I found the problem just a few minutes ago.
In my entries.tpl file, the a hrefs had the path incorrect - it still contained in it the folder of the template i used as a basis. once i deleted that from the path to the comments and extended entries it works.

this brings me to a more general question ...

as additional (hopefully) clue - the comment and trackback links don't work either - i get the same 'page not found' message when I click on those at the bottom of my entry. i was able to post a comment to one of the entries (and it says there is one comment) but the link source page does not exist ...

www.dede-griesbauer.com/updates_news

I've been looking at the source code for any clues and i noticed that in entries.tpl some of the links (including the one to extended body) have a path that includes the folder named the same as the template that I adapted my page from.

i essentially took the ...

Hi -

I have several long entries that I would like to only show the first paragraph of with the rest being in the 'extended body' that can be accessed via the link at the bottom of the paragraph.

In the admin suite when I add the entry, I put the first paragraph in the entry body and the rest in ...