Today is the last day you can read op-ed columnists such as David Brooks and Paul Krugman without paying a subscription fee. Starting Saturday it will cost $49.95 per year to read the op-ed writers of the Times.

I read the Times, but am not a big fan of any of op-ed writers since William Safire retired (I am fortunate to have known Bill Safire for 40 years and feel the Times has had a big hole since Bill retired). But some people are miffed about the Times' new policy as one can see in this blog.

Readers know that I feel that the Times continues to make a big mistake by getting more restrictive with their free offerings. I guess they feel their purchase of about.com, a free site, gives them license to make the quality Times content an increasingly closed environment?

By the way, I must thank JupiterWeb editor Alex Goldman for pointing out the above referenced blog post about the Times policy shift. I must admit that I do not have as much time as I would like to browse the Web, read blogs and do general searching. I am blessed to be associated with about 75 great writers at JupiterWeb who from time to time point out pieces that are sure to interest me.