By international maritime law, if you accept help form anyone on the seas, he ship that helped you is entitled to half of your ship and cargo. In many cases ship owners let the ships sink and get insurance money rather accepting help.

But if you put the lives of people on board in danger, it is a totally different matter. You may be criminally prosecuted.

If you are in a life-threatening situation, the rescue is free of charge. That's what I was told. The fee is there to discourage abuse.

Bear in mind that it is Europe, everything is much more expensive here. Gasoline is 1.45 euro per liter, which makes 1.45 x 3.79 x 1.35 = $7.42 per gallon. Plus taxes, plus search, plus rescue, plus they might send more copters just to be sure.

On the other hand, the bill might be artificially inflated to serve as a deterrent and an example.

Alternatively it could be an exaggeration. This story sounds more like an urban legend than a fact.

This is how it works here, in Greece.

If you issued a distress signal (MAYDAY) from a boat, and you are not sinking, the Coastal Guard charges you for the helicopter ride. Never tried it myself but people say it is in 50,000 - 100,000 euro range.

1. Windows 1
2. Windows 2
3. Windows 3
4. Windows 95 / 98
5. Windows 2000 / XP
6. Windows Vista
7. Windows 7

My current Windows Vista, reports this:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6002] Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Not on topic but I'd want to mention the stock market as a good game for adults. I played computer games in my teens and twenties but now, in my thirties I find them quite boring, predictable and repetitive.

For three years now I picked up a new hobby: stock market. I watch CNBC, I read business newspapers, i follow a ton of finance blogs, I think, I make hard decisions, I put my money at risk, I master my impulses and emotions. I throughly enjoy it.

North Korean news agency (http://twitter.com/kcna_dprk) keeps celebrating 15th Anniversary of Demise of Kim Il Sung. Maybe it is this one.

The AC is a troll, but link to Privoxy is relevant and informative.