public static function emoticonsToHtml($str)
    {

        $str = str_replace (" :)", ' <img src="/media/emot/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="big_grin" />', $str);
        $str = str_replace (" :(", ' <img src="/media/emot/icon_cry.gif" alt="cry"  />', $str);
        $str = str_replace (" ;)", ' <img src="/media/emot/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink" />', $str);
        $str = str_replace (" 8*", ' <img src="/media/emot/icon_eek.gif" alt="eek" />', $str);

        return $str;
    }