A town government in Israel has announced their answer to the Cash for Clunkers program. The Cash for Flippers scheme will give $1 million for a photograph of the local mermaid.
An alleged mermaid, said to resemble a cross between a fish and a young girl, only appears at sunset. It performs a few tricks for onlookers before disappearing for the night.
One of the first people to see the mermaid, Shlomo Cohen, said, “I was with friends when suddenly we saw a woman laying on the sand in a weird way. At first I thought she was just another sunbather, but when we approached she jumped into the water and disappeared. We were all in shock because we saw she had a tail.”
The sightings apparently began several months ago.
$1 million reward
The town’s tourism board is of course delighted with their newfound fame and local mystery fauna. Taking a cue from the town of Inverness, Scotland (on the shore of Loch Ness), the Kiryat Yam government has offered a $1 million reward for the first person to photograph the creature. Town spokesman Natti Zilberman thinks the reward money is well-spent. “I believe if there really is a mermaid then so many people will come to Kiryat Yam, a lot more money will be made than $1 million.”
Of course, there is no chance at all that this is a publicity stunt, right? Egad. Loch Ness has been riding this little scam for decades, why wouldn’t others try to get in on it. Oh, wait, they have. (This is still our all-time favorite take on lake monsters, by the way.)
Well, we here at Blue Crab Boulevard can see a great opportunity when it comes along! We hereby claim that $1 million prize. We expect the town government of Kiryat Yam to remit the check immediately. Here’s the picture!
Hey! Wait a second. Has anyone squealed informed notified the White House about this fishy article by Benjamin Radford? There may be a reward under the double secret Cash for Crankies program run by the White House Office of Progressive Squealers (WHOOPS).
Was that really $1M American, or 1M shekels?
Makes for a different take on the phrase “sleeping with the fishies.”
A million? Gaius, you’re too generous. Three mermaids, three million.