Background problem and a few other questions

Hey I have a background problem on a forum I created today and I would really appreciate it if someone could help me out. Alright the problem is that I keep setting a background picture but it won't show up. If I right click and hit View background image it shows up clear as day but I still can't see it normally. When I go to the Home page with the forum instead of the Portal though I can see the edges of the photo. Is there anyway I could make this part of the forum clear? Thanks hear are some less important questions that might not be in the right forum.
1. Is there anyway I can have it so my users can select their nationality?
2. If I can do the above can I set pirate as a nationality? (friends request)
3. How can I add new smilies like the ones you guys have?
4. IS it possible to set a moving message board on this forum. (I used forum arena before they crashed and I could do it there) If you don't know what I'm talking about I'll try and find an example but basically you could type a message in it and it would scroll across on a specific part of the forum (ours was above the chat box.) Thanks.

1a:
I need a link to your forum ... i need to see your forum version and if there are any css intrusions.

1b: yes ... I think you should try the tips and tricks link on this forums homepage. you set up nationality flags , just like on this forum via the profile settings... the tutorial is there just search

2: you can add anything ...

3: admin panel -> display -> smileys -> add new smiley

4: its our recent addition. you can set up a scrolling announcement : admin panel-> general -> messages and email -> announcements -> actvieate and add new announcement

Thanks my forum is www.arclegacy.forumotion.com

odd ... give me a link to the image you want posted as your background.


oh and i see you are using my nav images... nice... but I did make a portal image too ...

Really I'm using yours? That's pretty nice. Where could I find your portal Image? ALso here's the link to the image I would like as the background <a href="https://s745.photobucket.com/albums/xx92/Riskytransportation/?action=view&current=CodystyleEARCMobewan.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://2img.net/h/i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx92/Riskytransportation/CodystyleEARCMobewan.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> I used photobucket and this is the HTML code tell me if I need to give you a differnt one thanks.

Thanks a lot man. Are you going to be able to fix the background? Either way thanks for your help.