nakkid,
i think i might have a solution looking at your code. i didn't even THINK about using the getpermissions() function!
MrLister,
the "special edition" is going to have a bunch of features that some might consider "bloatware" - so that's why it's not going to be an "ordinary" release.
expect it sometime this weekend, i'd say. it will include almost all the features of the Forum Display page, will show announcements, and will have some other options that i don't even know of yet!!!
so yeah, this weekend...thanks for the suggestion nakkid...