A baby African elephant weighs 200 pounds and stands about 3 feet tall at birth. Asian elephants are slightly smaller, though not by much.
Whole spices can be kept longer --- for up to about four years for unopened containers; less for opened ones. One of the best ways to tell if your spices and herbs are too old is to open the container and smell the contents. Weak or no aroma means tasteless food. Old spices and herbs do not add flavor to your food.
Although Martha Stewart (and probably most professional chefs) recommend using ground spices within 6 months, most home cooks do not use enough of most spices to warrant purchasing new ones every 6 months. If your spices are older (but not expired) you can use a little bit more to make up for the loss of potency.