Carnival

Hollywood once again goes on location to Lawrence, Kan., to bestow its beneficent presence on "the masses" there, i.e. the great unwashed, the local yokels. But reporter McDougal forgot to include one little item that every true horror fan knows: Lawrence's own home-based film maker, Herk Harvey, made one of the eeriest, scariest movies ever made right there in Kansas: "Carnival of Souls" (1963). When Hollywood gets around to crafting movies like "Carnival of Souls," which will still be playing to rapt audiences long after the film "Kansas" and Matt Dillon are forgotten, only then will its superior attitude be justified.

What an incredibly ugly picture to have on the cover of the Los Angeles Times Magazine, especially on Easter Sunday (April 11). Easter is supposed to represent the Resurrection of Christ, not some carnival figure. If you wanted to avoid any sign of Christianity, it would have been far more appropriate to have a cover celebrating flowers making their annual return. ALICE PIERRET Santa Barbara

Emergency workers spent Thursday searching damaged homes and businesses and fighting fires after a tornado struck Wednesday night, injuring 20 people and damaging scores of buildings, rescue workers said. About 10 homes were destroyed and many others were damaged. Power was restored Thursday in the town of 13,000 about 150 miles south of Kansas City. The tornado was part of a line of severe storms stretching from Kansas to Illinois that destroyed homes and businesses and flattened a carnival.

Fireworks displays are scheduled Friday at various sites in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. Some locations offer daylong festivities including carnival rides and live entertainment. Admission is either free or tickets are still available at the gate at the following locations. * Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, at Division Street and Avenue I, Lancaster. Gates open at 6 p.m., entertainment begins at 6:15 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Free. Information: (805) 723-6077.

If you go THE BEST WAY TO RIO DE JANEIRO FROM LAX: Direct service is offered on Delta, and connecting service (change of planes) is offered on American, Continental, US Airways, United and Delta. Restricted round-trip airfares begin at $888. WHEN TO GO Carnival 2010 takes place Feb. 13-16. The top 12 samba schools in the Special Group compete on Feb. 14 and 15, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The Access Group parades Feb. 13; the Champions Parade is Feb. 20. TELEPHONES To call these numbers from the U.S., dial 011 (international dialing code)

When I was a boy, I had an Uncle Tommy. He was tall and athletic and blond and always seemed to be telling an outrageous story. He was very romantic. I can't claim I think often of Uncle Tommy anymore, but I'm thinking of him now because the Del Mar Fair opens today. As a young man he joined the carnival and for several seasons he played the fairs and festivals of California, Nevada and southern Oregon. He was a ride operator, and the Rock-o-Plane and the Tilt-a-Whirl were among his specialties.