text:
Fein US posted a math riddle to their Instagram channel, shown above.
So, what's the answer?
They'll reveal the correct answer tomorrow.
No, it's not 42.
Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!
Fein US posted a math riddle to their Instagram channel, shown above.
So, what's the answer?
They'll reveal the correct answer tomorrow.
No, it's not 42.
Marty says
John B says
bjacob says
I agree with his agreement.
bjacob says
No I don't. I just realized the last one has multiplication. 60.
Clifford Alloway says
I had to put my glasses on and when I did it looks that 60 is correct…
fred says
If you consider:
A= tool
B= battery
C= blade
3A=30 or A=10
1A+2B=20 so B=5
1B+4C=9 so C=1
But if you consider the tool as having a battery that is considered separately – then the equations look like this:
so from the first equation A=10-B
substituting into the second equation:
10-B+B+2B= 20 or B = 10 and then A =0
Then if 10+4C=9 = C= -0.25
So in this scenario
10 + 0 +(-0.25) = 9.75
fred says
Forget what I wrote above
Should have looked at the last line with multiplication sign.
Case 1 >> B + C x A = 5+1 x 6 = 60
Case 2 >> 10 + 0.25 x 0 = 0
fred says
Case 2 should have been >> 10.25 x (0+10) = 102.5
Stuart says
Since A + B is constant in all instances, appearing paired together, it can be considered a single variable, D.
Whilst there is enough to solve for A, if you consider that the tool is described as A + B, you don't need to.
If you sub in B = 10 – A into the second equation, you get:
Same as if A+B = 10, or D = 10.
Considering the bare tool as separate from the battery-equipped tool just makes more work.
bjacob says
No I don't. I just realized the last one has multiplication. 60.
MichaelHammer says
MichaelHammer says
Dag! 25
palm says
The answer is 15. Math order of operation. 10*1 +5.
Wayne R. says
You're the first one (here, anyway) to get the math right. Winner! Of what, I don't know, but your teachers should be proud too.
jay dawes says
Johnny4 says
The problem included some observational and order of operations subtleties which can easily trip you up.
List of incorrect answers and why:
16 – did not notice the multiplication symbol
25 – did not notice the single blade
17 – missed both single blade and X
60 – incorrect math adds before multiplying
70 – incorrect math and missed the single blade
Will says
Yep,10 for the supercut,5 for a battery and one blade equals 1 so it's 16.
Johnny4 says
Incredible. After all the explanations how can you possibly still think the answer is 16?
Brett says
Alexis says
Alexis says
Crap nevermind, I just saw what they did, the answer is 15.
Mike says
Yeah i just saw that too. 15 gets my vote
Jag Hundal says
Jag Hundal says
i stick to 25
Justin says
Count the multitool blades.
Stacey says
Stacey says
Definitely 25
kdv says
I'm going with 16 as well
Grizz says
25 is the correct answer. Order of operations is multiplication/division before addition/subtraction. The expression is 5 + (2 x 10).
Corey says
Corey says
Immediately realize that while I spotted the trick, I applied it wrong in my final step haha I rescind my previous answer and second Marty?
Corey says
And still messed up pemdas. Jesus, point taken, Stuart haha
Ewoud says
10+10+10 = 30
10+5+5 =20
5+2=7 7×10 = 70
Leo Bauer says
Struggleville says
17. 100%
Wayne says
There is a multiple, so 70
Wayne says
Forgot order of operations lol
Doh- 25
Allen Wilson says
Hey guys, there's only one correct answer. It's all in the details and correct order of math.
Look at the scrapers, it's:
2 scrapers + 2 scrapers = 4
1 scraper = 1
On the last line, multiplication trumps addition in the correct hierarchy of math operations. So, last line is:
(5) + (1×10) = 15 Final answer
Harry says
Matt S says
Matt S says
csroc says
Yep. Tricksy because I didn't see the change in the number of blades on my phone screen without looking closely.
Marty says
Ooo didn't notice the multiplication sign!!
Austin S says
Michael Polk says
The correct answer is 15. I am sure a lot of you will come up with different answers but I will explain to you why this one is correct…tomorrow 🙂
TonyT says
Yup, that's what I got…order of operations and count the number of multi-tool blades.
Davin says
It's 15 guys. Remember order of operations. (PEMDAS)
CraftsmanForever says
25 is the answer
Ryan says
Yep, $25. Multiply the 2×10 then add the 5.
Ryan says
My bad, didn't notice there's multiple blades stacked on line 3. Answer is 15.
Tom Magill says
sellers says
you are correct
Michael Polk says
And too bad there is no prize lol
Brien says
Tom Magill says
Ah… order of operators.
Change mine to 15
Paul Dajewski says
Luis says
Josh says
Willson says
And Bob's your uncle.
There is no spoon.
The cake is a lie.
Craftsman forever says
25 is the answer
Addison says
It's Fein so infinity! And the HSS cutter is dull.
Tim says
Justin sherriff says
10+5+5= 20
5+2+2= 9
5+2=7×10= 70
Justin sherriff says
4 blades on line 3 only 1 blade in the riddle
BenV says
15, the multiplication takes precedence over the addition…
Noli says
This guy gets riddles Answers 17 everyone
Nol says
It's 60 ohh man now I'm confused.
Henry says
The answer is 15
Thank you Mr. Towne (my HS math teacher)!
Brian Harris says
Don says
Scott Davis says
The answer is 15.
Ryan Rich says
10×2 +5
Don says
Oops 70. Missed the "x" on the last question
PHILIP JOHN says
Its 15.
It would only work out to 60 2 other ways… if it was dewalt or Milwaukee and then I would say give me 60 ( more better tool.)
Michael says
Brett says
Had to go to the actual computer to see the number of blades everyone is talking about (tablet + old eyes = ahhhh crap I'm wrong….)
10 + (1×5) = 16
mumble mumble mumble
ChrisP says
1×5=5. So
Raoul says
Brett says
holy crap now I can't even add when I can see LOL
MacLean says
Vards Uzvards says
Vards Uzvards says
Scratch the above! 🙂
Math is hard!
Scott K says
15. PEMDAS + Pinch to Zoom for the win!
A W says
Doubling the OMT blades is sneaky.
evadman says
Harry Klein says
Darth says
Darth says
Changing to 16 now that i see 2 blades on the 3rd line amd only 1 on the 4th.
Harry says
Mike says
The whole 2 blades vs 1 is kind of cheating on the trick. I never noticed till I saw someone mention in it and I zoomed in. Small detail on small screens like that is hard to see. 15, the order of operations trick gets people every time.
andy says
The correct answer is in dollars, and the number is frighteningly high.
Corey says
This may be the best answer lol
Johnny4 says
All the incorrect answers after MattS explanation amuse me.
Louie Orama says
I'm going with 60 as well… First line tells you that the Oscillating Tool is 10. Second line tells you that the battery is 5. Third tells you that each blade is 1. So it is 5+1=6 x 10 = 60.
Ryan says
Multiply before dividing. It's actually this: 5+(1×10)
Lukas says
15 if you do it the meme math way. I'm going to argue that there isn't enough information. 3 equations with 4 unknowns. The single Fein and double Fein blades should be treated as separate variables. If I were to say that W=10 would you assume that V=5 just because a W looks like two Vs? Probably not.
Alexis says
If W = 10 we have no way of knowing V, but one could make a strong argument for U = 5
Lukas says
Well I'm just going by the appearance because that's what we're doing in this Fein riddle. I still don't agree if we go by the name of the variable. Letters weren't named with algebra in mind.
Adam says
5+1*10. Multiplication always comes before addition unless there are parentheses. Therefore, 10*1=10, then 10+5=15
Kurt says
Brian A says
The answer is a lot of people are bad at basic math.
Or if you're smart enough to get the right answer (15) you are to smart to pay Fein prices.
Adam spiller says
The answer is 16
Altan says
Was it made in Germany also?!!!
Cary says
Rick H says
Answer is 70
Adam says
Higgo says
Wow! I would not let a majority of you do work on my house 🙂 Our contract would have to have a lot of verbiage re: who's responsible for the cost of material shortages/overages.
Clint says
Clint says
Sorry, poor eyesight, did not see the bunched up blades.
Jerry says
OldDominionDIYer says
OldDominionDIYer says
Oops there's only 1 multi-tool blade in the last row so it would be:
John Fleisher says
David C. says
David C. says
Edit it is 25, didn't notice the X in the last row.
David C. says
Crap, it 15. Too hard to see the multiple blades on a phone.
Farid says
15. I assume 15% discount if you buy the combo shown.
Steve says
I'm with Rick H at 70
Steve says
Ok, second try: 60
Craig says
Craig says
Sorry 70-Didn't notice multiplication in last step
3x = 30 so x = 10
x + 2y = 20 so 10 + 2y = 20 so y = 5
y + 2z = 9 so 2z= 4 so z = 2
(y + z)x =70
John says
This is funny or sad, not sure which.
America's education system at its finest.
Obeying the rules of mathematics,
5 + (1 x 10) =
As of 100+ comments roughly 1/4 of you gave the actual answer (not counting agreeing comments)
Stuart says
Gradeschool math gets buried under decades of disuse.
In high school and college-level math, habitual use of parentheses makes remembering PEMDAS redundant.
The definition of the derivative is: limit as h-> 0 of ( f(x+h) – f(x) )/h. I had to look that up. I can tell you the derivative of ax^2 + bx + c, or other simplistic functions like that. But anything more advanced? Poof.
Use it or lose it.
How do you solve for x in a quadratic equation? Do you remember what y = ax^2 + bx + c looks like graphed out?
y= mx + b. What's m? What's b?
Use it or lose it. Nobody should feel bad about getting a different answer. Getting tricked by the multiplication sign or the number of accessories… that's different. =P
If you used control-F to count how many instances of "15," a number of those are in x:15 timestamps.
John says
True on the control-F, but the timestamps with 15 also get included. I see 32 answers with 15 as of this timeline but that still requires going through each of them to weed out other uses of 15 in the webpage. Ahh, how tools can help but also not help.
As others have said the 'x' and single blade in the last equation tripped up a lot of people more than bad math.
Marcus says
David A. says
It's 15.
Lots of people initially missed the "x" in the last line on their first read-through and thought it was a "+" (I did), and lots of us missed the change in number of blades between the 3rd and 4th lines (I did too).
Robert says
5+ (2×10) = 25
Far as I remember, you multiply whatever you can first, then you add.
John says
Only a single blade in the last equation 😉
Robert says
Huh, thought it was too easy. Sneaky.
Tyler says
10+10+10 = 30
10+5+5 = 20
5+1+1+1+1= 9
5+1×10 = 15
Tyler says
Aaaand I typoed the first part of my answer.
G Greene says
JMG says
Quite the amusing post…
I like the reference to the Hitchhiker's Guide there.
Steve says
Dang, it's sneaky. 55….look closely at pics and remember order of operations.
Steve says
Wait….wrong! 15!
George Gallo says
70, no calculator needed
Dale Ianni says
Steve Newman says
15 (multiplication before addition)
Trippy says
Matt Shellito says
Guys it is 15. (1×5)+10
(1) blade =1 (1)battery=5 (1) tool=10
Order of operation multiply divide add subtract.
Come on my 3rd grade daughter just nailed this. I helped with what numbers should be where but she got the answer of 15.
John says
I just have to say: With answers like that how did America develop as well as it did over the last 200 years ???
16 is correct.
One tool $10
One battery $5
One cutter $1
Stuart says
John says
For practice answer this: If the electric locomotive is travelling North from NY, NY to Albany, NY at 60mph which way will the smoke blow?
al crespo says
The What? says
It's either 15 or 60. If you go by order of mathematical operations you get 15. But there's no mention of that applying to this equation. I got 2 different calculators that gave 2 different answers. So does this mean that I can buy 3 fein oscillators for $30? Or 1 oscillator and 2 batteries for $20? Is that what they're putting down to pick up? Or is this some sort of bs that they're trying pull?
The What? says
I don't mean to jump off topic, but has anyone ever heard of parkside tools. This LIDL store recently opened up the street, which I've never heard of, and they have Parkside power tools for unheard of prices.
Raoul says
I've heard Lidl is coming and supposedly do what Aldi does but even better. Both are German I think. What town is it in?
Ben V says
Computers never lie:
'Maths.exe' (CLR v4.0.30319: Maths.exe):
a = 10
b = 5
c = 1
a + a + a = 30
a + b + b = 20
b + (c*2) + (c*2) = 9
b + c * a = 15
ca says
I'm going with 9.
Corey says
I screwed it up twice, early. And it's making me feel less stupid reading all of the insistently wrong answers even after the entire thing has been explained multiple times. Read 10 comments and you'll probably see the answer 15 explainy, so how is it still being argued against actually mathematics? It's okay to be wrong, not so much fo be willingly and defensively wrong lol
steve says
NCD says
I think the answer is 600 , but I'm not sure. It's either that or something else.
Stuart says
If you're going to be wrong, better by a wild mile than a foot. =)
NCD says
I've been wrong before, honestly.lol
Patrick says
I am saying 60.
Grady says
Steve says
Nothing Fein sells is cheap so I think a tool, battery, and blade is like $329 minus the charger for $263 divided by the percentage the marketer kicks in, times the square root of probability makes it about $764 . . . or maybe a little more.
Cody says
Don't over think it!!! SIXTY IS THE ANSWERC
John says
Thanks for playing but wrong.
The correct answer of 15 has been said over and over and shown why it is correct many times (it's called MATH), so how people keep coming up with wrong answers is mindblowing or mindnumbing.
glenn says
glenn says
Just rechecked, its 60.
glenn says
Hmm. Just checked out the answer. Its been quite a while since I left school but I don't recall being taught that the order of calculation is based on the assumption of brackets being there, where they are clearly not.
Stuart says
You don't remember PEMDAS, the order of operations rule?
Please excuse my dear aunt sally.
Multiplication and division
Addition and subtraction
So if you have 1 + 2 x 3, the answer is 7, and not 9.
In more elaborate math, there is greater care to adding parentheses. But in their absense, the order of operations is clear.
glenn says
I went to school in Australia so there is possibly a difference, but I genuinely don't recall any rules that assume there are parentheses. I have always done calculations in order except when there are parentheses to indicate otherwise.
However, its been 42 years since I left school, so I have forgotten a lot of stuff, lol.
Stuart says
If it helps, Wikipedia says that in Australia you use: "BODMAS meaning Brackets, Order, Division/Multiplication, Addition/Subtraction."
ktash says
Well, it's 15. But hard to believe a Fein tool would be that cheap 😉
ChrisP says
It's 16,478,135,618.
I enlarged the image and printed it out on 120 sheets of paper and the counted the pixels with a sharpie and an abacus. Sorry it has taken so long to give you the correct answer but my first attemp was rained out and I had to start from the beginnng.
Chip says
I don't have time to read the whole thread .
I used a value of 5 for the battery ,and the tool..2 for multi blades.
So 2 batteries 10p,1 tool 5p,+1p for single blade 5+5+5+1=16
Garrick says
Assuming that Fein wants a numerical answer, I got 17 until I read that there was a Multiplier, then I got 70, until I read there was only one blade in the final equation, so I got 60, until read (and remembered) that multipliers are done before additions. then got 15. So I wrong, wrong, wrong, and then right.
How come 2 wrongs don't make a right… but, 3 lefts do?
Shawn says
In the absence of parenthesis, multiply/divide first and then add/subtract.
Randy says
Kevin says
Kurt Fehrenbach says
TcJ says
It's undefined. The number represented by two blades is 2; however, it's not shown that the number represented by one blade is 1. You can assume that, but the math doesn't show it.
For example, the symbol "99" (two nines) does not represent a number that is twice as big as the number represented by the symbol "9" (one nine).


text:
Legion welcomes new GI Bill measure
The American Legion welcomed the introduction of a Senate bill last week that would substantially improve and expand education benefits for veterans.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, is sponsoring the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which he introduced in the Senate on May 27.
"This new legislation would realize some of the changes we've been suggesting to Congress for the past couple of years," American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill, said. "We're especially happy to see that Sen. Akaka's bill would extend benefits to those veterans attending vocational schools, on-the-job training and apprenticeships."
Hill said the original 1944 GI Bill - authored and championed by The American Legion - paid for the education of about 16 million veterans. "And half of them went to some type of vocational institution after World War II, so it's most appropriate to expand today's benefits beyond traditional colleges and universities."
Robert Madden, assistant director of The American Legion's Economic Division, said that if Akaka's bill (S. 3447) becomes law, "every veteran would be free to choose any type of education and employment path that he or she happens to desire.
"Veterans have served America with pride and dedication. With bipartisan support, Congress can show its gratitude to them and their families by creating a GI Bill that is much more equitable," Madden said.
If passed, Akaka's legislation would upgrade veterans education benefits with several new provisions, including:
• Veterans attending vocational schools would receive the national yearly average for tuition/fee payments, plus housing stipend based upon regular rate of the military's BHA (basic housing allowance).• On-the-job training and apprenticeships will be paid for on a prorated schedule: • 75 percent of costs for the first six months, 55 percent for the next six months, and 35 percent for each subsequent month up to 24 additional months; benefits also include housing stipend and $1,000 annual book stipend. • 60 percent of charges for flight training and 55 percent for correspondence courses will be covered, based on the national average of established cost at all institutions of higher learning.• Servicemembers who retired after Sept. 11, 2001, but before the Post-9/11 GI Bill went into effect would be able to transfer current veterans education benefits to their family members (this provision would be paid for by DoD and other federal agencies).• Housing allowance: distance-learning students and those attending schools overseas will receive 50 percent of the established rate (which would become prorated, based on a veteran's actual course load).• Instead of paying up to $2,000 for a one-time test for licensure or certification, an unlimited number of tests will be allowed, with charges being deducted from a veteran's monthly benefits.
During a hearing before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on April 21, Madden urged Congress to cover non-degree education programs with GI Bill benefits, saying that such a disparity "has caused much concern."
At that same hearing, Akaka promised to introduce legislation before Memorial Day to help improve veterans education benefits. He delivered on that promise last week.

subset: commoncrawl


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Advance Scout: Toledo Mud Hens
vs. MUD HENS: This series marks the second meeting between the Bisons and Mud Hens this season. Buffalo took 2-of-4 versus Toledo at Coca-Cola Field in late May. Former Hen, Mike Hessman hit a game-winning homer on Kids Day (5/24) to open the series. The Bisons won game two before dropping the final two of the set.
Since rejoining the IL in 1998, the Bisons have handled the Mud Hens to the tune of 55-45 record, that includes a 28-24 record at home and 27-21 record in Toledo. Last year, Toledo won the season series, 6-2, over the Herd. Both of Buffalo's victories came at Coca-Cola Field.
Upcoming Probables for Toledo vs Buffalo
7/23 LHP Andrew Oliver (NR) vs. RHP Dillon Gee (9-5, 4.51)
7/24 RHP L.J. Gagnier (3-4, 3.56) vs. RHP Tobi Stoner (5-7, 5.51)
7/25 RHP Alfredo Figaro (8-6, 4.18) vs. RHP Ramon Ortiz (1-2, 5.34)
7/26 RHP Scot Drucker (3-4, 5.34) vs. LHP Pat Misch (9-4, 3.56)
RED CARPET TREATMENT: Buffalo 3B Mike Hessman, who spent five seasons (2005-2009) with the Mud Hens, returns to Fifth Third Field this weekend for the Bisons' only visit to Toledo on the year. Hessman will be honored on the field before the game on Sunday.
IL Honor: OF/1B Jeff Frazier was named IL Batter of the Week for the period from July 15-18. Frazier led the International League with three home runs and a 1.286 slugging percentage in the recently completed All-Star shortened week. He was also second in the IL with eight hits and a .571 batting average. After appearing in the Triple-A All-Star Game Wednesday as the starting left fielder for the International League, Frazier was 0-2 on Thursday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He then proceeded to go 8-12 in the remaining three games of the series, blasting three home runs, driving in six runs, and scoring four more. Frazier is now 2nd in the League this season with 20 homers and 62 RBI while leading the IL in extra-base hits.
Hens Eggs: INF Will Rhymes is batting .365 (38×104) with 10 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 12 RBI over his last 25 games…1B/OF Ryan Strieby has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games, batting .293 (22×75) with seven doubles, a home run and eight RBI…1B/OF Jeff Frazier is hitting .417 (10×24) with a twos doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI over his last seven games…RHP Brendan Wise has posted a 0.79 ERA (11.1IP/1ER) over his last six outings.
Can They Make It Six Straight? Toledo finished the 2009 season with a winning record for the fifth straight year. The streak breaks a number of franchise and league records. Toledo's longest such streak was six straight seasons (1896-1901). The Hens' streak continues the current International League best. The longest stretch of .500 or better seasons was held by Buffalo from 1995-2008 (13 straight seasons). However, the Bisons relinquished that streak in 2008 to Toledo, who carry the torch to 2010.
Miscellaneous Fun Facts:
-This season, the Mud Hens have 3 walk-off victories.
-The Mud Hens are 214-64 (76.98%) all-time when scoring first at Fifth Third Field (13-7 in 2010).
-This season, Toledo has 15 come-from-behind wins and has lost 23 games when leading at any point in the game.
-The Hens are 279-11 (96.21%) in the history of Fifth Third Field when taking a lead into the ninth inning (33-1 in 2008, 29-2 in 2009, 15-2 in 2010).
Looking back at the Bisons & Mud Hens series:
GAME RECAP: Hens edge Herd
GAME RECAP: Comeback falls short
GAME RECAP: Gee & a blast lead to win
GAME RECAP: Hessmans heroics in Buffalo win


text:
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Geographical entities
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|Water Report 37, 2012
The People's Republic of China is located in the southeast of the Eurasian landmass, bordered by Mongolia and the Russian Federation to the north, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Viet Nam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and India to the south, and Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to the west. The average altitude in China ranges from over 4 000 m in the west to less than 100 m in the east. The total area is about 9.6 million km2 and is composed of mountains (33 percent), plateaux (26 percent), valleys (19 percent), plains (12 percent) and hills (10 percent). For administrative purposes, China is divided into 23 provinces, 3 municipalities and 5 autonomous regions, in addition to the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
In 2009, arable land was an estimated 110.0 million ha. Adding to this the 14.3 million ha under permanent crops gives a total cultivated area of 124.3 million ha (Table 1). Of the total cultivated land, around 86 percent was cropped for food. Of these food crops, 78 percent were cereals (rice, maize, wheat, barley, sorghum), 10 percent beans, 8 percent sweet potatoes and 4 percent other crops. Of the cereals, 36 percent was rice, 33 percent maize, 28 percent wheat, 3 percent barley and 1 percent sorghum.
Vast areas of east China and most of south China are affected by the East Asia monsoon climate. Mountains and plateaux prevent the monsoon from penetrating deeply into the northwest of the continent, resulting in low precipitation there. In winter, the mainland is generally under the influence of dry cold air masses from Siberia.
Mean annual precipitation is 645 mm. In some regions of the southwest and in the coastal areas of the southeast, the mean annual precipitation exceeds 2 000 mm. It exceeds 1 000 mm to the south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze river, flowing into the sea just north of Shanghai. It is between 400 and 900 mm in the Huai river basin, in the northern plains, northeast and central China It is less than 400 mm in parts of northeast China and most of the hinterland in the northwest. And it is less than 25 mm in the Tarim river basin in the northwest (the longest inland river) and the Qaidam river basin in the west, of which one-third is desert. Precipitation is greater in the summer months, from April-May to July-August in the south and from June to September in the north.
China is conventionally divided into four main agro-climatic zones (Wang et al., 1999):
Total population is about 1 366 million (2009), of which 54 percent are living in rural areas (Table 1). The average population density is 142 inhabitants/km2. In 1996 the average population density was 131 inhabitants/km2, varying from less than 10 inhabitants/km2 in the west to 670 inhabitants/km2 in the east and 2 042 inhabitants/km2 in Shanghai. The annual demographic growth rate was an estimated 1.1 percent over the period 1989-1999, which decreased to 0.6 percent over the period 1999-2009.
In 2008, 89 percent of the population had access to improved drinking water sources (98 and 82 percent for urban and rural population respectively), while 58 and 52 percent of urban and rural population respectively had access to improved sanitation.
In 2009 the gross domestic product (GDP) was US$4 985 461 million. In 2009, agriculture accounted for around 10 percent of GDP, while in 1999 and 1989 it accounted for 16 percent and 25 percent respectively. The economically active population is about 818 million (2009) of which 54 percent is male and 46 percent female. The agriculture sector employed 503 million inhabitants, 61 percent of the economically active population, of which 52 percent were men and 48 percent women, while in 1998 and 1988, the agriculture sector employed 67 and 72 percent respectively of the economically active population.
China has about 21 percent of the world population, with about 6 percent of the world's freshwater and 9 percent the world's farmlands. Per capita freshwater availability was 2 079 m3 in 2009, compared to a global average of 6 225 m3 per capita. To feed the increasing population, China has to increase total agricultural products by almost 30 percent in 2030 (Yuanhua Li, 2006).
Irrigation makes a major contribution to food security, producing nearly 75 percent of the cereals and more than 90 percent of cotton, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural commodities on around half of the farmlands in China. Because of the development of irrigation, food production has kept pace with population growth in recent decades. In the future, as population increases, irrigation would have to play an even more important role in China to increase production, since farmland expansion becomes a limiting factor (Li, 2006).
Northern China, although it has only 20 percent of the nation's water resources, contains 65 percent of China's cultivated land and produces roughly half of its grain and nearly all of its wheat and maize. This region accounts for more than 45 percent of the nation's GDP (Wang et al., 2005).
Drought affects an average of 15.3 million ha of farmland every year, nearly 13 percent of the total farming area (Yao, 2009).
The average annual river runoff generated within the country is 2 711.5 km3. Precipitation makes up 98 percent of total river runoff, the remaining 2 percent coming from melting glaciers.
China can be divided into nine main river basin groups (Table 2). In the north there are the Song-Liao or Heilong (Amur)-Songhua, the Huai, the Huang (Yellow), the Hai-Luan and the interior or endoreic river basin groups. The total average annual internal renewable surface water resources (ISRWR) in these five river basin groups are an estimated 535.5 km3, which is almost 20 percent of the country's IRSWR. In the south there are the Chang (Yangtze), the Zhu (Pearl), the southwest and the southeast river basin groups. The total average annual ISRWR in these four river basin groups are an estimated 2 176.2 km3, which is just over 80 percent of the country's IRSWR.
In total, there are more than 50 000 rivers with a basin area of over 100 km2, 1 500 rivers have a basin exceeding 1 000 km2. Rivers can be classified into two categories: rivers discharging into seas (outflowing rivers), and inland rivers running into depressions in the interior (endoreic basins). The total drainage area of rivers flowing to the sea cover about 65 percent of the territory, most drains into the Pacific Ocean and small areas to the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Endoreic river basins cover the remaining 35 percent of the country's total area.
The volume of water flowing to nine neighbouring countries (Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Viet Nam) is an estimated almost 718 km3/year (Table 3). To the north, the Heilong river enters the Russian Federation before it empties into the Sea of Okhotsk, the Ertix river joins the Ob River in Kazakhstan, the Ili river discharges into Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan, and the Suifen river flows through the Russian Federation to the sea at Vladivostok. To the south, the Yuan, Lixian, Panlong rivers are the upper reaches of the Red river in Viet Nam, the Lancang river becomes the Mekong river after it enters Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Nu river becomes the Salween river after it enters Myanmar, the Yalung Zangbo river is called the Brahmaputra river after it enters India, and the Langqen Zangbo and Sengge Zangbo rivers of west Tibet and the Qipuqiapu river of Xinjiang are the upper reaches of the Indus river flowing through India and Pakistan into the Indian Ocean.
There are 12 main rivers that enter China from six neighbouring countries (India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Viet Nam). The mean annual volume of water entering the country is just over 17 km3, of which 4.2 percent in the Heilong river basin from Mongolia, 52.9 percent in inland rivers, 42.2 percent in the Zhu river basin from Viet Nam, and 0.7 percent in rivers in the southwest (Table 4).
There are also a number of border rivers (Table 5). The main course of the Heilong river and its upstream tributaries (the Ergun and Wusuli rivers) flow along the border between China and the Russian Federation. After receiving the flow of the Songhua river (10.9 km3/year), the Heilong river flows into the Russian Federation. The total flow of the Heilong and Songhua rivers (117 km3/year) is considered as flowing out of China, while the resources before flowing out have already been included in the IRSWR. The Tumen and Yalu rivers flow along the border between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, the corresponding flow is not considered as outflowing as these rivers do not leave Chinese territory. Half of the total flow of 20.3 km3/year of these rivers, 10.15 km3/year, is counted for each country.
The total area of glaciers in China is about 58 651 km2 extending over six northwestern and southwestern provinces or autonomous regions (Gansu, Qingha, Xinjiang, Tibet, Sichuan and Yunnan). In total the country's glacier storage is around 5 100 km3 in total. The amount of mean annual glacier melt water is about 56 km3.
The average annual groundwater resources for the whole country are an estimated 828.8 km3. That part which reaches the rivers as baseflow, or comes from river seepage, called 'overlap', is an estimated 727.9 km3.
About 70 percent of the groundwater resources are in southern China and 30 percent in northern China. The aquifers vary greatly across northern China and are geologically complicated. Unlike the south, where villages in mountainous areas can tap groundwater resources, mountainous areas in northern China are often groundwater deficient. In the flat plains, especially in the areas near the coast and especially in the Hai river basin many of the aquifers are multilayered. These multilayered aquifers typically have two to five layers. The first and third layers are the most water resource rich. The first layer is an unconfined aquifer made up of large grained homogeneous sand and gravel. The other layers are confined aquifers. In some areas, especially in the eastern parts of the Hai river Basin, there is a naturally occurring saline layer. Created during a previous Ice Age, saline water is often found in the second layer, is confined and has a high enough salt content that it must be treated before being used for agriculture (Wang et al., 2005).
The total internal renewable water resources (IRWR) of China are around 2 812.40 km3/year and are summarised in Table 6. The total renewable water resources (TRWR), considering external flows, are equal to 2 839.72 km3/year, giving a dependency ratio of about 1 percent (Table 7).
There are about 2 300 natural lakes (excluding seasonal ones) with a total storage of 708.8 km3, of which the freshwater portion is 31.9 percent (226.1 km3). There are five major lake districts (Table 8).
At the end of 2005, the total number of artificial lakes or reservoirs was 85 108 with a total capacity of 562 km3. Of these, 470 were classified as large reservoirs (> 100 million m3) with a total capacity of 419.7 km3, 2 934 were medium reservoirs (10 – 100 million m3) with a total capacity of 82.6 km3, and 81 704 were small reservoirs (0.1 – 10 million m3) with a total capacity of 60.2 km3.
The Three Gorges Dam on the Chang (Yangtze) river, situated at Sandouping of Yichang City, Hubei Province, was completed in 2006 and is considered to be the largest hydropower project in the world. Besides hydropower, its main purpose is flood control and navigation improvement. The dam is nearly 200 m high and the water level in the reservoir is to be kept at 175 m above sea level during the dry winter months, and lowered to 145 m for the summer flood season. The dam is about 600 m long and the total storage capacity of the reservoir is 39.3 km3.
Until the Three Gorges Dam project (TGP) got under way, the most ambitious project completed was the Gezhouba hydroelectric dam, which was the first structure to block the flow of the Chang river. The dam is located in the suburbs of Yichang, 38 km downstream the TGP. The construction of the dam started in 1970 and ended in 1988. The dam is 54 m high with a total storage capacity of 1.58 km3.
The Geheyan Dam, designed in 1987 and completed in 1994, is the first large dam on the Qing river, a tributary of the Chang river, in Yichang, Hubei. There were many problems with the non-functioning of the ship lift until 1998. This dam has recently fallen foul of many planning permit disputes, and is set to be demolished in June 2011.
The Liujiaxia dam, with a total capacity of 5.7 km3, is a hydroelectric dam on the upper Huang (Yellow) river, in Liujiaxia Town, Gansu Province. The dam is located just downstream from the fall of the Tao river into the Huang river and has the largest water body within Gansu. The primary purpose of the dam is to generate electricity and for flood control, irrigation, and 'ice flood prevention'. When it became fully operational in 1974, it became the country's largest hydroelectric power plant, and remained so until the 1980s.
There are four hydropower projects on the Lancang river, which are the Manwan dam (1 500 MW and 0.66 km3 of capacity), the Dachaoshan dam (1 350 MW), the Jinghong dam (1 750 MW) and the Xiaowan dam (4 200 MW and 15 km3). Four more dams are under construction or are being planned on the Lancang river with a total capacity of 7 000 MW.
Other important dams are the Ertan dam (5.8 km3 of capacity) on the Yalong river (Yangtze Basin), the Shuibuya dam (4.6 km3) on the Qing river (Yangtze basin), the Longtan dam (27.3 km3) on the Hongshui river, the Longyangxia dam (24.7) on the Yellow river, the Laxiwa dam (1.08 km3) on the Yellow river and the Xiaolangdi dam (12.8 km3) on the Yellow river.
In 2010, other important dams were being constructed, such as the Jinping 1 dam.
In 2006, the total installed capacity of hydropower was 52.93 GW and the annual generation of hydropower was 163.6 billion kWh (MWR, 2007b).
Total wastewater produced accounts for 53.7 km3 in 2006, of which only 56 percent (30.07 km3) had some form of treatment. However, this rate reflects the installed wastewater treatment capacity rather than the actual treatment, which is likely to be lower owing to the lack of sewage networks and funds for operation and maintenance in many cities (World Bank, 2009a). In 2004, actual treated wastewater was about 22.10 km3 (World Bank, 2006).
The research of engineering technology of seawater desalination in China began in 1958. There have been more than 20 seawater desalination projects to date, among which are Shandong Huangdao power plant, Hebei Huanghua power plant, the No. 7 Petroleum Factory of China Petroleum Dalian Petrochemical Corporation, Tianjin economic-technological development area, Shandong Yantai city and Hebei Wangtan power plant are relatively large-scale seawater desalination enterprises that are in, or will be put into, production (Ji et al., 2006). In 2008, the accumulative production capacity of these projects was around 30 000 m3/day, which would be around 10.95 million m3/year (World Bank, 2009a).
Although China has the fifth largest amount of internal renewable water resources in the world, after Brazil, the Russian Federation, Canada and Indonesia, it is faced with a regional water crises. Total actual renewable water resources per capita account for 2 079 m3/year in 2009, while the world average is an estimated 6 225 m3/year, and is expected to decline to 1 890 m3/year as its population rises to a projected peak of 1.5 billion by around 2033. Moreover, there is much variation within the country, from less than 500 m3/year per inhabitant in the Huai and Hai-Luan river basins in the north, to over 25 000 m3/year per inhabitant in river basins in the southwest.
The precipitation pattern further intensifies the uneven distribution of water resources. With a strong monsoonal climate, China is subject to highly variable rainfall that contributes to frequent droughts and floods, which also occur simultaneously in different regions (Yunlong, 2009).
The water shortages are largely concentrated in the dry north, which has only one-fifth of China's water. This area, which includes the Huang, Liao, Hai and Huai rivers, boasts two-thirds of China's cropland (Table 2). Irrigation demands are high, rapid economic growth and urbanization are fuelling additional water consumption, and water use and demand management is inefficient. In contrast, the south is well supplied with water. It encompasses the vast Chang river and has four times the groundwater resources of the north. But it has its own problems, exemplified by summer devastating flooding by the Chang river. While the south faces flooding every year, the north, where most agricultural activities exist with very dense population, faces severe water shortages. Nearly half of the 640 cities in China face water shortages, and 100 of them face serious water scarcity (Burke, 2000).
Signs of water stress are not hard to find. Perhaps the starkest example is the Huang river. In 1972, for the first time in China's history, it dried up before reaching the sea. Since 1985, it has run dry part of each year. During the droughts of 1997 it didn't reach the sea for 228 days, depriving the last province before the sea, Shandong, which produces one-fifth of China's maize and one-seventh of its wheat, of half its irrigation supply. However, since the beginning of the 2000s, after a river basin approach was adopted in the Huang river basin, the river has not dried up. Groundwater also faces severe pressure, over-extraction is a serious problem in a number of cities, including Nanjing, Taiyuan, Shijiaxhuang, and Xi'an. Levels in Shanghai and Beijing are falling by 1 m/year. In coastal cities, such as Delian and Qingdao, saltwater intrusion compounds the problem (Burke, 2000).
The uneven distribution of China's water resources between the water scarce north and water abundant south is forcing the Chinese Government to seek measures to ensure sufficient water availability for people living in northern regions. One such measure is the 'South to North Water Transfer Project'. At the time of completion (2050), this three route project will channel 44.8 km3 of water per year from the Chang river to drought-stricken northern China. The project is designed to divert 13.4 km3/year from the Chang river system to Beijing and will supply many other cities along the route. Work began in 2000 and the first supplies reached Shandong and Beijing in 2007 and 2010 respectively. Total project expenses, which were initially projected at US$60 000 million, have been increasing.
The project faces a number of logistical challenges, including the need to clean up water bodies at intersections through which the canals will pass. The 1 154 km eastern route of the project largely follows the Grand Canal route from the Chang river through Jiangsu and Shandong provinces to Hebei and Tianjin, will divert 14.8 km3 annually, it crosses through 53 river sections in China's most heavily water-polluted area. Cleanup operations will account for 37 percent of the total investment. If completed on schedule, it will represent one of the most comprehensive water cleanup operations in the world.
Challenges include implementation and effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants, ensuring inter-provincial dialogue, and agreement on project components. The vast cost of the projects may mean that water pricing will be a problem for some consumers (between 3.2 and 4.8 Yuan/m3 in many cities and as high as 7 Yuan/m3 in Beijing). The central route of the project will divert 13 km3/year, will submerge 370 km2 of land and will require the relocation of 330 000 people in Henan and Hubei provinces. The western route will divert 17 km3/year from the upper reaches of the Chang river to the Huang river (Chao, 2009).
The Shanxi Wanjiazhai Huang (Yellow) river diversion project is an all-encompassing project to alleviate the water shortages in three of China's industrial areas: Taiyuan, Pingsuo and Datong. The project started in 1997 and in November 2001 the first major step was inaugurated when water from the Huang river ran to the Fenhe reservoir. The cost of the entire enterprise is about US$1 500 million, US$400 million of which came from the World Bank.
The diversion project, which brings water from the Huang river to Qingdao in Shandong province, is the largest water conservancy and city water supply project since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Water diversion began in 1989 to guarantee supplies to Qingdao city, whichhas the most serious water shortages in northernChina. It has received more than 1.1 km3 of water so far. Greater Qingdao covers an area of 10 654 km2 and has a population of 7.5 million, more than one-third of whom live in its urban areas. The shortfalls have been exacerbated over the past decade as its population and economy have grown (China Daily, 2007). A second phase of the project is to divert water from Huang river to Qingdao and will increase the volume of diverted water by 140 million m3/year to 250 million m3/year. (ACCA21, not dated).
In 1994, an agreement was signed between China and Mongolia on the protection of transboundary water resources concerning Lake Buir, the Kherlen, Bulgan, Khalkh rivers, and 87 small lakes and rivers located near the border.
In 2005, total water withdrawal was an estimated 554.1 km3 of which 65 percent (358.0 km3) was for irrigation, 12 percent (67.5 km3) for municipal use and 23 percent (128.6 km3) for industry (Table 9 and Figure 1). In 1993, total water withdrawal was 525.5 km3, of which 77 percent (407.7 km3) was for irrigation, 5 percent (25.2 km3) for municipal use, and 18 percent (92.6 km3) for industrial use.
Agriculture is the main sector that withdraws water water; although only 45 percent is actually consumed by crops, owing to the low efficiency of the irrigation systems. On the other hand, however, this figure is comparatively high considering the cropping structure. The relatively poor water productivity, US$3.6 per m3, is lower than the average of US$4.8 per m3 in middle income countries, and much lower than the US$35.8 per m3 in high-income countries (World Bank, 2009a). The United Nations predicts that China's population will increase from 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion between 2000 and 2030. The rapidly urbanizing population is expected to push demand to new heights. The expanding industrial sector is also greedy for water (Burke, 2000). The recycling rate in the industrial sector is only 40 percent, compared to 75-85 percent in developed countries (World Bank, 2009a).
In 2005, primary surface water withdrawal represented 80 percent of total water withdrawal (Figure 2). In 1995, the reused treated wastewater volume was 13.4 km3. In 2008, desalinated water accounted for 10.95 million m3. In addition to water withdrawal by the three main sectors (agriculture, municipalities, industry), China reserved 9.28 km3 of surface water in 2005 for ecosystems.
In southern China, the main source of water is primary surface water, which represents over 90 percent of the water withdrawal. Northern China is the region that uses the majority of China's primary groundwater. In the five northern provinces, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxia and Inner Mongolia, 65 percent of the water withdrawal was from groundwater in 2005. In the three northeastern provinces, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang groundwater withdrawal accounted for almost 45 percent of total water withdrawal. In the Hai river basin, groundwater accounted for 67 percent and was being withdrawn from the aquifer at a rate of 95.5 percent. To compensate for the deficit of surface water in meeting demand, northern China has increasingly relied on groundwater.
This intensive use of groundwater resources has resulted in the lowering of water tables and the rapid depletion of groundwater reservoirs. For example, the annual sustainable withdrawal of groundwater in the Hai river basin is an estimated 17.3 km3, while withdrawals are 26.1 km3, which indicates an annual over-extraction as high as 8.8 km3. As a result, deep groundwater tables have dropped by up to 90 m and shallow groundwater tables by up to 50 m. In Beijing, groundwater tables have dropped by 100–300 m (World Bank 2009a). In contrast, less than 30 percent of the known groundwater resources in southern China are being used (Wang et al., 2005).
China has a long history of irrigation and drainage. The first canals to divert and wells to lift water for irrigation were constructed 4 000 years ago. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, irrigation has experienced a period of vigorous development. From 1958 to 1985, about 64 368 million Yuan have been spent on irrigation and drainage projects. The area equipped for irrigation increased from 16 000 000 ha in 1949 to 62 938 226 ha in 2006 of which 62 559 130 in Mainland China, 378 096 ha in Taiwan and 1 000 ha in Hong Kong (Table 10 and Table 11).
After 1949, irrigation using groundwater was developed rapidly to promote agricultural production. In north China, insufficient surface water resources have meant that since 1950 the Government has had to rely on groundwater for the development of irrigation projects. In 1985, an area of 11.1 million ha was irrigated using tubewells. In 2006, groundwater irrigation using around 4.8 million tubewells was an estimated 19 million ha, 31 percent of the total area equipped for irrigation was 63 million ha (Figure 3). In addition, 17 million ha is power irrigated using surface water. This means that 57 percent of the total area equipped for irrigation, or 36 million ha, used power irrigation (Table 12). In 1995, the power irrigation area was 29 million ha and the total installed capacity of water-lifting machines for irrigation and drainage was 68 240 MW.
China can be divided into three irrigation zones:
The irrigation potential is roughly 70 million ha. The maximum possible area that could be equipped for irrigation by 2050 isabout 66 million ha, of which 63 million ha for annual or food crops (Zhanyi Gao, 2009). China uses the expression effective irrigation to indicate the area of food (annual) crops, not to be confounded with the area actually irrigated.
In 1996, the total area equipped for irrigation, including farmland (area regularly ploughed for growing agricultural crops, also called the area under effective irrigation in China), forests, orchards and pastures, was 52.9 million ha. The total area equipped for irrigation is an estimated 62.9 million ha (2006). The area equipped for irrigation represents just over half of the total cultivated area. The area actually irrigated in 2006 was 54.2 million ha, which accounts for 86 percent of the total area equipped for irrigation.
Surface irrigation, mainly for cereals, vegetables and cotton, is practised on 59.3 million ha (59.0 million ha in Mainland China), which was 94.3 percent of the total area equipped for irrigation in 2006 (Table 10,Table 13 and Figure 4). Sprinkler irrigation was introduced into China in the early 1950s. The first sprinkler irrigation project was constructed in Shanghai in 1954. Sprinkler and localized irrigation were considerably developed in the late 1970s. In 1976, the area of sprinkler irrigation was about 67 000 ha. It increased until 1980, but then large areas were abandoned owing to the poor quality of equipment and poor management. Then, in 2006, the area expanded to about 2.8 million ha, which is 4.5 percent of the total area equipped for irrigation. Localized irrigation was practiced on about 0.8 million ha or 1.2 percent.
China uses the following categories (1 ha = 15 mu):
The very large, large and medium irrigation schemes are generally administrated by special governmental organizations. The small ones are usually farmer-managed. Some small ponds, wells and pumping stations are owned by individuals. In 2006, very large schemes covered 10.6 million ha (10.5 million ha in Mainland China), large schemes 4.1 million ha (4.1 million ha in Mainland China), medium schemes 12.7 million ha (12.6 million ha in Mainland China) and small schemes 35.6 million ha (35.3 million ha in Mainland China) (Table 10, Table 14 and Figure 5).
China makes a distinction between the area irrigated for annual or food crops, and the area under other crops, which include irrigated forests, orchards and pasture. In 2006, of the 62.6 million ha, which was the total area equipped for irrigation in Mainland China, 57.1 million ha were under annual or food crops, 1.6 million ha forests, 2.0 million ha orchards, 1.2 million ha pasture and 0.7 million ha other crops. This means that 91.2 percent of the area equipped for irrigation was covered by annual or food crops.
In Mainland China, of the total area, 62.6 million ha equipped for irrigation, 53.9 million ha or 86 percent was actually irrigated in 2006. Of the 57.1 million ha area equipped for irrigation for annual or food crops, 49.0 million ha was actually irrigated, which is also 86 percent.
In 2006, the total harvested irrigated crop area in Mainland China was about 93.4 million ha, meaning an irrigated cropping intensity of 1.72 (Table 10 and Figure 6). The most important harvested irrigated crop is rice, followed by wheat and maize. The importance of irrigated vegetables is increasing. In 2005, almost three-quarters of grain production was irrigated. According to a nationwide survey in the early 1980s, the average paddy rice yield of irrigated farmland was 7.3 tonnes/ha and the average yield of non-irrigated paddy rice was 2.1 tonnes/ha. In 1995, the International Rice Commission estimated an average yield of 6 tonnes/ha for irrigated paddy rice.
There is no available figure on total harvested irrigated crop area in Taiwan, where rice is the main crop. Other crops are also irrigated, such as sugarcane, vegetables, sweet potato, wheat, maize, sorghum, tobacco, rape seed, beans, melons, citrus, banana, pineapple, tea, cassava, peanuts and jute.
In 1996, the area subject to waterlogging was 24.6 million ha, of which 20.3 million ha were controlled by drainage. In 1995, the power drained area was 4.2 million ha, while in 2006 it was an estimated 4.5 million ha (Table 12).
The main institutions involved in water resources management are (World Bank, 2009a):
The following developments have taken place over the past years:
Water management: China adopted the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach, as shown in the amended new Water Law. Water productivity, water pollution protection, demand management, environmental concern are highlighted in policies and mainstreamed into planning and procedures, such as specific water allocation for environmental use. Attention is being given to zoning of water function bodies, formulation of macro water allocations and micro water quotas, basin level resources management to protect the Huang river from drying up, special water diversion projects for ecosystems, and establishment of water-saving societies.
Water development: This has shifted from expansion to improvement. There are limited new water resource development projects, and highest priority is given to improving water use efficiency, productivity and quality.
Water environment: China implemented the largest ecosystem improvement programme in its history, costing US$43 billion, on restoring water bodies from farmland, restoring forestry from cultivation, restoring grazing from farming. Large numbers of small high pollution plants along the rivers have been closed. Also, the largest drinking water improvement programme in China's history has been implemented, where millions of people now gain access to safe drinking water. The programme has lasted 10 years, with an average annual investment of US$2 billion.
Water system management: China issued new management policy and rules, grouping water infrastructures and management agencies into three categories – public services, semi-public services and commercial services – and implemented different management and financing policies for different systems. Environmental services are recognized and covered by government funds.
Irrigation development: Over ten years, China has implemented large-scale irrigation improvement programmes to improve water-use efficiency and productivity, with an annual investment of around US$2 billion. In the past 10 years, nationwide agricultural water-use efficiency has increased by 10 percent and food production has increased, while the water withdrawal amount has been reduced. The government target is to produce enough food for the 2030 population, while keeping the total water allocation for agriculture within the current scope.
In recent years, water user associations (WUA) have become a very popular form of public participation in water management in rural China. In October 2005, MWR, the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly promulgated the "Guidance for facilitating establishment of farmer water users associations", specifying principles and procedures for establishing such associations and their role and responsibilities in relation to governmental organizations and water supply enterprises. According to MWR, by mid 2007 water users' participation in irrigation water management had taken place in 30 provinces/municipalities across China. More than 20 000 organizations of farmer water users, mostly as WUAs, have been established, involving more than 60 million farmers participating in water management on behalf of end-users of water (World Bank, 2009a).
China's Water Law was enacted in 1988 and establishes principles, general guidelines, and technical standards for water resources management. In 2002, the Chinese government amended the Water Law to establish a legal foundation for integrated water resources management and demand management. The amended Water Law enshrines the principles that everybody should have access to safe water, and that water conservation and protection are a priority. It focuses on five areas of water resources management: (i) water allocation, (ii) water rights and water withdrawal permits, (iii) river basin management, (iv) water-use efficiency and conservation, and (v) protecting water resources from pollution. According to this law, all water resources, except those in ponds and reservoirs belonging to rural collectives, are owned by the state and the State Council exercises the right of ownership on behalf of the state. In reality, the State Council has delegated water ownership rights to local governments under the supervision of MWR.
The 1991 Water and Soil Conservation Law recognized the inter-relationship between water resources and soil (land) conditions. The primary purpose of this law is: prevention and control of soil erosion, protection and rational utilization of water and soil resources, mitigation of disasters from floods, droughts and sandstorms, and improvement of the ecological environment and development of production (Wang et al., 1999).
The 1997 Flood Control Law is the first law for the prevention and control of natural disasters,;although there have been previous administrative regulations promulgated under the water and other laws, and thus filled a gap in the water legislation system. The importance of this law is to address the specific nature of causes and remediation measures to be taken to prevent and control floods. The law introduces the important mechanism of designating "planned reserve zones or areas" in which special rules may apply to the use and activities within the area. It further provides specific requirements for the operation of reservoirs and other hydraulic works, for multiple use considerations in river course realignments and lake embankments, and for preparing a flood impact assessment for any projects in flood-prone areas (Wang et al., 1999).
The first Law for Water Pollution Control came into force in 1984. This law soon became inadequate to meet the needs of economic development and environmental protection for several reasons: water pollution continued to increase, the targets of water pollution control changed greatly, and the legal measures for the control of point sources were unable to stop the decline of water quality (Wang et al., 1999). Thus, the Law was amended in 1996. Adopted in 2008, the newly amended version provides more detailed measures for the prevention and control of water pollution from various sources, makes clearer specifications for the responsibilities of different stakeholders, and strengthens the legal liabilities for water pollution (World Bank, 2009a).
In 1985, the Government issued a new rule requiring water charges to be collected according to the cost of water delivery. The water charge has, in principle, been calculated based on the cost of the water supply. The water charge for agriculture is usually lower than that for industry. It is calculated either according to the quantity of water supplied, the beneficial area, or a mixture of basic water charge plus a metered water charge. Where shortages occur, a rational water allocation system is practised and dissuasive charges are applied to extra volumes of water. On average, water charges for irrigation varied between 150 and 300 Yuan/ha (US$18 and 36/ha) in 1995. The average cost for sprinkler irrigation development was 6 000 Yuan/ha (US$720/ha), and that for localized irrigation 18 000 Yuan/ha (US$2 200/ha). Even so, repeated studies have shown that water and sewerage prices in China are still below the requirements for financial cost recovery and take little account of environmental and depletion costs (World Bank, 2009a).
In 2006, the planned total investment of fixed assets in the water sector was 93 270 million Yuan (US$11 680 million) of which 30 840 million Yuan from the Central Government, 44 150 million Yuan from the local governments, 1 160 million Yuan from foreign investments, 11 200 million Yuan from domestic loans, 2 890 million Yuan from enterprises and the private sector, and 3 030 million Yuan from other financial sources. In the total investment plans 93 270 million Yuan, 45 percent, was allocated to flood control, 38 percent to water resources projects (including 8 460 million Yuan invested in the South-to-North water transfer project), 5 percent for soil and water conservation and ecological projects, and 12 percent for hydropower and other special projects (MWR, 2007b).
Outside investments and technology are very important in order for China to cope with its environmental challenges. It is hard to calculate how much external funding China has received for water issues. The World Bank has been active in loans for tackling water shortages. This started as early as the mid 1980s with emphasis on irrigation facilities rehabilitation, modernization, promotion of water saving and water resources management, and water supply and pollution control. For example, it invested US$210 million in 1995 in the Yangtze water resources development programme, US$153 million in 1987 and US$250 million in 1996 in two projects to improve sewerage in Shanghai, and US$100 million in the Guanzhong irrigation improvement project in 1999 (Burke, 2000).
In China, serious pollution occurs widely in every river system and no single river is clean. More than half of the groundwater resources have been severely contaminated. According to FAO, 80 percent of the 50 000 km of major rivers in China are so degraded that they no longer support fish. Around urban areas 90 percent of rivers are seriously polluted, especially in the north where heavy industry is concentrated. Looking at their total river length, 69 percent of the Hai river, 73 percent of the Huai river and 71 percent of the Huang river are classified as polluted by Chinese standards (Burke, 2000).
In 2004, of all 745 monitored river sections, 28 percent were unsafe for any use and only 32 percent were safe for industrial and irrigation uses only. Of the 27 major monitored lakes and reservoirs, 48 percent were unsafe for any use, 23 percent were safe for industrial and irrigation uses only, and only 29 percent were safe for human consumption after treatment (World Bank, 2009a).
The extent of pollution aggravates water scarcity. Currently, approximately 25 km3 of polluted water are held back from consumption, contributing to unmet demand and groundwater depletion. As much as 47 km3 of water that does not meet quality standards are however supplied to households, industry, and agriculture, with the attendant costs related to damage. A further 24 km3 of water beyond rechargeable quantities are extracted from the ground, which results in groundwater depletion (World Bank, 2009a).
There are a number of complex factors behind this pollution crisis. The fundamental one is that economic growth is the number one goal of the country. Also, there has been a long period of ignorance and neglect at all government levels and lack of effective policy mechanisms to address those issues. Much of the pollution results from inadequate treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater (Burke, 2000).
Total wastewater discharges have steadily risen to 53 700 million tonnes in 2006 of which only 56 percent had some form of treatment (this rate reflects the installed wastewater treatment capacity rather than the actual treatment, which is likely to be lower because of the lack of sewage networks and funds for operation and maintenance in many cities). Since 2000, domestic wastewater discharges have surpassed industrial discharges, and have become the most important source of pollution. It was not until 2007 that the rising trend of water pollution began to show a sign of reverse, as total emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD) dropped by 3.14 percent over the 2006 level. However, the water pollution situation is still very serious. A major element is that only 56 percent of municipal sewage receives some form of treatment, versus 92 percent of industrial discharges (World Bank, 2009a).The most challenging drinking water pollutant is fecal coliform from sewage.
Rural areas have also witnessed an increase in pollution caused by the inappropriate use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers: several groundwater sites were examined in northern China where nitrate levels exceeded the limits allowed for drinking water. Further, farmers have traditionally used sewage to irrigate crops but now they are also using industrial wastewater laced with all sorts of toxic and persistent chemicals (Burke, 2000).
The World Bank estimates that the water crisis is already costing China about 2.3 percent of the GDP, of which 1.3 percent is attributable to the scarcity of water, and 1 percent to the direct impacts of water pollution. These estimates do not include the cost of impacts for which estimates are unavailable, such as the ecological impacts associated with eutrophication and the drying up of lakes, wetlands, and rivers, and the amenity loss from the extensive pollution in most of China's water bodies. Thus, total costs are undoubtedly higher.
The economic cost of disease and premature deaths associated with the excessive incidence of diarrhoea and cancer in rural China has been estimated, based on 2003 data, at 66 200 million Yuan, or 0.49 percent of the GDP (World Bank, 2009a). Above the Huang river, for example, abnormally high rates of mental retardation, stunting, and development diseases have been linked to naturally present arsenic and lead in water. In Shanxi province around the Huang river, high levels of lead and chromium were found in rice, and cadmium in cabbages (Burke, 2000).
In 2005, the area subject to waterlogging was 21.3 million ha. In northern China in particular, waterlogging, salinization and alkalization have been the main constraints to agricultural production. In 2005, 6.03 million ha of saline-alkaline cultivated areas have been improved or reclaimed and the total cultivated area protected from floods is about 44.1 million ha (MWR, 2006). More than 100 million ha of China's land has become salinized over the past several decades. The area salinized by irrigation was an estimated 6.7 million ha in 1999 (Mashali, 2005). The majority of the most serious problems have occurred in the northeast, the northwest and in some places on the north China plain. In recent years, the area affected by salinization has somewhat fallen. Ironically, it may be that the same forces diverting surface water away from agriculture and forcing producers to rely increasingly on groundwater may be the primary cause of such improvements (Wang et al., 2005).
The depletion of groundwater resources is contributing to the drying up of lakes and wetlands and an increase in groundwater salinity, which occurs when seawater intrudes or when declining groundwater resources are substituted by brackish water that often lies between the shallow and deep groundwater tables. In some locations, intrusion of brackish water has been monitored at a rate of 0.5 to 2 mper year for the past 20 years. Sea water intrusion has occurred in 72 locations along coastal provinces, covering an area of 142 km2 (World Bank 2009a).
The further development of irrigation in China faces a number of problems (Yuanhua Li, 2006):
The strategies for coping with water scarcity in China are (Yuanhua Li, 2006):
Strategy 1: Research and development
Strategy 2: Modernization of irrigation systems
Strategy 3: Institutional development
Strategy 4: Water transfer
Outside investment and technology are very important in order for China to cope with its environmental challenges (Burke, 2000).
The Water Resources Minister said in February 2009 that China will tighten water resources management and consider measures to reduce waste. This is to cope with worsening water shortages and that this water shortage has impelled China to consider overall economic and social development and the economical use of water resources to ensure sustainable economic and social development. China is planning to reduce water consumption per unit of GDP to 125 m3 by 2020, a reduction of 60 percent from current use. At the end of 2008, water consumption averaged 229 m3 per 10 000 Yuan worth of products, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR). That figure was down 10 percent compared with the previous year. The Minister also expected to increase 79.5 km3 of water resources by 2020 and secure water supplies for both urban and rural inhabitants. Finally, the Minister proposed reinforcement of laws and regulations on water allocation, consumption and preservation as a fundamental way to achieve this goal (Yao, 2009).
The expressions 'He'" and 'Jiang' that are often added to the names of rivers, mean 'river' and 'large river'. Therefore, in this English version of the country profile, these words have been removed from the name of the river and replaced by the word 'River'. As an example, Qingjiang has been changed to Qing river and Huaihe has been changed to Huai river.
ACCA21 (Administrative Agenda for China's Agenda 21). Undated. Priority Programme for China's Agenda 21.
Burke, M. 2000. Managing China's water resources. Environmental Science & Technology – News. May 1, 2000.
Chao, L. 2009. Massive water diversion project put on fast track.
China Daily. 2007. Yellow River pours out support for Olympics.
COA (Council of Agriculture). No year. History of Irrigation in Taiwan. Taiwan Provincial Government
FAO. 1999. Irrigation in Asia in Figures. FAO Water Report No. 18. FAO, Rome.
Ji, H., Lin, G., Juan, G. 2006. Seawater desalination to relieve water shortage in China. China Economic Net. 28/02/2006.
Li, Daixin. 2007. Personal communication, September 2007. Chair of CNCID and Director General of the Department of Irrigation, Drainage and Rural Water Supply of the Ministry of Water Resources.
Li, Yuanhua. 2006. Strategies for coping with water scarcity in China.
Mashali, A. 2005. Integrated management of sustainable use of salt-affected soil. FAO, Rome.
MWR (Ministry of Water Resources). 2005. China statistics on water resources 2004.
MWR. 2006. China statistics on water resources 2005.
MWR. 2007a. China statistics on water resources 2006.
MWR. 2007b. 2006 Statistic bulletin on China water activities.
Sun, Yunlong. 2009. China faced with combined challenges from water scarcity, mounting demand.
Wang, J., Huang, J., Blanke, A., Huang, Q., Rozelle, S. 2005. The development, challenges and management of groundwater in rural China.
Wang, R., Ouyang, Z., Ren, H., Min, Q. 1999. China water vision. The eco-sphere of water, environment, life, economy & society. Research center for eco-environmental sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Water-technology.net. 2009. Shanxi Wanjiazhai Yellow river diversion project, China.
World Bank. 2006. China water quality management.
World Bank. 2009a. Addressing China's water scarcity.
World Bank. 2009b. Addressing water scarcity in China. Window of China. February, 2009
Yao. 2009. China to strengthen water control in light of shortage. Window of China. February, 2009.
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Disney has released four, slightly different teaser trailers for the Monsters, Inc. prequel, Monsters University along with the first four images from the film. In a press release, director Dan Scanlon explained, "Billy Crystal's an amazing comedic actor. He gave us so much fun material, we decided to cut four slightly different versions of the trailer. We are so happy to have him back as Mike!" The trailers are cute, and I got a big laugh out of the last joke. I'm wondering if Mike is an R.A. because it definitely seems like Sulley (John Goodman) is a frat boy.
Hit the jump to check out the trailer and images [Update: We added two pieces of concept art]. The film also features the voices of Steve Buscemi, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray, and Peter Sohn. Monsters University opens June 21, 2013.
Trailer via Disney:
Trailer via Apple:
Trailer via Yahoo! Movies:
Trailer via The Huffington Post:
Here's the official synopsis for Monsters University:
Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn't always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn't stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends.


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This is the Dynamite 3800kV 4-Pole FUZE 550 Brushless Waterproof Motor.
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In the land of Democritus
In Thrace, only 28 km away from Xánthi, lies before us one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, the ancient city of Abdera.
The fatherland of Democritus, the philosopher who made a significant contribution to metaphysics with his atomic theory of the universe, and Protagoras, one of the most famous sophists, invites you to discover an awe-inspiring centuries-old settlement, a timeless reminder of a glorious past.
Abdera is said to have been founded by Hercules himself in honour of his friend Ábderus, who helped him capture the four savage mares of Diomedes, the king of the Thracian Bistones. The first inhabitants were probably colonists from Clazomenae, in the middle of the 6th century BC. Abdera was built in an excellent strategic position with two natural harbours, and flourished particularly during the 5th century BC, when it was a member of the so-called "Delian League". The excavation finds in the area reflect the economic and cultural prosperity of Abdera. Wander around the extensive archaeological site (1,200 acres), which looks like an archaeological park.
Start your tour from the western gate of the ancient wall circuit, and admire the well-preserved private and public houses –such as the sanctuaries and the baths–, the clay workshops, the store houses, the Byzantine acropolis with its two towers, and the ancient theatre. During the Byzantine times, Polýstylon was founded on the site of the ancient acropolis of the Abdera. The name "Polýstylon" probably derives from the numerous ancient columns ("stýlos" meaning column), which were carried there. The excavation finds, like the impressive fortification and the grand Basilicas, reveal its historical significance and grandeur in the past.
Try to immerse yourself in the mysterious atmosphere of the area with a visit to the Archaeological Museum. Artefacts related to the public and private life of Abdera, as well as to its burial customs, are presented here. Admire centuries-old exhibits related among others to religion, state organization, coinage, weapons, trade, pottery and jewellery. And, as you leave, try to keep this magic within you.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
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Lonely utopia? Belvedere's first family digs its new digs
They lived for a decade in Africa and on an 11-acre farm in Vermont, so it should be no surprise that Kate White and Bret Harris would be willing to make another unusual – and some might say risky– decision on housing.
Did they pick a yurt in the Yucatan? No. Move to a kibbutz? No. How about a craftsman style three-bedroom in a brand new and massive Albemarle County subdivision? You guessed it! The couple and their two children were the first family to purchase– and move in to– a house in Belvedere, the planned 700-unit green development off Rio Road.
Their decision to become Belvedere's first family, they say, may actually be the most adventurous housing move they've ever made because of the risk they took: they signed the contract six months ago when Belvedere was nothing but a swath of barren earth. They moved in as the housing market– nationally and locally– was collapsing and as some of their friends and family warned they could end up alone in a neighborhood and surrounded not by happy neighbors and community amenities, as they'd imagined, but instead by red mud and a few partially finished houses if the developers and builders proved unable to follow through.
They ignored the naysayers and took the plunge anyway. On the day of our visit, although close to 20 houses are completed or rising, White and Harris have just one neighbor, although another six houses are under contract. That leaves 692 units to sell on the way to the planned 700, but White and Harris say they aren't afraid the naysayers will be proved right.
"We believe in the vision," says White, who adds that once she'd seen the Belvedere concept, she and Harris– who moved to Charlottesville from Vermont to be closer to family in D.C. and North Carolina– never considered another location.
The Belvedere concept is essentially New Urbanist: children encouraged to play outside and roam on bikes along narrow streets (to discourage speeding) and miles of walking and biking paths; houses close together to encourage interaction with neighbors; shared green spaces and play areas in place of large yards.
Each single-family unit– all considered energy efficient– features a garage with a second-floor accessory apartment to offset mortgage expense or to serve as a home office. Community amenities will include an organic garden, a village green with regularly scheduled family activities, and partnerships with other local organizations including SOCA, ACAC, and the nearby Fairview Swim and Tennis Club, which will bring a wealth of health and sports related activities and programs to the neighborhood.
It is not "co-housing" (a more communal lifestyle that has tried but failed to take hold within Charlottesville city limits or Albemarle's urban ring). Instead, Belvedere simply offers a "community lifestyle" and is (along with Old Trail in Crozet) one of the first to adhere closely to Albemarle's so-called Neighborhood Model, a set of development guidelines calling for high density housing, mixed-use zoning, shared green spaces, and community amenities within walking distance.
"It was the commitment to the children that really sold me," says White, a massage therapist and nature educator, who recalls a conversation with developer and builder Bob Hauser, the father of young twin girls.
"He said, 'I've made a lot of money, but that doesn't make me happy,'" White recalls. "He said, 'My children make me happy.' He'd been a developer for decades, and I was hearing the same things that came from my [fellow] environmental educators. I was impressed."
But at the same time as those promises of playgrounds, gardens, dog parks, and soccer fields were being made, the housing market was telling a different story. Homes– including those at in Belvedere– just weren't selling as they had been, the inventory of new homes in Albemarle County was skyrocketing, and home builders were going out of business.
Among those struggling builders: Church Hill Home Builders, one of the two approved Belvedere builders (along with Hauser Homes).
In late August, after rumors of the company's financial turmoil had swirled for several months, Church Hill owner Josh Goldschmidt announced that a Richmond-based firm, Eagle Construction, had stepped in to purchase most of Church Hill's unfinished Belvedere stock: 11 lots and two houses under construction. Goldschmidt and his partner, Jamie Spence, will continue to oversee the Belvedere projects as Eagle employees, though the Church Hill name will remain.
The rumors were unnerving to White and Harris, who blog about their new home at homeatbelvedere.blogspot.com. In fact, just before their scheduled closing, on July 31, they discovered 19 liens against the title (a record in Albemarle County, White wrote on the blog). But Church Hill successfully cleared the liens in time, and White and Harris moved in on schedule. They say both Stonehaus and Church Hill are in regular contact with them, reassuring them that it's business as usual.
White and Harris say that Belvedere, despite the bumps, is living up to their expectations.
"It's been great to be a part of the beginning and watch it unfold before our eyes," says White, who smiles as she adds, "except for the red mud all over the place."
Still, even the mud has its perks for White, who plans to teach nature classes, including tracking, once more houses are complete and more children have moved in. Every morning, she says, she finds new evidence that they've actually had neighbors all along– just not of the human variety. "There are," she says, " lots of fox, bird, turkey, deer."
While White and Harris are strong proponents of Belvedere, they are also aware of criticism that has been heaped– and heavily at times– on the development. In late September and early October last year, after the land was cleared, Belvedere burned brush and debris– a common practice for developers in rural areas but one that angered residents along Rio Road and in the adjacent Dunlora subdivision, who claimed they were awakening with smoke in their houses. Stonehaus defended the burn, which had been approved by the County, and denied that it signaled the development's failure to stay green.
Harris also says he's aware that the neighborhood has "been criticized for 'pretending to be green." For instance, while the houses are Earthcraft Certified– meaning they are at least 15 percent more efficient than the building codes require– they are not solar powered, and, if they were within Charlottesville city limits, they wouldn't meet the City's standards to receive the new tax credit for energy efficiency. [That tax credit, explained on page 15, requires a house to be 30 percent more efficient than code requires.]
Harris agrees that there are many ways Belvedere could have been even greener, but he says, "It would also be more expensive again." And already, it's not cheap. Single family houses range from the upper $300,000s to approximately $800,000– not a recipe for an economically diverse neighborhood. Harris, a software engineer who telecommutes to his job in D.C., says this, too, bothers him.
"It's a self-segregating community," Harris says. "That means we're going to miss some of the vitality and energy of peole who may not have a lot of money."
White, however, points out that townhouses under construction will go for about $300,000, and Eagle Construction may eventually offer smaller houses for less than the current prices.
Both White and Harris say they're not trying to claim that Belvedere is perfect– like anything else, they say, it's about trade-offs, something they learned in Vermont.
"We were always in our car driving places," says Harris. ""We started to question the sustainablity of trying to create a community out of various people who live 10-15 miles apart."
With Belvedere, they believe, they'll finally get community without isolation, and they're looking forward to having new neighbors.
"Belvedere couldn't have better advocates," says real estate agent Jim Duncan, who sold White and Harris their house. Duncan says interest in Belvedere remains high– in part due to their enthusiasm.
Harris smiles when asked whether he and White are Stonehaus' best salespeople for Belvedere.
"We're not doing it because we love Stonehaus," he says. "We want neighbors who share our values," says Harris. "We want that sustainablity."
"The houses in Belvedere are close together, a perk for White and Harris. "Being closer together forces that interaction," says Harris. "You gotta like people. It's not for hermits."
"It takes a lot of vision to be someone that moves in before things are built," says White, who along with husband Bret Harris and their children, 4-year-old Eleanor and 9-year-old William, were the first family to move into Belvedere this summer.
1 comment
My wife and I visited the community during the Parade of Homes and are both enthusiastic about the concepts coming to fruition. As a past resident of Albemarle County now living in Abingdon, VA we appreciate the turn the developers have taken to show the way for other to a brighter, sustainable future for our children. We love the Arts & Crafts Movement and are starting to build a new bungalow at The Virginian Golf Club in Bristol, VA. It was fun to see the rain barrels for watering the flowers. We will continue to watch the progress from afar. Our new home has just been approved for the Earth Craft House Virginia certification program. We hope to hit 30% or better level of energy savings. We are glay to find some like minded folk actually doing something, not just talking about it. Go Hauser go!
Frank Brown, CEO/Builder
Browncroft Homes, LLC.
Bristol, VA


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Deep Fried Chicago: The Purple Pig
Am I insane for being immediately reminded of Heaven on Seven when I first stepped into The Purple Pig? I don't think so. That slightly cramped, controlled chaos spills similarly, along with hunger inducing smoky cooking smells, from the kitchen at both places. And I could've sworn I spotted a wall of hot sauce. I'm exaggerating that last point (they're corked wine bottle lined walls, thank you very much), but apparently I can spot a Bannos—or his kin—when I see one.
Most restaurants of this caliber make a fried food enthusiast for hire work for it when trying to select dishes. When I'm lucky, that beautiful "f" word will be in plain print, but all too often, I'm left politely inquiring just what the menu means by "crispy." The Purple Pig makes it easy, though, with most all dishes of interest relegated to their own section, simply labeled "Fried Items." Working your way down the list is as good a strategy as any, and one I employed most successfully.
Pork Fried Almonds, Rosemary, and Garlic ($5.00, and from the "Antipasti" section, I should add) arrive to the table warm and plenty salted, with whole cloves of roasted garlic adding welcome sweetness. Contrasting the crunch of the lardy almonds, the fried rosemary leaves dissolve instantly on the tongue. We made a table wide pact to never eat lesser almonds again.
The technique on the Fried Manchego Cheese with Membrillo ($8.00) is perfect: just the right amount of crispy breading gently enrobes the slightly melty cheese. Said cheese is salty and assertive in a way regular mozzarella just isn't. Come to think of it, whether marinara or ranch, I'd dip these into just about anything, but the sweet membrillo sauce is the best choice. The slight apple flavor cuts through the rich cheese, and the all-too-soon empty bowl didn't know what hit him.
One bite into the Salt and Vinegar Beef Tendon Chips ($9.00), and I feel mislead. I've been carrying on, assuming that the best rinds come from pork, when this dish has been patiently awaiting me the whole time. Am I allowed to prefer beef in this context? Do I need to turn in my credentials? In any event, the vinegar taste is strong, in line with the theme, and the chips themselves practically melt in your mouth after first crunch. The fried parsley sprigs are a nice touch too, distilling concentrated parsley flavor into the dish and then disappearing quicker then they came.
The Pig's Ear with Crispy Kale, Pickled Cherry Peppers, and Fried Egg ($9.00) appears to be the restaurant's signature dish, and it certainly looks the part. But its place at the end of the meal, after all its intensely seasoned predecessors, is a handicap: it comes across rather bland. The slivers of battered pig ear taste of breading, and little else. A more assertive sauce would help matters: egg yolk is always appreciated, but the pickled peppers just can't stand up to the dish's overwhelming richness. Some sort of vinegary sauce would work wonders.
One visit in, and I'm already planning my return to The Purple Pig. I've barely scratched the surface of the expansive menu, and there are even more fried items to try. A man could get used to all this luxury, and I think it's safe to say that heaven just might be a bit more grounded than we thought.
The Purple Pig
500 N Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 (map)
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On a recent trip to the airport rental counter I marveled at the ability of the Avis/Budget representative to make me feel like a criminal, a moron, and an irresponsible lout gambling with my life all in the space of about eight minutes. Welcome to modern car rental.
I've had a few decent car rental experiences lately, so it was a bit of a shock to once again get the kind of smiling-yet-shitty treatment so well represented in this NSFW scene from the film Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Aren't we done with this?
Rather than list all of the issues I have with the Avis/Budget representative, it's best to portray these feelings in abridged transcript form, complete with subtext.
This is also helpful because the guy behind the desk is probably a nice person and not individually to blame. He's just a short-sleeved cog in a machine designed to underestimate the intelligence of its customers.
AVIS REP: What's your name?
ME: Matt Hardigree
AVIS REP: In town for business or visiting family?
I need to buy time because I have to look you up on a computer slightly less advanced than a Commodore 64.
ME: Family, for a wedding.
Glad you acknowledge that no one could ever come to this small Midwestern town for pleasure.
AVIS REP: Traveling alone or bringing anyone else with you?
I would like to sell you crap you don't need, but first I need more information.
ME: Yes, two other people.
Why is this any of your business? I can do with the car what I wish.
AVIS REP: Looks like you have a mid-size, what kind of car would you like?
If this guy doesn't buy anything from me I'm putting him in a Chrysler Sebring.
ME: What do you have in my class?
Anything but a Chrysler Sebring...
AVIS REP: Oh, we could get you in a Town Car, a lot of room for your other folks and luggage. Maybe a Mustang, a little sportier.
You really don't want a Chrysler Sebring.
ME: A Town Car could be fun.
How is that in my class?
AVIS REP: That'll be just $18 extra a day.
I hope this guy is a moron.
ME: I'd just like a car in my class please.
I'm getting a Sebring.
AVIS REP: Looks like all we have is a Chrysler Sebring.
Despite the 20 other cars in your class you'll see outside.
AVIS REP: Well, we recommend the full coverage insurance package, which covers the car, the people, some of the belongings, and up to $2 million in liability.
Be afraid, be very afraid. Even though this Chrysler is only worth $9,000 and smells like fish you're somehow going to crash it into a bus full of lawyers all carrying antique Ming vases and new Plasma TVs thus needing $2 million in liability coverage. You'll be broke. You'll be destitute. You'll sell your skinny hipster body on the streets just to make up the cost of this one Chrysler Sebring. And all you had to do was spend an extra $7 a day on top of the price we already agreed to.
ME: No thank you.
There's nothing but corn for me to crash into.
AVIS REP: Oh, well, we have a more economical version of this insurance that covers the vehicle. Otherwise you'll have to pay $10,000 towards the replacement of the car.
Maybe you're only 40% moron and not aware that numerous insurance policies and credit cards cover you when you rent a car so you only have to pay your deductible.
ME: No thank you.
Why is this taking so long?
AVIS REP: If you'd like, you can pay to have us fill up your car for you ahead of time. Otherwise if you don't bring it back full we charge you $9 a gallon to fill it up.
I hope you suddenly think there's no open gas stations within 50 miles of this airport.
ME: No, that's ok. I'll just fill it up.
How is it $9? Is it really that expensive to truck gas to the center of the country? What kind of fancy ass gas are you putting in your tractors?
AVIS REP: Well, you're not from around here. So you'll probably want the GPS option.
Everything in this state is oriented along two, maybe three highways. I'm hoping you don't know that.
ME: No thanks.
I am 28 years old. I carry no less than three items equipped with GPS everywhere I go.
AVIS REP: Oh. Well. I'm just going to need you to sign and initial this paper a few times just to acknowledge your liability and everything I told you.
Despite doing all of our booking online now, we're still the only business in the Western world to use dot matrix printers printing on perforated sheets of paper. So please wait a few minutes while this prints out.
ME: Ok.
It's taken me longer to rent this car than to fly here.
AVIS REP: Have a good day.
Just remember, if you scratch the car. If you crash into anyone. If you don't put gas in it. If you look at it the wrong way it'll cost you ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS!
ME: Thanks.
My God! What have I done?