By and large, I'm not a user of emoticons in MSN Messenger (or any Instant Messenger-like application - though I use the keystrokes frequently).  I copy and paste too many code snippets in the window (though purportedly Skype does a better job of handling code, I can't stand Skype's interface) and it gets wearisome to interpret the code sequences rendered as graphics.  I was reading a bit today on the next version of MSN Messenger and saw mention of a hidden MSN Messenger emoticon, so I thought I'd try it out.  Sure enough, it worked!  I then hunted these down.  I believe that they been in MSN Messenger since about version 6 (though the goat may be new to 7.5).  I present them here for your viewing (and using) pleasure:

Image	Shortcut	Description
	(brb)	Be Right Back
	(ci)	Cigarette
	(h5)	High Five
	(nah)	Goat
	(%)	Handcuffs
	(tu)	Turtle
	(xx)	XBox
	(yn)	Fingers Crossed

A couple of years ago I set out to create some of my own (feel free to use them as well for yourself).  The majority of these derive from my passion around board games, in this case Settlers of Catan.  I may take up to creating some more time permitting.  [Update 01/18/2006: I've added a few new icons below (ellipsis and arrow).  Additionally, I have added a zip file (click for link) that provides all of these custom icons in a single download.]

Image	Shortcut	Description
	(bowl)	Bowling
	($)	Dollars / Money (I never liked the money symbol in Messenger)
	(scrab)	Scrabble
	(brick)	Settlers of Catan - Brick Tile
	(desrt)	Settlers of Catan - Desert Tile
	(ore)	Settlers of Catan - Ore Tile
	(wheat)	Settlers of Catan - Wheat Tile
	(wood)	Settlers of Catan - Wood Tile
	(wool)	Settlers of Catan - Wool Tile
	...	Animated ellipsis (NEW: 01/18/2006)
	-->	Right Arrow (NEW: 01/18/2006)