what happens when i email

Here's a weird subject line for an e-mail: "It's An Emergency".

That might lead you to think that there is an emergency and that the e-mail has something to do with that emergency.

You are wrong! The e-mail is from Westlaw and it's completely trivial! You know what, go ahead and read it:

Welcome Back!

I hope everyone is off to a good start for this semester. Enjoy the January email contest below.

It's an emergency!

It's always important to know the proper evacuation procedures.

1. Go to: https://webmail.west.thomson.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.lawschool.westlaw.com

2. Using FIND by Citation enter the following citation: 2 No. 24 ABAJEREP 7

3. Scan the document to find the answer to the following question:
Per this article, what is the preferred order of evacuation of the law firm personnel during an emergency?

4. E-mail your name, law school and the answer to Westlaw Manager, Tilman Larson (tilman.larson@thomsonreuters.com) You MUST include your NAME & LAW SCHOOL in addition to the answer in your e-mail. Entries that do not have this information will not receive points and will not be entered in the additional bonus drawing.

5. Entries must be received by Noon Jan. 28, 2009. Limit one entry per student.

All entries will receive 100 points. An additional 5 students will receive 200 points from a random drawing of all properly submitted entries.
All points will be deposited by Feb. 1, 2009.

Tilman Larson

West Academic Account Manager

I don't know how annoyed I can be at that - if there were a real emergency relevant to my interests, I am sure I would have received a phone call, been incinerated by radiation, or heard something on the news. Still, if I were the type of person to care, I might be really angry. In fact, this is what Mr. Larson had to send shortly after the first e-mail:

Just a quick note and clarification about the January email contest: there is no real emergency involved. I sincerely apologize if any of you were offended or concerned by the subject line for the email contest. For future email contests, the subject line will include an indication that the email is for an email contest.

Cordially,

Tilman Larson

West Academic Account Manager

My guess is that Mr. Tilman Larson is soon going to find out what the job market is like.

Make sure those fries are piping hot, buddy!