They are boosting spending on what they call the world's largest programme of artificial rainmaking.

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In these sceptical days, she explained, there was less demand for her rainmaking skills, so times were hard.

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Livingstone, like all missionaries, vehemently opposed rainmaking, on both religious and scientific grounds.

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The queen pressed her advantage by asking for a road to the cave where she liked to practise her rainmaking rites.

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And Alexis Juneja, co-founder of Curbed, cleverly compared rainmaking to dating, even instructing conference-goers to buy dinner and celebrate anniversaries.

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While lawyers may make partner in there 40s, there are many a rainmaking attorney who is getting business for the firm well into there 80s.

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Thom Weisel has done enough rainmaking in the technology sector over the past three decades to play the role of shaman himself if he wants.

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