Alright guys, it’s time to start unwinding for the weekend, and to send you well on the way to utter relaxation, we offer an internet classic: The Dumpster, a cruelly hilarious peek into the world of teenage break-ups. The Dumpster, an “interactive online visualization that attempts to depict a slice of the romantic lives of American teenagers,” used real postings from millions of online blogs and interactive graphical tools to guide viewers through over 20,000 “tumultuous” break-ups from back in 2005. The result was a darkly laughable portrait of the similarities, differences, and patterns innate to failed adolescent relationships that, however immaturely communicated, we could probably all stand to learn a few things from. For those of you still stuck in office cubicles, here are some angsty pulled quotes to help you keep your chin up through quitting time:

“Larchie thinks Bad Religion is better than Fugazi, so I broke up with her. Then she played Sublime.”

“today really sucked i wanna die my parents hate me omg waaa waaa waaaa i cut myself the prozac doesnt work my bf broke up with me and i got stuffed into a locker”

“Click here to view my new Dance Dance Revolution video. This is what I do on Saturday nights since Niki and I broke up.”

….Or maybe those just bring back bad memories. And if they do, we’re sorry. You’ll move out of your mother’s basement one day.

This week has brought us some of the most gorgeous weather we’ve had so far this week in NYC, and something that marks a definite shift in season for me, personally, is when I trade the typical winter depressive-type playlist (I can generally gauge how bad things are by how much Eliott Smith and Death Cab I’m listening to) for material that’s a bit more…fun. Summery. The type that makes me bounce a little more than usual when I’m walking down the street. The stuff that you’d listen to whilst barbecuing with friends, or drinking beer on some stoop in Brooklyn, watching kids play in open fire hydrants.

My current playlist is after the jump, and in Talk Shop Friday tradition, go ahead and add yours in the comments.
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I’ve been to the digital film festival Resfest before in the States and always look forward to it, so I’m blocking out the next three days when it stops here in Sao Paulo. The Brazilian version will include films that are common threads to all stops, such as international music videos and shorts, but ours will also include a ton of Brazil-specific films that I doubt most people outside of the country have seen. For starters, there will be a restrospective of the work of Goulart De Andrade, who pioneered independent programming in Brazil and set the tone for a non-pre-scripted format, and three showings of shorts by different Brazilian filmmakers. In addition, Resfest Brazil boasts 10 feature-length films exclusive to this leg of the tour, including Matthew Barney’s epic Drawing Restraint 9, a Brazilian graffiti film called No Traco do Invisivel that follows artist Zezao around the city and a profile of punk rock in the country called Botinada. Other highlights include a showcase of Brazilian music videos from bands like Cansei De Ser Sexy, Nacao Zumbi, Mombojo as well as in-depth panel discussions.

The nominees have just been announced for Modern Postcard’s 2007 Spotlight Awards, and we were elated to see our favorite shutterfly and Spear Collective member Zach Cordner on the exclusive list of finalists. He was one of five photographers (out of 400 entrants!) to make the cut in that category. The voting is open through the end of May, so you all should go take a look at some of the finalists’ work and vote for Zach, or someone else if you like their work more (we’re biased, but we’re entitled). The three awards categories are artists, graphic designers/ illustrators, and photographers, so you’ll surely see a diverse body of work among those in the drastically whittled down judging pool. Congrats Zach, and may Monkey Boy triumph over all who stand in his way! He sure made a great April calendar image for the Spear Collective Calendar. Monkey Boy is after jump.

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As a child of the 1980s, it’s a little weird to see trends starting to come back around. For example, while the Trapper Keeper may have gone by the wayside, buttons are making a huge comeback. Frankly, when I think of buttons I tend to think of the “I’m With Stupid” version I had pinned to my stonewashed jean jacket as a kid. I’ll tell you this: it was pretty rad at the time. But those of you who are into buttons (or getting into them again) are probably looking for something a bit edgier and unique. Chicago’s El Boton offers a variety of limited edition sets for your buttoning pleasure. Included among the sets are logos from Chicago’s “El”, a series of animal designs from artist Laura Park, and others. My personal favorite, set #4, includes bits of street art drawn from around the Windy City– including a spot just a few blocks from where I live.

previously: Helvetica is Everywhere!!!

It’s no secret we love our Marc Jacobs x Vans sneaker collaborations around here. They’ve been a mainstay on the site since 2004, when Josh stated clearly: I love limited edition sneakers, skateboarding, and Marc Jacobs. I’ll go ahead and agree with him on that one. The classic white canvas slip-ons are some of my favorite Vans of all time, even though they tend to dirty up really quickly. To me, soiled white Vans are chock full of character, and I still enjoy – like I did as a kid – seeing how many different stains I can get on them. The newest run of three from this collab catches us just in time for summer, the middle model (above) even tricking us a bit into thinking it’s an Old Skool. Cop ‘em from the Vault for $80.

Via Complex

Heather and I just found a new source of idolatry in the FAB28URR, a 50’s style refrigerator by Italian innovators SMEG. Hailed by NYMag as the next SubZero (a claim that, while debatable, we may embrace if only for the FAB28URR’s endearing curves and colors), this fridge comes in a nice variety of shades to complement the most conservative, or the most dramatic (hello, lime green!) kitchens. My refrigerator prowess isn’t quite sufficient enough to compare the FAB28URR to other offerings (in terms of interior size and set-up), but if those other aspects were given even half as much consideration as the exterior design I’d be perfectly appeased. After you play with the color of the FAB28URR and find your soul mate, the SMEG dealer closest to you is here.

I think the fact that I was just incapacitated by laughter for at least twenty minutes over Some Ecards could say a lot about my character…like that I’m a terrible person with no issue indulging in schadenfreude, and/or that I have a completely twisted sense of humor (thanks, Dad.) I was a little relieved though, to learn that my friend Suki, who’s expecting a baby with his girlfriend in the fall, was thoroughly amused by the “you’re going to be a great father, assuming you’re the father” card I sent off without a second thought. With dozens of inappropriately hilarious versions for virtually any imaginable situation, they’re sure to be enoyed by anyone with a decent sense of humor.

And if not, they suck at life and you shouldn’t be friends with them anyways.

via NOTCOT

Baracuta, the Manchester brand that’s been dashingly dressing rock and screen stars for seventy years, has updated their iconic G9 jacket. The SlimFit G9 features the same classic elasticized cuffs and waistband as the original, but offers a nicely trimmed fit that will undoubtedly throw today’s male seekers of svelte into rabid fits of bliss. Also worthy of checking out are the G9 collaborations that Baracuta has done of late with Kent and Curwen, Stussy, and Griffin (my favorite is the black and white pinstripe version by Kent and Curwen: delicious). You can find most of these on the Baracuta site, but be ready for a steep(ish) price tag; G9’s typically retail for about $240. That’s a small price to pay, though, for such a classic and dapper wardrobe addition.

In today’s fast-paced world, young Catholics are finding it hard to slow down enough to say the rosary. The Catholic staple, wherein “we say fifteen decades or tens of Hail Mary’s with an Our Father between each ten, while at each of these fifteen decades we recall successively in pious meditation one of the mysteries of our Redemption” is apparently thought to be monotonous (no way!) by the young faithful. In order to address this pressing issue, a “critical concept design” has emerged in the shape of the iRosary, which attempts to make the rosary more attractive and flexible for younger believers. The iRosary converts the iPod’s white headphones into a hybrid prayer bead that can be shifted and then heard as an “audio bead” during prayers, which are themselves monitored via the iPod’s integrated calendar. As an added bonus, the iRosary accommodates for various degrees of piousness by allowing users to choose between three settings: “Infidel,” which recites the entire prayer for the listener to follow along to; “Believer,” which only displays the right prayer in the mode; and “Shepherd,” which allows the user to listen to music and hear the sound of the beads. Hmm, I’m getting a little overwhelmed by all the iEverythings these days- plus, according to the iRosary, I am an infidel. What do you think, readers? Too much, or totally brilliant?

blik, the kids who bring color to the walls of renters and hope to decor commitment-phobes worldwide have teamed up with Spear Collective member Undoboy to add some super fun new wall decals to their already extensive collection. Available in late May/early June, the collaboration features four new designs, allowing you to create your own candy-colored Dreamland, or cover your bathroom walls in (ahem) Rainbow Poops. Fortunately for you, it’s as modifiable, temporary, or permanent as you want it to be. I wonder how well a Scratch-n-Sniff version of these would sell…then again, I get a kick out of my houseguests thinking I’m weird quirky like that.

previously: blik loves Threadless

Having lived in a town that has one of America’s highest band-per-capita populations, I am no stranger to the aspiring musician friend or colleague. While garages serve as excellent rehearsal space and Apple’s home software can sometimes produce quality-sounding albums, a real band needs a real recording studio. Founded in 2001 by then nineteen-year-old Thomas Troelsen, DeltaLab Studios is a designer recording studio located in downtown Copenhagen, Denmark. Recently renovated and housing both vintage analog and state-of-the-art modern recording and mastering equipment along with floating instruments, DeltaLab has hosted some of Europe and America’s finest bands. Both the Red and White rooms are available with a daily rate and both include an engineer (but unfortunately not their website’s flying reindeer) to assist you in sounding your best.

Sometimes even the silliest ideas turn out to be brilliant in execution. Take Hair Portraits, for example. For starters, while the term clearly conveys its subject matter, you’re undoubtedly wondering exactly what would a portrait of someone’s hair look like. Are we talking portraits of hairstyles that have been painted or photographed, or are they composed, somehow, out of actual hair? Well, thankfully, it’s the former. Some enterprising British artist has created a four piece series of silkscreen prints, each depicting a group of famous ‘dos. The prints run from the immediately recognizable (a foursome from a certain movie trilogy) to the fantastically obscure. The series may make more sense when grouped together as some, such as the heavily permed locks of Guns ‘n Roses, bear more resemblance to potted plants… at least until you figure out the famous domes they belong to.

I apologize for introducing our readers to yet another networking site, but VIRB, a newer and far more aesthetically pleasing social community, is seducing me straight out of the creatined arms of Myspace. Much like the other sites of its genre, VIRB allows users to create profiles, share content, listen to music, and watch videos. However, VIRB boasts a long list of added features (like Flickr integration and widescreen video) that make for an alluring alternative to the networking sites we’ve grown accustomed to. Being a design junkie, the biggest perk that VIRB offers me is its beautifully simplistic design– there’s absolutely no clutter on the site, not even users’ profiles (thanks to a sweet option that allows you to turn off customizations). That said, it’s also super easy to make a profile that people wont want to “turn off” with VIRB’s awesome customization options; this picture is a snapshot of a featured profile (uhh, hope that’s cool with you, I Heart Birdie) and, well, WOW. I’m sold.

If you’re looking for another chance to get slushy with video game nostalgia, check out Console Portraits, Wired’s new pictorial history of gaming. Spanning from forty years ago, when Ralph Baer built and played the “Brown Box” through to the Wii we love today, Console Portraits visually depicts the people, events and titles that have guided the progression of video gaming. Each of the 47 pictures are accompanied by a few sentences that explain the subject’s significance, so by the end of the show you’ll be stuffed to the brim with a whole week’s worth of fantastic conversation starters (or at least enough to last you through Friday happy hour.) Knowledge is power, people– get ‘r done.