Here’s a good way to waste a few minutes at work, a map of all the states Ive visited in my lifetime. There’s a link at the bottom so you can make your own map (Thanks to phil at Racing in the Street for this one!).

Notice poor little Rhode Island!

Create your own visited states map

Just a few days ago I read a story here about Harriet, the world’s oldest giant Galapagos Land tortoises, and one of only around a dozen left of her species. The story was about her 175th birthday celebration held on November 15th of last year. Harriet hatched about 1830, and was brought to England on the HMS Beagle by Sir Charles Darwin. The 300lb+ tortoise eventually found her way to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo in 1988 and was expected to live at least another 20 years.

I kinda thought it would be cool to see her someday, this tortoise who was a pet of Charles Darwin.

But today I read this story, announcing the death of Harriet today. It must have been quite the unexpected surprise for her keepers. 175 years isn’t too bad though.