Hey everyone.

A few weeks ago we rolled out a feature that folks had been requesting for a while: email notifications. Basically, the idea is to send you an email when someone quotes one of your comments. Folks have been asking for it for awhile now. We haven't had many folks activate it - I'm guessing at least in part because a lot of folks don't know that feature even exists.

Yes, certainly there are going to be many folks who would not like that feature turned on, I'm actually sort of one of them - I've got mine on but it's at the lowest setting. However there's no real good way to make people aware that it exists, so we're going to default it to on.

For folks who don't want this feature, I have some good news for you: in every email there's a link you can click that'll turn it off. Easy peasy. So if you don't want emails, hit that link and it'll stop immediately. Or go into your profile and turn it off, that'll work too (sorry it's hard to find, though, we're fixing that soon).

We don't want to force people into things they don't want, but on the other hand there's no good way to reach everyone else to let them know about new features. During our beta testing with TotalFarkers, we tried to notify folks via a system message but it turned out that was FAR more annoying than email would have been.

I'd recommend trying it out though, I've actually found it extremely useful. I got called into a TotalFark thread yesterday regarding some weird ads that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. It helps a lot with tracking discussions I'm involved in. So give it a shot, see what you think, and if you've got any suggestions on how to make it better, drop me a line. I'd love to hear them.

I know you guys are waiting for an update on the lawsuit; I wrote up a bit and will post as soon as the lawyers are okay with it -- possibly as early as later today.

Headlines Of The Week for Sun 2011-02-06 to Sat 2011-02-12:

  ♫ Making your way in the world today takes all the blood you've got. Taken a hit from someone's shiv? It sure would help to clot. Didn't you try to get away? ♫  

  Google executive couldn't be found. Then BING, he's released    

  Oldest drinkable beer discovered, will be analyzed and brewed again. Initial reports say the taste has 'burnt notes', which puzzles Anheuser Busch brewers who say beer should have no flavor at all    

  Maryland first grade teacher charged with choking, continuing to strike students when they couldn't spell their safe words    

  "Cambodian Anger Over Temple Not Exploding, for Now." Once the temple explodes things will calm down    

  European scientists working on RoboEarth, a network similar to the Internet for robots to share information. The resulting robot uprising will be thwarted when someone uploads a video clip of a robot humping a washing machine    

  Multiple reports circulating that Hosni Mubarak will step down tonight in lieu of his original plan, which was to be assassinated and disemboweled by an angry mob    

  Spice drug helps repair stroke damage. Side effects may include: Blue-within-blue eyes, space folding, universe control. Ask your Guild Representative if the spice drug is right for you    

  Hitler's desk set for sale *shakily removes glasses, calls for admin to green link, leave room*    

  Mubarak steps down, signs with Vikings    

  Pit bull puppy swallows foot long drum stick. Surgery successful, no repercussions    


Sports:

  Cleveland Browns cut five overpaid, underperforming, over-the-hill starters. All five expected to be in Redskins uniforms just as soon as Dan Synder figures out a way to give up draft picks for them    

  Racing fans shocked at seeing horses complete the circuit, yet not finish the race. Ohm my  

  Clay Matthews says the NFL "didn't really like" the Packers using a wrestling belt in their celebrations, adding "if we wanted to see you celebrate like white trash, we would've booked Ben Roethlisberger winning"    


Geek:

  Scientists see the far side of the Sun for the first time, spot cows standing up, giant insects, blah blah blah Ginger    

  So graphene was all "I'm the strongest material ever, and won the Nobel Prize", but then molybdenite was all, "Yeah but I'm a semiconductor, biatch"    

  Study shows that whipping horses doesn't make them run any faster, remember their safe words any better    


Showbiz:

  Shia Lebeouf punched in face by angry bar patron, who apparently wanted to do America a favor    

  Michael J. Fox given yet another award this time for (shakes magic 8 ball) - well, basically for that    

  Ricky Gervais wants Will Arnett to take over on The Office. Oh, yeah, like the guy in the $5,000 suit is going to work at a paper company--COME ON    


Politics:

  Rep. Chris Lee (R-ipped) resigns to spend more time with his Bowflex    

  Palin calls Santorum a "knuckle-dragging Neanderthal." I...don't know who to root for    

  Rahm Emmanuel favors slave reparations? Dude, you're Jewish. Egypt is in disarray. Now is not the time to be asking Pharoah for money    


Music:

  Jim James of My Morning Jacket and M. Ward start a blog about creme brule. Declare themselves Monsters of Yolk    

  55 of rap's memorable opening lines. Whoa. Literature    

  Nicki Minaj's CD reaches number one in the US. HOW DID WE LET THIS HAPPEN?    


Business:

  McDonald's reports 5.3% sales increase; growth comes from all regions. Presumably belly, thighs, upper arms, chins    

  Ford outlines its social media strategy, which will probably fall apart and need extensive repairs after two years    

  Borders will be ending their story at Chapter 11 after all    
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