestep the attack. Blasters code is small and can be quickly removed using free tools provided by F-Secure as well as other antivirus vendors, Hypponen said. However, customers should patch their systems before removing Blaster to prevent from getting infected again from the worm, he said.

The Theme of War in Fool’s Sanctuary :: Fool’s Sanctuary

The Theme of War in Fool’s Sanctuary One of the themes that Jennifer Johnston deals with in her book Fool’s Sanctuary is war. Within this theme she looks at how people view war, and how war affects different people. In this book Johnston shows the war in a bad light. Miranda, Mr. Martin and Cathal all support the IRA, or believed in a "free" Ireland and all lost something important to them. Andrew and Harry who were fighting against the IRA , and thought that Ireland should not be free had nothing that was very important to them taken away. Although Andrew was basically unable to visit his immediate family again he had not done so in years before, and in this visit where the story takes place he had arguments with his father, Miranda said that he should not have come, and he himself said that he hated Ternon. Cathal is the most rational character at Ternon. Unlike the other characters he sees things for what they are and does not try to hide from the mistakes he does not want to face up to. The main fault in his character lies in the way the he does not always think ahead, or at least not until it is too late. This is shown when he comes back from telling the IRA about Andrew and Harry staying at Ternon and stands outside thinking about whether or not he should tell them what he has done. In the end Cathal owned up to his mistake. As well as showing his strong conscience it also showed that he does not let emotions influence his judgement and values. While standing out in the rain he was Harry comforting Miranda. He could well have taken this as being something more than what it was and let the IRA come and kill Andrew and Harry. Cathal’s conscience is shown to be really strong, and it is the reason that he was able to give up his life. The way that Cathal changed his mind about what was the right thing to do shows the irrationality of the war. Cathal supports the war strongly enough to be a member of the IRA, and it was this loyalty that led him to tell them about Andrew and Harry. When he changed his mind and told Andrew and Harry about what he had done it showed Cathal’s love for people.

Admission to college

The world is fast becoming a borderless place.   Cultures, races, beliefs and ideologies are blend together and interact because of the growing advances in communications.   In order to succeed in this world, one needs to be able to adapt to the various cultural differences as well as be able to maintain a certain sense of individual identity.   This is one of the main reasons why I think the (insert name of college here) is the best place for me to cultivate and develop my talents.Life has been challenging for me to say the least.   Unlike many who have gotten many opportunities in life, most of my opportunities have been the result of my hard work.   When I graduated from Columbia-Greene Community College in December 2006 with an Associate in Science Degree, I have to admit that it was one of the proudest moments of my life.   After all these years, the hard work and perseverance that I put in finally paid off and I was able to get the reward that I deserved.It may not seem like a big accomplishment for many people but that day marked the culmination of the years that I put in and the verified my success in the face of the many various challenges that I faced along the way.   It does not appear on any transcript or college record but the fact that I am most proud of is that I accomplished all of this while being a single mother of two very lovely children.They say that college life is very challenging and that the only way to succeed and get high grades in college is by being a full time student.   While I would have wanted to have that same opportunity, I had to do it the hard way; being instead a part time student and a full time mother.Despite these challenges, I was able to remain on the President’s List of outstanding students for the Spring and Fall of 2006 academic semesters.   I constantly maintained excellent grades and also found time to do extra-curricular activities such as participate in the Phi Theta Kappa Sorority where I took part and handled a number of community outreach programs.As I mentioned earlier, the world is changing fast and there are many challenges that lie ahead of me.   I understand that the best way to deal with those challenges is to be prepared and I firmly believe that this (insert name of university here) is the best training ground.   Equipped with a Masteral Degree in Business Administration, I know that I will be able to become much more and be prepared for the challenges that I will encounter.I am currently working full time at the moment in order to prepare financially for college which I will be attending full time should I be accepted to this prestigious University.   Since this is the case, I am hoping that an adult online study course will be able to supplement my quest for knowledge and self-improvement for the meantime.In time, I hope to not only create a better future for myself through the help of a fine education but also to create a better future for my tw o young children who have the whole world ahead of them.While I personally believe that â€Å"there is no such thing as a free lunch† and that everything a person has in life must come from hard work and perseverance, I also believe in charity.   I believe in helping others who do not have much in life.I believe in helping people regardless of their nation, race or creed.   I believe in being a better person so I can best help myself and others around me.   I believe that the (Insert name of university here) is the best place for me to turn these beliefs into realities.

No Taxation Without Repesentation

Explain the meaning of the revolutionary slogan ‘no taxation without representation’. How did that express the core values of the new American political culture? Under American Revolution we understand politic developments in British colonies in North America in 1775-1783, which ended up creating the United States. They were caused by the unwillingness of the colonies to obey to the interests of the metropolis. The slogan that best expressed the cause of the revolution was ‘No taxation without representation’. It was widely used as a main complaint to royalty and colonial administration during the American Revolution.The slogan originated in the 50 – 60 years of the XVIII century, when British colonists in America began to realize that in spite of their large number and business activities, which are taxed, they have no representation in the Parliament and cannot exercise their rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, adopted in 1689. Let’s loo k a little bit closer to the history. In the 1760s British Parliament for the first time started a massive taxation of Americans, violating the fundamental bourgeois legal precept – no taxation without representation.Residents of the province were used to and wanted to continue to pay only the taxes that have been approved by their own elected representatives in local assemblies. Britain took, in addition, a law forbidding Americans to move to the vacant land. This law affected rich landowners, whose entrepreneurial appetites were dramatically reduced; and also small and poor farmers, who had been taken away a cherished dream of their own land. It was followed by political repression: restrictions on freedom of religion, the abolition of jury trials, the privacy of home and property, entry of the British troops in North America.Many of these decrees and laws came from the monarch, but in contrast to earlier times the freedom and rights of Americans have been actively suppress ed and limited also by the British Parliament. Since the 1760s Britain actually began to rule in North America as an absolute monarchy, trying to impose conditions inherent in feudal society. Americans cherish for more than a half century bourgeois social order, were shocked by their attempt to create a new absolutism. The 1760-1770-ies were characterized by the democratization of the political consciousness of Americans and American political culture.An ideological revolution was developing in America, that prepared and made possible a half decade later, the political revolution. Democratization touched a political practice in North America also. Previously unknown forms of political action of the people were developing: mass gatherings, meetings, rallies. Thus was formed the immediate or direct democracy, that started to compete with representative democracy. All sorts of amateur political organizations were created; the most prominent among them was the â€Å"Sons of Libertyâ₠¬ .The most prominent representative of the moderate stage and course of the anti-colonial movement was James Otis. He was most famously associated with the phrase, â€Å"taxation without representation is tyranny†. In the 1760s he became a political oracle of American patriots. In 1761 in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, Otis condemned the English decree, empowers customs colonies search procedure without judicial authorization of any dwelling to retrieve contraband. Otis argued that the famous English Bill of Rights and Habeas Corpus Act, which guaranteed inviolability of the person, property and housing, equally apply to Americans.No law or decree can be accepted that contradicts these basic acts which Otis after Blackstone called the Constitution. Otis turned the English Constitution and natural law in two main pillars to protect the interests of Americans. Demonstrating brilliant erudition and perseverance, he drew from the English constitution provisions that guaran tee citizens the security of property, and the right to representative government and trial by jury, and freedom of religion, and many other rights, which were based on liberal bourgeois world order.Otis has worked hard to prove the importance of the struggle for representation of North American provinces in Parliament. But his tenacity has not conceived a significant impact on his compatriots. Common sense told patriots, that a small group of colonial deputies in parliament cannot change its policy. Samuel Adams, who was established in the late 1760-1770's at the leading position in the patriotic movement of Massachusetts, states that the colonies cannot be fully represented in Parliament and that their representation at Westminster will turn against provinces itself.That would legitimize parliamentary tyranny for North America, and that therefore, a struggle of patriots for seats in the English legislature leads them astray. American political culture contains a number of core ide als, values and standards that define the relationship between citizens and government, and citizens to one another. Different societies view politics differently, and have different approaches to the view of society. In America, the views of society are liberty, equality, democracy, and individualism.Liberty as right to be free; equality as equality of opportunity; democracy as elected officials from the people; and individualism as the individual's rights are valued above those of the state (government). The American system creates in people a confidence that each and every person have to play by the same rules, and the role of the government is to protect these rules; confidence in the will of the people to support enterprise and entrepreneurship, to persistent work anywhere. And even if at some point people are unsuccessful, they will be making efforts to achieve success again and again.

Free Essays on Thomas Edison

Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847–1931, American inventor, b. Milan, Ohio. A genius in the practical application of scientific principles, Edison was one of the greatest and most productive inventors of his time, but his formal schooling was limited to three months in Port Huron, Mich., in 1854. For several years he was a newsboy on the Grand Trunk RR, and it was during this period that he began to suffer from deafness, which was to increase throughout his life. He later worked as a telegraph operator in various cities. Edison's first inventions were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph, the quadruplex system of transmitting four simultaneous messages, and an improved stock-ticker system. In 1877 he invented the carbon telephone transmitter (see microphone) for the Western Union Telegraph Company. His phonograph (patented 1878) was notable as the first successful instrument of its kind. In 1879, Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent lamp (with a carbon filament). For use with it he developed a complete electrical distribution system for light and power, including generators, motors, light sockets with the Edison base, junction boxes, safety fuses, underground conductors, and other devices. The crowning achievement of his work in this field was the Pearl St. plant (1881–82) in New York City, the first permanent central electric-light power plant in the world. He also built and operated (1880) an experimental electric railroad, and produced a superior storage battery of iron and nickel with an alkaline electrolyte. Other significant inventions include the Kinetoscope, or peep-show machine. Edison later demonstrated experimentally the synchronization of motion pictures and sound, and talking pictures were based on this work. During World War I he helped to develop the manufacture in the United States of chemicals previously imported; he also served as head of the U.S. navy consulting board c... Free Essays on Thomas Edison Free Essays on Thomas Edison Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847–1931, American inventor, b. Milan, Ohio. A genius in the practical application of scientific principles, Edison was one of the greatest and most productive inventors of his time, but his formal schooling was limited to three months in Port Huron, Mich., in 1854. For several years he was a newsboy on the Grand Trunk RR, and it was during this period that he began to suffer from deafness, which was to increase throughout his life. He later worked as a telegraph operator in various cities. Edison's first inventions were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph, the quadruplex system of transmitting four simultaneous messages, and an improved stock-ticker system. In 1877 he invented the carbon telephone transmitter (see microphone) for the Western Union Telegraph Company. His phonograph (patented 1878) was notable as the first successful instrument of its kind. In 1879, Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent lamp (with a carbon filament). For use with it he developed a complete electrical distribution system for light and power, including generators, motors, light sockets with the Edison base, junction boxes, safety fuses, underground conductors, and other devices. The crowning achievement of his work in this field was the Pearl St. plant (1881–82) in New York City, the first permanent central electric-light power plant in the world. He also built and operated (1880) an experimental electric railroad, and produced a superior storage battery of iron and nickel with an alkaline electrolyte. Other significant inventions include the Kinetoscope, or peep-show machine. Edison later demonstrated experimentally the synchronization of motion pictures and sound, and talking pictures were based on this work. During World War I he helped to develop the manufacture in the United States of chemicals previously imported; he also served as head of the U.S. navy consulting board c... Free Essays on Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison is considered one of the greatest inventors in history. He was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847 and died in 1931. During his life he patented 1,093 inventions. Many of these inventions are in use today and changed the world forever. Some of his inventions include telegraphy, phonography, electric lighting and photography. His most famous inventions were the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb. Edison did some of his greatest work at Menlo Park. While experimenting on an underwater cable for the automatic telegraph, he found that the electrical resistance and conductivity of carbon varied accordingly to the pressure it was under. This was a major theoretical discovery, which enabled Edison to invent a â€Å"pressure relay† using carbon rather than magnets, which was the usual way to vary and balance electrical currents. In February of 1877 Edison began experiments designed to produce a pressure relay that would amplify and improve the audibility of the telephone, a device that Edison and others had studied but which Alexander Graham Bell was the first to patent, in 1876. By the end of 1877 Edison had developed the carbon-button transmitter that is still used today in telephone speakers and microphones. Many of Thomas Edison’s inventions including the carbon transmitter were in response to demands for new products and improvements. In 1877, he achieved his most unique discovery, the phonograph. During the summer of 1877 Edison was attempting to devise for the automatic telegraph a machine that would transcribe a signals as they were received into a form of the human voice so that they could then be delivered as telegraph messages. Some researchers had theorized that each sound, if it could be graphically recorded, would produce a distinct shape resembling short hand, or phonography, as it was known then. Edison hoped to make this concept real by employing a stylus-tipped carbon transmitter to make ... Free Essays on Thomas Edison Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison is one of America's most famous inventors. Edison saw huge change take place in his lifetime. He was responsible for making many of those changes occur. His inventions created and contributed to modern nightlights, movies, telephones, records and CDs. Edison was truly a genius. Edison is most famous for his development of the first electric light bulb. When Edison was born, electricity had not been developed. By the time he died, entire cities were lit by electricity. Much of the credit for electricity goes to Edison. Some of his inventions were improvements on other inventions, like the telephone. Some of his inventions he deliberately tried to invent, like the light bulb and the movie projector. But some inventions he stumbled upon, like the phonograph. Of all his inventions, Edison was most proud of the phonograph. Edison invented and improved upon things that transformed our world. Some things he invented by himself. Some things he invented with other people. Just about all his inventions are things we still use in some form today. Throughout his life, Edison tried to invent things that everyone could use. Edison created the world's first "invention factory". He and his partners invented, built and shipped the product - all in the same complex. This was a new way to do business. Today many businesses have copied Edison's invention factory design....

Geography and Information About the State of Louisiana

Geography and Information About the State of Louisiana Capital: Baton RougePopulation: 4,523,628 (2005 estimate prior to Hurricane Katrina)Largest Cities: New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette and Lake CharlesArea: 43,562 square miles (112,826 sq km)Highest Point: Mount Driskill at 535 feet (163 m)Lowest Point: New Orleans at -5 feet (-1.5 m)Louisiana is a state located in the southeastern portion of the United States between Texas and Mississippi and south of Arkansas. It features a distinct multicultural population that was influenced by French, Spanish and African peoples during the 18th century due to colonization and slavery. Louisiana was the 18th state to join the U.S. on April 30, 1812. Prior to its statehood, Louisiana was a former Spanish and French colony.Today, Louisiana is most known for its multicultural events such as Mardi Gras in New Orleans, its Cajun culture, as well as its economy based on fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. As such, Louisiana was severely impacted (like all Gulf of Mexico states) by a large oil spill off of its coast in April 2010. In addition, Louisiana is prone to natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding and has recently been hit by several large hurricanes in recent years. The largest of these was Hurricane Katrina which was a category three hurricane when it made landfall on August 29, 2005. 80% of New Orleans was flooded during Katrina and more than two million people were displaced in the region.The following is a list of important things to know about Louisiana, provided in an effort to educate readers about this fascinating U.S. state. Louisiana was first explored by Cabeza de Vaca in 1528 during a Spanish expedition. The French then began exploring the region in the 1600s and in 1682, Robert Cavelier de la Salle arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi River and claimed the area for France. He named the area Louisiana after the French king, King Louis XIV.Throughout the rest of the 1600s and into the 1700s, Louisiana was colonized by both the French and Spanish but it was dominated by the Spanish during this time. During Spains control of Louisiana, agriculture grew and New Orleans became a major trading port. In addition, during the early 1700s, Africans were brought to the region as slaves.In 1803, the U.S. took control of Louisiana after the Louisiana Purchase. In 1804 the land purchased by the U.S. was divided into a southern part called the Territory of Orleans which eventually became the state of Louisiana in 1812 when it was admitted into the union. After becoming a state, Louisiana continued being influence d by French and Spanish culture. This is shown today in the states multicultural nature and the various languages are spoken there. Today, unlike other states in the U.S., Louisiana is divided into parishes. These are local government divisions that are equivalent to counties in other states. Jefferson Parish is the largest parish-based on population while Cameron Parish is the largest by land area. Louisiana currently has 64 parishes.Louisianas topography consists of relatively flat lowlands located on the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Rivers alluvial plain. The highest point in Louisiana is along its border with Arkansas but it still below 1,000 feet (305 m). The main waterway in Louisiana is the Mississippi and the states coast is full of slow-moving bayous. Large lagoons and oxbow lakes, like Lake Ponchartrain, are also common in the state.Louisianas climate is considered humid subtropical and its coast is rainy. As a result, it contains many biodiverse marshes. Louisianas inland areas are drier and are dominated by low prairies and low rolling hills. Average temperatures vary based on location within the state and the northern regions are colder in the winters and hotter in the summers than those areas closer to the Gulf of Mexico. Louisianas economy is heavily dependent on its fertile soils and waters. Because much of the states land sits on rich alluvial deposits, it is the U.S.s largest producer of sweet potatoes, rice, and sugarcane. Soybeans, cotton, dairy products, strawberries, hay, pecans, and vegetables are also abundant in the state. In addition, Louisiana is well-known for its fishing industry that is dominated by shrimp, menhaden (mostly used to make fishmeal for poultry) and oysters.Tourism is also a large part of Louisianas economy. New Orleans is especially popular due to its history and the French Quarter. That location has many famous restaurants, architecture and is the home of the Mardi Gras festival which has been held there since 1838.The population of Louisiana is dominated by Creole and Cajun peoples of French ancestry. Cajuns in Louisiana are descended from French colonists from Acadia in what were the present-day Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island . Cajuns are mainly settled in southern Louisiana and as a result, French is a common language in the region. Creole is the name given to people born to French settlers in Louisiana when it was still a colony of France. Louisiana is home to some of the most famous universities in the U.S. Some of these include Tulane and Loyola Universities in New Orleans and the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. References Infoplease.com. (n.d.). Louisiana - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0830418.htmlState of Louisiana. (n.d.). Louisiana.gov - Explore. Retrieved from: louisiana.gov/Explore/About_Louisiana/Wikipedia. (2010, May 12). Louisiana - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana