looking for solution for this: i made my thread list look other way :) I woun't describe it just take a look - http://www.vitz-omsk.com/forum-f-8.html
as you can see each tread has a colored box with the number of replies. And it changes it's color depending on thread's status e.g. hot thread has red corner, with new replies is blue and without replies it's grey.
Well the problem is - I don't know how to do the same on portal page?

They are custom images, with a PHP Script inside them

They are not hard to create, but I am the wrong person to help you here

Also this isnt a request, its a support question :l