I was just wondering if anyone else noticed that certain things are missing in multiplayer games and if it was supposed to be that way.

For instance, there is no pop up letting me know that my civ discovered a technology - there also is no pop up re: building a palace. Is this normal? The tech thing is kind of annoying.

This was intentionally done so that game go faster in MP.

As far as the tech pop-up goes, the first turn I set up my tech tree for the entire era and only change it if something unexpected happens (good or bad). This way I only have to deal with tech on the average twice a game (I've never seen an MP game go past the middle ages before somone won yet).

Having said that, I'd like the option for these to be brought back.

I thought pop ups were missing too, but it looks like you can add them back in at the very begining of the game before you load it by going to preferences and choosing them