EXCEPTIONAL TECH MAESTRO

You can do some amazing things with Blogger

2011-07-29T03:20:00.000-07:00

Blogger Buzz: You can do some amazing things with Blogger

I never thought or imagined how powerful blogger was until I saw the websites designed and hosted on Blogger on this post:
I`m so doing this on the next website project I work on by God`s grace.
Here are the websites that the blog author designed on blogger:

I know!!! Amazing.
Anyways, my mind is officially opened more to Blogger... I am crazy impressed and cannot wait to try it out.

Check my more regular blog out will you: http://truevineproductions.blogspot.com/

Dicyple's Prayer

2011-02-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

I know. It has been a while since anything new was posted here.

Primarily, this is because I post regularly on my other blog, True Vine Productions.

Anyways, here's one of my songs that is a hidden gem to me. I love the lyrics and I'm grateful to God for using me to deliver this message... His message.

Hope you like it.
†

New features in youtube | Awesome facelift

2010-08-12T02:51:00.000-07:00

Just a few minutes ago, I was on youtube and saw something amazing...

Youtube has gotten a major face-lift and I love it.

Take a look at the screenshot below:

So how do you get to see this?

Simple. Watch any video on youtube, get to the end of the video and the thumbnails show.

The thumbnails contain a featured video, some related videos as well as a replay, like and share annotation-like button.

Nice to see that youtube/google is using the annotation feature they created to improve the youtube user experience.

I'm a fan of this new facelift. Thumbs up youtube and google.

Stats now available for blogger users

2010-07-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hello geniuses...
I know, long time no see...
I just discovered that blogger has added stats to the blogger in draft dashboard.

What does this mean?
No more particular need for google analytics... because "stats" shows you some important info about your blog without ever having to leave blogger....

Kudo's to google for this new addition... what do you have to say for yourselves wordpress... lol

Take a look at the screenshot below to see where the stats is located.

To see your stats in blogger... go to: draft.blogger.com
Make sure you check "Make blogger in draft my default dashboard" to be the first few priviledged ones to experiment with new blogger features.

Grace and peace.

Fresh pop-sounding beat by Bezalel

2010-04-05T02:43:00.001-07:00

SORRY.... WRONG POST LOCATION...... SUPPOSED TO BE ON TRUE VINE PRODUCTIONS

I tried something new with this one... I believe I got a good result. I could rap to this but I believe it's more of a pop/to-be-sung beat. I might consider doing something similar to this in the future... try to be more versatile.

My sisters loved it... don't know if they still do but... listen to it and tell me what you think about i.

Fresh pop-sounding beat by Bezalel

HAPPY EASTER

2010-04-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter. Today is the second day of TVP being online. You know it's awesome that I launched this blog the day before we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. Well, Happy Easter to you all. Here's a wallpaper from THIS WEBSITE. Take a look at the article below the wallpaper.

So what is Easter?

It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our wonderful Savior Jesus.
Jesus is risen, He is alive, He loves you and I. GET JESUS HERE>>

Matthew 28:5-10(mouse over the verse to read it)

Have a lovely celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Guest blogging now available

2010-02-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Guest articles are now available here on Photoshop Maestro (ETM). Guest blogging (IMHO) gives any website lot's of variety in terms of content, especially when all the guest authors specialize in different fields.

I now have guest bloggers here and they have already started posting their articles.

Visit the guest bloggers page (GUEST ARTICLES) for more information on these guest bloggers and how you can contribute too as a guest blogger here on ETM.

-Photoshop Maestro (ETM)

What should I do this valentine? Here's something

2010-02-12T22:15:00.001-08:00

If you're wondering what do this valentine, whether or not you have plans with that special someone, here's something that is worth doing that will definitely make you feel good.

Spread the word about...

Just watch the video below first, then I'll continue. The video is 47 seconds long only, shouldn't waste your time.

Sad huh?

India is the home of tigers and they have less than 1500 left? They are supposed to have the most tigers in the world. If they have that little, I wonder how many are left elsewhere in the world. I definitely don't want to see tigers go extinct,

God has blessed us and put us as head over such a big and beautiful animal. We humans are the head of this planet and we should take good care of what God has given us.

That's why I couldn't turn away when I watched this video, I had to do something.

This is what I've done. I've shared it with you. Now what will you do about this... keeping in mind that as humans, you and I have some sort of responsibility for our environment directly or indirectly.

Share this article in any way you can. Let's help save the tigers.

IMPORTANT LINKS
- The Save Tigers website
- The Save Tigers blog

TBB is a guest author here on ETM. He's a "Green Christian" (meaning a Born again Christian with a desire to preserving, nurturing and taking good care of this environment) placed under our control by God (our creator).

Valentine's weekend: Do something more

2010-02-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely people,

Who isn't TGIF'n right now, that means Thanking God It's Friday, for anyone who's a bit lost lol.

But seriously guys, no matter how FAB your week's been, we all deserve a break.

With Valentine's day coming up, it's easy to get lost in things, expecting too much or being depressed cos you don't have a valentine.

I'll like you to do something out of the ordinary this weekend, something you wouldn't usually do. You could smile at a stranger, help someone carry their groceries, say hi, whatever - just do something, anything.

Share the love people.

Have a lovely weekend, no pun intended *-]

Femiluv is a guest blogger here on ETM. She is currently a college student, who loves writing, shopping with friends and meeting new people. Feel free to email her with any questions or comments you may have.

Loving You

2010-02-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

A little bit of inspiration to everyone out there as you celebrate valentine's day. Single or taken, learn to love you.

Loving You

Fearfully, wonderfully made?

Probably on the inside

Flawed, and imperfect

Walking in obscurity

Noticed for all the wrong reasons

Living in a world of perfection

I have to fit the stereotype?

I didn’t create me

My defects define me

Inspired by my haves not my have-nots

Me is beautiful

Deserving true love and happiness

I choose not to be held back by fear

Perfect love casts out fear?

Believing in the perfect one

Who accepts me
Fallible as I am

Being thankful each day

‘Cause I found you

Or working on me every day

I’ll wait for you

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Why twitter might be in trouble?

2010-02-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

Why twitter might be in trouble??? Here are a few of the features in google buzz.

Google buzz is so easy. That's where the advantage over twitter is.... and you can even post from buzz to twitter... so maybe this is not even about competition between google and twitter huh?

Features of google buzz (gotten from www.google.com/buzz)

No setup needed
Automatically follow the people you email and chat with the most in Gmail.
Share publicly or privately
Publish your ideas to the world or just to your closest friends.
Inbox integration
Comments get sent right to your inbox so it's easy to keep the conversation going.
Photo friendly
See thumbnails with each post, and browse full-screen photos from popular sites.
Connect sites you already use
Import your stuff from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.
See updates in real time
New posts and comments pop in as they happen. No refresh required.
Just the good stuff
Buzz recommends interesting posts and weeds out ones you're likely to skip.

Get the idea? Google buzz is definitely getting my attention already.

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Google buzz might kill twitter... really

2010-02-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Google buzz was launched today and from what I see, it is indeed better than twitter. Twitter has definitely got some competition.

Google buzz allows you to do everything twitter does right from your gmail inbox. If you haven't seen google buzz yet, log-in to your gmail account and you should be prompted to try it out right away. If you don't see it... just relax a little bit, it should be there by today or tomorrow.

Google buzz does everything twitter does right from one interface... your gmail account. Since it's just been launched, it may not be real famous now, but in two months, it'll be everywhere. How do I know, well its google and google is google. Look what they did to ya***!.

I don't know if twitter is gonna lose the battle, but google buzz is definitely gonna steal some users...

What do you think of this new google phenom?

See all the features on the google buzz homepage:

www.google.com/buzz

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Maybe you should say no... out loud

2010-02-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

Just say no? Out loud?

Guess you're thinking "What's this guy talking about this time?". Well, I'm talking about temptation.

I'm sure everyone of you has been tempted to do something you don't like doing... or are trying to stop doing?

Usually, the temptations that come your way are easy for you to defeat. "WHAT?? Even when I was tempted to... I could have defeated the temptation??" YES. It's the truth, it's in the Bible...

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it
(1 Corinthians 10:13)

So the Bible has said so, how do we enforce the rule.... the fact in the scripture that can never be disproved?

It's quite simple.

Submit (humble)yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee(run away) from you.
(James 4:7)

Do I mean shouting at the devil at the top of voice? Yes. If you have to do so to remain clean, do so.

But... what I do is this...

I say a firm "NO" to the devil or his demons, I say No, and I mean no, and get my self(my eyes, mouth, body, computer) out of that tempting environment.

You can't say "NO" to lust.... and keep on staring at some lady inappropriately, you can't say "NO" to cursing and hang around guys that love to cuse... and so on.

So, when next you're tempted, just say "No". Saying "No" is a form of resisting the devil... and if you mean it and cultivate the habit of rebuking him, just like the pathetic, little, ugly wimp he is, he'll run away. The more you win the battle of temptations, the better and stronger your faith will be.

Have a great day.

IMAGE CREDITS

In the future, think before you complain

2010-02-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

I saw this article and decided to share it with you guys.

A blind girl hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If only I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.

The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:

'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, before they were yours, they were mine.'

This is how our human nature (our flesh) often behaves... people even do this to God. When God blesses us, restores to us or lifts us up, we tend to forget where it's all from. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

-Life Is a Gift from God. Today before you say an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak.

-Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat.

-Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

-Today before you complain about life, think of someone who is no more.(None of us are here because we are so holy, but because of God's grace, love and mercy).

-Before you complain about your children, think of someone who desires children but has none.

-Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean, think of the people who are living in the streets.

-Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet(because he/she has no choice but to do so).

-And when you are tired and complain about your job , think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

-Before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without error and we all answer to God our creator... everyone one of us will(including your pastors, priests, etc)

-And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank God that you're alive and still around.

1. I guess this story also applies to having and asking God for wisdom The boyfriend should have asked God for direction before giving his eyes away.
2. This could also be seen as Jesus giving his life away for us His children. When we turn away from Him and go back to our old ways, we adopt the role of the blind girl. See the relationship?

Have a lovely week everyone.

Share this message with anyone or everyone that will benefit from it.

Want to see your keywords visually

2010-02-05T22:12:00.000-08:00

Want to see your keywords visually???

If your answer is yes (or even No), this website will definitely grab your attention. It is...

http://www.wordle.net/

This website allows use to either type in a bunch of words or type in a url of a website or feed, and it will generate a sleek looking typography design using only the keywords from your site or the words that you typed in.

Here are a few of the results I got when I typed in http://exceptionaltechmaestro.blogspot.com/

Amazing huh?

Love this one so much...

I believe you get the idea of what you can do with this website...

Have fun playing.

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Stand out like a professional using only text

2010-02-05T21:50:00.000-08:00

Hello beautiful people

As I promised in my apology, here is the first video; a tutorial on how to make your text stand-out like a graphics professional (in less than 5 minutes). This text effect is often used in our web 2.0 generation, therefore is very applicable to designers today. To download the source file, click on download .psd file below. Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD PSD FILE

And, Yes.... the video is in HD, so click on the fullscreen icon and enjoy the high resolution.

Drop a comment if anything is unclear.

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I apologize

2010-02-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, here's a long over-due apology. I bet some of you guys may have noticed that I haven't posted anything in the last couple of days.... well, I'll blame it on school.

I'm sorry if you've checked here frequently but not seen anything new recently. BUT, I got good news, I've got a few real good stuff coming up soon. I'm planning for at least three videos that I will upload this weekend by God's grace.

Here are the titles to get your design taste buds wet a little bit:

- Stand out like a professional using only text (pt 1)

- Stand out like a professional using only text (pt 2)

- Whiten your teeth

- Biggest loser transformation in minutes

They're all video tutorials, check back in a couple of days and they should be up... by God's grace.

You could also follow me on twitter to find out immediately they're out.

That's about it. Do you forgive me?

How to create a free website with free file hosting in 9 mins

2010-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Okay... I offered to make a tutorial for DARSHAN on Yahoo answers on how to create a free website that allows you to upload files, upload documents, etc. Well, I thought that this tutorial will benefit others who want to start their own blogs or websites but don't know how.

The video is in HD, so view it fullscreen to see every step clearly. Yes, it's a 9 minute video, but it's quite detailed.

This is the website(blog) we'll create in 9 mins: ETM

Drop any questions you may have about it. I'll be glad to help.

That's it, very easy??? I believe so.

Before and after... some minor Photoshop tricks shown

2010-01-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

Hello my brothers and sisters... here's something that I came across on the internet. It's a before and after on the LG BL40. An image of the phone was taken... and played with (in I believe about 30 to 45 minutes) to get the final masterpiece(IMHO). The photo was found HERE.

In response to a challenge I received from the guy who posted on "Learn Photoshop from the expert", here's what I did. The first is the original image, The LG B40, the second image is my edited version.

DIFFERENCES
-Background
-Phone reflections
-I added the LG logo and gave it a metallic feel.(No where else is my version of the LG logo available)
-Overall beauty of the design, lol

Here they are:

BEFORE

AFTER

Amazing huh? Real good stuff..... good job to the designer... who happens to....

What's your favourite part of the redesign?

Ask A Question

2010-01-25T15:06:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE Q & A SECTION

To ask a question, simply leave a comment asking your question in as much detail as possible and I'll either respond with an answer here or post a blog post and drop the link here.

No question is stupid (or dumb).

Any questions based on any software at all(or even hardware) is welcome.

Of course I don't know everything, so if I can't answer a question, I'll refer you to the best location on the internet to get an answer. Ok.... shoot those questions ;-)

How to remove the background of an apple

2010-01-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first part of my 3 minute tutorials on Adobe Photoshop. This is a sub-part of My Guide to Adobe Photoshop.

This video shows you how to remove the background color of an image in Photoshop in less than 3 minutes.

Software needed:

Adobe Photoshop, CS2, CS3, CS4

The video is in HD.... click on fullscreen to view it better.

Drop a comment if anything is unclear.

Share it with someone you think this will benefit.

I'm now Social, are you?

2010-01-20T20:58:00.000-08:00

SOURCE

Social networking can help a business gain contacts, clients, and increased public awareness. Entrepreneurs who run small businesses from their homes can take advantage of this resource to set up a global presence.
SOURCE

That got me thinking a bit and well... now, I'm social (meaning I'm on many social networking sites now).

It's grown my traffic, my readers and all. I've seen the benefits (and not all is tied to social networking) but God is using social networking to grow my blog. Don't you think it's time you let God guide you into promoting your website(or business, etc) on these social networking sites. I think its time.

The icons on the header image are enough for you to get started or you can click on any of the links below to add me as a friend on some social networks. If you don't have an account, you can create one through the links.

- Facebook

- Twitter

- Digg

- Stumbleupon

- Technorati

Search for more social networking sites and sign up as well.

Please share this post if you like it.

Want 475 dollars

2010-01-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

IMAGE CREDITS

If you are a good graphics designer and need some quick cash, head on too GUERRA CREATIVA and enter for the design contest on that page. There are tons of good designers out there competing, but who knows, you might be the next winner.

Read the project brief, design something, upload it.... and wait to see if you win.

Good luck. God be with you.

NOTE

You can enter for any other contest on the website, their are tons for you to choose from. Who knows, you could be my competition in one of the contests ;-).

Please share this page if you like it.

A guide to avoiding illegitimate page-rank checking websites

2010-01-18T19:22:00.000-08:00

This is one of the easiest tutorials or tips that you can get for free. Let me introduce this tutorial to you. Just a few seconds ago, I was searching for the pageranks of multiple websites and noticed that many page rank checkers are actually fake!!!. Yes. I won't mention any site in particular, but some sites tell you that your page-rank is low to get you to pay to join their site (that supposedly has a high page-rank). Don't fall for that... and if you have(paid to join a website for traffic) and have noticed no major increase in your traffic after joining such websites, you know what to do.

NOTE: Not all websites that tell you to join for traffic are actually fake. Some actually do help give you traffic.

THE GUIDE

STEP 1

These websites will tell you to input your url(the web address of your website). Proceed to do that.

If your page rank is "0/10" or less than what you think it's supposed to be, proceed to the next step.

STEP 2

Enter www.google.com, yes the google homepage and search for its page-rank. If the website tells you google's homepage has a page-rank of "0/10"...lol... then it's definitely fake. Google has a page-rank that alternates between 9/10 and 10/10. How do I know? Here's the proof from Alexa.com.

FINALLY

Any website that tells you the page-rank of google is "0" is fake!!!.

That's it... very easy, now be wise and avoid those scammers that want to take your cash. God bless.

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Seen anything strange on the blog?

2010-01-17T01:36:00.000-08:00

Like words and phrases with DOUBLE underlines. Don't get scared if you haven't seen them before, it's just text driven ads. Text driven ads? What's that?

These links are part of a pay per click advertising program called Infolinks. Infolinks is an In Text advertising service: they take my text and create links within it. If you hover your mouse over these double underlined links, you will see a small dialog box containing advertisement related to the text marked. You can choose to either move the mouse away and go on with your browsing, or to press on the box and go to the ad which is relevant to our text. To learn more about Double Underline Link Ads – Click Here.

Hope that explains it. Thanks for understanding... and thank you for your support by visiting.

IMAGE CREDITS

Bad company

2010-01-16T00:18:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 15:33 says it very simply. Bad company corrupts good character.

Bad company (wrong association and interaction with wrong people, TV shows, music, etc)

corrupts (defiles, ruins, reduces spiritual growth, discourages)

good character (the talented, respectful, cultured, successful, faith filled, person that God created you to be).

Hope this one looks good as well.

Please share it if you like it

Romans 12:16

2010-01-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

This verse in the Bible gives us wonderful advice especially about pride. Many people today want to hang with the "rich kids", the "hot guy or girl", the famous "sports star". This happens in Varsity and high school as well.

As you can see, the Bible says otherwise. It says clearly, "Do not be proud". If God says do not do something and you do it, automatically, you've sinned. Do not lie, do not steal, do not commit adultery, etc.... you see the similarity.

Be willing to associate... not "associate because it makes me look good" or "associate because I have to...", no. When you're willing to do something, you don't have a "have to..." attitude, you do it with a joyful heart. When you're obeying this commandment, do it willingly.

Take my advice, obey the Bible, obey God.

Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't say avoid(cut-off and isolate) yourself from rich people. No. Associate with both if and when you're told to under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Please share it if you like it

LOVE: The Biblical definition

2010-01-07T18:56:00.000-08:00

This creation (sometimes I wonder how God gives me these ideas) illustrates the true meaning and definition of the word "Love", not the common word that people use to talk about their underwear(or food), the real meaning of the word when it was created by God.

Yep, a modern feel was added here too...

If you love this one, give a scream for Jesus. Yes, thank you. You far too kind. Enough with the applause already... lol.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME

2010-01-07T18:51:00.000-08:00

Under God's guidance, I created this one to show how colorful, exciting, lively, full of life(could go on) the name of Jesus is... with a little modern feel to it.

Jesus is indeed the True Vine.

Arise and Shine

2010-01-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 60: 1...

The message on this one speaks for itself. God is too good isn't He?

ETM News and Guide

2010-01-01T16:08:00.000-08:00

Just launched the Wallpaper section. The Live Q & A section will be launched soon for asking any questions you want. More stuff coming up this 2009 on ETM, your guide to faith, tech, etc.

Useful and popular sections on ETM:

- I need help(About God)

- Fruity Loops 9 guide

- Photoshop guide

- New Creatures

Happy new year. God bless.

SUBSCRIBE.

NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST

2010-01-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

Did my best(under God's guidance) to expand on the beautiful truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17... how important it is to recognize that you are completely, 100% made new when you are in Christ(Born again).

Proof? Some people have given their lives to Christ and instantly got delivered and freed from alcohol addictions, AIDS, eyesight restored, freed from Leukemia, etc. Others, after being born again discovered this verse in the Bible and WHAM, sicknesses and disease disappear.

Anyone(and I mean anyone at all) who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior has no right ot be sick. Why? Because sickness does not bring glory to God. If the Word says you are new when you are in Christ, then those cells that are causing the sickness or disease are supposed to be made new, in fact they were made new when those words of faith were written. Believe it and see the results of your body being made new (right now) in Jesus name. Amen.

What about a new mind?... to help you understand in school fast, to pass exams with grades that make mouths hang open? That's also part of the new creature renewal.

Tune to God's station no matter what nation you're in to get His liberation.

THE WORD OF GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE, DELIVER AND RESTORE US THIS 2010 IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

Finally, the wallpaper. Click on the image to see a bigger preview.

This wallpaper containing the Word cancels sickness and disease in your life as you download it in Jesus name. Amen. To save it, right click on the image and "Save Link As...", "Save Image As..." or "Save target As...".

Proverbs 27:19

2010-01-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

The wisdom God gave Solomon is amazing. Proverbs 27:19. Just imagine how wise God is if He can make someone think of something like "As water reflects a man's face, so a man's heart reflects the man", how do you begin to think of something so deep, insightful and true without God? Explains why the greatest quotes ever recorded are by men of God.

Yes, I also created this one from scratch too.

Click on the image to see a bigger preview.