Looks like the Chinese are obsessed about controlling absolutely
everything about the Olympics. Would we do a similar thing here in 4
years' time?


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_9079637.htm

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Beijing fired over 1,000 rain dispersal
rockets on Friday evening to blow away rain clouds for the smooth
opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games at the National Stadium,
confirmed the local observatory on Saturday morning.

It was the largest rain dispersal operation in China, and the first
time that such technology has been used to ensure the weather condition
for Olympic opening, said Chinese meteorologists.

"We fired a total of 1,104 rain dispersal rockets from 21 sites in
the city between 4 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. on Friday, which successfully
intercepted a stretch of rain belt from moving towards the stadium,"
said Guo Hu, head of the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau (BMB).

Jonathan