I saw it on CNN.com last night but Sadagopan (Suds) nicely summarizes the newly anointed 7 wonders of the world. A bit controversial with the Pyramids of Egypt and a few other sites missing, but that's what blogs are for - debates -)
So, why is the title of this post eight wonders? Eighth is for modern technology. Suds has been to all 7 of the wonders thanks to modern aviation. I have a cousin who has been to 125 countries (he is almost 20 years older but looks younger than me). 100 million people around the world voted for the 7 wonders through the web and cell phone SMS.
I check my site stats on extremetracking.com, and it tells me folks from 187 countries have visited my blog (technically only 185 since it also lists Anonymous Proxy and Unknown as "countries"). And I marvel - for a few hundred dollars a year, with no marketing expense - I have such a widely dispersed readership. 9 more to go if Matt is correct about number of countries in the world.
And then I download the Skype Toolbar for Firefox, and little flags start popping up on web sites. Click through and you can reach so many people wherever so easily for so little.
So I am jealous of Suds - I have only been to 3 of the wonders. And my cousin - I have only been to 40 countries. But I am smug that with Google Earth and other modern technology I can probably "enjoy" the rest without their jet lag. And stay in touch with my new reader friends in Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan. And periodically visit a blogging buddy Simon who keeps reminding how beautiful his native land, S. Africa is.
