Marshall McLuhan, a dead Canadian communications theorist once wrote “When a thing is current, it creates currency.” OK, so that nugget of McLuhanism may not top his ubiquitous cliché “the medium is the message”, but that first quote popped in my mind when I started writing this post. This past July 11, I got the chance to see up close 2 big props straight from the set of the blockbuster movie The Dark Knight (2008). The Tumbler (Batmobile) which made its debut in Batman Begins (2005) and the new Batpod (Batcycle) went on an 11-city tour to promote The Dark Knight. They made an appearance at Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto. So, here are some photos and thoughts on the event and… other stuff. Oh, the relevance of the quote? It dawned on me that I should have blogged about this when the movie was still a current hot topic.
Having an already self-indulgent personal blog and no longer caring too much about what others think of my blog is rather liberating. I dropped the photos here because I can. 
And my blog is a good junkyard for photos I don’t want to print at all, e.g. the failed attempt of Battygirl aka Bat Tard to use self-portrait mode on her Bat-Camera.
Oh, before I continue, Happy Thanksgiving Day to all my fellow Canucks! Turkey time!
I attempt to summarize my already fading memories of the nerdy event in just 4 lines:
- A gaggle of 20+ wide-eyed kids led by adults on a day trip. Loud oohs and ahs.
- Many 30-year old pale-skinned fanboys emerge from their parents’ basements.
- 30-year old pale-skinned fanboys singing, “Transformers, robots in disguise!”
- I’m not one to drool over cars, but even I had to say, “Holy Batman! Kickass!”
And now, let’s move on to the REAL STORY in this post! Hmm? 
My “Lolo” (my grandfather, my Mom’s father) was born on October 10, 1900. If he was still alive today, he would’ve turned 108 years old this past Friday. At approximately 11:45 PM last Thursday night, my Mom claimed that the TV in the basement turned on by itself. (Boo! Cue in ghost music!) Twenty minutes later at 12:05 A.M. (Friday), the radio in the basement turned on. And the song on the radio? “What’s Love Got to Do with It” by Tina Turner. Suddenly, my Mom remembered it was her beloved father’s birthday!
If you’ve ever watched the NBC TV series Medium starring Patricia Arquette as Allison DuBois, a ghost medium, then you’ll know what I mean when I say, “The medium is the message.” (No soap radio! No soap television. Wow, lame jokes.)
OK, easily explainable. The TV has an alarm clock setting and my Dad said the radio is broken. LOL, if my Lolo was really haunting my Mom, I would’ve been the first to ask him, “Hey Lolo, do you take song requests? Because I’m not digging the 80’s music. Could you please play the new song Elephants by Rachel Yamagata from her new album Elephants… Teeth Sinking Into Heart?” Despite its dark, depressing as hell tone and lyrics, I’m digging the vocals, lush orchestra and piano.
Hover your mouse cursor over any image to read its description. To cycle through all thumbnails, click on the first thumbnail to view full-size image. Some cool pics:
Long, yup. Tune in next time, same bat time, same bat channel! In 6 months. 
Adieu,
Did you like this? If so, please bookmark it,
@Jehzeel Laurente & Kaitlin: Oops, sorry guys… my reply is 3 months overdue!
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
This is coooooooooool!! Whoaa! Ngayon lang ulit me nakabalik here. Waaaaaa astig yung bat car… nyok.
OMG! I would’ve died to have a picture with those! (Sayang, no fainting smiley!) Hehe.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Charity: I haven’t seen the movie either, but I’ll rent the DVD.
@Pedro: The radio is powered by a little hamster running in his wheel.
@Mimi: Creepy…
indeed.
@Veronica: I wanted to hop on the Batpod, but security was watching.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Billycoy:
But a ghost deejay with a taste for 80’s music?
@GYK: No, I haven’t abandoned it. I’m back! I’ll hop by your site, soon!
@Emz: Actually, I haven’t seen The Dark Knight movie yet! Really.
@KayC: Well, I thought the Batmobiles would have… shinier surface. NOT.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Zerovoltage: Haha! Well, I’m TRYING to write more often now!
@Mari: Yeah, the Holy Batshiz was the shiz!
@Ann: My Mom joked that she’d haunt me after she dies.
So NOT funny.
@Mitsuru: I wanted a pic of me on the Batpod, but security was buzzing.
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Agring: Yup, wicked cool indeed!
@Irene: Heh. What type of music does Batman put in his iPod?
@Fendi: Batfruit!
I need my own movie. Totally.
@Miss Dré: Your grandpa haunted you? That would freak me out, too!
However late you are in posting about the Batman props, I still haven’t seen the movie. Don’t plan to either.
As for your Lolo visiting and turning things on - well - that’s cool if you ask me. At least he wasn’t being mean or annoying. LOL.
I am curious about this radio. Is it always powered (like a clock radio) or does it turn off by breaking the circuit? Is it plugged in or does it use batteries?
My grandparents’ inability to understand how to operate home electronics (e.g. VCR, TVs, etc.) would preclude them from haunting these things.
Anyway, I have experienced what I deem to be an authentic supernatural event (two friends and I witnessed flashing orbs and wooden boards shaking as if a large person was stomping up the stairs). During that time, two cats were present and seemed very agitated by an unseen presence (hissing, generally freaking out). Did your cats act peculiar that night?
Wow, seeing those props is pretty cool, I think!
About your grandfather, that is kind of creepy without the explanations you gave!
I’ve never seen the show Medium, but then again all I ever watch is cartoons.
I’m not much of a Batman fan, but those accessories are awesome. It’d be so fun to ride around in the Batmobile!
I think your lolo was a DJ.
Ooh! Batmobile and Batcycle. I like! Me like it! Sorry for my weird language. Hahaha.
I missed being here. I thought you really abandoned blogging for good!
Yet another effin’ sod who still hasn’t seen The Dark Knight! What a looooser! Ah well.
Pretty awesome lookin’ vehicles though, I have to admit! And oh yeah, I haven’t seen any of the Batman films… whoops!
I wish the Brits had something to be thankful for, then we could celebrate Thanksgiving too.
(Hmm, the collapse of ‘our’ Empire?)
Wow, the Batmobile is amazing. I never really thought it would look like that in real life, but guess what… I guess it does. Interesting post dearest.
In 6 months? :O Why you sound like… like… me.
Would’ve loved seeing the Batmobile. Kewlness.
I won’t make fun of ghosts. I have my reasons.
*head explodes* YOU GOT TO SEE THE BATMOBILE?! (And you posted again, so quick!) I only got to see the movie. I’m still on the edge of my seat waiting for the DVD.
I don’t know why when coincidences happen, older people are the first to go “SUPERNATURALZ!!!”, but I get a kick out of it. XD
This may be late but the Batmobile still looks cool.
Regarding the occult… I do not not believe in it, lol. :p I became cheeky at one point and then something creepy happened… :p
So yeah.
It will be cool if I can take the Batmobile for a spin. He-he.
That’s a cool vehicle! I love The Dark Knight compared to the previous Batman!
*le sigh* I never did get out to see “Batman Returns”. My favorite movie-going partner (my Hubby) was deployed and I didn’t feel up to seeing it with anyone else, so, sadly I missed it. And oh how I adore Christian Bale. *swoon*
Here’s a question: Do you think Batman keeps his iPod in his Batpod? XD
The Batcar is scary. I’d go for a Batbike ride instead, with Batfruit!.
Kiss
Fendi
Wow, the bike seemed more amazing on the big screen, haha! When my grandfather died (mom’s father) - he wasn’t discreet. He freaking called my name when I was in the shower! Talk about traumatizing a 10-year-old… in the shower!
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Evilgenius: “Badpod”? That’s either a typo or intentional on your part, LOL. Coz yeah, the Batpod is WICKED cool! But the BadCatPod is way cooler.
No, we couldn’t ride the vehicles, but every so often a male geek would hop on the Batpod when security wasn’t looking.
@Jude: Why must you insist on gay-ifying all comic book heroes?
If any hero is gay, it’s Superman.
@Iva: HAHAHAHAHA!
Glad to know someone made sense out of my post.
@Michelle: Actually, I haven’t seen the movie either!
Hey y’all. I’ll visit your sites soon! My replies to your wonderful comments:
@Alex: Actually, I was expecting the car to have a more shiny, glossy surface, but it didn’t…
@Zigfred: Yup, the car prop is actually “driveable”, but I read that it’s hard to drive the motorcycle.
@Jim: Filipinos LOVE ghost stories.
Weird ones, too.
@Paolo: Some male gawkers kept hopping on the Batpod and getting their photos taken when security wasn’t looking. LOL. And you dear Paolo can take all the pics in my blog, provided you give credit to the source - link to fruityoaty.com.
That car’s really wicked.
Wow! Is that Batman car really “driveable” or is it just a prop for the movie? Hehehehe.
Imagine the look on people’s faces when you drive it around the city. 
By the way Marghil Macuha and I have just launched our free new blogging e-book. You might want to help us promote it. Check it out here.
Hmm… never realized that McLuhan has another quote that is worthy of quoting (aside from his ‘the medium is the message’)!
) They should have brought the exhibits here in Perth — a fitting tribute to the Joker (the late Heath Ledger).
Loved watching Medium — alone and in the dark. As they say in Filipino ‘feel na feel’!
The Batpod looks sick. Hey can I copy some of your pix?
Did they let people sit on the Badpod? I want to sit on the Badpod and ride it around the block.
When’s the food post coming? In 6 months? LOL!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too!!! Don’t eat too much of that turkey!
:/ Hmm… Why do your recent posts have a touch of the glums? Do you need a hug? Have a cookie, dear. Cookies always makes me feel better.
Batman eats Dick. I meant, Batman eats with Dick Grayson. And fights crime.And Happy Thanksgiving, fellow Crazy Canuck!
Yer Pal,
J
NANANANANANANA Batman!
NANANANANANANA Batman!
NANANANANANANA Batman!
NANANANANANANA Batman!
NANANANANANANA Batman!
… and what else did you expect, for the start?
So, your dead grandfather is living in your basement and his secret lover is Tina Turner. Yup, it makes perfect sense to me.
Well, you may be late posting about it, but I still haven’t seen the movie.