Times are always changing here at The Odyssey Scoop. With an internet sensation as big as The Odyssey Scoop is (I know some of you will laugh when you read that), we’re always trying to keep current and provide the highest standard of quality possible. So, what does this mean?

For the past couple of years, The Odyssey Scoop’s commenting feature has been a service provided by aboutecho.com. We joined the bandwagon during a time when small websites, businesses, and non-profit sites such as The Odyssey Scoop could afford to use the service for a small subscription.

Unfortunately (for us), Echo recently announced that the plug will be pulled on its inexpensive service on October 1, 2012, and the company will focus on its bigger client services. In other words, their service is now being marketed to companies at a larger scale which have the funds to pay for such services. The Odyssey Scoop is not at a financial level to continue using those services.

To prevent a less dramatic transition, we’ve decided to make the trek to a commenting feature I think you will all be able to still enjoy. To complement the new commenting system (Disqus), we’re also beginning a new blog format at The Odyssey Scoop. We are officially introducing permalinks to the site. What is a permalink? In a nutshell, a permalink is an URL that points to a specific blog or forum entry after it has passed from the front page to the archives. In other words, all of our blog posts will each contain their own permanent link at the site from now on (like this one). It’s all in our efforts to help things in the back end of Odyssey Scoop Land: search engine optimization and easier sharing of blog posts on social networks.

Currently, the new blog format features a new look, with posts continuing on our site’s homepage as usual. Will this look change over time? Probably. We’ve got some ideas up our sleeves, as usual, so stay tuned as The Odyssey Scoop makes its odyssey to a bright future. With over a decade of experience providing the latest in Adventures in Odyssey news, we’ve learned and adapted to lots of changes. I guess that’s why checking back to The Odyssey Scoop has always been so exciting. You never know what you’re going to get.

As for the commenting system you have all grown to know and love, it’s still being utilized in various features throughout the website. We will be making the appropriate arrangements in the days ahead as our “unplug date” approaches.

For now, enjoy our new blog format. And be sure to comment!

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