Chris Harne has an unusual collection: portion control condiment packets such as the ketchup packs you get at a fast food restaurant. The Condiment Packet Gallery site states that in the beginning, back in 2003, Chris realized that he never actually needed to buy condiments, he could just go and get these packs from any fast food restaurant, convenience store or salad bar. Apparently, it was soon after that realization that Chris devolved into full-on OCD behavior, collecting and preserving as many different types of these packets as he could find.

Fortunately for us, he decided to categorize and share them with the public via his website. You can search by sauce type or special categories (usually brand name or restaurant establishment), and you can also donate a packet for posterity to be included on the site.

You can also see each packet at a larger size. My favorite so far, is the grape jelly packet that says “Grade A Fancy.”

Here is the key to what these maps track:

When you visit the site, you can mouse over each icon to learn more about the definition – like who knew there was a difference between theft, burglary and robbery?

Anyway, looking at the NC maps, it seems different cities can claim expertise for different types of crime.

Raleigh, for instance, is very skilled in assault and theft:

Durham, on the other hand, is all about shootings. I don’t actually believe this map, as those of us who love Durham know that the crime rate is maybe just a li’l bit high. I surmise that they only have time to track the most grievous crimes (shootings) and all the others are just too overwhelming to count:

And lets not forget Charlotte. Their strength is burglaries – it is the banking capital after all. Doesn’t this map make burglaries look awesome? All those little guys look like they’re having a blast!

After the class, as we were walking back, we saw a sad little site:

You see those people all standing at the flagpole in the middle of the quad? They’re smokers. And it turns out that this is one of the few areas on campus where smoking is allowed (see map below). I mean, look at them. How much more stigmatized can you be? Are they gonna have to wear a big red “S” on their shirt soon? Apparently though, smoking is still a patriotic, U>S>A activity, as the spot has been designated with the flag.

I guess they better smoke up now, because once the spring and summer “Please do not walk on the grass” signs come out, they’re screwed.

Here’s a map that shows where smoking is not allowed:

I’m wondering if anyone has decided to designate that tiny little smoker triangle with a little flag or spray paint or something. Maybe someone could organize some kind of time table since I’m sure only one person can fit in that spot at a time.

Google Maps Street View has added Raleigh to the elite list of cities you can see from an eyeline perspective instead of the rooftop satellite view. Our entire office came to a grinding halt in productivity yesterday when we realized we could navigate the streets without getting out of our chairs. “Hey, go to my house!” Hey, my neighbors dogs are outside!” “Is Designbox on there?” It’s as if we were seeing our home town for the first time…and, although we were fascinated, we were also collectively creeped out. At least we didn’t see ourselves or anyone we know doing something embarrassing in the street… Anyway, it didn’t take long for our self-obsession to get old, so we virtually left Raleigh and started touring other lucky cities. I went to Manhattan to look for where my brother works, then to Brooklyn to check out where he lives. Then I went to Phoenix to see if I could see any adobe houses, and then to Salt Lake City to see the mountains

I would like to begin by saying I have never really felt unsafe in downtown Raleigh. Recently, I had my 94 Firebird (awww yeah!) broken into right outside my place of work. To set the scene let me tell you what was in my car: a pair of broken flip flops, maps, one cd, a jug of water in case my radiator gets thirsty, a small notebook to record my mileage when I fill up cause the gas tank meter is a little off, and a pen. In summary, nothing of value. Between the hours 5 and 7 pm someone smashed my passenger window in an attempt to steal my Clarion stereo- wait, what do you mean you’ve never heard of that brand??? They destroyed my stereo, but dropped it in the adjacent parking lot. So they got nothing and I got I broken window and a bum stereo. The police were called and responded very quickly and then City/County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) came to take prints off the Bird. This is when a learned a few fun facts.

1. More and more crimes are being linked through palm prints these days than fingerprints. CCBI took fingerprints, but also palm prints. They are using a new product called SPEX that they love.

2. My workplace is located smack in the middle of a hot spot. (I was shocked too. Maybe I should feel unsafe in downtown Raleigh.) I took the liberty of mapping the areas of danger that were very kindly pointed out to me. The northwest is a homicide area. Scary. ‘Undesirables’ populate the northeast. Scary? No clarification was provided on this point. There are not ONE, but TWO combat zones. One to the west and one to the south. These are areas of ongoing turmoil including drugs and prostitution. I’ve been to Ess Lounge once and I would agree that is a combat zone.

3. Do not leave your social security card and birth certificate in your car because it will be stolen if someone breaks into your car. This is something that I already knew, but since it happened to someone the same night my car was broken into I thought it was worth mentioning.