6.9 Digital Marketing Overview

 The Digital Marketing program explores aspects of the digital marketing age. Topics you will learn about will include data analysis, search engine optimization (SEO), creating and developing content for social media and mobile platforms, and designing promotions. Upon completion of the program, you will be able to digitally create, distribute, and promote products and services.

All students are required to purchase and use a preapproved laptop to complete much of your coursework.

Digital marketing skills you will gain include:

• Mobile Marketing Strategies

• Social Media Campaigns

• Audio/Video Recording and Editing

• Digital Design Concepts

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• Google Analytics

• Responsive Web Design

• Basic Coding for Marketers

• Policies, Laws, and Ethics

• Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, Dreamweaver, and Muse

6.6 - 5 Reasons Why I Would Love to Visit Barcelona and You Should Too

I first fell in love with the idea of traveling to Barcelona in 2002. My favorite band at the time had a television series, Viva S Club, that they filmed throughout the city. The show allowed me to learn that Barcelona was like no other city in the world. There are amazing Gothic architectures, fascinating art and sculptures, many beautiful beaches, world-renowned food, and vibrant, loving culture.

 

Gaudí Architecture

 

Antoni Gaudí has art all over Barcelona, including architecture. One of his most famous pieces is the Sagrada Família, a Roman Catholic basilica that has taken over a century to build. Construction on the basilica started in 1882 and is currently expected to be completed by 2026. Even with the construction cranes surrounding this building, it is still breathtakingly beautiful. There are so many fine details to appreciate throughout the structure. This intricate work is so rare these days. 

 

However, there are many other buildings around Barcelona with similar architectural styles. More places to get Gaudí:

• Casa Batlló
• Casa Vicens Gaudí
• Casa Milà
  

 

Sculptures and Art

Barcelona is home to famous artist Antoni Gaudí and the city is proud of it. There are multiple Gaudí sculptures placed around the city. However, nothing beats his mosaics. Head over to Park Güell for an overload of mosaics.

 

Some of the mosaics found in the park include:

• an iguana
• a wavy bench
• a spire
  

Breathtaking Beaches

 

Just like any seaside city, there are plenty of beaches to choose from when visiting Barcelona. Each beach is known for a certain activity and has views of the beautiful teal colored water of the Mediterranean Sea. If you are looking for sports activities, go to Sant Sebastià Beach. It is also the most popular and oldest beach in Barcelona. One could waste away an entire day watching beach-goers play beach volleyball.

Foods

 

Many people know Spain is famous for its Paella but I am not a seafood person. However, BonAppetour recommends some dishes I would still like to try.

Bombas

According to BonAppetour, bombas were created

during the Spanish Civil War. It is a large potato ball

served with two sauces, white garlic allioli, and a spicy red sauce.

Calçot and Romesco Sauce

Calçots are sweet onions specific to the Spanish region, Catalina. The onions are barbecued with meats. What interests me about this dish is the sauce.

Romesco sauce is made of an interesting combination of hazelnuts, almonds, and red peppers.

 

Culture

 

Spanish culture is something, unlike anything we experience in the United States. One rule of thumb for visiting Spain, or so I've heard, is never rush a Spaniard. They move at their own pace and will not rush as long as they are creating personal relationships. According to GoinGlobal, siestas are a thing of the past. Today, Spaniards have several hours of leisurely talk, referred to as sombremesas. 

4.6 How to Make Jacquie's Drool-worthy Authentic Tacos

 My friend Jacquie is well known for her delicious meals that bring her friends and family together. Tacos are one of our favorite meals together. She makes them for every occasion, making all of us gawk at how delicious they are.

 

The Amateur Professional: Meet Jacquie

Jacquie is a friend I made in middle school. She is passionate about cooking and enrolled in any cooking class offered. In our sophomore year of high school, her dad decided they were moving to Jocotepec, Mexico, a small town in a mountain valley.

 

Having no friends and limited family, she decided to work at the local restaurant. The owners of the restaurant and their family took her under their wings, teaching her to make some of Mexico's most popular dishes, including tacos.

 

Several years later, she returned to her native Minnesota with the knowledge of several traditional Mexican recipes. We would bond over these recipes day after day, event after event. Hopefully, you will too.

 

How to Make Jacquie's Drool-worthy Authentic Tacos

Authentic tacos are easy to make, making them perfect for any occasion. Jacquie's cooking style is all about taste and flavor. She frequently uses taste to determine how much of an ingredient she will need, so you will not find measurements below.

Ingredients

• any thin cut of steak 
• salt
• pepper
• canola oil
  
  
• white onions
• cilantro
• 4" corn or flour tortillas
• queso fresco

 

Directions

1. Season the steak with a pinch of salt and pepper on each side. Rub the salt and pepper into the steak. Let the steak rest while you prepare the onions and cilantro.
2. Warm a frying pan on medium-high heat with a little bit of canola oil. Use just enough oil to grease the pan enough so the steak doesn't stick. Allow it to warm until the canola oil is rippling. Do not add the steak just yet.
3. Dice the onions as fine as you can. Depending on how much onion you would like on your tacos, you may need to dice half or a whole onion.
4. Chop the cilantro into small pieces. The smaller, the better. Again, the amount of cilantro you need to chop will depend on how much cilantro you would like. I usually chop half a bushel.
5. Add the steak to the pan. You should be able to hear the sizzling when the steak touches the pan. Cook the steak for 3-4 minutes on each side. When the steak is done, it should have a little bit of a char on each side.
6. While the steak is cooking, place tortillas into three stacks of two tortillas each on each plate.
7. Remove the steak from the pan, placing it directly on each stack of tortillas.
8. Add large pinch of onions to each taco.
   
9. Add a pinch of cilantro to each taco.
   
10. Add a pinch of queso fresco to each taco.
    

 

Alterations

One of the joys of tacos is you can make them to your tastes. Cook the steak a little less if your heart desires. Don't like onions? No problem! You can leave them off. That is one of the many joys of taco making.

 

Enjoy!

3.6 A Great Day Turned Traumatic

 The greatest day ever turned into a traumatic day instantly. It was a warm summer night in 2009. My friend Katie and I decided we were going to spend the night hopping around bars in Downtown Minneapolis after spending the day relaxing in her pool. When we made plans for the evening, we did not anticipate being forced out of the club into active shooting.

As the white overhead lights went on, you could see a swarm of sweaty, overheated individuals begin heading for the exit. The heard was funneling through the doors rather quickly this evening when all of a sudden it stopped.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The heard tried re-entering the club upon the pops of the gunshots. However, a club security guard was determined to go home. He continued to push the patrons out of the club.

"No! No! No! Big Daddy they're shooting," one patron pleaded to the club security.

"The bar is closed. You need to go," Big Daddy responded with minimal empathy.

To my relief, my friend Terry had been at the club that night. Terry worked as a police officer for a local department. That night he finished his shift and headed straight for the club.

As Katie and I were exiting the club Terry met us, "I have my gear on. Stay behind me." He was still wearing his bullet proof vest. He guided us across the street toward the parking ramp while he maintained focused on the shooters.

Katie and I went to the Gay 90's every Sunday night. We would have fun socializing with others and dancing all night. We wouldn't leave until the lights came on and the club security guard was pushing us out the door. Many of those nights when we would leave, Downtown was quiet. Only a few cars would be traveling along Hennepin Avenue. Some bar-goers would be stumbling down the sidewalk. However, it was rare to see conflict at this time of night.

Katie, Terry, and I survived the shooting uninjured. I am unsure of how this affected Katie and Terry because we lost touch of the years. However, I have been traumatized since. Any loud banging noise raises my anxiety. I can no longer enjoy fireworks like I used to.

The Great Day That Turned Traumatic

The greatest day ever turned into a traumatic day instantly. It was a warm summer night in 2009. My friend Katie and I decided we were going to spend the night hopping around bars in Downtown Minneapolis after spending the day relaxing in her pool. When we made plans for the evening, we did not anticipate being forced out of the club into active shooting.

As the white overhead lights went on, you could see a swarm of sweaty, overheated individuals begin heading for the exit. The heard was funneling through the doors rather quickly this evening when all of a sudden it stopped.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The heard tried re-entering the club upon the pops of the gunshots. However, a club security guard was determined to go home. He continued to push the patrons out of the club.

"No! No! No! Big Daddy they're shooting," one patron pleaded to the club security.

"The bar is closed. You need to go," Big Daddy responded with minimal empathy.

Fortunately, my friend Terry had been at the club that night. Terry worked as a police officer for a local department. That night he finished his shift and headed straight for the club.

As Katie and I were exiting the club Terry guided us, "I have my gear on. Stay behind me." He was still wearing his bullet proof vest. He guided us across the street toward the parking ramp while he maintained focused on the shooters.

Katie and I went to the Gay 90's every Sunday night. We would have fun socializing with others and dancing all night. We wouldn't leave until the lights came on and the club security guard was pushing us out the door. Many of those nights when we would leave, Downtown was quite. A few cars would be traveling along Hennepin Avenue. Some bar-goers would be stumbling down the sidewalk. However, it was rare to see conflict at this time of night.

Katie, Terry, and I survived the shooting uninjured. I am unsure of how this affected Katie and Terry because we lost touch of the years. However, I have been traumatized since. Any loud banging noise raises my anxiety. I can no longer enjoy fireworks like I used to.