whatever the case, i made mine:
$postrow[$z]['lastposter'] = "";
$postrow[$z]['specialicon'] = "blank.gif";
$postrow[$z]['body'] = $Body;
$postrow[$z]['announce'] = "0";
if ($Sticky == '2') {
that seemed to be the only difference between my code and those in the instructions (other than the template code, which you addressed above).
however, i still have nothin to show for it. no errors, but no alt tag.
its gotta be some other conflict buried somewhere
