"Who Will Stop the Rain?"

-Creedence Clearwater Revival

China plans to halt rain for Olympics
'Weather modification' team will manipulate the clouds in summer to try to keep the open-air stadium dry.
Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times, 1/31/08

Summer is the rainy season in Northeast Asia. Originally, the Beijing Olympics were to open July 25, but meteorologists urged that the date be pushed back as late as possible. Still, the chances of rain in Beijing on Aug. 8 are close to 50%.

The bureau of weather modification was established in the 1980s and is now believed to be the largest in the world. It has a reserve army of 37,000 people -- most of them sort of weekend warriors who are called to duty during unusual droughts. The bureau has 30 aircraft, 4,000 rocket launchers and 7,000 antiaircraft guns, said Wang Guohe, director of weather modification for the Chinese Academy of Meteorology.

I wouldn't presume to tell the Chinese how to run their Olympics and it's a too late in the game now, but wouldn't a roof (at least a partial one) have been a more practical solution?

Groups wishing to use the opening ceremonies as an opportunity to call attention to China's human rights violations are rumored to have been in contact with Burt Lancaster's estate.



Noah Curry: We don't believe in rainmakers.
Bill Starbuck (Burt Lancaster): What DO you believe in mistah? Dyin' cattle?

Bill Starbuck: "Rain is rain, brother. It comes from the sky. It's a wetness known as water - 'aqua pura.' Mammals drink it. Fish swim in it. Little boys wade in it. And the birds flap their wings and sing like sunrise. Water! I recommend it."