Is piracy a lost art, recently revived by industrious Somalis and Wall-Streeteers?

Pirates are bold, adventurous, swash buckling advocates of social change.  So far, so good.  Except for the nature of change they seek, amounting to millions in cash delivered to their treasure vaults.  They're in it for the booty (not the beauty).

I complimented a swimmer on his elegant stroke yesterday, to which he replied, 'Elegance doesn't win races.'  

'Why do swimmers compete with speed instead of style?' I asked him.

'You can't measure style,' he said.

Lately I've been out on the deep blue sea of Drupal, the content management software that makes a site like this possible.  Setting up a podcast within the site is not a streamlined process, but the elegance of having it here keeps me going.  When I get this entrenched in something I have no business learning (I studied theology and nursing, not computer science) I have to ask, 'what's the payoff?' Clearly, it's not about dollars, euros or Somali shillings.

Then, of course, I need look no further than the latest inspiring bit of art to remember this:  technical skill is the life blood of any artist.  Without it, the necessary work of art dangles in thin air, without a clue.

Angel-A is a Luc Besson film about Andre, a Moroccan American living in Paris.  Andre owes money to every thug in town, but he's destined to find redemption.  See the movie - it's too good to spoil it for you here.  Its human essence swirls around the viewer like a zillion headlights spinning l'Arc de Triomphe into midnight.

And the DVD's 'making-of'-Angel-A' segment is as inspiring as the movie.  Besson's ruddy crew fans out over Paris, scooping up atmosphere and story with technical mastery - booty for the likes of you and me.  These are no pirates, bullying their prey into submission with crude instruments.  These are elegant swimmers who compete with style.

And win.

Photo David Ball, used with permission