We've moved to a new comment system

UPDATE: Try this link, instead, to sign up for your account.

I've moved the blog over to a new comment system called Disqus. It's pretty cool, and will be a massive improvement in functionality for those of you commenting, and for those of us administering the comments.

First off, you'll need to create an account for free at Disqus. Then make sure that your browser has java-enabled.

Then, just click the "comments" button on a post and it will bring you to a new page where you can enter a comment (make sure you're logged in, of course). Among the much-improved features that Disqus now offers us:

- Threaded comments. You can actually follow a conversation in the comments, watching the conversation indent as you reply to a specific comment. (If enough folks hate this, we can switch back to regular "flat" comments where each new comment will appear on top of the previous one. Give it a few days, and then let me know.)

- Avatars. You can upload a photo to go along with your name with each comment.

- Rating comments. Which isn't just a beauty contest, but rather, enables each commenter to build up some credibility, by the number of comments they've made and ratings they get, but also permits you to choose to view the comments ranked by their favorability (you can choose how you see the comments by clicking on the "options" link right below the comments box on any comments page). Ratings helps us do other things as well, so definitely rate comments good or bad.

- Ban features. Suffice it to say that this is light-years ahead of what we used to use to ban people. This should clean up the comments considerably.

- You can add links to your blog, your Twitter account, Facebook, flickr, etc. to your profile. You can also add a description of yourself, hometown, etc.

- Email settings. You can, I think, subscribe to some commenters (to follow what they write), have the comments auto-email to you any replies to your own comments, etc.

- All your comments will be pulled together on one page so that you, or anyone else, can check out what else you've written.

Again, I think it's pretty cool, and it's definitely better than what we had. And yes, I know, some of you don't like it. Well, I know change is hard. Give it a chance.

Having said that, I've heard that some people are having problems with Internet Explorer and this new system, let me know if you're having any problems. (You can email me.)