maybe something is clashing with USC columns

you did use global_start for the hook location dident you ?

maybe ask whoever made USC columns if it can parse from separate plugins variables ?

test it, just put the variable anywhere in your forumhome template ( other than USC ) and see if it works..
if it works then its a clash, if not then you have done something wrong and we would need to work out what

Demo doesn't seem to be working. Maybe it's a Twitter thing, but I'll check back later.

It was a twitter thing...

I think I would have to do some sort of alternative display if they are offline

Installed and thank you :)

This is unstable due to either it having problems reaching twitter or twitter being down

when this happens you will see the message 'could not connect to json' and makes your site go down with it

for that reason, its going into the graveyard until the issue is fixed..