Easy Money... $1 Million for Mermaid Photo

The Southwest has UFOs. Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster. Now Israel has a mermaid? LiveScience reports that locals and tourists are flocking to the town of Kiryat Yam, Isreal, hoping to catch a glimpse of a mermaid who has been spotted doing a few tricks and disappearing into the water. According to Schlomo Cohen, one of the first people to see the mermaid, "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." Kiryat Yam is now offering $1 million to the first person to snap a photograph of the reported mermaid. "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," town spokesman Natti Zilberman said. Even if the mermaid ends up being a hoax, the town will be able to save the $1 million and continue to see a jump in tourism. PT Barnum pulled off a hoax like this years ago with a Mermaid in a jar, which ended up being a monkey torso and fish tail graft. Now, it looks like even municipalities are getting into the act. I can see it now... Schlomo and his wife are visiting Loch Ness, Scotland. The place is crowded with tourists. In the middle of his Gefillte fish lunch, the idea strikes him... "Oy! he exclaims. "Das est it! Das est it! I know how to make a million shequels! Vie get our own monster!" "Oy vey!" Ruth agrees. "Das est a vunderful idea."