Keep Yungaburra a Village

12/02/2026

12/02/2026

11/02/2026

10/02/2026

There is only one paper pattern supplier (Butterick, McCalls, New Look, Simplicity, Vogue) and they are closing down, so those patterns will no longer be available and it affects all stores in NZ and Australia.

Sadly Pattern Postie was advised at the start of the month by the Australian distributor that they will no longer be supplying paper patterns to New Zealand or Australia. Those brands are the majority of the ones you see in store: Simplicity, New Look, Vogue, Butterick and McCalls.

I have stocked up on patterns as much as possible to keep their supply going as long as I can but once a pattern is sold out it can’t be replaced.

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

The AI Cartoon Trend Wasn’t About Fun — It Was About Data
Let’s clear something up.
That AI cartoon trend didn’t explode because people suddenly discovered creativity. It blew up because it was a perfect data trap—simple, viral, voluntary, and massively profitable.
You didn’t just upload a picture and get a cartoon back.
You handed over:
Your face (biometric data)
Your expressions and features
Your behavior (what you click, how fast you comply)
Your habits and preferences
Your willingness to follow a trend without reading the fine print
That’s not “fun.”
That’s profiling.
This Is How Modern Data Harvesting Works
Nobody forces you anymore. They don’t need to.
They dress it up as:
A trend
A filter
A game
A joke
“Just for fun”
And people line up to participate.
When something is free, you are not the customer — you’re the product.
These apps aren’t built to entertain you. They’re built to collect, package, and sell behavioral data to advertisers, developers, political groups, and AI training models. Your cartoon wasn’t the end goal — it was the bait.
“People Are Just Having Fun”
That’s the lie people tell themselves to avoid thinking.
If you need an app to escape your life, that’s not harmless fun — that’s distraction. And distraction is the easiest state to manipulate.
The most valuable data isn’t stolen anymore.
It’s volunteered.
Smiling. Laughing. Clicking “I Agree.”
Why This Matters
Your face is permanent.
Your data footprint is permanent.
Your digital profile doesn’t disappear when the trend dies.
Once it’s collected, it’s:
Stored
Repurposed
Sold
Trained on
Cross-referenced
All without you ever seeing a dime.
This Isn’t Anti-Tech — It’s Pro-Awareness
Technology isn’t the enemy.
Blind compliance is.
Trends don’t happen by accident. They’re engineered. They’re tested. They’re launched for a reason.
And that reason is almost never you.
Final Thought
You didn’t make a cartoon.
You completed a profile.
Know the value of your data. Protect yourself. Question the trend.
— The Driver’s Side 🤣🤣

08/02/2026

your sewing machine is set from the factory to make balanced stitches

if the top thread and bottom thread are the same type and same thickness
you usually don’t touch anything
it just works

but real life ain’t that clean lol

maybe you use cotton on top
poly under
or metallic
or one thick and one thin

now they don’t match
so the stitch starts acting weird

here’s the easy way to picture it

top thread vs bottom thread
tug of war

if both are equal
nobody wins
stitches look perfect

if one is stronger
it pulls too much
then you see loops or thread showing
messy af

so you fix it with tension

tighten = top thread pulls harder
loosen = top thread relaxes

just test on scrap fabric
adjust a little
sew again
repeat

don’t stress it

it’s not some big science thing
it’s just two tiny strings learning how to behave together lol

08/02/2026

This woman pulled the ultimate "uno reverse" card on a cartel boss.

In 2016, an engineer named Isauro de Paz Duque was kidnapped by the notorious "Los Tequileros" gang in Mexico. They demanded a massive ransom that his family couldn't pay.

Usually, this story ends in tragedy. But Isauro’s wife wasn't waiting for the police.

She rallied the entire town. Armed with shotguns and pickaxes, the villagers formed a vigilante mob and stormed the gang's hideouts.

They managed to capture several gang members... including the mother of the gang leader, "El Tequilero" himself.

The wife then recorded a video that went viral. She looked straight into the camera and sent a message to the boss: "I have your mother here. If you want to see her again, release my husband."

She proposed a straight trade: "I’ll give you your mom, you give me my husband."

The gang leader agreed and the exchange was made in the middle of the town square.

07/02/2026

07/02/2026

Drop past & grab a bargain from the Malanda Theatre's pop up sale!

When: Saturday, 7th of Feb 7am - 12pm Where: In front of the Majestic Theatre Malanda
What: Pre-loved clothing & costumes
How much: Most items* a gold coin donation or FILL A BAG for $5 (some exclusions apply)
Why: We're overstocked & we need to make room

Can't make it on Saturday? We have more pop up sales planned, so save the dates:
Tuesday 10th of Feb 9am - 12pm Saturday 14th of Feb 7am - 12pm

**Please note this will be cash only as we do not have EFTPOS facilities