The Light from the TV Shows: A Chat with the Cast of BBC America’s “Orphan Black”

Whenever I attend the Television Critics Association press tour, be it the summer event in Beverly Hills or the winter event in Pasadena, I invariably walk away from the proceedings with at least one interviewbut generally severaldone in conjunction with a series I barely know the slightest thing about, save for whatever’s been put in the press releases sent out by the network.

This, as you might have guessed, is precisely what I experienced when I went into the room at the Langham Huntington Hotel which served as a temporary home base for the publicists of BBC America and was introduced to the cast of “Orphan Black. “

Fortunately, the young trio awaiting my arrivalTatiana Maslany, Jordan Gavaris, and Dylan Brucehad already been dealing with this problem with the interviewers who’d preceded me, as I was their last chat of the day. As such, they had a sense of humor about the situation…which worked out quite well, as I’d decided to throw caution to the wind and have a bit of a laugh about it myself.

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Bullz-Eye: Well, as you know, you have me—and everybody else here—at a tremendous disadvantage, since I haven’t been able to see the pilot of “Orphan Black” yet.”

Jordan Gavaris: Ugh, I know.

Tatiana Maslany: We haven’t even finished shooting the series yet!

Dylan Bruce: How often does that happen to you guys?

BE: It…happens. Maybe 10-20% of the time. It’s certainly not unheard of.

TM: Okay, ‘cause when we’re done here, we go back to shooting Episode 7…no, wait, 6!

JG: Episode 6, yeah.

TM: So we’re not even halfway through shooting yet!

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“Live the M life” with the Ultimate Vegas Experience

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A few months back, we were invited to spend a weekend in Las Vegas to live the M life with fellow lifestyle sites and bloggers courtesy of the folks at MGM Resorts. Of course, I immediately checked into what exactly the M life was and had to offer. Bottom line is that the M life is a VIP experience like no other! Here is a quick breakdown Q&A for all of our friends out there who enjoy life’s best experiences, appreciate excitement and want to know more about the M life.

What is M life?

This isn’t just a player’s club. You’ll be rewarded for enjoying hotel, dining, entertainment and spa experiences, along with your slot and table play at any one of 15 MGM Resorts’ destinations. Your play and spend are recognized as a single account, making it easy to stay, play and win wherever you like, whenever you like.

What MGM Resorts’ properties participate in M life?

It isn’t just Las Vegas! You can use your M life card and enjoy the benefits in Las Vegas at Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Signature at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York-New York, Luxor and Excalibur; in Mississippi at Beau Rivage and Gold Strike Tunica; and in Michigan at MGM Grand Detroit.

What are some of the benefits?

Just for becoming an M life member, you gain access to benefits such as the ability to room charge from any other MGM Resorts’ destination, access to M life Moments, access to exclusive and personalized offers, pre-sale ticket access to concerts and fights, and the best room rate guarantee.

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What are M life Moments?

M life moments are unique experiences that give you exclusive access to just about any part of your favorite resort. Every M life resort offers M life Moments, and only M life members have access to them. As you move up Tier Levels, you unlock additional M life Moments.

Now that we’re all on the same page and understand just how cool the M life is, remember that I’m going to experience the M life first hand very soon. I’ll be updating our social media channels with awesome experiences, including pictures. My itinerary will be packed with totally amazing events that will be exclusive to M life members, so stay tuned for reports on Bullz-Eye. In addition to attending the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational and checking out exciting new hotspots and amenities the weekend of April 4th, we’re going to enjoy unparalleled access to the best of Las Vegas through M life Moments – experiences available exclusively to members. A signature feature of the program, M life Moments offer a diverse collection of behind-the-scenes experiences, including those catered to travel enthusiasts.

It’s on soon, so wish me luck and keep an eye on Bullz-Eye.com for M life reports!

  

Baby, You Can Drive My Car?

1 2012 Cadillac SRX Premium

OOH man, that guy just dinged my door! It’s not a new car but it’s a pseudo classic or soon will be. There’s not too much rust and mostly the paint is in good condition, but now there a ding on the door and paint came off leaving a quarter sized nugget of primer gleaming like a black eye after a fight with a better boxer than you.

Since most of the other paint problems are unseen and the overall look of the car is good, this particular gouge needs to be repaired. You’re a handy kinda guy and so you think it’ll be child’s play to make the needed touch up’s, but don’t get too cocky. The process of applying car touch-up paint has its problems and if you want a good match there are a few steps you need to take to ensure that the paint you buy matches the paint on your soon to be classic ride.

The first step is to not only inspect the obvious damaged area but to take a close look at the overall paint on the car to see if any other spots need to be painted. You might as well fix them at the same time.

The next step is to do a thorough search for available paint suppliers with a specific emphasis on your make and model car. Finding the right paint is perhaps the most important factor in getting good results.

After you found the paint it’s very important to read the directions, let me repeat this …read the directions. Each paint manufacturer has differing techniques designed for their specific paint; failure to follow those directions will result in a substandard touch up.
Once you actually read the direction and committed them to memory, you will need to clean the effected spot and give plenty of time for that spot to completely dry. Remember, paint and water do not mix well, so let it dry completely.

Most products require you to do some light sanding and many will provide the proper sand paper. Sand slowly and lightly allowing the paper to do the work. This is not a time to show off your muscles, this is a finesse job, not a job for the hulk.

After the sanding apply a clear coat layer and again follow the direction, you may want to experiment on an unexposed area first to gauge the amount of clear coat to use. When applying the paint, use straight, even, spray patterns with a back and forth motion. Overlap the first spray and the edge of the second spray by about one-half of the original width. There are videos online to help you with this stage.

Again let the paint dry completely and then complete the project by applying wax and buffing the area. One reminder: your product of choice may have certain waxes they recommend, so use what they recommend.

This is a very satisfying project, but it’s important to take your time and follow the rules. When you’re done you’ll be able to stand back and wonder if that ding really happened or was it all a dream.

  

Car Review: 2013 Lexus ES 300h Sedan

The all new 2013 Lexus ES 300h Sedan has the chance to lead Lexus into the future with amazing fuel efficiency and new styling. We had the opportunity drive this new offering from Lexus for a week and took away the following impressions.

EXTERIOR

The new ES features a lower, progressive profile and clean, continuous styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions. The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 1.8 inches, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just one inch, resulting in a more spacious interior. The new ES unmistakably bears the new face of Lexus with its distinctive, spindle grille. The LED daytime running lights and combination rear lamps reflect the “L” design motif. The ES 300h hybrid features a distinctive rear design with hidden exhaust and an integrated spoiler. New exterior colors for the 2013 ES include Fire Agate Pearl and Silver Lining Metallic. Our test model was nebula gray pearl and the paint was as smooth as the sleek exterior. The auto on/off projector bulb headlamps with integrated LED fog lamps and daytime running lights stand out both during the day and in nighttime driving.

INTERIOR

The modern interior of the 2013 ES has been designed to provide a sense of openness and security. Sightlines and visibility are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin materials express a high level of craftsmanship. A newly sculptured seat enhances driver comfort. The steering wheel angle has been reduced from 24 degrees to 22 degrees for a more natural control position. Fluid-filled engine mounts, new sound absorbing materials and a tuned engine intake minimize the intrusion of outside noise.

Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of the redesigned, more spacious cabin. Knee room is increased by 2.8 inches and legroom is increased by 4.1 inches. The new design also offers additional foot room below the front seats. I was very impressed with the amount of room for the rear passengers and that is a major improvement over many competitors.

Available comfort and convenience features include manual door window shades, a power rear shade, and a one-touch power trunk closer. Optional ambient lighting, discretely placed under the wood trim, softly illuminates the surfaces of the instrument panel and all four doors. The new ES features enhanced NuLuxe seating surfaces, developed to reduce environmental impact. Genuine leather is also available, as is semi-aniline leather for an even more refined look and feel. Our heated seats and heated steering wheel warmed up in what seemed to be record time in some pretty cold weather. Interiors are available in Black, Light Gray and Parchment. Trim colors and materials include Piano Black, Espresso Bird’s-eye Maple and Bamboo.

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Adrianne Palicki stars in “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”

Adrianne Palicki has been breaking hearts ever since she first appeared on NBC’s football drama “Friday Night Lights,” but these days, the Ohio-born actress has been making a name for herself on the big screen with roles in action films like “Red Dawn” and the upcoming “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” as fan favorite Lady Jaye.

Though she’s a far cry from the more butch version of the character we grew up watching on the 1980s animated series, it’s not the first time that Palicki has played an iconic female warrior. Her stint as the title character on David E. Kelley’s “Wonder Woman” reboot may not have made it past the pilot stage, but if early stills from the show are any indication, it’s certainly not because the actress didn’t look the part.

It remains to be seen how her version of Lady Jaye will be received by longtime “G.I. Joe” fans, but we’re digging the updated image, which combines Palicki’s natural beauty with her tough, don’t-mess-with-me personality. In other words, she can kick ass and look good doing it.