Cashing in on the popcorn factory (and more).

The Observer | World | How US merchants of fear sparked a $130bn bonanza:

The industry has the feel of a boom town where the outlandish and the mundane compete for attention. Four years ago there had not been a single business conference for homeland security firms. Now there have been 50. There is an industry newspaper, Government Security News, once a quarterly, now bi-weekly. Venture capital firms exist solely to invest in new and upcoming national security companies. Across America, universities offer courses in homeland security. 'All this money in the industry is just up for grabs. It's like a goldrush,' said Knott.

You probably remember (how could you forget?) the popcorn factory outside Berne, Indiana, designated a terrorist target by the state in an effort to increase its share of Homeland Security largesse. The popcorn company's float in the big annual Berne parade last month was decorated with a target on its side. Good for business, says the company's owner, Brian Lehman, who has also put up a nice, new sign to help terrorists customers find the place.