Saturday, January 19, 2013

National Archery Day/National Popcorn Day


En Garde! Today is National Archery Day, which is something I know very little about. However, it is also National Popcorn Day, which I look forward to celebrating in abundance! Because, who doesn’t love popcorn?

Allow me to take you down “memory lane” with a brief look at the sport of archery. Archery typically involves a bow and arrow. In a historical sense, archery was used for hunting and a means of protection, dating back to 10,000–9000 BCE. Today, it is better known as a recreational sport, and its popularity is quite large! It’s now an official Olympic Sport. To get involved in archery, check out Archery Canada, or the World Archery Federation.

Now, let’s switch gears, and get down to business…popcorn business! For those of you unfamiliar with popcorn, its basically kernels of corn that are popped in to a light, delicious, poop-inducing treat! It can be microwaved, kettle/stove popped, or my personal preference, air-popped. Many enjoy this snack at sporting events, movies, or just for fun at home. Its both filling and nutritious, containing a high amount of my fave…dietary fibre! However, the ways in which people tend to eat popcorn end up making it much less healthier, by adding butter, salt, or various flavor seasonings. 

Think the popcorn industry is only worth peanuts? Think again! This is a $58 billion industry (based on figures from 1999, in which sales had dropped an estimated $8 million from the previous year!)! There’s even a Popcorn Board, whose sole mission is to educate the millions on how great popcorn can be as a snack. I think they’re serious too…they have awesome popcorn popping sounds when you enter the website!

In 2006, the Guinness Book of World Records named a Lake Forest, Illinois as having the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball. This popcorn sphere weighed 3,423 lb, and was approximately 8 feet in diameter! Don’t believe me? Feast your eyes on this… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHfpvy1uoyw.

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