For your pictures, you have to upload them to a photo hosting website (I use Photobucket). It's very easy. Once you upload them, each picture is assigned three "codes"...copy the one that says IMG and paste it into your message.
For the tickers, click on one to go to one of the sites that create them for you...on that one I believe you want to copy the HTML code and paste it in your signature.
To create a signature, go to USER CP (near the top of the page)...select "Edit signature" and you can paste stuff you want (i.e. your countdown ticker) in your signature. It will show up every post.
I hope that helps!!
If not, you can try posting your questions on the Tech Forum: