Mat’s Tat 2
One more dose of harmless video fluff.
I particularly liked looking at the second item here, it's a bit of a classic.
https://youtu.be/24e14PTJLJw
As mentioned in the last update - this is a Patreon ad-free version with YouTube comments disabled. The regular public edition will appear on Saturday as normal.
After this I’m taking a few days off and then I’ll get on with the next video. Please therefore expect a bit of a delay before anything new appears.
Right that’s it, short and sweet. Have a good week.
Comments (84)
Could you put colored dye in the water chamber of the diffuser? I wounder if you could get colored jellies. I wonder if it'd make a mess!
I recently saw these Nothing Headphones advertised via my Fire Cube and thought of you: https://ebay.us/m/gHRY05 Mainly due to the amusing name, but it's nothing.
Yes apparently they’re a UK company who have been slowly getting a reputation for making transparent tech. I think they started with a phone. I think the UK part though is likely someone in the UK asking a factory in China to make stuff and then putting all the profits in offshore accounts. Just a guess.
Delightful video. You missed a trick by not having the jellyfish wallpaper on the Mac!
The second item took me right back to my childhood eating questionable ethnic food, and the vague smell of tobacco and grease. I'm almost certain you've already done a video on one of these before some years back.
Definitely not me, but quite a few people tell me that Big Clive has featured these.
I was not expecting that jellyfish thing to work as well as it did.
It's one tat item I'd actually consider buying, it's quite mesmerizing to watch.
Nice, always love a gadget. In other news I sure you have heard/seen this but what the hell it's a few quid but of course it will have the average cassette mech. I just backed BB-777: The Iconic Boombox, Perfectly Recreated on @kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bumpboxx/bb-777-the-iconic-boombox-perfectly-recreated?ref=ksr_email_backer_backer_confirmation
Yes I’m an early backer.
I’m sure I’m being dim. But I can’t find a link to the objets. I’m quite interested in the jelly fish diffuser thing. I’m sure the link it there somewhere, but I can’t find it. Here or on YT. Tia.
I didn’t think anyone would be interested in these. I’ll see if I can find where I bought mine from.
I'm responding much later than normal because my hands are swollen and numb from hauling 50,000 boxes and rubbish down three flights of stairs. • I thought you might have a Maneki-neko that features lighting effects. • I've never seen a glitter ball seashell. There weren't many/any Chinese restaurants in Southern Iowa as I grew up. I'm guessing most of these seashells weren't adorned with graffiti. • I'm impressed by the mechanical nature of the waterfall display. • Hmm, that jellyfish thing is so odd. I'm assuming hallucinogens make it much more appealing. • The Mat's Tat series is really fun. It's a change of pace from the tech that we expect to perform at a high level. I hope your time away has been stimulating and/or inspiring. Now I'm going to take more muscle relaxers and painkillers. Goodnight. Take care 🤍
I had to research the joke behind "can you guess what it is yet?" 😂 ChatGPT said: "That line is famously tied to a long-running British innuendo joke format associated with painter Rolf Harris. The setup is that he would be drawing something gradually and repeatedly asking: “Can you guess what it is yet?” The humor evolved (especially in adult or parody versions) into a double entendre, where the drawing or description sounds increasingly suggestive. The punchline plays on the audience realizing the object is something innocent—but the buildup makes it sound risqué. So when someone says they’re “not allowed” to say that phrase, it’s usually a wink at that style of joke—implying: a slow reveal something that sounds suggestive and a punchline based on misdirection It’s essentially shorthand for a cheeky, slightly inappropriate guessing game joke. If you want, I can give you a few clean or more risqué examples of that format."
Enjoy the break. I enjoyed the video, not having seen any of these before. I do have a background on fluid dynamics so these toroidal vorteces are fun. Dolphins are known to make them to play. They are not into essential oils I think.
Rarely with a big chunk of tuna.
Yeh, and your OnlyFans account is rubbish, you said you’d get your Tats Out and now Tats Out 2… 😂😂😂
Love that segment on that waterfall scene thingy. Seen them loads in the 80s… and I think they may still sell an LED version in some Skeggy tat shops. Found that quite interesting, basic engineering and it works. Lee
Oh… and I got the joke . . . . . . . 😂
Well I’m not alone in saying I ‘want’ the detail you go in to. It’s why I’m here and give a couple of quid 💷 😁 Love this channel. Lee
I always wondered how those waterfall thingies worked. Now I know! Thanks. My grandparents had some small version of that. Also that jellyfishcannon looks interesting. I wonder how they feel if you put your face over them...
I wouldn't mind more tat videos. There's a ton of stuff made in China that's worthy of ridicule and occasionally of surprised respect.
I love the little nearly-silent sigh right after the finale of the 1812 overture. Heheh.
For some reason I always associate those waterfall things with fish and chip shops or greasy kebab and burger joints. I'm reminded of Bill Bryson discussing some tatty religious souvenirs, but bearing in mind the pulling of your Scientology tapes video, possibly best avoided. "Once in Council Bluffs, Iowa, I agonized for an hour over whether to pay $49.95 for a back-lit electric portrait of Christ which when switched on gave the appearance of blood flowing perpetually from his wounds, before finally concluding that it was too tasteless even for me and at any rate I couldn’t afford it." - Bill Bryson, 'Neither Here Nor There'
Are you sure it was a Chinese restaurant and not an undertaker? The frame alone reminds me of a coffin. Maybe it's even possessed as it tried to harm you immediately.
Tat 1 -have Big Clive slow down the stirring motor and it would be a little nicer, IMHO. Actually, it's surely just a cheap DC motor and you are capable of soldering a resistor ... Tat 2 - Speaking of BC, I think he covered one of these. I want to say "not long ago" but I'm afraid to look because it was probably years back. They aren't bad and the effect isn't *too* garish. No, I don't want one over the mantle. Tat 3 - I liked it. I thought the Space Jelly Fish effect was pretty cool.
Ah the waterfall. A Chinese restaurant classic. Never seen anywhere else. I'm guessing they were only sold to Chinese restaurant proprietors!
I really like tat no 3. The jellyfish launcher. it's absurd and charming. I think I'll buy one or two.
Goddamn I have always wanted one of those waterfall picture lamp thingies. Always. They look SO cool and you have a very cool one. Can confirm they're all over Canada and the USA to this day in, yes, Chinese restaurants only.
A vintage motorized executive desk toy called the "space wheel" or "andrews space wheel" is worth an eBay search. I'm sure you'll recognize it.
Oh yes, I’d forgotten about these, I had one on my desk at work once upon a time. I was a very annoying colleague.
When you said that you'd bought something you'd seen in a chinese restaurant, I expected a cat with one paw that goes up and down (what the heck is that about?) I wouldn't want to see the channel turn into the Mat's Tat channel but I certainly look forward to a part 3 sometime.
The lucky cat is far too commonplace to get an outing on the channel. Perhaps it is the worlds most common piece of moving ornamental tat.
I'm still trying to get my head around the term "tat" (is it short-form "tatty"?). Here in the States, a "tat" is a "tattoo". 😃
If I do ‘Definition Tat’ I get this; INFORMAL•BRITISH ENGLISH tasteless or shoddy clothes, jewellery, or ornaments."the place was decorated with all manner of gaudy tat". and if I do ‘ Etymology Tat’ I get this; Tat (Cheap Goods/Vulgar): Attested from the 19th century, likely derived from Hindustani tat, which refers to coarse gunny cloth or matting, or related to the dialectal English term tatty, meaning shabby, ragged, or worn out. Tat" has multiple distinct origins: it refers to cheap/tattiness (likely from Hindi tat for burlap or dialectal tatty for worn out), knotting/lace-making (origin uncertain, 1820s), and "tit for tat" (likely an alteration of "tip for tap" or onomatopoeic). Tat (Cheap Goods/Vulgar): Attested from the 19th century, likely derived from Hindustani tat, which refers to coarse gunny cloth or matting, or related to the dialectal English term tatty, meaning shabby, ragged, or worn out.
I found the introduction hilarious, it reminds me of some elderly relatives and their inability to tell a story and focus on just the relevant information. You could also have included details of what you were wearing at the time, what the weather was like and how easy it was to park outside.
I’ll try to remember this next time.
I'd have all 3 of those in my house - I really like quiche stuff like this. Hopefully some more Mats Tat at some point and I like hearing the details, why is everyone in such a rush these days?!
Since you must have a few, do you have any tips for suitably ‘cheesy’ items for me to explore.
Big Clive did a demonstration of one of those kinetic pictures just over a year ago, and a number of the comments are, indeed, "I remember those from my local Chinese restaurant!". It's good that you're not considering using it as a backdrop item, though, as the key introductory remark Clive made was that a number of them were found to spontaneously burst into flames... (The description box of that video mentions a 2004 safety recall - that timeframe seems to match with the surprisingly modern-looking label you noted here.)
I'm sure I've seen things like that waterfall picture for sale at religious tourist traps, where like Jesus's halo twinkles or some similar bollocks. Can't find anything on google or ebay though.
I suspect you’re right. I’m sure they’d be happy to sell them to anyone who was interested. I’m pretty sure that Chinese restaurants were never their intended audience. A bit like those people who never go diving or snorkelling, walking around a town centre wearing a Dry Robe.
I think the shell was probably the worst of the lot, who sees that in a Chinese restaurant and thinks "must get one for home".
Who sees it in a shop and thinks that’s exactly the thing I need to jazz up the foyer of my Chinese restaurant.
Something about the moving waterfall painting is very nostalgic to me. In fact, I remember seeing them in every Chinese restaurant from the early 80s, funny enough, when I was growing up. Never wondered how they worked, but now I know and never had to ask. Love the look of the black lava lampin the set. In the first shot of it, caught my eye right away, distracted me from the big bloke in the center of the screen... As it was supposed to??
I saw something the other day that would be perfect for your studio. It's a kit of like 1000 mini drones with LEDs and they hover in midair formations that look like giant 3D hopping bunnies and stuff. I don't know where you order it from but I bet it'd look real swell over your shoulder while you show off your latest whatsit there in your shed.
I think the noise might be an issue, oh and space, plus the cost and everything else…but I’ll look into it.
I remember those waterfall pictures! (LOL) I think a local restaurant / bar still has one, with a clock in it. Don't know if it still works. Enjoyed the video, thanks, Mat. I was half expecting one of those novelty aquariums with the bobbing plastic fish in it, or a "Lucky Cat" with the waving paw. I did like the oil diffuser, though I've always like things that emit smoke, always seemed like a magical effect / gimmick to me as a kid. Have you considered one of those old fiber optic flower lamps, perhaps for episode M. T. 3?
I think fibre optics are a no go due to their need for subdued lighting.
Wouldn’t mind Mat’s Tat 3! But it will probably be a straight to HDVMD release
Loving mat's tat!
the chinese buffet near my place still has one of them moving waterfall pics hanging on the wall.
I might be odd, but I rather liked the "graffiti" style of the shell. Here's hoping for a Matt's Tat 3 at some point 🙂
But yes, im going to add my voice to the ' Iremember those picture frame waterfall things' lol
Misty Jellyfish? more like Damp Squib...lol.
That was spectacular! Genuinely impressed by the innards of the waterfall picture and, well… that jellyfish thing. It’s utter garbage but goodness, I want one. Thanks for another brilliant video.
Chinese Waterfall Pictures! Now there's something I haven't seen in YEARS
"I'm a big fan of objects that seem like they were thought up during a fever dream." - Mat at his sarcastic best
The distorted "Oh yeah, I remember those" really caught me off guard, well done 😅
Mat's Tat-3 (if you should do such a thing) could feature toys that you've found for Bee's Knee's. It's a whole different world of stuff that's been designed for our feline friends which could possibly be entertaining for humans and maybe even useful. Naturally the title would be: Mat's Cat's Tat (Episode IV: A New Hope)🙂🤔
I did that sorta long build up just to make that cringy joke title at the end, but on second thought, maybe a video on cat toys isn't half-bad.🤔 (Expected Reply: "It's not half-bad, it's full-on bad, ya bastid!")
If that seashell glitter lamp was available with a less gaudy shell, I'd totally want one. But I can't seem to find that type of lamp on AliExpress or the other usual China tat shops..
This was the last variant in stock when I bought mine. I suspect it might have been the end of the line.
When I think back of restaurants in my youth... 1980s and 1990s... Dancing Coca-Cola-tin, of course a lot of things with colours that I can't even remember... Would be cool to see some stuff coming by here :-D
The local Harvester used to have a Gauge 1 LGB tarin running around at about ceiling level. Of course Americans could tell us about Chuck E Cheese, founded by Nolan Bushnell with his Atari profits. In addition one of the most impressive things I have seen in a 1970s restaurant was a complete Fibre Optic based Shimmering patterned ceiling. You can still get kits for them but I would imagine semi-professional installation would cost more than the kit.
What's with the "...hm...allright!" at the beginning?!? I think you're right with "nobody needs them", some are funny though, I especially like the jellyfishythingy ;-).
The opener is just my alternative to the cliched “Hey what’s up guys”. It’s likely a northern UK thing, perhaps particularly Mancunian to say ‘alright’ instead of hello. I thought I’d bring it to YouTube as it’s how I’d greet people in real life, that’s if I ever met anyone. Rather like a Canadian saying ‘How are ya’.
Glad to see you got a jellyfish launcher. Did you work out why one of the ports wasn't firing very well? I'm working on a new project at the moment that would fit in the tat category. I'm just writing code for it, debugging, learning 3D software and getting a bigger 3D printer. I'll fire one over when I'm happy with it.
Half way through making the video the top section apart and once I’d got it clipped back together the ports were all working. Then after I finished the video it fell apart again. It’s worth noting that each crater has a specific corresponding fan and if they get spun out of sync then the fans hit the top.
I loved that moving waterfall picture. It reminded me of those old beer promotion items, like the one for Hamm's (from the land of sky blue waters). https://youtu.be/w-ZINpAbwDA?si=NYe8_rsrlyD5AWCY
That beats Mat's waterfall picture by a mile!😃
Now all we need is for Big Clive to do a video about the jellyfish machine and show us its power factor and whether is is a death trap or not
Tat from Chinese restaurants ... and no waving cat? We need more cat content! 😅 Have fun on your break.
I totally agree on cats 😸
Good video. I don't think this will solve all the problems in the world, or give us the secret meaning of life, but still, good YouTube content from one of the best. Matt, I know you're a fellow Steve Marsh fan... When you said you were taking some time off from you endeavors, I was thinking of Steve's recent marathon trip on the Queen Mary 2. He said in his journey, that the voyage from South Hampton to Sidney took 50+ days. Yet, he managed to fill in his usual slot of videos, producing and editing many of them while still aboard the ship. I was truly amazed at the amount, and the high quality of the work. But I would imagine that sometimes you just have to take a break to, "reenergize your rechargeables." I hope everything is ok. Cheers.
Honestly I don’t know how he does it. Wherever I travel I’m so tired out that I can’t even think straight, never mind record a cohesive piece to camera.
(also getting in quick with MoanlyFans before anyone else does)
part of me wonders how you found those items. enjoy the break.
I have always wanted one of item #2, however the versions I remember seeing weren't in any sort of eatery, but they were adverts for KOOL cigarettes in the 90s.
Number 2 is the absolute textbook definition of tat, but I have to admire the simple but clever mechanism behind it. I remember marvelling at these when I was a kid accompanying my parents to pick up the Saturday night treat, I always wanted to know how they worked so thanks for opening yours up!
I kind of want the picture and the jellyfish. I don't need or have a place for either fortunately.
dang. that sign took me back to being entranced by a similar sign at a restaurant in sioux city called bob roes point after. also the first place i ever had cheese curds.
Mat doesn't have a TatTwo
[Insert GIF from Fantasy Island here.]