Dekker Dreyer

But when I look at what I do… I would never put myself on the same level as someone putting their life and livelihood on the line, literally, to fight for what’s right. This is something I think about a lot, something I carry a lot of guilt about.

In the West we might not realize it, but Bulgaria is an entertainment hub for Hollywood. I was visiting the set of the upcoming 300 sequel in the Summer of 2012 and found a country of contradictions that made me ask this question. Is the current generation of Bulgarians going to fight for their country or take flight to greener pastures?

Art has the dubious distinction of representing a culture, and the ability of art to shape perception is understood by those who want a say in how their culture is recognized. The stakes are high for both artists and patrons.

We’re now at a point where society has to deal head-on with the realities of cybernetic enhancements and the ethical questions they pose. Last fall a children’s toy called “RoboRoach” entered the market. The kit allows you to control a living cockroach via an iPhone app by clipping the insect’s antennae and attaching electrodes to the exposed nerves.

With the rules changed forever the new boom towns might be the ones that invest in the talent and ingenuity of their own people.