TO EVERYTHING TURN, TURN, TURN

"There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
and a time to every purpose, under Heaven.

Good day to those who may read this. I have been gone a while and OMG! Have I missed much?

Since my last post:

I anxiously awaited the return of the Lost Boys  sequel that never came and instead settled for painful, repetitive seasons of the Bachelor and Bachelorette.

Not much has changed in the Good ol RGV. 

My last story involved that of the now retired State Rep. Kino Flores.

Flores convicted of tampering with records, perjury

 Like many before him,  we thought the convict would lay low and have the people forget this ever happened. Nope. Instead,  the man has gone from big boy in the Texas House to Big politiquero in the dog house.  La Joya ISD has given the former Rep. so much reverence that he is often thought to be superintendent of the multi-million school district.

LJISD workers sue school officials, Flores

A convict running a school district? Dude. Go home. Let people forget about you now and remember any good deeds later.  a

Around the WORLD

Croatia has joined the stable UN
Terrorist bombed hotels in Jakarta
The fight continues in Iraq and Afghan, as have civilian and American casualties.
So ended the era of a Bush and nearly began another Clinton era..  Voters would not have it.
OMG! We elected an African-American President. OBAMA ROCKS!  (But Hilary Clinton would have kicked ASS) Dumb POLITICS!
Mass shootings have not ceased and it seems as if someone's out to break a sick record each time.
Freddy Krueger continues to be revived but Jaws I think is gone for good.
Gay marriage is still not so legal but advocates straight and non-straight and strong continue to fight the good fight.
The "war on woman" has been launched. And yows! It is crazy!
Our economies have gone from bad to Suck
Economies around us are sucking too and Mexico's violence has just gotten depressing.

And as I write, our USA NBA stars are bouncing their balls in London in hopes of bringing home the gold; politics continues to rip and entertain; the war on drugs continues;

What have we got?  The Byrds said:

"A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late..

Kino Flores: Victim of Politics or Disgrace to Politics?

People have been talking for years, and a few months back newspapers all over Texas reported State Rep.Kino Flores from Palmview, TX, was under investigation.

On Friday afternoon, the Austin American Statesman reported that the beloved representative had indeed been INDICTED. Wow, did that really happen? One of our very own valley reps has been INDICTED? Why, I didn't even know how to spell that word until now.

The representative surrendered himself to the big boys of Travis County on Monday afernoon and was released 2 hours later. 

A judge granted the representative a personal recognizance bond, meaning he will only have to spend time in a jail cell if he fails to show up for scheduled court dates......Neither Flores nor his Austin-based attorney – Roy Minton – returned calls for comment Monday, but they vowed to fight the charges in a statement released last week.

And what has Mr. Flores, a man who entered the Capitol with a modest salary, accomplished through years of hard work and an annual salary of less than $25,000? For starters, some pretty darn good properties:

• A home worth nearly $300k Hidalgo County Appraisal District,
• A PENTHOUSE icondominium in downtown Austin
• A ranch in Bastrop County

Is Dist. 36 cursed or is political corruption simply a way of life here?

In 1993, the man who held the seat before Flores, Sergio Muñoz,  was indicted on charges of possession of several hundred pounds of marijuana. Flores defeated the disgraced incumbent in 1996 (I actually remember that was quite a heated race) only to succumb to the same greed and quest for absolute power that has plagued one too many of our very own Valley politicians.

So much, so much catching up to do, no one post can get it all. In short, State Rep. Kino Flores, who has been the center of much controversy here and there (see posts and links below) has been INDICTED and booked.

What's next? Trial date? Resignation? Elections in 2010? stay tuned.

LA JOYA ISD. Definite Jewel of Shame

The courts ruled that election misconduct had indeed occured in the May 2007 LJISD School Board election that pitted incumbent Elma Garza and former LJISD board member Domingo Villareal, Jr. against incumbent, Arturo Gonzalez and new-comer Espy Ochoa. Irregularities, intimidation tactics and a great deal of incompetence was prevalent in the May election, so much so that a district judge and the Texas 13th District Court of Appeals deemed the election null and void and called for Hidalgo County to conduct another election.

A series of negative, front page headlines since 2006; blatant nepotism, an overpaid lawyer (360K per year, the highest in the valley) that may have been hired to funnel his school salary to campaign funds, along with a necessary do-over election due to the lack of "freedom and fairness" did not deter 2.500 residents from electing Arturo Gonzalez, Jr. and Espy Ochoa to the La Joya ISD Board of Directors. Ochoa and Gonzalez won their election fairly- the second time around.

But what do the numbers really tell us? A few weeks ago a Gonzalez-Ochoa supporter stated "We're going to triple those votes to prove that we need justice for everything in our school system,"

Triple, eh?

Recently, a woman by the name of Sandra Rodriguez gave the "GO-USA" ringleader Kino Flores, a long-time State Rep. with a strong financial war chest, what could be considered the fight of his life. Were it not for the financial support of buddy CradDick and other republican lobbyist buds, Flores may not have been able to hold his seat another term.

• In 2006 when Rita "big mouth" Uresti, Fito "I hate liars"Salinas, and Johnn Alaniz first took office they did so with more than 1,000 voes.
• May 2007, Espy and Arturo G may or may not have won by less than 400 votes;
• March 25, 2008, the "GO-USA" team led with way less than 150 votes.

A free and fair race it was and a very close election it was... "Triple the votes" it was NOT.  Was it good enough for the children and tax-payers of La Joya ISD? Last night, 2,500 people believed so. One can only hope that Ms. Ochoa will open her mind and think unlike her fellow counterparts, including Arturo Gonzalez, who ironically, voted to TAKE AWAY THE BUSES a few years ago.
What brought this 2 questionable candidates to victory last night? Was it voter's self-gratification? fear? retaliation?  Blind faith?

Oh wait, I know...... it was definitely the irresistible, classy charm displayed by Rita Uresti and Fito Salinas.

STAY CLASSY LA JOYA ISD.

Vroom, Vroom...Stop! La Joya ISD Brouhaha

As mentioned below, on Thursday, February 7, 2008,  the Texas Court of Appeals  upheld Judge Fred Hinojosa's decision to overturn the La Joya ISD School Board Election where Arturo Gonzalez and Esperanza Ochoa were declared winners over LJISD incumbent Elma Garza and Domingo Villareal, Jr.

Contestees' first issue is overruled. Because we have found that the trial court was presented with clear and convincing evidence that illegal votes were counted and that election judges made mistakes which materially affected and obscured the true outcome of the election, we need not address Contestees' second and third issues, for the resolution of those issues would not further affect the outcome of this appeal. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed. The trial court is instructed to immediately prescribe a new election date in accordance with the election code.

Tex.App.-Corpus Christi,2008.
Gonzalez v. Villarreal

Whether or not the GO team can further appeal their case remains unclear. However, according to Sara Perkins of The Monitor Adam Poncio, the attorney for Gonzalez and Ochoa "vowed to file an appeal, saying it was possible for the Texas Supreme Court to hear the case. "

No one from the GO camp cared to comment. 

Elma Garza on the other hand had some words to add.

“Two courts have found these people guilty of corruption,” she said. “I think it’s time to return justice to the people of La Joya.”

“Something is seriously wrong there,” she said.
So another election is to be held? When? Where? Stay tuned......

The Wrath of the West

A few weeks ago the Texas Observer ran an interesting story on the ever- graceful State Rep Kino Flores (CradDick D-36).

As most know, for the first time since he took office in 1996, Flores is facing a strong opponent in Sandra Rodriguez, a former board member of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District and former juvenile probation officer who is being backed by Annie's List, a statewide political network that recruits, trains and financially supports Democratic women candidates so that they are credible contenders.
The article seemed to shine a different light on Kino Flores and his politics. Below are a few excerpts from the January 25 article.

Easing back in a chair in his Mission office, Flores didn’t deny he’s a browbeater, but he said he doesn’t use that tactic on people in the district. “There are some people I can bully, and I can beat the dog shit out of, and I can run off—like the lottery directors. I’ve gone through two lottery directors that I had squeezed their nuts and fired them, but not the guy on First and Matamoros.

“Cojones,” he said, is his political style in Austin. “I use them. I am not afraid to use them.”

Ok, in Austin you gotta play tough to get things done, hey if its brings in the funds and attention needed in the valley, then so be it. Right?

He is running on his record, he said, but has “everything and anything” he needs to go after Rodriguez’s husband, a former three-term state district judge who did not seek re-election. “I haven’t accused him of anything,” Flores said, “but I have a boxful, ready to go.”

"She’s got kids. She’s got these kids that are at home, that have no blame whatsoever. They don’t need to be worrying about what their mother is going to go through, or their father. You know, if she wants to go there, that’s her bag.”

Nice Mr. Representative Flores, who are you running against? Oh, silly me, I don't understand politics, Cojones, Cojones. Can't reach your target so you hit 'em where it hurts- la familia. Not a bad tactic now is it Mr. Representative? Should Rodriguez dig up some dirt on your father (mayor of Sullivan City) and father in-law (mayor of Palmview)? Don't see how classy or effective that would be, actually, it would probably pretty damn shitty, but fair. Si?..
Wait, there's more.

Rodriguez said Flores promoted a slate of candidates in the May 2007 La Joya Independent School Board elections that a state district judge ended up voiding because of irregularities. “(Flores) spent many, many days and weeks getting himself involved in a school board election instead of being out there working for the people,” Rodriguez said. Rather than focusing on his responsibilities as a legislator, she said, “he was taking care of his own needs out here.” Flores said the criticism is just politics. He shrugged off the voided election as “a judge in the pocket, that’s all it is.”

Wow! A judge in the pocket? Mr. Representative Flores , you sure does have you some loud cojones.

That must be a mighty deep and powerful pocket to stretch beyond Judge Hinojosa and onto three other judges outside of the valley. Yesterday The Monitor's Sara Perkins reported that “the Texas appeals court upheld the overturn of La Joya ISD's school board election.”

4 judges, sir, not just 1, 4. Perhaps Mr. Representative Flores, you should demand that $5,000 taken from your campaign to pay Gonzalez-Ochoa attorney Adam Poncio for this lovely battle be returned to your campaign fund. Texas Ethics Commision, Schedule F, Pg.102.

La Joya ISD School Board: A Valley "Jewel" of Shame?

On Friday, OCtober 19, 2007, Judge Fred Hinojosa stated

"Our system of government depends on free and fair elections. I find that the La Joya ISD school board election of May 12, 2007, and specifically the polling places at Bentsen Elementary and E.B. Reyna Elementary was anything but free and fair.”

“I find that the contestants have proven by clear and convincing evidence that illegal votes were counted, that the officials failed to count some legal votes, and that the election officers engaged in fraud, illegal conduct and made mistakes all of which materially affected the outcome of the election.”

“I find that the number of illegal votes is greater than the number of votes necessary to change the outcome of the two places on the ballot.”

“However, I cannot ascertain the true outcome of the election.”

“Therefore, I declare the La Joya ISD school board election of May 12, 2007 to be void.”

“I order the La Joya Independent School District to conduct a new election for school board trustees on February the 16th of 2008.”

When was the last time an election was declared "Void" in Hidalgo County. Wow.

Meanwhile, Espie Ochoa and Arturo Gonzalez, Jr., the candidates in question, are allowed to sit and vote on the La Joya School Board until a new election occurs.

Oh yeah, new election- how is that going?

According to Sara Perkins of The Monitor

Little progress has been made in the La Joya school board election case even though an appeal in the overturning of that election is supposed to be on the fast track.

If the process does not get moving soon the election may have to be postponed until after March's primary election.

Ramon Garcia, attorney for Garza and Villarreal told The Monitor "Hopefully, its not an intentional delay. We're hopeful that all the timetables will be complied with"

Hopefully.

The opposition also had hoped for perjury charges against the LJISD election judge Aida Rivas and La Joya Board members Johnn Alaniz , Rita "New town sheRuff" Uresti and Fito "I hate liars" Salinas.

Any progress there? Anyone, anyone?

I find it hard to tell you, Cos I find it hard to take, when people run in circles, it's a very, very Mad World

Happy Halloween! Boo!

Which lovely politician (local or national) will you be
dressing as on this spookish holiday?

Boo!

"I Hate Liars" LOL...

"What kind of idots do you have running this place?¨
The finest in La Joya!

La Joya ISD Election Ruled Void

A call for Opinions

If you don't already know, well, the Harmonious Anarchist has developed an independent opinion which has rolled onto this blog... Now, i would like to know what you think of your valley reps. From Eddie Lucio (Brownsville,) or Representative Armando "Mando" Martinez; Aaron Pena, or Kino Flores,etc.....For one reason or another we want to elect or NOT reelect these folks into office. Why? Why not?

At the request of several, I ask of posts ***please keep them of POLITICAL IMPORTANCE8** so that the public understands your meaning in all causes. Any posts about affairs, parenting, or anything else i see to be insignificant or un-related to WILL be removed. So. please, stick to the facts. All other skeletons will be brought elsewhere.*****

It's a Wrap- for now... La Joya ISD Update

Judge heard closing arguments from lawyers on both side of the La Joya ISD School Board election challenge. Looks like the challengers presented a good case, the strongest being the fact that over 500 people OUTSIDE of the district did indeed vote in this district. (that means ILLEGAL votes) Both Garza and Villarreal lost their elections by little under 400 votes.

Lawyers for La Joya ISD had a difficult time challenging a few arguments, - they called only 1 witness on their behalf. It is now up to Judge Hinojosa to determine whether or not the evidence presented should warrant a new election.

Meanwhile, the La Joya School Board will be having a meeting tonight at their Central Office Board room at 6:30.

Kino's Got an Opponent

Sandra Rodriguez officially announced her bid to oust Craddick sycophant Kino Flores in the race for the District 36 seat.

Rodriguez launches campaign for District 36 House seat

A native of Mission, Rodriguez is a former probation officer and high school teacher. She is married to former State district Judge Fernando Mancias and has four children.

Rodriguez has stated she wants to increase funding for the Childeren's Health Insurance Program. She has already received the backing of Annie's List, a "statewide political network that recruits, trains and financially supports Democratic women candidates so that they are credible contenders."

While Flores may have the advantage of being the incumbent, his track record in the Legislature has been criticized. From his open support of Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick to his absence during the Voter Id Bill which would require voters to show photo identification in addition to their voter registration card.

Flores claims he was "sick" that day. Sick? When the Bill reached the Senate, Senator Mario Gallegos who was recovering from a liver transplant, defied doctors orders, traveled to the Capitol, and remained in a hospital bed outside the senate chambers for more than 48 hours to block the voter ID bill that narrowly passed the House. With the help of the ailing Gallegos, the bill died in the Senate and failed to become a law. Speculation suggest that Flores was too busy campaigning for the 2007 La Joya ISD School Board election, but Flores claims he was sick.

In Texas Monthly's Best and Worst of 2007, Flores was given a DIS-Honorable mention.

Kino Flores is one of the least trusted members. He operates in the dark corners of the Legislature.”When he presented his bill to provide tax breaks for RV trailers in Hidalgo County, he represented that local officials supported his bill and that no other county was affected. Neither was true.

Kino Flores lied? Gasp.

Stay tuned..........

La Joya ISD Goes to Court .Vrom Vroom!

Day three of the La Joya ISD School Board election challenge is to be taking place this morning. As mentioned before, Judge Hinojosa had already granted former County Judge Ramon Garcia permission to videotape depositions of over a dozen people who may have behaved badly during the May 12 School Board election. Now depositions have ended and the case is being heard by Judge Fred Hinojosa.

The suit, filed by opposing candidates Elma Garza and Domingo Villareal, Jr. shortly after Arturo Gonzalez and Esperanza Ochoa were sworn in, alleges that:
x
* More than 400 votes were improperly counted
* People registered outside LJISD were allowed to vote and their votes were allowed to be counted (confirmed by the Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Teresa Navarro)
* LJISD election employees prevented eligible voters from voting.
* UNAUTHORIZED people were allowed to work as clerks or judges

According to The Monitor

Questioning has centered around four election officials: Linda Tijerina and Aida Rivas -- both also Palmview city employees -- Max Montelongo and Gloria Amador. The four were judges or clerks at Bentsen and E. B. Reyna elementaries. Team USA member Johnn Alaniz, a La Joya board member, is the city manager of Palmview.

Also on the witnesses list: Sofia Villareal who served as the election judge for La Joya ISD, Irene Garcia, a politiquera, mother in law to State Rep. Kino Flores who pretty much called the shots for the Ochoa and Gonzalez camp, and wife of Palmview mayor Jorge Garcia, and La Joya Board member Rita Uresti who is married to an alderman from Palmview. His name? Antonio Uresti, a middle school principal who was promoted to Asst. Superintendent shortly after TEA declared his school "unsatisfactory."

There were four voting locations for this election. Sullivan City, La Joya, Penitas, and Palmview. Where did most of these complaints occur? Palmview. Who are the alleged culprits in this election challenge? Not the candidates themselves, but individuals connected to Palmview.

Y'all see a pattern here?????

Photo of participants in the Ochoa-Gonzalez campaign. Top: State Representative Kino Flores. Bottom: School Board member Rita Uresti, and Irene Garcia.

**UPDATE: ** The Monitor has reported that closing arguments are set for tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. How long will the judge take to make a decision? I will try to make my way to the courthouse tommorow and report the news, hopefully, before 5pm tomorow. No telling what will turn up.

Oh Donna...

Already under scrutiny following a TEA investigation, the Donna school district has once again made headlines.

Donna School District Supe Under Fire

TEA investigation, Board pres indicted, a principal accused (charges were dropped) of theft. Ay, ay... Can this valley school move towards a positive path?

Well It's About Darn Time!

This just announced: Alberto Gonzalez, "the nation's first Hispanic attorney general, announced his resignation Monday — ending a nasty, months long standoff over his honesty and competence at the helm of the Justice Department."

First Hispanic AG and he had to be a screw up, even worse, he was appointed by Bushy #2. That is fanfreakintastic! Will there be anyone left in Bush's cabin by 2008?

Another Bush Star Falls

Karl Rove, the grand mastermind behind the Republican success in 2004, will join the ranks of Rummy, C. Pow, Ashcroft, and others, as he leaves the woefully distraught Bush admin. at the end of August.

According to the AP

After a lengthy hug from Bush and then his wife, Laura, Rove joined them on the president's helicopter. Rove, his wife and their son were flying with Bush on Air Force One to Texas, where the president is vacationing.

Say what? Another Bush vacation? It's good to be President of the U.S. The boys will likely hang out at the Bushy ranch and marvel about the fact that Rove escaped an indictment (but not public prosecution) for leaking a CIA agent's name.

Karl Rove, hated by many, revered by others, was no doubt a damn good and shrewd political strategist, much of Bush's success was owed to him. You know what else? Karl Rove, the brain behind our brilliant president, has no college degree.

Kino Flores, Que no Sabe?

That he just isn't as well liked as he believes himself to be?

After an overwhelming response on my blogger polls, support for State Rep. Kino Flores is at a low. Alright so I'm not just going on the polls posted here but observations and talk around the valley.

It's not just the valley, Texas Monthly recently gave Kino a "Dishonorable Mention" among TX Legislators. Stating that:

Kino Flores is one of the least trusted members. When he presented his bill to provide tax breaks for RV trailers in Hidalgo County, he represented that local officials supported his bill and that no other county was affected. Neither was true.

Flores has even got sly in his campaign tactics by posting a few billboards marketing our state capitol. A political ad in disguise indeed.

There is hope for District 36, for the first time in years, el KFC will have an opponent in Sandra Rodriguez.

Start gearing up Kino, Robert Jackson's $360,000 can't fund your whole campaign, he's up for re-election in La Joya and also needs to pay salaries to Board members' daughters.

This certainly promises to be a very interesting race.

The Jury is Out and So Is Omar

It was the front page header for what seemed like years, but after a 2 week trial and spending over 4 months in jail, Omar Guerrero is a free man. Yesterday a jury found him not guilty on all 7 counts of sexually assaulting a teenager.

Public opinions have varied in this matter, but the prosecution and the evidence they presented must not have been convincing to a jury. After more that four hours of deliberating, the jury consisting of 7 women and 5 men, decided to acquit Guerrero on all charges.

There is no doubt Guerrero has had his own trials and tribulations since the charge that led to his political downfall. Here was a young man viewed by many as someone with great potential and in one incident threw it all away. Not an uncommon tale.

Could Omar's acquittal be his saving grace? Or will his family and valley be tainted by another front page header about Omar?

I sure hope not.

A Look at Some Numbers

March 9, 2003. Bush, in office for a little over 2 years, sends American troops into Iraq to search for weapons of destruction. What began as a search for the mysterious WMD has now turned into a mission to secure democracy in Iraq, protect the U.S. against terrorists, and who knows what else, I lost track.

Below are some numbers in relation to the war that began in 2003.

3634- American troops killed in Iraq

25- Rio Grande Valley soldiers who have given their lives to President G.W. Bush’s failed plan.
http://www.themonitor.com/news/body_3623___article.html/funeral_army.html

30- Average age of the 3,000+ soldiers killed in Iraq.
American Blog

110- Journalists killed while on duty in Iraq
40 media support workers killed

288- Coalition forces representing 20 different countries have been killed in Iraq.
Of those soldiers:

160 from UK , 32 Italy, 20 Poland, 18 Ukraine, 13 Bulgaria, 11 Spain, 7 Denmark, 5 El Salvador, 4 Slovakia , 3 Latvia , 2 Romania, 2 Estonia 2 Netherlands , 2 Thailand , 2 Australia , 1 Canada , 1 South Korea , 1 from Hungary , 1 from Kazakhistan , 1 from Fiji.

Vacation's All I Ever Wanted, Vacation Had to Get Away

63- Visits Dubya Bush has made to his rancho in Crawford since taking office in Jan. 2001.
405- Vacation days Dubya has taken since the Supreme Court made him president.
ABC News, April 2007

We hear about soldiers every day, but lest we forget Iraqi civilians? How many have people have been killed since war began? Iraq Body Count gives those details.

The Drama Continues in Valley Schools

The fate of Donna I.S.D. administrators may finally be decided at a special called meeting this afternoon.

Donna School Board Meeting Agenda

On the agenda, possible suspension of Superintendent Joe Gonzalez and the termination of Donna ISD's General Counsel Jacques Trevino.

Andale.....

The Donna school district has been under intense scrutiny following a TEA investigation last summer upon allegations of wrong-doing by someone in Donna.

TEA Report on Donna ISD Made Public

The Monitor

Ironically, Donna School Board President George Hernandez, who may have called the special meeting, is currently facing charges of 11 counts of conspiracy and extortion in a federal indictment unsealed June 5 as part of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district bribery scandal. Hernandez's charges are not related to his school board position in Donna.

Its been a rough year for Superintendents in the valley. Last year Edinburg ISD suspended Superintendent J.L Salinas for violating nepotism rules and La Joya ISD School Board members, shortly after gaining a new majority, dismissed Filomena Leo. The Board never did reveal the reason (although School Board member Fito Salinas did state to the Monitor "It's political. I'm not going to say it's not.") for Leo's suspension or termination, but in another event of irony, Leo was hired earlier this year to serve as Interim Superintendent in Raymondville after School Board members terminated Superintendent Roy Casteneda for putting up signs for challengers of 2 Raymondville ISD Board members.

FBI raids, TEA investigations, election challenges, suspensions, elected officials trying to evade taxes, is there any political stability in this place?
Update: In a 4-3 vote this afternoon, the Donna ISD School Board voted to suspend the supe and terminate the lawyer. Politics has always been crazy, but now our schools are being invaded, couls this be a trend in thevalley?

Is It any Wonder?

Saturday, July, 7, 2007, lucky 7 was it?
7 continents, Former U.S. VP Al Gore and 24 hours of music marked a call for inhabitants of the earth to wake up and change their habits. Ladies and gentlemens: if you were clueless before, then after rocking to Madonna, Enrique Iglesisas, Kanye West and many other bands across the globe, you should now know that Mother Earth is slowly dying thanks to our consumer habits.
The question asked around the globe: Can these rockers get the word out and make a difference in the fight against our 'global crisis'? Maybe, maybe not.

Not to say that all these rockers aren't eco-friendly, but a better question to ask would be: What habits have these rockers undergone to combat the global crisis?

Elsewhere across the globe...
The New 7 Wonders of the World

While millions rocked to the save Mother Earth, others, including Hollywood's Hilary Swank and Jennifer Lopez, gathered in Portugal for the unveiling of the new 7 Wonders of The World.

Over 200 million voted and in the end decided on these 7 wonders.

Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
The Great Wall, China
Machu Picchu, Peru
Petra, Jordan
The Roman Colloseum, Italy
The Taj Mahal, India

The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt is the only Ancient Wonder left standing and remains an honorable world wonder.

It is not a suprise that this contest drew criticism from many, including the the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who said wonders of the world should not be chosen in a popular vote.

Other finalists in this race included: The Acropolis, Greece; Alhambra, Spain; Angkor, Cambodia; Statues of Easter Island, Chile; Eiffel Tower, France; Hagia Sophia, Turkey; Kiyomizu Temple, Japan;Kremlin/St. Basil, Russia; Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany; Stonehenge, United Kingdom; and Timbuktu, Mali.

Other contenders, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and America's Statue of Liberty reportedly were at the bottom of the list. Not to worry America, once we build that great wall against Mexico, we too, shall become a world wonder.

I had hoped that the Acropolis, Alhambra and the Kremlin, because of their beauty and history would make the cut, but ah well, the masses have spoken.

For more info on our new wonders visit: http://www.new7wonders.com
Wanna save our planet? www.liveearth.org