The problem with the Online Blog by Jennifer Shahade and the "Ask GM
Joel" online column by Joel Benjamin is not that they are poorly
written or anything like that, but that they are published on the
Internet and given away free of charge. Anybody anywhere in the world
can read them. USCF membership is not required. Thus, they bring in no
revenues and do not contribute to the bottom line.

I believe that readership of these columns is light. I have never
heard anybody make a comment about them good or bad.

It is interesting that Bill Goichberg, USCF President, states that he
does not know how much Joel Benjamin is being paid. Benjamin is not
known to work for free and rather is known for his exorbitant
financial demands.

But Goichberg does know how much the other person is being paid and it
is well into mid-five figures, so in other words about half of the
total contributer fees go to just one person.

My question is: Do you think it is a good idea to cut Chess Life and
eliminate Chess Life for Kids just so that we can keep these two
highly paid individuals, who do not write for either publication, on
the payroll?

Sam Sloan