What does checking these boxes do?

If you click on those items, they add those items to your sidebar.

If you have a PC, Sherry recommends checking all of the boxes, and if you have a WebTV, I recommend leaving them all unchecked. If you use both, you might want to set up two accounts, so you can surf either way. (Note: if you are surfing on your LBB, you won't immediately see that there are private messages waiting on your PC login, and vice-versa, but you'll get an email from the site pretty quickly, telling you that you have private messages waiting.)

Known for his studly Santaesque physique and kindly sarcasm, Paul Ding lives in the technologically advanced Pennsylvania Dutch region.

Hi Santa,

I will continue to leave them un-checked. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Nightwing