BRASIL: After Tragedies, Rio's Carnaval... Finally Begins.

AP / M. HERALD /
J. Barbassa
2 Screen Read...combined.

   After several recent tragedies in Rio, Carnaval spelled with an "a", Brasil's most extravagant and glorious six days...officially began.
   The celebration will attract about 756,000 visitors who will spend about $559 million usd.
   In Rio itself, 424 street bands and "blocos," have registered.
   Presiding over it is a figure called King Momo.
   "Carnival is the world's biggest manifestation of happiness, merrymaking, extravagance," said the man selected this year as Momo. "It's a massive getting rid of all the stresses of every day, and it brings a sense of peace and togetherness. I hope to do this as long as I can, God willing and my disposition holding up."

AND: The GUARDIAN  features 5 video links of various lengths to festive Carnaval footage.
I especially like the music/fotos of the 2:50 "bate-bolas" (ball-knockers) video "Batelandia" by Gui Christ from 2010.http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/mar/04/riodejaneiro-brazil-carnival-videos

ALSO: For a continuing views of Salvador, Bahia's famous street Carnaval,
from 3 march to 8 march, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/user/carnaval

MONDAY MORNING MUSIC: FROM BRASIL: Bebel Gilberto Sings "Tanto Tempo."

YOUTUBE 3:02 / "TANTO TEMPO" / BEBEL GILBERTO/ with Static B/W Foto/

    I was so upset by yesterday's news of Rio's disasterous Samba City fire that I neglected to post a weekly music video.
    My first taste of Brasil and lifelong love for that nation began with Rio's Carnaval in 1985.
   The news from Rio is bad.
   Perhaps more than $15 million usd in damages.Over 8,000 costumes destroyed.
  But most importantly, the labor intensive efforts of three famous samba schools suffered serious setbacks.
  It could have been worse. No lives were lost. No arson suspected.
     And there is time. If only 28 days before the two big nights in the Sambadromo. That is the biggest challenge.
     All of Rio will rally to help. Rio's mayor has guaranteed up to $900,000.
         It will turn out...OK.
     So, here's for Rio...a calming reminder...music about time... from Bebel.
 FOR FIRE NEWS and VIDEO, SEE:
http://thehypervigilantobserver.blogspot.com/2011/02/brasil-fire-in-rios-samba-city-destroys.html

BRASIL: Some Protest Carnaval's Designated Gay Toilets.

AFP/

   Protesters are upset over the exclusive use of toilets for gays and transvestites in samba schools for Carnaval.
   Some toilets for Rio's top samba school, Unidos de Tujuca, which is preparing for the March 4-9 carnaval, were restricted.
   Dancers say the action resembles the forced separation of blacks and whites in the past.
   "They are carnaval apartheid!" claimed Claudio Nascimento, the head of a government anti-homophobia program.

BRASIL: One Travel Writer's Impressions Of Carnaval.

GLOBALPOST/ Seth Kugel / OPINION/    "I’d never been so repeatedly overwhelmed by the stench of urine. And I’d certainly never seen anyone shot dead at point-blank range. That all changed when last month, despite all my instincts as a part-time travel writer, I spent Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro."
Kugel summarizes his report with ..."And I’ve got to say: cursing, retching and watching people die notwithstanding, you should definitely check it out. It was a five-day mix of what Brazilians might describe as bombacao (partying madness) and bagunca (a chaotic mess). But the bombacao beat out the bagunca by a hair."