diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
index f273778a3c..4d0e5867da 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import logging
 import urllib
 import itertools
 
+from functools import partial
+
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.context_processors import csrf
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
@@ -20,6 +22,7 @@ from module_render import toc_for_course, get_module, get_section
 from models import StudentModuleCache
 from student.models import UserProfile
 from multicourse import multicourse_settings
+from django_comment_client.utils import get_discussion_title
 
 from util.cache import cache, cache_if_anonymous
 from student.models import UserTestGroup, CourseEnrollment
@@ -27,6 +30,11 @@ from courseware import grades
 from courseware.courses import check_course
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 
+import comment_client
+
+
+
+
 log = logging.getLogger("mitx.courseware")
 
 template_imports = {'urllib': urllib}
@@ -259,7 +267,6 @@ def course_info(request, course_id):
 
     return render_to_response('info.html', {'course': course})
 
-
 @ensure_csrf_cookie
 @cache_if_anonymous
 def course_about(request, course_id):
@@ -287,3 +294,24 @@ def university_profile(request, org_id):
     template_file = "university_profile/{0}.html".format(org_id).lower()
 
     return render_to_response(template_file, context)
+
+def render_notifications(request, course, notifications):
+    context = {
+        'notifications': notifications,
+        'get_discussion_title': partial(get_discussion_title, request=request, course=course),
+        'course': course,
+    }
+    return render_to_string('notifications.html', context)
+
+@login_required
+def news(request, course_id):
+    course = check_course(course_id)
+
+    notifications = comment_client.get_notifications(request.user.id)
+
+    context = {
+        'course': course,
+        'content': render_notifications(request, course, notifications),
+    }
+
+    return render_to_response('news.html', context)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
index a148d80020..85e76bad55 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/base/views.py
@@ -71,8 +71,11 @@ def update_thread(request, course_id, thread_id):
 @require_POST
 def create_comment(request, course_id, thread_id):
     attributes = extract(request.POST, ['body'])
-    attributes['user_id'] = request.user.id
+    if request.POST.get('anonymous', 'false').lower() == 'false':
+        attributes['user_id'] = request.user.id
     attributes['course_id'] = course_id
+    attributes['auto_subscribe'] = bool(request.POST.get('autowatch', False))
+    print attributes
     response = comment_client.create_comment(thread_id, attributes)
     return JsonResponse(response)
 
@@ -103,8 +106,10 @@ def endorse_comment(request, course_id, comment_id):
 @require_POST
 def create_sub_comment(request, course_id, comment_id):
     attributes = extract(request.POST, ['body'])
-    attributes['user_id'] = request.user.id
-    attributes['course_id'] = "1" # TODO either remove this or pass this parameter somehow
+    if request.POST.get('anonymous', 'false').lower() == 'false':
+        attributes['user_id'] = request.user.id
+    attributes['course_id'] = course_id
+    attributes['auto_subscribe'] = bool(request.POST.get('autowatch', False))
     response = comment_client.create_sub_comment(comment_id, attributes)
     return JsonResponse(response)
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index c2a136d6cf..bde1ed7f51 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -6,80 +6,16 @@ from django.core.context_processors import csrf
 
 from mitxmako.shortcuts import render_to_response, render_to_string
 from courseware.courses import check_course
-from courseware.models import StudentModuleCache
-from courseware.module_render import get_module, get_section
-from xmodule.modulestore import Location
-from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
-
-from importlib import import_module
-
-from django.conf import settings
 
 import comment_client
 import dateutil
 from dateutil.tz import tzlocal
 from datehelper import time_ago_in_words
 
-import operator
-import itertools
+from django_comment_client.utils import get_categorized_discussion_info
+
 import json
 
-_FULLMODULES = None
-_DISCUSSIONINFO = None
-
-def get_full_modules():
-    global _FULLMODULES
-    if not _FULLMODULES:
-        class_path = settings.MODULESTORE['default']['ENGINE']
-        module_path, _, class_name = class_path.rpartition('.')
-        class_ = getattr(import_module(module_path), class_name)
-        modulestore = class_(eager=True, **settings.MODULESTORE['default']['OPTIONS'])
-        _FULLMODULES = modulestore.modules
-    return _FULLMODULES
-
-def get_categorized_discussion_info(request, user, course, course_name, url_course_id):
-    """
-        return a dict of the form {category: modules}
-    """
-    global _DISCUSSIONINFO
-    if not _DISCUSSIONINFO:
-
-        _is_course_discussion = lambda x: x[0].dict()['category'] == 'discussion' \
-                             and x[0].dict()['course'] == course_name
-        
-        _get_module_descriptor = operator.itemgetter(1)
-
-        def _get_module(module_descriptor):
-            print module_descriptor
-            module = get_module(user, request, module_descriptor.location, student_module_cache)[0]
-            return module
-
-        def _extract_info(module):
-            return {
-                'title': module.title,
-                'discussion_id': module.discussion_id,
-                'category': module.discussion_category,
-            }
-
-        discussion_module_descriptors = map(_get_module_descriptor,
-                                            filter(_is_course_discussion,
-                                                   get_full_modules().items()))
-
-        student_module_cache = StudentModuleCache(user, course)
-
-        discussion_info = map(_extract_info, map(_get_module, discussion_module_descriptors))
-
-        _DISCUSSIONINFO = dict((category, list(l)) \
-                    for category, l in itertools.groupby(discussion_info, operator.itemgetter('category')))
-
-        _DISCUSSIONINFO['General'] = [{
-            'title': 'General discussion',
-            'discussion_id': url_course_id,
-            'category': 'General',
-        }]
-
-    return _DISCUSSIONINFO
-
 def render_accordion(request, course, discussion_info, discussion_id):
     context = {
         'course': course,
@@ -118,7 +54,7 @@ def forum_form_discussion(request, course_id, discussion_id):
 
     url_course_id = course_id.replace('/', '_').replace('.', '_')
 
-    discussion_info = get_categorized_discussion_info(request, request.user, course, course_name, url_course_id)
+    discussion_info = get_categorized_discussion_info(request, course)#request.user, course, course_name, url_course_id)
 
     search_text = request.GET.get('text', '')
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..24f4f5115a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+from importlib import import_module
+from courseware.models import StudentModuleCache
+from courseware.module_render import get_module
+from xmodule.modulestore import Location
+from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+
+from django.conf import settings
+import operator
+import itertools
+
+_FULLMODULES = None
+_DISCUSSIONINFO = None
+
+def get_full_modules():
+    global _FULLMODULES
+    if not _FULLMODULES:
+        class_path = settings.MODULESTORE['default']['ENGINE']
+        module_path, _, class_name = class_path.rpartition('.')
+        class_ = getattr(import_module(module_path), class_name)
+        modulestore = class_(eager=True, **settings.MODULESTORE['default']['OPTIONS'])
+        _FULLMODULES = modulestore.modules
+    return _FULLMODULES
+
+def get_categorized_discussion_info(request, course):
+    """
+        return a dict of the form {category: modules}
+    """
+    global _DISCUSSIONINFO
+    if not _DISCUSSIONINFO:
+        initialize_discussion_info(request, course)
+    return _DISCUSSIONINFO['categorized']
+
+def get_discussion_title(request, course, discussion_id):
+    global _DISCUSSIONINFO
+    if not _DISCUSSIONINFO:
+        initialize_discussion_info(request, course)
+    title = _DISCUSSIONINFO['by_id'].get(discussion_id, {}).get('title', '(no title)')
+    if title == '(no title)':
+        print "title shouldn't be none"
+        import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
+    return title
+
+def initialize_discussion_info(request, course):
+
+    global _DISCUSSIONINFO
+    if _DISCUSSIONINFO:
+        return
+
+    course_id = course.id
+    _, course_name, _ = course_id.split('/')
+    user = request.user
+    url_course_id = course_id.replace('/', '_').replace('.', '_')
+
+    _is_course_discussion = lambda x: x[0].dict()['category'] == 'discussion' \
+                         and x[0].dict()['course'] == course_name
+    
+    _get_module_descriptor = operator.itemgetter(1)
+
+    def _get_module(module_descriptor):
+        print module_descriptor
+        module = get_module(user, request, module_descriptor.location, student_module_cache)[0]
+        return module
+
+    def _extract_info(module):
+        return {
+            'title': module.title,
+            'discussion_id': module.discussion_id,
+            'category': module.discussion_category,
+        }
+
+    def _pack_with_id(info):
+        return (info['discussion_id'], info)
+
+    discussion_module_descriptors = map(_get_module_descriptor,
+                                        filter(_is_course_discussion,
+                                               get_full_modules().items()))
+
+    student_module_cache = StudentModuleCache(user, course)
+
+    discussion_info = map(_extract_info, map(_get_module, discussion_module_descriptors))
+
+    _DISCUSSIONINFO = {}
+
+    _DISCUSSIONINFO['by_id'] = dict(map(_pack_with_id, discussion_info))
+
+    _DISCUSSIONINFO['categorized'] = dict((category, list(l)) \
+                for category, l in itertools.groupby(discussion_info, operator.itemgetter('category')))
+
+    _DISCUSSIONINFO['categorized']['General'] = [{
+        'title': 'General discussion',
+        'discussion_id': url_course_id,
+        'category': 'General',
+    }]
diff --git a/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion.coffee b/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion.coffee
index 44aebb7241..51420f38cc 100644
--- a/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion.coffee
+++ b/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion.coffee
@@ -122,6 +122,8 @@ Discussion =
     $discussionContent = $content.children(".discussion-content")
     $local = generateLocal($discussionContent)
 
+    id = $content.attr("_id")
+
     discussionContentHoverIn = ->
       status = $discussionContent.attr("status") || "normal"
       if status == "normal"
@@ -138,15 +140,32 @@ Discussion =
 
     $discussionContent.hover(discussionContentHoverIn, discussionContentHoverOut)
 
-    
-
     handleReply = (elem) ->
       editView = $local(".discussion-content-edit")
       if editView.length
         editView.show()
       else
         editView = $("<div>").addClass("discussion-content-edit")
-        editView.append($("<textarea>").addClass("comment-edit"))
+
+        textarea = $("<textarea>").addClass("comment-edit")
+        editView.append(textarea)
+
+        anonymousCheckbox = $("<input>").attr("type", "checkbox")
+                                        .addClass("discussion-post-anonymously")
+                                        .attr("id", "discussion-post-anonymously-#{id}")
+        anonymousLabel = $("<label>").attr("for", "discussion-post-anonymously-#{id}")
+                                     .html("post anonymously")
+        editView.append(anonymousCheckbox).append(anonymousLabel)
+        
+        if $discussionContent.parent(".thread").attr("_id") not in $$user_info.subscribed_thread_ids
+          watchCheckbox = $("<input>").attr("type", "checkbox")
+                                      .addClass("discussion-auto-watch")
+                                      .attr("id", "discussion-auto-watch-#{id}")
+                                      .attr("checked", "")
+          watchLabel = $("<label>").attr("for", "discussion-auto-watch-#{id}")
+                                   .html("watch this thread")
+          editView.append(watchCheckbox).append(watchLabel)
+        
         $discussionContent.append(editView)
       cancelReply = generateDiscussionLink("discussion-cancel-reply", "Cancel", handleCancelReply)
       submitReply = generateDiscussionLink("discussion-submit-reply", "Submit", handleSubmitReply)
@@ -166,20 +185,24 @@ Discussion =
 
     handleSubmitReply = (elem) ->
       if $content.hasClass("thread")
-        url = Discussion.urlFor('create_comment', $content.attr("_id"))
+        url = Discussion.urlFor('create_comment', id)
       else if $content.hasClass("comment")
-        url = Discussion.urlFor('create_sub_comment', $content.attr("_id"))
+        url = Discussion.urlFor('create_sub_comment', id)
       else
         return
       body = $local(".comment-edit").val()
-      $.post url, {body: body}, (response, textStatus) ->
+
+      anonymous = false || $local(".discussion-post-anonymously").is(":checked")
+      autowatch = false || $local(".discussion-auto-watch").is(":checked")
+
+      $.post url, {body: body, anonymous: anonymous, autowatch: autowatch}, (response, textStatus) ->
         if textStatus == "success"
           Discussion.handleAnchorAndReload(response)
       , 'json'
 
     handleVote = (elem, value) ->
       contentType = if $content.hasClass("thread") then "thread" else "comment"
-      url = Discussion.urlFor("#{value}vote_#{contentType}", $content.attr("_id"))
+      url = Discussion.urlFor("#{value}vote_#{contentType}", id)
       $.post url, {}, (response, textStatus) ->
         if textStatus == "success"
           Discussion.handleAnchorAndReload(response)
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss b/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
index cf669a10c2..ca3a3833e0 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/_discussion.scss
@@ -155,12 +155,13 @@ $discussion_input_width: 60%;
       margin-top: 10px;
       overflow: hidden;
       .discussion-content-edit {
+        margin-left: $comment_margin_left;
         .comment-edit {
           @include discussion-font;
           width: $discussion_input_width !important;
-          margin-left: $comment_margin_left;
           font-size: $comment_body_size;
           margin-top: 10px;
+          display: block;
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/_news.scss b/lms/static/sass/_news.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b8050f80c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/static/sass/_news.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+@mixin news-font {
+  font-family: "Comic Sans MS", cursive, sans-serif !important;
+}
+
+.notifications {
+  @include news-font;
+  padding-left: 20px;
+  padding-top: 20px;
+  padding-bottom: 20px;
+  .notification {
+    @include news-font;
+    margin-top: 15px;
+    margin-botton: 15px;
+
+    a {
+      @include news-font;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/application.scss b/lms/static/sass/application.scss
index ee7eab9843..16ce4eb7c2 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/application.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/application.scss
@@ -28,3 +28,4 @@
 @import 'multicourse/error-pages';
 @import 'multicourse/help';
 @import 'discussion';
+@import 'news';
diff --git a/lms/templates/course_navigation.html b/lms/templates/course_navigation.html
index 4682fc423f..6511da69a8 100644
--- a/lms/templates/course_navigation.html
+++ b/lms/templates/course_navigation.html
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def url_class(url):
 % if user.is_authenticated():
       <li class="book"><a href="${reverse('book', args=[course.id])}" class="${url_class('book')}">Textbook</a></li>
       <li class="discussion"><a href="${reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.forum_form_discussion', args=[course.id, course.id.replace('/', '_').replace('.', '_')])}" class="${url_class('discussion')}">Discussion</a></li>
+      <li class="news"><a href="${reverse('news', args=[course.id])}" class="${url_class('news')}">News</a></li>
 % endif
       <li class="wiki"><a href="${reverse('wiki_root', args=[course.id])}" class="${url_class('wiki')}">Wiki</a></li>
 % if user.is_authenticated():
diff --git a/lms/templates/discussion/thread.html b/lms/templates/discussion/thread.html
index fbfa0f19c8..5997b1b70c 100644
--- a/lms/templates/discussion/thread.html
+++ b/lms/templates/discussion/thread.html
@@ -12,17 +12,19 @@
   %>
   <div class="thread" _id="${thread['id']}">
     <div class="discussion-content">
-      ${render_vote(thread)}
-      <div class="discussion-right-wrapper clearfix">
-        <a class="thread-title" name="${thread['id']}" href="${url_for_thread}">${thread['title']}</a>
-        <div class="discussion-content-view">
-          <div class="thread-body">${thread['body']}</div>
-          <div class="info">
-            ${render_info(thread)}
-            % if edit_thread:
-              ${render_reply()}
-              ${render_edit()}
-            % endif
+      <div class="discussion-upper-wrapper clearfix">
+        ${render_vote(thread)}
+        <div class="discussion-right-wrapper clearfix">
+          <a class="thread-title" name="${thread['id']}" href="${url_for_thread}">${thread['title']}</a>
+          <div class="discussion-content-view">
+            <div class="thread-body">${thread['body']}</div>
+            <div class="info">
+              ${render_info(thread)}
+              % if edit_thread:
+                ${render_reply()}
+                ${render_edit()}
+              % endif
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -59,7 +61,12 @@
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="render_info(content)">
-  ${time_ago_in_words(parse(content['updated_at']))} ago by user No.${content['user_id']}
+  ${time_ago_in_words(parse(content['updated_at']))} ago by
+  % if content.get('user_id', False):
+    user No.${content['user_id']}
+  % else:
+    anonymous
+  % endif
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="render_reply()">
diff --git a/lms/templates/news.html b/lms/templates/news.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e8249a126c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/templates/news.html
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<%inherit file="main.html" />
+<%namespace name='static' file='static_content.html'/>
+<%block name="bodyclass">courseware news</%block>
+<%block name="title"><title>News – MITx 6.002x</title></%block>
+
+<%block name="headextra">
+<script type="text/javascript" src="${static.url('js/vendor/flot/jquery.flot.js')}"></script>
+</%block>
+
+<%block name="js_extra">
+</%block>
+
+<%include file="course_navigation.html" args="active_page='news'" />
+
+<section class="container">
+  <div class="course-wrapper">
+    <section class="course-content">
+      ${content}
+    </section>
+  </div>
+</section>
diff --git a/lms/templates/notifications.html b/lms/templates/notifications.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a1ae988049
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/templates/notifications.html
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+<%! from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse %>
+
+<%
+def url_for_thread(thread_id):
+  return reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.single_thread', args=[course.id, thread_id])
+%>
+
+<% 
+def url_for_comment(thread_id, comment_id):
+  return reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.single_thread', args=[course.id, thread_id]) + "#" + comment_id
+%>
+
+<%
+def url_for_discussion(discussion_id):
+  return reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.forum_form_discussion', args=[course.id, discussion_id])
+%>
+
+<% 
+def discussion_title(discussion_id):
+  return get_discussion_title(discussion_id=discussion_id)
+%>
+
+
+<div class="notifications">
+  % for notification in notifications:
+    ${render_notification(notification)}
+  % endfor
+</div>
+
+<%def name="render_notification(notification)">
+  <div class="notification">
+    <% info = notification['info'] %>
+    % if notification['notification_type'] == 'post_reply':
+      User No.${notification['actor_id']} posted a
+      <a href="${url_for_comment(info['thread_id'], info['comment_id'])}">comment</a>
+      to the thread
+      <a href="${url_for_thread(info['thread_id'])}">${info['thread_title']}</a>
+      in discussion
+      <a href="${url_for_discussion(info['commentable_id'])}">${discussion_title(info['commentable_id'])}</a>
+    % elif notification['notification_type'] == 'post_topic':
+      User No.${notification['actor_id']} posted a new thread
+      <a href="${url_for_thread(info['thread_id'])}">${info['thread_title']}</a>
+      in discussion
+      <a href="${url_for_discussion(info['commentable_id'])}">${discussion_title(info['commentable_id'])}</a>
+    % endif
+  </div>
+
+</%def>
diff --git a/lms/templates/profile.html b/lms/templates/profile.html
index 1e3bde5969..9ba5865ed1 100644
--- a/lms/templates/profile.html
+++ b/lms/templates/profile.html
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ $(function() {
         %for chapter in courseware_summary:
         %if not chapter['chapter'] == "hidden":
         <li>
-          <h2><a href="${reverse('courseware_chapter', args=format_url_params([chapter['course'], chapter['chapter']])) }">
+          <h2><a href="javascript:void(0)">
           ${ chapter['chapter'] }</a></h2>
 
           <ol class="sections">
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ $(function() {
               percentageString = "{0:.0%}".format( float(earned)/total) if earned > 0 and total > 0 else ""
               %>
               
-              <h3><a href="${reverse('courseware_section', args=format_url_params([chapter['course'], chapter['chapter'], section['section']])) }">
+              <h3><a href="javascript:void(0)">
                 ${ section['section'] }</a> ${"({0:.3n}/{1:.3n}) {2}".format( float(earned), float(total), percentageString )}</h3>
               ${section['format']}
               %if 'due' in section and section['due']!="":
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 796aea5bb4..875d795678 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ if settings.COURSEWARE_ENABLED:
             'courseware.views.profile', name="profile"),
         url(r'^courses/(?P<course_id>[^/]+/[^/]+/[^/]+)/profile/(?P<student_id>[^/]*)/$', 
             'courseware.views.profile'),
+        url(r'^courses/(?P<course_id>[^/]+/[^/]+/[^/]+)/news$', 
+            'courseware.views.news', name="news"),
 
         # discussion
         url(r'^courses/(?P<course_id>[^/]+/[^/]+/[^/]+)/discussion/',