Just like American Idol

It took me three decades to figure out that the Seven Wonders of the World were not Sleepy, Dopey, Happy and the rest of that crew. Come July 7, we'll all have to learn a new set of Wonders. An overachieving bunch of Swiss-based do-gooders has launched The New 7 Wonders of the World, a global poll aimed at finding, obviously, a new and improved batch of awe-inspiring places.

After sifting through hundreds of candidates including Epcot Center, the land-locked Sea World in Ohio and my neighbor's freakishly clean garage, organizers have narrowed the field down to 21 finalists including these heavy hitters:

Machu Pichu

Hands-down, Machu Pichu is the most fun name to say. I give this one big points.
Ma-chu Pi-chu. Ma-chu Pi-chu. Say it loud. Say it proud!

Easter Island Statues

Awin for these guys surely would please our future "Chariot of the Gods"-riding alien masters when they return to Earth.

Petra

This one is a clear winner because it was in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," the best of the three Indiana Jones movies. "The dooog was named Indiana...." Ha, I love that wife-beating Scotsman....and I think international voters will, too.



The odds don't look so good for these candidates:

Hagia Sophia -- Sounds like a chubby Slavic girl.

Neuschwanstein Castle -- Too many consonents.

Sydney Opera House -- Nothing featured in "Finding Nemo" should be ranked as a wonder of the world. Maaaaybe Ellen. Maybe.