Cars, trucks now outnumber drivers

Cars, trucks now outnumber drivers. Of course, this is one of those things that can only happen in the US, as supposed to the rest of the world, because we don’t like to leave our three-car garages empty and we haven’t learnt to share our cars or use other forms of transportation, even when going to the video store in the next block.

This news comes at a time when California gas prices are hitting over $2 a gallon. That should send a wakeup call to people, but most would ignore it and drive on and on.

Goodbye Radio, Hello MT!

When I first discovered blogging, I discovered Radio Userland.

After a year however, I found my needs had outgrown what Radio could offer. First of all, I travel without my laptop a lot. If I wanted to blog with Radio, I must bring my laptop. Not good, and with internet cafes all over the world, not necessary. I need a server-based solution so I can blog from any internet-connected computer I want. (There is an obscure feature in Radio that allows you to blog remotely using email, as long as you keep your PC running at home while you are traveling. Alas, not very useful if I am going on a long extended trip.)

Exporting Radio Entries to Movable Type

Thanks to Bill Kearney, seems like one can export Radio files to Movable Type quite easily. Guess I will be busy doing that for the next couple of days.

Samba and Carnival in Brazil: History and Today

(Update: For a first-hand report on Rio, samba and the carnival, please check out my Brazil travelogue under Pages: Rio Part I, Rio Part II and Rio Part III.)

History
When the Portuguese colonized Brazil, they brought over a medieval tradition called entrudo where people threw eggs and water at each other on the streets just before Lent. Over the years as these Portuguese settlers celebrated entrudo, black people - originally brought over to Brazil from Africa as slaves - also started dancing in the streets simultaneously. However, the conservative whites did not approve of the blacks’ dances because of their sexual overtones.

The dance that the blacks were doing was the precursor to samba. The accompanying musicians played drums and whistles, and by the late 19th century, the dancing and the music became more ritualized, and more accepted by the Brazilian society. Dance clubs were formed, especially in Rio. Today, the dance clubs have evolved into escola de samba (samba schools), which are featured in carnival parades with elaborate costumes, music and percussion band serving the school-chosen theme every year.

Writings With A Camera

* The first frame of a freshly installed film is always the hardest. I’d be walking around for hours, camera in hand, but never get off a shot. It’s usually not because the scenery is undeserving of becoming a photograph; rather, I find it difficult to squeeze the shutter during the first frame in the same way I find it difficult to take the first step of a long journey. Alas, once I am onto my second shot, I see rainbows in the viewfinder but to overcome the terror of the first frame oh how much courage is needed! [2003/01/03]

The Art of Slow Cruisin’

Moved here.