] RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - While Americans prepare for
] possible war in the Persian Gulf, Brazilians are
] celebrating Carnival, five days of elaborate parades,
] exorbitant alcohol consumption and 95 percent-naked
] bodies gyrating to dizzying samba rhythms.
]
] Events began Friday when Rio's mayor handed over keys to
] the city to the Rei Momo (Carnival King).
]
] Rio's 14 premier samba schools - nonprofit community
] organizations - were to compete today with fanciful
] costumes, orchestrated dance steps and enormous,
] colorfully decorated theme cars in the highlight of the
] globe's most fabulous pre-Lenten festival.
]
] This year a serious theme has made its way into the giddy
] event. While other samba schools pay homage to soccer
] legend Ronaldo and tout Brazilian theatre, Mocidade, one
] of Rio's top samba schools, will roll out eight elaborate
] theme cars that recount the history of organ transplants.