31.   Bashar was never as popular as his brother, a champion horseman and military man whose dashing bearded figure is still seen on posters around Damascus.

32.   Baseball might not be as popular as football in Texas, but the state has produced a respectable number of famous players.

33.   Basketball is now twice as popular as football, and soccer is gaining ground by leaps and bounds among kids in that age group.

34.   Because it deals only with text and ignores big graphics files, Lynx is also popular as a no-frills, high-speed surfboard.

35.   Black baseball became as popular as going to church and community economics was tied to success at the ballpark.

36.   Bigstep and its investors hope the company will be as popular as the cartoon icon.

37.   A few years ago, spray vitamins that can be spritzed into the mouth became popular as a method to deliver the vitamins more quickly to the blood.

38.   A similar registry for llamas, which are popular as pack animals throughout the Rocky Mountains, has not worked well.

39.   A spotlight was turned on dance as it became more popular as entertainment.

40.   Across the country, outpatient day care programs like Parkshore have become increasingly popular as an alternative to nursing homes.