If it's a symbol

This was why I haven't updated this blog in a little while - I recently (as in a week and a half ago) submitted my PhD thesis. Now I just have to wait for my viva (see here for a quick recap if you're not familiar with how PhDs are examined), and hopefully in the not-too-distant future I will be Dr Rachel. Huzzah! Now my life is filled with job searching, but I want to update this blog a little more regularly. My livejournal friends get to see my daily witterings, but it is quite nice to have a public face for more general thoughts... Perhaps I will try to blend politics with pop culture by writing a review of Frost/Nixon, which I saw last week.

This might also be a good time for any of my new readers to ask me anything they might be wondering about who I am/what I do. (Uh, facebook friends who get this on my feed, this may be less relevant... But ask away if you are so inclined.)

Oh, and having just checked my spam filter, here is the best Ivory Coast money-scamming email I have seen in quite some time:

(CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE)
Dear


Good thing to write you. I have a proposal for you.This however is not
mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.

I am Miss veronick keke , the only daughter of my late parents Mr.and Mrs
keke. My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet-(a Cocoa Merchant,
Diamond and Gold Dealer)who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his
days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France
during one of his business trips abroad on 2nd March 2008.Though his sudden
death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of
his who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My mother
died when I was just 4 years old,and since then my father took me
so special.

Before his death on 2nd March 2008 he called the secretary who accompanied
him to the hospital and told him that he has the sum of Seven Million,Seven
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars.(USD$7.7000) deposited in SECURITY
COMPANY in Europe.

He further told him that he deposited the Consignment in my name as the next
of kin,and he registered the Consignment as Family Valuables and finally issued
a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession to handle all
the necessary legal documents of the Consignment which he
deposited in the SECURITY COMPANY and he instructed the lawyer to handover the
documents to me whenever I need it.

I am a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do.
Now I want a foreign partner who assist me to retrieve this consignment from
the SECURITY COMPANY in Europe.

This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant
political crisis here in Ivory coast.The death of my father actually brought
sorrow to my life.I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this
regards.

Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.

Now permit me to ask these few questions:-

1.Can you kindly tell me what the type of a profitable venture this fund will
uesd to invest avoid waste of it.
2). Can you honestly help me as your daughter?
3). Can I completely trust you?
4). What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you
after you have collected this consigment on my behalf?

Thank you so much.

Yours Sincerely,

miss veronick keke

Now there's a scammer/spammer who has put some real EFFORT in.