Brazilians cast off cares as carnival hits top gear Despite sweltering heat, millions of people joined multiple street parades in Rio, an annual celebration for almost a century. Party-goers were revved up at dawn, many decked out in the distinctive black and white polka dot outfits inspired by Rio's oldest street party group Cordao da Bola Preta, which is expected to gather over 1 million people this year. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES at the Cordao da Bola PretaREFILING TO CORRECT DATELINE