I've been using this method since i first learned about raw disk access (dev files) and grep.
I think it should be mentioned that this will work properly only if the file was not fragmented - Which will usually be the case in EXT3 unless you are using almost all of the space in the drive, but may happen frequently if you are using a FAT file system (which is used a lot in USB disks).
Also, If you just deleted a binary file this method will be problematic as well, and in that case you can use a tool like photorec to scan the disk and even limit it only to the free space on the drive - which reduce the time it takes to go over a disk and can detect all kinds of binary file types (uses the magic number of the file to detect the type).
Like other people mentioned here before, you should recover all the data to a different partition/disk than the one you are trying to recover a file from.
With that said - recovering data is a tedious and error prone process, so if the data is worth enough(and for some silly reason you don't have a backup) you should:
A. turn off the computer immediately after you've discovered the loss of data (to reduce the chances of overwriting anything important)
B.Give the computer/disk to a professional to recover (because you obviously aren't one since you don't keep backups)
This advice should be taken with a grain of salt. It all comes down to the level of the instructor vs the level of the students.
If i taught like i were the student, most students would be left far behind probably trying to figure out how i got from point a to b.
With that said, on occasion (during advanced courses) i can really go all the way with the students and challenge them and sometimes even myself, it's a rare synergy between the student and teacher.
In any situation teaching is an act - it all about enthusiasm - even when its the most boring subject , you need to make the students feel excited about learning it.
It is rather hilarious. I have similar situations more than too often when some of my students will argue with me that it is not possible to do something, even after they just received indisputable proof that it just happened.
I usually try to humbly explain why they were wrong in that case(usually some misconceptions on how something works), which will usually reduce the amount of future arguments regarding the material presented. While patronizing will usually just make them try to prove themselves more often , and catch you in the nuances of a subject.
In this case it doesn't surprise me that Microsoft was (again) caught trying to redefine standards based on their own perception of those standards.
I agree, I think control is something the user should have rather than the provider supplying the solution.
Technologically speaking, implementing something like this is pretty simple.But it will cost the provider money rather than make money - which makes this investment pointless (No company will invest money to loose even more....).
I currently own a N900 and i have an app to block calls (currently blacklist only) i think - though i am not familiar with the N900 incoming call API - it should be rather simple to implement a whitelist instead.
And i pretty sure the same goes for SMS etc...
But frankly i don't really want that kind of blocking, i would prefer blocking numbers of known spammers (which i have a list of) while occasionally letting one pass through the filter, rather than miss even one important call which could change my life (And it happens every day doesn't it?)
I was in the exact situation about four month ago and i decided to go with the N900, my considerations were:
1. I wanted a phone that is not Completely closed
2. I don't care about the eye candy
3. I run Linux - Anything that is not 100% compatible is out of the question
4. I Wanted a real keyboard - i just can't get used to those on-screen keyboards
5. I wanted Skype support out of the box
6. REAL multitasking
So I obviously ruled the IPhone out first. Other than eye-candy and hype i couldn't find any good reason to actually want to own one. I have to say - it is a beautiful phone, but I'm the kinda guy that want something practical.
My two real contenders were the N1 (the best android phone at the time) and the N900.
The N900 won eventually since:
1. the keyboard is one of the best i had used.
2. It is a Nokia which in my opinion means a better build than HTC.
3. It's almost a Full Linux box - I could take almost any application i have on my box and recompile it with minimal effort for the N900 (it can use either GTK or QT)
4. For some odd reason i really like resistive screens (once you get used to pushing a little ,it feels a lot more accurate than capacitives)
With all that said, for anyone thats not a total Linux geek like me - an android phone will be the phone i recommend to anyone who asks. its obviously the place to go now.
The community behind android is growing rapidly, which means it will progress faster and become more polished with every release.
IMHO gambling is probably the WORST way to go, and well given the 1 month time limit - you will probably have 29 days left to try and make 50,000$ after losing all of it the first day.
The time limit pretty much limits what you can possibly invest in for such a big return in such a short time.
This does remind me of a different HN article i read a while back - If you had 5 dollars and 2 hours how would you make as much money as possible : http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=912105 .
I Personally would do some research on current stock options and try to build a strategy to double the money in the time frame i have left.
"When we touch them with a rod (READ - Poke them with a stick), they show rapid escape responses"
I find it interesting that stick poking is still considered a scientific methodology.
I think it is a great idea given the amount of mail i send and have to deal with. many times i just forget to make sure i received a reply, and sometimes when i do its just too late.
I think it should be mentioned that this will work properly only if the file was not fragmented - Which will usually be the case in EXT3 unless you are using almost all of the space in the drive, but may happen frequently if you are using a FAT file system (which is used a lot in USB disks).
Also, If you just deleted a binary file this method will be problematic as well, and in that case you can use a tool like photorec to scan the disk and even limit it only to the free space on the drive - which reduce the time it takes to go over a disk and can detect all kinds of binary file types (uses the magic number of the file to detect the type).
Like other people mentioned here before, you should recover all the data to a different partition/disk than the one you are trying to recover a file from.
With that said - recovering data is a tedious and error prone process, so if the data is worth enough(and for some silly reason you don't have a backup) you should:
A. turn off the computer immediately after you've discovered the loss of data (to reduce the chances of overwriting anything important)
B.Give the computer/disk to a professional to recover (because you obviously aren't one since you don't keep backups)