VyprVPN

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AppId is over the quota
Businesses rely on virtual private network (VPN) services to protect remote employees and their networks; a VPN such as Golden Frog's VyprVPN (starting at $9.99 per month) extends that protection to end-users. Your computer and mobile devices communicate with websites and other systems online by sending and receiving data packets. Anyone with a packet sniffer—your Internet Service Provider, the owner of the WiFi network you are using, or someone up to no good—could intercept that data stream and see what you are up to. VyprVPN easily protects your online activity from digital snoops and hides your geographic location.
When the VPN service is active, all the packets travel through a protected tunnel between the user's computer and Golden Frog servers. The servers handle all communications with the destination site, and responses are sent back to the PC through the same encrypted tunnel. Sites that try to identify you by your IP address see one of Golden Frog's IP addresses instead. VyprVPN has servers in the U.S. (Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Austin, TX), Europe (London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris), Canada (Toronto), and Asia (Hong Kong).
Pricing PlansVyprVPN comes in three flavors, basic, Pro, and Premier. Basic VyprVPN, at $9.99 per month or $80.04 per year, can be used only for one device. It uses the PPTP protocol standard 128-bit encryption for its VPN connections. PPTP is widely deployed as it is built into most desktop and mobile operating systems, making it easy to set up. Since it uses basic encryption, it is the fastest among VyprVPN's options.
Users who want to use the VPN service on their iOS and Android devices must sign up for VyprVPN Pro, at $14.99 per month or $99.96 per year. The Pro version supports PPTP, OpenVPN SSL, and L2TP/IPSec. While PPTP uses 128-bit encryption, L2TP/IPSec uses 256-bit encryption and OpenVPN offers both 160-bit and 256-bit. L2TP/IPSec relies on the highest encryption so it has slower performance. OpenVPN, which relies on digital certificates, is reliable and performs very well. However, OpenVPN is not available for iOS. The Pro version can be used on two devices. Premier supports three devices at $19.99 per month, or $120 per year. VyprVPN has among the most expensive plans we've reviewed.
Basic VyprVPN offer users free 10GB online storage on Golden Frog's cloud storage service, Dump Truck. Pro users get 25GB and Premier users get 50GB. With Dump Truck, users can securely upload and share files with others. Unlike many of its competitors, Golden Frog does not offer free trial or ad-supported versions.
Getting StartedUsers sign up for a Golden Frog account after selecting which version they are interested in. An account confirmation email contains the link to the dashboard and to setup instructions. When I logged into the portal, I saw a well-laid out dashboard with information about VyprVPN on the left side of the screen and the Dump Truck cloud storage service on the right.
While you can use the VyprVPN credentials on multiple devices, only one device can be connected at a time. I can see if a device is currently using the service on this dashboard. Suppose you left your home PC connected and now you want to switch to your tablet. I can just log in to the dashboard and disconnect the PC. It would have been nice to be able to use devices simultaneously, the way Norton Hotspot Privacy does. At least VyprVPN sends a notification to the disconnected PC the connection has been dropped.
Users download the client applications for VyprVPN for Mac and for Windows from the dashboard, or for Pro users, click on links back to Google Play and iTunes for the Android and iOS apps. I can just use the client applications or follow the set up instructions to manually configure the VPN clients that came with my operating system. This means that as long as the device supports VPN, I should be able to configure it with VyprVPN credentials. If my router has DD-WRT firmware, I could just install VyprVPN and protect all users on the network in one step. I like this uncommon feature; I've seen it in only a handful of products so far, including our two Editors' Choice services HideIPVPN and Private Internet Access and NordVPN.
Installing the client application took only a few moments. Since VyprVPN also supports the OpenVPN protocol, the installer adds the TAP-WIN32 adapter, in the same way as HideIPVPN.
Starting the software for the first time opens up a settings window where you enter the login credentials and select the connection settings, such as the geographic location of the server and the connection type. By default, the VPN settings are set to PPTP. There are also other settings, such as automatically reconnecting if the connection ever drops and automatically enabling the VPN service whenever the user connects to an unsecured wireless network.
The software is extremely lightweight, so it is easy to forget it is running. Like Private Internet Access, VyprVPN did not have an actual application window when I launched the program. All I got was a tiny lock icon in the system tray, and when I right-clicked on the icon, I saw a menu listing my current network settings and the option to go back into the Settings screen.
Golden Frog offers NAT Firewall as a separate add-on for $5 to block unrequested inbound traffic, such as bots scanning for open ports to exploit. Most wireless routers use Network Address Translation to share the single Internet connection across all connected devices, and when it receives unrequested inbound scans, it doesn't know which device it is for and blocks it automatically. Since VyprVPN bypasses the router and establishes a direct connection with the Golden Frog server, users aren't protected from malicious inbound traffic via the router's NAT. The NAT Firewall add-on protects users from these scans while connected to VyprVPN. Golden Frog also provides its own DNS servers, as VyprDNS to protect users. This is something that's available in only a handful of services, so it's nice to see Golden Frog continually updating its offerings.
I tried out VyprVPN on a trip, as well as from a local coffeeshop and on our testing network. Performance was on par with most of the services tested recently. Since OpenVPN is commonly used by other VPN services, I tested with the OpenVPN protocol when measuring connection speeds. I also used PPTP as it is commonly used, but did not include those figures in the below table. PPTP was consistently faster than OpenVPN.
Speed and PerformanceI didn't notice any discernible lag with VyprVPN while on the road for a one-week period. I was able to view Hulu and YouTube videos without any difficulty while connected.
To measure network speed, I ran the speed tests available on SpeedTest.net once I was back at my test bed. The tests are designed to measure download and upload speeds when connecting to servers in different cities. I determined my location by looking up the IP address and then looked for a city closest to that location to run the test. I ran the test twice with the VPN service turned off, and again when turned on, and picked the best measurements. The figures below are over a wired connection, not wireless.

Performance was consistent and fast. Golden Frog likes to boast that because it controls its networking infrastructure, it can deliver faster speed than many of its low-cost counterparts. While it isn't the fastest VPN service, if speed matters that much to you, VyprVPN is definitely a contender. You can see the comparisons to other services by clicking on the performance tests icon.
VyprVPN Holds Its OwnVPN services have transformed dramatically over the past few months. We first looked at VyprVPN a little over a year ago, and since then, the service has added Dump Truck, VyprDNS, and mobile device support. Back then, the primary differentiators among VPN services were performance, number of servers, and whether or not there were ads. Performance is becoming less of a differentiator, and many of the services now have mobile support.
Since the company controls the hardware and the network routes, Golden Frog claims its service is faster and more secure than competitors, and uses that explanation to justify its slightly higher price tag. In this increasingly crowded market, there are plenty of services that control their own infrastructure, offer more features, and are still cheaper. The NAT Firewall, while great for security layer, doesn't help with the overall price, either.
VyprVPN has great performance, but its list of features doesn't justify the price tag when there are so many other competing products that deliver comparable speeds for less. With increased mobile usage, mobile device support is becoming a "must have" feature, and not an "advanced" one. At first-glance, VyprVPN comes off as a basic VPN service, which is an injustice because the NAT Firewall and support for different levels of encryption and protocols set it apart from others. Our current VPN Editors' Choice, Private Internet Access, still has the most amount of advanced features and gives users the most amount of flexibility in deciding how to surf safely online. VyprVPN is a strong service and offers plenty of reasons to be the VPN service of choice, but it does not match the sheer volume of advanced features and the performance boost Private Internet Access offers.
VyprVPN reminds me the most of F-Secure Freedome VPN. The prices are similar, they both focus on delivering solid performance, and both have multi-platform and multi-device support. I would recommend VyprVPN for users who need the 256-bit encryption or want to use other connection protocols.

Source: View the original article here

iPage Web Hosting

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AppId is over the quota
If you need a website for your business, but don't have the time—or the will—to dig through a Web hosting provider's many pricing and plan pages, take a gander at iPage's simple pricing (starting at $10.99 per month). This Web hosting service offers an unusually generous standard shared Web hosting package that includes unlimited disk space, network bandwidth, domains, and databases for everyone, as well as virtual private server (VPS) and dedicated server offerings if you need a more powerful foundation for business Web hosting. If it weren't for some strange quirks, iPage might have challenged Arvixe, PCMag's five-star Editors' Choice for Web hosting services, and Dreamhost, the well-stocked Editors' Choice that's designed for more advanced webmasters.
Whereas most Web hosting competitors offer 15- to 30-day refund periods, iPage promises the remainder of your unused fees back when you cancel.
Shared Web Hosting PackagesUnlike Arvixe, iPage does not offer month-to-month shared Web hosting plans. It actually has a lot in common with HostMonster in that respect. You can sign up for either a one-year, two-year, or three-year term, with the two-year and three-year rates working out to a mere $1.68 per month. Note, though, that the $2.50 per month rate we received with our one-year term, and the $1.68 promised for longer contracts, refer to just the introductory rate. Renewals are at the regular rate, which is $10.99 per month for one year, $9.99 per month for two years, and $8.99 per month for three years. The price more than quadruples when it's time to renew. You've been warned.
While iPage's terms of service mention other hosting plans, the Essential plan is the only one available from the site. iPage's Essential plan offers unlimited disk space, network bandwidth, domains, email addresses, and MySQL databases. There are not one, but three different site-builder tools, a built-in online store, access to the Mojo Marketplace to get more third-party applications, access to a free cloud storage account (much like One.com), and various advertising and marketing tools. All of this is available with a generous anytime money-back guarantee.
Because there is only one shared Web hosting plan, any other feature or capability you want to add costs you extra. And there is a lot
of upselling. The sign-up process tries to get you to pay $9.99 for domain privacy (hiding WHOIS information), so if you aren't interested, uncheck the box before you hit submit. If you want to enable SSL on your site, you can buy it for the introductory price of $49.95 instead of $79.97. Automatic site backups ($12.95 per year) is another feature that iPage pushes. Hostgator, in contrast, provides backups for free.
We were prompted to create a password after the account was created. We were a bit miffed with the password-creation process. The site clearly states its password requirements, such as mixed case, numbers, and minimum length, all of which are good. We tend to use 18-20 character complex passwords, but iPage said my password was not strong enough because we didn't have at least two numbers (we used just one). It deemed the string "PCMag12#" secure, while rejecting my 18-character passphrase. Just pick a complex password, or better yet, use a password manager to make sure it's truly complex and strong.

VPS Hosting PackagesiPage also offers VPS hosting, starting at $24.99 per month. If you expect high traffic volumes, or have specific compliance requirements that prevent you from using shared servers, these are good options to consider (especially if you don't want to pay dedicated Web hosting's relatively high prices).
iPage offers three configurations for its Linux-based servers: Basic, Business, and Optimum. Basic plans ($24.99 per month) start with just 1GB of RAM, 40GB of storage, and 1TB of monthly data transfers. Business plans offer 4GB of RAM, 90GB of storage, and 3TB of monthly data transfers. The Optimum plan has 8GB of RAM, 120GB of storage, and 4TB of month data transfers.
iPage's virtual private server plans are quite solid, but Arvixe, the PCMag Editors' Choice for VPS web hosting services, edges it out with unlimited monthly data transfers and a choice of either Linux- or Windows-based servers. Don't underestimate the importance of a Windows server option; if you plan to build (or migrate) a site built on an ASP.NET framework, you'll appreciate Arvixe's Windows-based VPS offerings.
Dedicated Hosting Packages
iPage's solid, middle-of-the-road dedicated server plans (starting at $149 per month) aren't radically different from what Bluehost, HostMonster, and JustHost offer. You can configure the servers with up to 1TB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and up to 15TB of data transfers per month. That said, HostGator, the PCMag Editors' Choice for dedicated Web hosting, is a superior choice thanks to its 25TB of data transfers per month and Linux and Windows operating system options (iPage only has Linux-based dedicated servers).
Like some of its competitors, iPage offers dedicated WordPress hosting, starting at $3.75 per month for the WP Starter plan and $6.95 per month for the WP Essential plan. The differences between the two plans are the support level and blog performance. With a hosted WordPress plan, you have access to curated themes, pre-installed plugins, customized control panel, improved performance using WP Essential, anti-malware tools from SiteLock, and extended support.
Setting Up an iPage Hosted SiteiPage asks a few questions to help market the website to search engines as part of the account creation process. The questions are basic, such as whether this is a business site or personal one, and what kind of topics the site will have.
The iPage control panel is pretty straightforward. Everything is broken out in sections on a long page; no tabbed interface here. It's easier to find things because you just scroll down till you find the relevant icon. To my surprise, iPage offers three site-building tools. First of all, there's the basic CM4All template-based builder, which lets you build up to six pages for free. It doesn't work with Google Chrome, which is an odd restriction; it's only compatible with Firefox or Internet Explorer. CM4All built a nice-enough site, but it is really stodgy, very slow, and the pages are fairly basic. The control panel also offers the goMobi site builder, which lets you build mobile-optimized sites. The problem is that nothing on the panel indicates there is an additional $8.99 per month fee for this builder.
Most people should stick with the basic drag-and-drop site builder, which happens to be Weebly, our Editors' Choice for Web-based site-builders. You can upgrade to the premium version or just use the basic one, which we thought was just fine for most purposes. Weeby's drag-and-drop functionality let us quickly build an attractive page complete with slideshows, contact forms, social media links, maps, and photo galleries, and more.
Getting Started With WordPressThe process of setting up WordPress was easy because the database was already set up and ready to go. We clicked the WordPress icon and were directed to a page on the Mojo Marketplace where we indicated that we wanted to install the blogging software. We selected where WordPress should be installed, and the installer created our username and password and set up the entire site. The process took a little longer than we recall it taking with other hosting providers, but since the marketplace queues all requests, we were able to navigate to other parts of the site and pick out other software packages while we were waiting.
We were pleased to see that iPage offers an import button that lets import an existing WordPress blog. Even though WordPress makes the import process easy enough from its interface, it's always nice to see the step simplified even further. However, we were unable to get the process to work, and the error messages we received were quite cryptic.
It got really difficult keeping track of so many different software interfaces in our testing. There is the main control panel for iPage, an entirely separate dashboard to manage applications installed from Mojo Marketplace, and all the site-builder tools have their own separate pages. It's tricky to shift back and forth from different sections of the site because each one looks different and works differently.
Unlimited Email Is NiceHaving an email address associated with your website domain and not a Gmail or Yahoo account makes the business appear serious and established. While many competitors restrict the number of accounts you can create, iPage offers unlimited mailboxes.
Setting up an email account is a breeze. You click on the MailCentral icon within the Control Panel and create the account and password. You have to do each account one at a time, which is inconvenient. Network Solutions, by contrast, lets you make several at once. iPage offers anti-malware protection built into the service, but there isn't any way to see the rules or tweak the settings.
E-marketing and E-commerce Tools GaloreAs mentioned earlier, iPage offers an online store as a built-in feature. To get started, you click the ShopSite Starter icon and then a button to enable ShopSite. We did, but the page became blank. We refreshed and found the ShopSite page with a Manage My Store button. The ShopSite bundled with the Essential plan is the basic version, with a 15-product/5-page limit, no third-party application integration, and limited design options. You can upgrade to the Manager version ($29.95 per month) or Pro ($49.95 per month).
While it took a few minutes to turn on, setting up the online store was fairly easy. The store creation wizard walked uw through a nine-step process to develop pages, define products, and set up the payment options. The wizard is very old-fashioned, but the templates are modern looking. The starter plan doesn't support color palette changes, so there is only so much you can do with the templates.
Note that when you get into ShopSite, you leave iPage and its Control Panel behind entirely. It would have been nicer to see a bit tighter integration there. If you don't want to use ShopSite, you can visit the Mojo Marketplace and download platforms such as ZenCart and osCommerce.

Security FeaturesiPage has anti-malware for email. You can also define the .htaccess file to restrict who has access to the server or selected sections of the website.
Customer Service Is OkayLike HostMonster, iPage offers both 24/7 telephone support and an online Web chat—we tested both help methods. This is one way in which iPage was better than Arvixe, which doesn't have online chat. We dialed into the telephone tech support at 10:30 a.m. on a Tuesday morning to ask about the difference between using Web hosting and WordPress hosting. The customer service representative described how we would have access to better themes and support. We asked if iPage would handle updating the software. The representative at first didn't know, but later clarified that updates would be automated.
The online Web chat was fairly straightforward. We waited about 45 seconds at around 1 p.m. on a weekday afternoon to ask how to import the blog. We explained how we were having trouble, and while the chat agent couldn't explain my error message, provided a link to the knowledgebase article explaining what we needed to do.
Feature-Rich, but IntimidatingiPage turns out to be a surprisingly robust Web hosting service that provides a whole range of features, as well as the flexibility to refine the features as needed. We found it difficult to get used to Mojo Marketplace, but we like the number of supported applications. We also like the service's simpler pricing options, but the pricing could be a little bit more consistent. There were just enough misses, such as that weird import issue with WordPress, the soaring cost after one year, and the fact that one of the site-builder tools didn't recognize Chrome, that it's Arvixe and Dreamhost—the PCMag Editors' Choice winners for Web hosting services—that we'd recommend for those who want a well-rounded Web host experience. That said, if you want some flexibility with your Web hosting service, iPage is worth a look.

Source: View the original article here

9 Common Mistakes That New YouTubers Should Avoid

Camera Quality

One of the common mistakes that new YouTubers make is using a low quality camera. YouTube is all about videos, so there's no point in uploading a video which cannot be seen properly. A proper camera, good amount of light, proper editing, and good audio quality is a necessity for a video to gain more views on YouTube.

Inappropriate Channel Name

Many new YouTubers commit the mistake of not selecting an appropriate channel name, which makes them lose out on views on their videos. It is important to select an appropriate channel name. Your channel name should be catchy and different for your videos to get more and more views. Also, do not copy the channel name of some other video. Your channel name should be unique and stand out from the million others.

Not Rehearsing

Until and unless you are exceptionally good at making things up on the spot, don't try doing it. Your viewers certainly don't want to listen to your 'uhhs' and 'umsss' in the video. Rehearsing properly before recording is always advisable.

Not Linking to Social Media Websites

Link your videos to your social media websites. It helps your user find the videos and also connect to you easily. Also, one should be careful while using hash tags in a video, as a large proportion of the audience uses hash tags to see a particular video.

Not Commenting Back

As a new user, make it a point to reply to the viewers as much as you can. This creates a positive impression among users, as they feel connected and special. Do this for them, and they will return you the favor. Not replying to comments will simply make your viewers lose interest in your videos.

Ineffective Comments

Many a time, we see people commenting on videos, like 'Nice video. Check out my video (and the link). This should be strictly avoided. Nothing annoys a YouTube user more than this. Instead, put some valuable comment on that video which will be appreciated, and people will like to know more about you.

Long Videos

A mistake committed by YouTube newbies. They upload a video which is too long for anyone's attention span. If you upload a video that is too long, viewers will lose interest in it. But then, this does not mean that you make the video so short that viewers do not understand what the video was about.

Time Gap Between Videos

There should be a time gap between uploading your videos. The mistake that new YouTubers commit is that, if they do not get views on their upload, they either start uploading multiple videos, or do not upload any video at all. Instead of doing this, follow a regular time gap between your videos. But that doesn't mean that your videos have a time gap of a month or so. A proper time gap should be followed while uploading your videos.

Not Asking to Subscribe and Comment

A very essential thing which new YouTubers need to do, is ask viewers to subscribe and comment at the end of all the videos. Many new YouTubers either forget to do this, or they simply don't want to do it.

12 Amazing Google Tricks You Should Know About

Two Places at the Same Time!You can login into two accounts at the same time using the Incognito mode in Google.

Google, as a search engine, has changed the landscape of Internet search. So much so, that the word 'Google' has entered the mainstream as a verb. If you can't find it, you can google it to know more. The developers at Googleplex always strive to devise software that's more amazing and more user-friendly than the competition is offering. But Google also has a sense of humor and isn't just complex codes and algorithms.

Like a teenager, it dabbles in playing pranks. On special occasions, it spreads hoaxes, all the while promoting itself. Since we are still laughing at the hilarious outcome, take a look at these hidden Easter eggs that will give you a chuckle or two, and might surprise even the most frequent web surfer.

Google in 1998

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

If you ever happen to feel nostalgic while surfing the web, bring back fond memories by searching Google in 1998. It provides you a retro version of your searched web page before the turn of the millennium―it only gives you this feel on the first page, and not for the rest. Good thing the world didn't end in Y2K, as it was supposed to, and gave Google a chance to better itself.

Atari Breakout

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

If your company forbids you from accessing websites to channel or release your stress, try typing Atari Breakout in Google Images. It gives you a pinball style game that lets you relive the arcade games of the '80s. You can use it to take a break from work and break some tiles to beat other high scores. You can return to searching for images by clicking the 'Return to image search' button on the top.

Do a Barrel Roll

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Typing Do a barrel roll in Google makes the whole page flip 180 degrees once. A very funny trick to show others or those still in awe of Google. You can also type 'Z or R twice' to see the same result.

Tilt

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Typing tilt or askew in Google tilts the search page to one side.

Google Underwater

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Type Google Underwater in the Google search bar and click on the first result. It features an underwater scene with sharks and other fish roaming their territory. Searching anything in it will try to sink the Google bar even further into the sea. Type and search to see how many search queries it takes to sink it to the bottom.

I'm Feeling Lucky

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Earlier, clicking on this particular button on the Google page led you to the first relevant result. Since then, Google has upgraded it to feature a variety of options. From I'm Feeling Trendy, which keeps you updated with the current events around the world to I'm Feeling Doodley, which lets you enjoy the number of doodles Google has created over the years commemorating some special occasions. Other than the two mentioned, if you hover your cursor over the I'm Feeling Lucky button, the various options rotate like a slot machine until it rests on a certain option. Each of the options directs you to a website characteristic of its name. It works on major browsers but only on the US-based Google website.

Zerg Rush

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Typing zerg rush in the Google search bar opens up an arcade game in Google, wherein the O's try to eat up the search results, and you have to shoot them down to stop that from happening. It's a tactic used by the Zergs in Starcraft to overwhelm enemies when they swoop down and attack in a group all at once. Try beating the highest score.

Google Gravity

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Typing Google Gravity, increases the gravity within the page and the whole page falls down. You can even play with the different buttons and fling them across the page. After a while, the whole page is sucked in and vanishes...and is restored after you revert to the main website.

Google Sphere

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Type Google Sphere in Google for an even better effect. All the buttons in the Google homepage revolve around its axis. But don't let that stop you from searching.

Google Space

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Type Google Space in the search bar and click on the first search result. Watch the Google page experience a feeling of weightlessness and float away slowly.

Epic and Weenie Google

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Type Epic Google in the search bar and click on the first search result. This increases the size of the Google home page till it becomes too big to handle. Similarly, typing Weenie Google shrinks the page till it's too small to search in.

elgooG

Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission.

Type 'elgoog' in the search bar and click on the first search result. This gives a mirror image of the Google homepage. Searching in it will reverse the words as well as the results.

Oregon Mystery: Why a Lake Disappears Every Year

The Mystery's History

The 'drain' in the Lost Lake is the mouth of an open lava tube, which was once called 'Kwoneksamach' or 'unknown' by the Native Americans.

Something strange and unusual happens in central Oregon's Williamette National Forest every winter. About 130 miles away from Portland, in the southeast direction is a mysterious lake. It is said to have formed about 3,000 years ago. So what is so mysterious about this lake? Every year, the lake actually gets lost, or rather gets drained through a hole, and disappears, and all you are left with is a meadow, until it fills up again in following spring season because of the snow that melts from the surrounding mountains. Hence, the name Lost Lake. It has been a natural, mysterious wonder to scientists since a long time now.

The Lost Lake of Oregon

As mentioned above, the water from this lake disappears underground through a sinkhole that is about six-feet wide, and the lake reappears during the spring and summer seasons. Well, thank a lava tube for this magical act. The theory and studies state that, an open lava tube is what sucks in the water, leaving the lake completely barren and dry. Oregon is home to towering range of mountains and active volcanoes, that span a large area.

The Lava Tubes

Lava tubes are tunnel-like structures beneath the surface of the Earth, which are formed to drain the lava from the volcano during an eruption. It is a geological feature that is formed when streaming lava cools down and hardens at the top, while the hot lava inside the hardened lava continues to flow downhill. This tunnel that is left behind tends to open up and create a hole after the eruption subsides, or even through erosion, becoming a cave-like structure.

The size of this tunnel can range from that of a trashcan to the size of a subway, literally leaving space for you to walk through.

There have been many attempts to plug the hole with all kinds of objects, like parts of cars and other debris. However, it was discouraged later on, because it interferes with the natural process, and could also lead to flooding of the areas nearby.

You must be thinking where exactly does the water go once it goes down the tube, right? Well, it is still a mystery, and is still being researched upon! However, it is believed that it may be seeping into the layers of a cracked volcanic rock or a giant aquifer beneath the surface, replenishing the groundwater and feeding the waterways on the other side of the mountains, and eventually becoming a source of drinking water for the locals living in that area. This lake is located on a volcanic rock that was formed about 12,000 years ago, leaving pores and fissures that were formed because of the gas bubbles that escaped into the atmosphere.
Another lake named Fish Lake, which is not quite far from Lost Lake, also drains as there's a rise in temperature, but it is absorbed slowly into the porous volcanic rock, rather than getting drained faster through a sinkhole.

Such are some amazing works of Mother Nature. We're sure there might many such mysteries that are yet to be unfolded. She doesn't seem to get tired of surprising us, everyday.

6 Reasons Why C Students are More Successful

In the words of Albert Einstein: "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school." -- Robert T. Kiyosaki, Why "A" Students Work for "C" Students and Why "B" Students Work for the Government

C Students Understand That There is no Notion as Perfection

C students believe in completing work rather than achieve perfection in it in the first go. They take the help of their mistakes and rely on feedback to better their work.

C Students Follow Their Ambitions

Instead of attending extra tuition or co-curricular classes, C students spend their time in following their ambition by gaining first-hand experience. It could be through part-time jobs or selecting career-related subjects that help them in their work. They value experience gained through performing work, rather than memorizing the theoretical textbook definition of work experience.

C Students Find Simpler Ways to Complete Tasks

C grade students have a tendency to come up with simpler solutions to problems. As Robert Heinlein states, "Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something".

C Students are Not Blind Followers

Rather than following a well-structured path, like the education system blindly, C students question the belief based on which the system is built, and may come up with their own agenda in case they don't agree with the way the system works. Steve Jobs, for example, dropped out of college, and co-founded Apple Inc.

C Students are Not Dithered By Failure

C students understand the value of struggle. Hence, they don't falter easily when failure comes in their stride, and take it as a stepping stone towards success.

C Students Define Success By Their Own Terms

While success for A students will start with achieving straight A grades in their academics, it's not so for C grade students. Rather, it's achieving the goals they have set for themselves in a specific deadline. It is in these achievements that C students prefer to do the talking, rather than having perfect scores on their resumes. C students run the world.

Ancient Egypt Facts

(Fe)male Pharaoh

Pharaoh Hatshepsut was a female ruler, who wore a false beard so that she looked masculine. However, the later kings were so scandalized at the thought of a woman with a beard that they attempted to remove every possible image of her from their monuments.

What we know about ancient Egypt today is largely through a vast array of material information that is available in the form of paintings, sculptures, monuments, symbolism, and written sources. Although little, this knowledge about the ancient Egyptians and their lives goes on elevating with every new discovery. Let's take a glimpse at some intriguing facts about the wondrous civilization that was ancient Egypt.

Egyptian Papyrus

Pyramids, hieroglyphs, papyrus scrolls, mummies, beautifully-crafted artifacts, and much more - the fascination about ancient Egypt never seems to die off; in fact, it goes on increasing by the day. It is indeed overwhelming to imagine how a mighty civilization might have sprung up in the Nile valley, some five thousand years ago, and managed to retain its status as the most important empire in the Mediterranean world.

Prehistoric Egypt

There has been abundant human settlement in ancient Egypt since the prehistoric times. There are evidences of tools made by the Paleolithic people (40,000 B.C. to 20,000 B.C.), and strong indications of population migration during the Mesolithic period (18,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C.). The Neolithic culture that spanned from about 6000 B.C. to 3100 B.C., saw a shift from hunting and gathering to an agrarian form of subsistence. People began to settle down, and life became stable.

Egyptian Kings

The Dynastic era in ancient Egypt commenced in 3100 B.C. Since then, till about 332 B.C., Egypt was under absolute monarchy. The civilization went through a number of ups and downs throughout the Dynastic period as a number of different dynasties of rulers established their sway in the region at different points in time. The Egyptian kings, who ruled during the Dynastic era, were known as Pharaohs.

Foreign Rule in Egypt

After 332 B.C., Egypt fell into the hands of foreign invaders including the Greco-Romans, the Arabs, and finally, the Ottomans, who ruled the land up to 1805 A.D. The Muhammad Ali Pasha Dynasty that succeeded the Ottomans from 1805 A.D. to 1953 A.D., fell after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. Following this, the modern Republic of Egypt came into being.

Renaming Egypt

Throughout its long history, Egypt has been renamed several times. During the pharaonic age, it was known by the names Kemet (Black Land, owing to the black alluvial soil of the Nile valley), and Deshret (Red Land, owing to the vast expanse of desert land). The Greco-Roman rulers named Egypt as Aegyptus.

The Egyptian Evil

Hippopotamus was thought to be evil, and a carrier of bad omens in ancient Egypt. In fact, many times, it would overturn the vessels sailing in the Nile, and so was considered to be even more dangerous than the crocodile. Owing to its 'evil and destructive behavior', the animal came to be associated with Seth, the ancient Egyptian evil deity governing the storms.

The First Pharaoh

King Menes is considered to be the first pharaoh of Egypt, who, according to a legend, was killed by a hippopotamus. He ruled Egypt for about 60 years, and is credited with the act of consolidating Upper and Lower Egypt under a single rule. After the unification of Egypt, the city of Memphis was made its capital.

Is the Pharaoh Fit Enough?

In ancient Egypt, there were several interesting rules and regulations set for the pharaohs. For instance, it was a rule that every pharaoh, after the completion of thirty years of his/her reign, had to undergo a fitness test. They had to run around a fixed course in a certain time limit, in order to prove their fitness for holding the throne.

The Reign of Pepi II

King Pepi II, who ruled Egypt from 2278 B.C. to 2148 B.C., assumed power at the age of 9 and retired at the age of 100. Legend says that he was always surrounded by several naked slaves, with their bodies covered in honey. This was done to keep the insects away from the king, as the honey-covered slaves would be swarmed and bitten by them.

Egyptian Nemes

Customarily, the pharaohs would always hide their hair under a headdress made of striped cloth (nemes) during daily affairs, and a crown during special ceremonies.

Pharaoh Akhenaten or Amenhotep IV

Pharaoh Akhenaten, who belonged to the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, is considered to be world's first monotheist. It is believed that he, along with his wife Nefertiti, considered the Sun as their supreme deity, and had abandoned the entire Egyptian pantheon in favor of Aten, the Sun god.

Tutankhamun or King Tut

Contrary to popular belief, the famous pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose tomb stirred a lot of controversy, was not murdered by his uncle for the throne. The X-ray that was given to his mummy in 2005, showed that he had a broken leg, which was possibly the cause of his death.

The Curse of Tutankhamun

As Howard Carter and George Herbert discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, it was thought to be 'cursed'. Rumors had it that the priests had cast spells on the tomb, especially to keep away tomb raiders. Coincidentally, as the tomb was unearthed, Carter's canary was eaten by a cobra (assumed the protector of the tomb), and 5 months later, Herbert died of an infectious mosquito bite. This stirred up a media controversy about the tomb, and Tutankhamun became the most famous of the pharaohs.

Women Rulers in Egypt

While most of the pharaohs were men, Egypt also saw some female pharaohs. The most remarkable ones include, Hatshepsut (18th dynasty, c. 1473-1458 B.C.), remembered as a powerful woman who brought stability to the land of Egypt; Nefertiti (18th dynasty, c. 1336 B.C.), who is believed to have ruled independently after her husband, Akhenaten's death; and Cleopatra, of Macedonian ancestry, whose much-famed suicide brought Egypt's 3,000 year-long monarchical system of governance to an end.

Inside the Pyramid

The pyramids with architectural magnificence and awesomeness, are in actuality, tombs of the pharaohs and their consorts, built during the Old and Middle Kingdoms. They contained not only the grave of the pharaoh, but also several grave goods that were buried along with the king, in order to make his life comfortable in the underworld. Grave goods included, alongside things such as utensils and pottery, clothes, ornaments, and several other riches from the treasury of the demised pharaoh.

Saqqara, Egypt

The earliest known Egyptian pyramid is located in the Saqqara necropolis, northwest of Memphis. It is a step pyramid, dedicated to Djoser, a pharaoh of the 3rd Dynasty, and was constructed in 27th century B.C. by his vizier (highest official), Imhotep.

Burial of Slaves with the Pharaoh

During the Old Kingdom, when a pharaoh died, the heads of some of his slaves were also chopped off, and their bodies were buried with him, so that the pharaoh could be accompanied by his slaves even in the realm of the dead. However, by the Middle Kingdom, this practice was discontinued, and clay/terracotta models of slaves would be buried with the remains of the pharaoh.

The Pyramid Shape

The shape of a pyramid represents the 'primordial mound', which according to the ancient Egyptian creation myth, was the source of earth's creation. The dead royals were buried in these 'symbolic primordial mounds', only to be resurrected/reborn in the mortal world. When Napoleon was in Egypt (late 17th century), he also took with him, a large contingent of scientists and scholars to study the history and culture of ancient Egypt through its overwhelming monuments, especially the pyramids.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

On studying the Great Pyramid of Giza, Napoleon's engineers told him that if the pyramid was dismantled, its stones could build a one meter high wall around France. Moreover, if its stones were cut into rods, each measuring 6 centimeters long, and arranged one on top of the other, they could reach the moon.

The God of Mummification

Anubis was the jackal-headed god, associated with the afterlife. Its association with the jackal was probably due to the animal's ability of uncovering the dead bodies from the cemeteries, and scavenging on them.

The Sphinx

Sphinx, the lion-bodied and human-headed creature that guards the three pyramids at Giza, is believed to represent Pharaoh Khafre, the son of king Khufu whose remnants are buried in the Great Pyramid. More sphinxes were found guarding some other pyramids as well, and as such, a sphinx is considered to be the guardian of tombs.

Robbery of Egyptian Tombs

Almost every discovered ancient Egyptian tomb has been robbed. In the 1880s, a robber was caught while selling the treasures of some thirty different tombs. Later on, the Egyptian government appointed him as a tourist guide, to show the tourists the area around the same tombs that he had robbed.

Preserving the Dead

Egyptian royals were mummified, so that their dead bodies could be prevented from decay. This is the reason why many dead bodies have been found intact in the tombs.

Burying the Cats

Interestingly, numerous remains of mummified cats have also been found buried, alongside humans. This may have been the result of an ancient belief that regarded cats as keepers of the underworld. Also, a collection of spells, known as the Books of the Dead were also buried with the mummies. These were for guiding the dead into their afterlives.

Mummification

The mummification process could not be complete without the essential involvement of three people viz., an embalmer, a cutter, and a scribe. Moreover, each mummy was wrapped in seven layers of shrouds, and it took about seventy days for the entire mummification process to complete.

Storing the Vital Organs

During the mummification of the body of the deceased, four of his vital organs - the lungs, the liver, the stomach, and the intestines - were removed and stored in 'canopic jars', because it was believed that all these organs would be needed by the deceased in his 'afterlife'. The heart, however, was not removed, as it was believed to be the place of the soul, and hence had to remain within the body.

Eyes of the Mummy

The eyes of the mummies were replaced by black stones. In the case of pharaoh Ramesses IV, shallots were used instead of black stones to replace the eyes.

The Mummy Magic!

In Victorian England, when Dr. Pettigrew hosted a public show to unwrap a mummy before a live audience, the response was overwhelming. People flocked in such large numbers that even the Archbishop of Canterbury had to back off.

Women in Ancient Egypt

Women of ancient Egypt had more privileges and rights than women from the other civilizations existing at that time. For instance, Egyptian women could own property, take higher education, make business deals, and call for a divorce.

The Pharaoh God

Egyptian commoners were not allowed to take the name of their pharaoh. This was because the pharaoh was associated with God, who had to be addressed respectfully.

Laborers in Ancient Egypt

Peasants who worked on the lands, were essentially not slaves as they received returns for their labor. However, they were regarded as an important part of the wealth of the landowner. Their children had to start working on the fields as soon as they started walking. If not anything else, they were made to guard the fields as scarecrows. In ancient Egypt, tax evasion was punishable with whipping. Sources speak of one such incidence, wherein the 'crime' was punished with 100 blows on the back.

United They Stood!

The first ever recorded labor strike in the world took place in Egypt in 1155 B.C., during the reign of Ramesses III. It happened on the construction site of Deir el-Medina, where the laborers had to do without ration for a number of days. Consequently, the work was halted until their demands were fulfilled. This instance has been recorded on a papyrus, and details the workers' struggle and widespread corruption in the empire.

The Oldest Dress in the World

The world's oldest dress comes from Egypt, and dates back to 2400 B.C. It has a simple design made with pleated linen.

Ancient Egyptian Wig

Both men and women shaved their heads in order to avoid lice, a common problem during ancient times. However, they wore wigs, either made from human hair (if they could afford it), or animal hair. The kind of wig that was worn, later came to signify the status of a person wearing it. Women's wigs were more elaborate than those of men, and bore a cone of a greasy substance on top of them, which melted slowly, and released a pleasant scent of myrrh.

Kohl for Eyes

Egyptian men and women used kohl to beautify their eyes. They also believed that kohl possessed healing powers, and it could cure eye infections and restore bad eyesight.

Ancient Egyptian Food

Food that was consumed, varied depending on the status and wealth. However, the ancient Egyptian diet consisted of meat and poultry, fish, bread, different vegetables, and fruits. Sugar was not known to them; honey was the common sweetener that was used.

Beverages in Egypt

Beer also seems to have been known by the ancient Egyptians, as models of brewers have been found in some tombs. Such models may have been buried, in order to ensure that the deceased got his favorite drink even in his afterlife. Besides beer, the first ever evidence of wine cellars also comes from Egypt.

Writing Systems

The ancient Egyptians were the inventors of a system of writing. They wrote in both, hieratics (a kind of cursive writing system), and hieroglyphics (a pictorial/symbolic script). Different types of surfaces were used for writing such as stelae; walls of pyramids, tombs, etc; and of course the famous Egyptian papyri.

Hieroglyphics

In their hieroglyphic writing system, sounds and words were represented by an array of pictures and symbols. There were more than 700 different symbols used as hieroglyphs. This also sheds light on their profound symbolism.

The Rosetta Stone...

It is a famous piece of ancient Egyptian writing, discovered in 1798 during Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign, in the port-city of Rosetta (present day Rashid). The writing is in 3 different scripts viz, the Egyptian hieroglyphs on the top, the Demotic script in the middle, and the ancient Greek script at the bottom. This stela, belonging to 196 B.C., was issued in Memphis during the reign of Ptolemy V.

Art in Egypt

Ancient Egyptians were excellent artists. Their sculptures and paintings speak volumes about their artistic sensibilities. Their early art forms were largely indigenous, and did not bear any outside influence, because for thousands of years, the Egyptian empire was able to keep the foreign invaders away. The Egyptian sculptors made several impressive sculptures. The bust of Nefertiti, and the larger than life images in the Abu Simbel temple of Ramesses II, are worthy of a mention.

Ancient Paintings

Artists from Egypt seemed to paint on every single plain surface that existed. Ancient paintings have been found in large numbers on pyramids, temple walls, tombs, stelae, papyrus scrolls, pottery, and so on.

Architecture

The Egyptian rulers commissioned the construction of a large number of colossal structures all along the Nile valley. Owing to this, numerous religious and secular edifices were built, thus giving testimony of the architectural expertise of their builders. Apart from the pyramids, and the Great Sphinx, which have now become the symbols of Egypt, there are also remnants of many temples, palaces, and monasteries.

A Historical Experience!

The city of Luxor, situated in southern Egypt, is today the largest open-air museum in the world. It has several colossal statues, obelisks, temples, tombs, and other secular structures, all of which belong to different periods of Egyptian history. The city attracts a large number of tourists from across the globe every year.

Ancient Egypt Inventions

Ancient Egyptian priests are considered to be the inventors of the sundial, the water clock, and the calendar. The ancient Egyptians have also possibly invented the cubit, a basic unit for measuring length.

Mathematics in Egypt

'The entrance into the knowledge of all existing things and all obscure secrets' is the title of the oldest surviving mathematical work, known as the 'Rhind Mathematical Papyrus'. It was written by the Egyptian scribe Ahmes in the 17th century B.C.

Science in Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians had also seemingly figured out various surgical methodologies. They knew the technique of sewing wounds, some 4,000 years ago. Moreover, they had also understood the antibiotic properties of moldy bread and honey, which they used to treat infections. The science of astronomy was also well-developed in ancient Egypt. They had an in-depth knowledge about the planets, the stars, and the various constellations.

The land of Egypt is a storehouse of ancient history and culture. It has something or the other to offer to each and every enthusiast of Egyptology, and the curiosity about its ancient past never ceases to exist. In fact, the ancient Egyptians are extremely inspirational to the modern society, owing to their huge advancements in every possible field of human activity, in spite of the limited number of resources at their disposal.