Is international KFC commercial racist?

This commercial for KFC was recently shown in Australia during a cricket match. Many in the U.S. are outraged, calling the piece racist. However, KFC reps abroad say that there would be no negative connotation in Australian culture.

What do you think?

Is $10 million too much to run Wikipedia?

I love Wikipedia. I refer to it regularly and link to it frequently. It has made learning easy and brought vast knowledge into homes across the globe.

As you've likely heard, Wikipedia is facing some significant financial problems. The founder, Jimmy Wales, has even put a plea up on every page of the site asking for donations (as of 12/31/09 he has raised more than 2/3 of his fundraising goal for 2010). But, here's what I don't get (and if you're a small business owner or techie, please help me understand this): why does it take $10 million dollars a year to run Wikipedia? I don't have an MBA, but that seems like too much to me.

Lots of news sites are toying with the idea of instituting pay walls, and perhaps this might be in Wikipedia's future, as well. And, heck, if I frequent a site regularly, I might consider paying for the privilege. But, as a "donor" (it's the nonprofit arm of Wikipedia that is soliciting the funds) I'd like to feel confident that my donation is being spent wisely.

Do you run your own small business (Wikipedia has fewer than 35 employees)? Do you understand all the technical requirements and costs associated with a robust site like Wikipedia? If so, I'd really like your opinion. Is $10 million reasonable to operate Wikipedia for just one year?

Fitness website helps people meet goals

It's January first which means one thing to the majority of people: eat better and exercise more. It seems to be the one resolution that brings us together as a society.

To help you get started on the right path this year, check out DailyMile.com. It's a great cyber fitness journal and activity log that allows you to track your workouts, create fitness goals, posts photos and videos, make and share walking or running routes, and meet like-minded people.

DailyMile has a handy events section that lists marathons, 5Ks, and half-marathons so you know what's happening in your area (and you can add activities to your online calendar). There is a robust forum for Q & A, and a variety of groups to join (e.g. running, cycling, triathlon, etc.). You can also invite your friends to join your community so you can compete against one another!

For those of you who want to incorporate more techie features into your DailyMile experience, you can sync your Facebook or Twitter accounts to the site so you can update your activities when you're out and about. There are also some great widgets that allow you to share your training schedules and upcoming races!

So, if your New Year's resolution is to hop on the fitness bandwagon, check out DailyMile. It could be just the thing to keep yourself committed to your healthy, new lifestyle!