LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Popcorn
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Popcorn is a special kind of flint corn that was selected by Indians in early western civilizations. Although U.S. commercial popcorn production has always been centered in the Corn Belt, the major growing areas within this region have shifted over the years. Up to the mid 1940s, Iowa was the number one producer, with both production and processing plants concentrated in the western part of the state. Then, as popcorn hybrids began replacing open-pollinated varieties, production shifted eastward, first to Illinois and then to Indiana. Another major shift occurred in the mid 1970s when production jumped back to the west, so that Nebraska is now the leading popcorn producer.
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Popcorn was an early variety of maize, whose range in pre-Columbian times extended from the American Southwest to Chile. It was introduced into New England about 1800 and almost immediately became popular. Its main advantage was that, when heated, it exploded. While this trait is not unique, popcorn expands to a much greater extent than other varieties of maize and other seeds. This explosion fascinated children, and popcorn became increasingly associated with children and children's holidays, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, and particularly Christmas, when it was given to children and employed as tree decorations. Popcorn was ... used in children's confections such as popcorn balls, which were sold at circuses, baseball games, and fairs.
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Popcorn will pop when freshly harvested, but not well: its high moisture content leads to poor expansion and chewy pieces of popcorn. Kernels with a high moisture content are ... susceptible to mold when stored. For these reasons, popcorn growers and distributors dry the kernels until they reach the moisture level at which they expand the most. This differs by variety and conditions, but is generally in the range of 14–15% moisture by weight. If the kernels are over-dried, the expansion rate will suffer and the percentage of kernels that pop at all will decline. Over-dried popcorn can be rehydrated by introducing some water into the storage environment (consumers can do this at home as well), but the expansion rate will be less than it would have been had they not been over-dried in the first place.
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Popcorn 3 users can now create DVDs up to four hours long, resulting in fewer discs and decreasing the amount of time required for video-project transfer. The application ... includes a rich disc labeling application that enables users to create personalized disc labels or print directly onto discs using LightScribe enabled burners and media. Built on the award-winning Toast burning technology, Popcorn 3 continues to provide consumers with a quick and easy way to copy and enjoy their movies on a disc or on-the-go.
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In 1972, "Popcorn" was recorded by a group of musicians under the band name Hot Butter. Stan Free, who was a member of the First Moog Quartet, played the Moog on this recording. More information on the recording is available here.
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Popcorn is included on the list of foods that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not serving to children under four, because of the risk of choking. It is one of the top causes for children choking to death (along with hotdogs and balloons).[15] Special "hulless" popcorn has been developed that offers an alternative for small children and for people with braces or other dental problems who may otherwise need to avoid popcorn.
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