I always skip over announcements, I didn't even find out I was nominated in the Ciddies until it was a week or so before the end of the finals. Maybe I should check it more often.

As for the pimp smilie, I posted in the other thread about whether or not it should be allowed a few times, but at this point I really don't care. It's just a smilie, stop complaining about it. Be happy with the forum as it is.