on the main page where all the topics are list what does a dot, clouds, and the arrow point to the left mean next to a topic name?

Dot = new topic
"Clouds" = topic you've replied
Arrow = topic moved to proper forum, as this one will soon have

Hope this helps.

thanks, just wonder and didn't see a FAQ anyway on these icons

By the way, those "clouds" are actually speech bubbles.

::Edit:: Another bit of trivia: those speech bubbles will remain dark until somebody else replies to the thread.

I know, i was just using a cartoon term