Wednesday, March 29, 2023

A Review - The Law According to Lidia Poët
The Law According To Lidia Poët is worth the watch. It is well written. The plots, themes, and dialogue of each episode are worthy of literature. Its plots are intriguing, captivating, and fulfilling with just the right amount of depth to prevent them from being cheap who-done-its. The themes remind the viewers that not much has changed in society from the late 19th century to the early 21st century. Women were fighting for equality as they are now. Poverty and wealth define education, health, and the dalliances of intellectualism. The dialogue is serious, whimsical, and comedic advancing the depth of the characters and their relationships with each other.
As a cinematic adventure, it is eye candy with stunning scenery, amazing architecture, beautifully appointed interiors, historic details, exquisite clothing, and charming well-groomed actors. I am in no way attracted to fashion; however, I am truly impressed with the texture, hues, patterns, depth, fabrics, and tailoring of the costumes of this historic presentation.
As a lesson in time, It challenges you to crack open the books and read the history and importance of Turin where it is set. This historic fictional docu-bio is based on Italy’s first female lawyer. The real Lidia Poët fought for gender, sexual, intellectual, and social equality until her death at 93. Although the series portrays her as a sleuth which may or may not be true, just beneath the surface of entertainment it tackles the important issues that Lidia Poët was concerned with during her illustrious life. Her longevity allowed her to see the birth of the women’s suffrage movement which rewarded her with a sense of accomplishment. Sadly, Lidia Poët did not realize that over 100 years later in 2023 there would still exist international gender inequity and the social injustices which she gallantly fought to amend.
I accidentally hit the play button on The Law According to Lidia Poët and was instantly drawn in by everything about this well-made series. Director, Actors, Writers, and Wardrobe Departments instantly come to mind for sterling accolades, however, the Art Department, Creative Team, Production Department, Camera Operators, Editors, and all involved in this beautiful recreation of a historic story deserve applause.
I highly recommend The Law According To Lidia Poët.

By Daniel Dachille



                                                           A Review of Maestro in Blue
Maestro in Blue is currently topping the charts on Netflix. It is the first of what promises to be more gems produced for Greek television making its way to Netflix. On the surface, Maestro in Blue is a story of a musician brought to a small Island village to reinvigorate the soul of its people during the waning days of COVID with music. His job is to organize and produce a multi-day all-island music festival. The goal is to feature local talent as the air is filled with music, the thoughts of the soul, from every generation.
It is a drama that explores the human condition of relationships through multiple generations. The characters alone and in relation to each other grapple with love, regret, longing, remorse, greed, corruption, violence, morality, and family dynamics. It explores the themes of classic Greek tragedies ingrained in the culture since the 5th century BCE.
It is set on the island of Paxos, an island that has played a role in history since 229 BCE during the First Illyrian War. It has been conquered and occupied by the Romans, French, Russo-Turkish alliance, and the British which accounts for its multi-cultural heritage. As an island in the Ionian Sea, it maintains its pristine aqua-blue waters, and vibrant terrain making it a visual feast as the setting for Maestro in Blue.
Although Spanakopita has a co-starring role, Maestro in Blue is more like Moussaka with many layers of flavor and nuance. Each episode colors in the depth of a character through their current interaction, flashbacks, and foreshadowing. As the layers are peeled away the depths of the characters are fleshed out not only in their relationship to self but to others.
Maestro in Blue is a modern Greek Tragedy. Themes include domestic violence, a May-December love, homosexuality, a desire to conquer and rule as well as the underlying forces of the family unit. It explores morality, judgment, condemnation, and sacrifice. Without revealing too much of the plot. it is obvious that the writers intended Maestro in Blue to be a modern incarnation of the Greek tragedy.
The Maestro is named Orestis, which in ancient Greek means, “he who stands on the mountain”. His love interest is Klelia, a takeoff of the Greek name Kleo, one of the nine Muses. In rough translation, Klelia means “to make famous”. Other character names include Faris, the power-hungry patrician of the island, a compound name taken from the ancient Greek which means “manifestation of the deity”. The wife of Fanis is Sophia which translates to “wisdom”, while her mother is Haris, the Greek meaning of which is “grace”. Haris is played by Haris Alexiou a famed Greek singer whose original composition “Prayer” is the ending song in Maestro in Blue. Each of the named characters have names that translate into meanings that further the story.
The soundtrack is purposeful in expanding the shades of blue in this intricate drama of many layers. From modern hip-hop to classical compositions, the musical soundtrack of Maestro in Blue is a journey through a century of music. The soundtrack includes Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield, Love Poem 1986 by Kid Moxie, snippets from Johann Strauss, Chopin, and Bizet along with I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You by Elvis, and repeated as sung by Mariza Rizou over the closing credits.
Maestro in Blue may not be for everyone, but it is a fascinating series on many levels. Its simple plot line encompasses layered emotions that make this Modern Greek Tragedy a drama that most can enjoy. The scenery alone is a visual journey. I recommend Maestro in Blue to anyone interested in a visually enthralling drama with interesting characters and multiple layers. Maestro in Blue is great fodder for a college thesis.
Daniel Dachille 3-28-23



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cairo or New York City, NY

This spring the world witnessed the citizenry of Arab Countries around the world rise up against oppressive government regimes and demand social and economic justice. The United States Government feigned support for these uprisings with support offered by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama along with a host of Republican and Democratic Party Leadership. Today in New York City, New York in the heart of the Financial District young people are occupying and protesting against the economic and social injustice that has taken hold in the United States. Looking at their future, they see none, as it has been stolen from them by the excesses of the Financial Industry which has thrown the world economy and especially the United States Economy into chaos with their greedy quest for profits over growth and stability.

As the World watched the regimes of the Arab Dictatorships kill and arrest the protesters in an attempt to forestall the inevitable, the people of the world deplored the violence as did the people and the government of The United States. Now that the youth of America can no longer take a future without hope caused by the policies of the last couple of Administrations and the constant game playing of the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives, they are bringing Shadow of the Arab Spring to Wall Street. We all remember the scenes of the secret police in Cairo charging the demonstrators on camels and horseback bringing a backlash of world opinion that made it impossible for the Mubarak Regime to remain in power.

In the American Fall, the youth of America have found it necessary to make their voices heard, to call upon the leadership of America, to reverse the policies of institutional poverty, chronic unemployment and economic injustice where it is now in vogue to dismantle social programs and workers rights so that the rich can become the super rich, and the poor can become the slave class. On September 24, 2010 the New York City Police Department was akin to the secret police of repressive dictatorial regimes, man handling peaceful demonstrators and doing the bidding of the rich and powerful to keep the demoralize the threaten the youthful protesters who are demanding a future.

In 1968, when the youth of America was rising up to end an unjust war that was claiming the futures of their generation, the same Police State Tactics were used on the Campus of Kent State University where four innocent people lost their lives to National Guard Bullets and in he Streets of Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. After the carnage at the Democratic National Convention in the Streets of Chicago the chant of the Protesters was heard around the world, "The Whole World is Watching!". In September 2011 in the Streets of New York City, this chant must now be revitalised, " THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!!!!"




Saturday, July 4, 2009

Welcome Back - Happy 4th of July

So High Above, A Political Blog about Current Issues in American Politics
The So High Above Political Blog has been on hiatus because the current the Bush Depression has also affected this writer's personal income, so time had to be dedicated to working more to stave off foreclosure and bankruptcy just as millions of other Americans.

First Happy 4th of July, a day to commemorate the founding of a new ideal in governance. A day that should remind us of the Revolutionary values of this Nation. many of the Founding Fathers warned in their writings that in order for this experiment to succeed the People must always be willing to engage in Revolutionary Change to protect Freedom and Liberty.

So High Above will no longer be published on a daily basis but on an as warranted basis, which may mean once a week or even twice a day as the situation warrants. Over the coming weeks So High Above will catch up on the Obama accomplishments and failures, the Democrats inaction, Governor Sanford, the Republicans in hiding, where did the money go, Senator Al Fraken, Governor Palin and the lack of a Stimulus for the American People.

Have a safe, healthy and happy 4th of July.

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Sunday, May 31, 2009

Returning July 4, 2009

So High Above will return on July 4, 2009
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Saturday, April 4, 2009

Poverty Class

The United States Department of Health and Human Services released the 2009 Poverty Guidelines. For a single person the Department considers $10,830 as the poverty level. Taking this figure in context that means that the United States Department of Health and Human Services believes that a person can live on $10,831 and not be in poverty. That would mean that the person would be able to maintain shelter, food and clothing for under $30 a day.

Since August of 2008, the American Citizen has seen the United States Treasury Bailout multinational corporations where their executives are making in excess of of $5 Million Dollars a year. So the Treasury Department sees the Federal Government as an insurance for the continuation of income for Executives who are earning more than $13,000 per day, while the Department of Health and Human Services believes that a person can live on less than $11,000 per year.

The United States Government does not have an obligation to secure the lifestyles of those that have prospered in good economic times and now find themselves in a position of losing their wealth and status. If the Government believe that a person can live on less than $11,000 a year then there is no justification for any Bailout of any Corporation. The Executives of these Corporations are far from the Poverty Levels as posted by the United States Government.

During the last eight years the debate over income equity all but disappeared. Again we arrive at the question is the best way to build an Economy from the top down or from the bottom up? The answer is obvious but the facts have been distorted by the so called "Conservative Agenda". An agenda that despise minimum living wage requirements but believes in rescuing Financial Institutions who through their own greed and excessive compensation of their Executives have landed in financial trouble. The average citizen does not even need a Bailout, they just need laws that protect them, such as limiting interest rates, late fees and other excessive charges that the Congress allowed in the Bankruptcy Bill of 2007. The most immediate thing that Congress can do to help the American Citizen is to revamp the punitive laws encased in the last Bankruptcy Bill.
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Friday, April 3, 2009

Help Desperately Needed

Congressional and Governmental help is desperately needed by the American People to regulate the loan sharking activies of the Credit Card Industry. Thanks to the revamped Bankruptcy Bill that was passed during the Bush Administration's Republican controlled Congress Credit Card Companies were given free reign to charge loan sharking rates on credit cards. Credit Card Rates charged by the credit card industry were always excessive but thanks to the revamped Bankruptcy Bill they now have the legal blessings of the Federal Government to set punitive interest rates that will keep Americans repressed throughout their lives.

The revamped Bankruptcy Bill allows credit card companies to randomly raise rates after a card holder borrows the money. If a card holder made a purchase at 3.99% interest and has been paying that bill in a timely manner, a late payment to another company gives the credit card company the right to raise the interest rate on the debt top them which is being paid on time. This was accomplished by the Banking and Financial Lobbyists who control ALL members of Congress, Republican and Democrat.

It is long past time that the United States Congress stop this insane system and return America to a Nation that is for the benefit of her Citizens and not the multinational corporation. Usury Laws MUST be re-enacted now, and the Credit Card Industry must abide by the law and have strict regulatory oversight.

The right Wing Radio Hosts like Sean Hannity are perpetrating this phony tea party protest throughout the US, what they should be protesting is the punitive interest rates that the financial lobby has been able to achieve by greasing the political treasure chests of Republicans and Democrats. The extreme interest rates charged by Credit Card Companies are more detrimental to the US economy than the tax rate.
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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Obama Administration Fails to Inspire

As The Obama Administration approaches 100 days in office, there is a lack of an inspirational message to those suffering through the worst Economic Crisis of a lifetime. The Obama Administration was definitely handed a bad situation by the Bush Administration and as they try to unravel it, it appears worse each day. The problem is that the Obama Administration is failing to lead in an inspirational way, instead they are mimicking a lot of the Republican Policies.

The Obama Administration continues to be fixated on rescuing the Banking and Financial Institutions that created the problem using the same argument as the Republican Bush Administration, that these multinational corporations are too big to fail. An inspirational approach would be to rescue the middle and working class families from the depths of despair and as they are able to purchase goods and services the economy will recover from the ground up, as it should be. To continue the failed approach of trickle down economics championed by the Republican Party since the days of Reagan is not only wrong, it is immoral.

Banks and other Financial Institutions that can recover from the mess that they created by servicing a thriving Middle and Working Class are the ones that are worthy of survival, the rest should be placed into receivership, their remaining assets sold and the money repaid to the United States Treasury. It is long past the time to take the burden of the economic crisis off of the backs of the American Citizen and place it back on the multinational corporations that have caused the problem with their excessive greed, phony financial instruments, exurbanite salaries and conspicuous consumptive habits. The rescue that should be in place is the rescue of the American Citizen from the failed policies of the last eight years. If all the money that has been siphoned to the multinational corporations had been sent to the American Citizen, the economy would be on the verge of a boom instead of balancing on the edge of a bust.
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