before when i clicked applications at the bottom was an add/remove programs launcher, but its missing in action now.. how can i get it back?

I think that was taken out for either Breezy or Dapper.
To get it back right click on the Applications button then select Edit Menus from the drop-down list.
Next click add menu item in the window that opens and fill in the details for the launcher in the right hand pane.
The name can be whatever but the launcher needs to point to the right program. Im at school at the moment so I can't look up the program for you but either find it yourself, use synaptic until I can find the program (or someone else finds it for you) or you could try various things such as "gnome-applications-manger, add-applications etc.
Then just save (if its possible, it may autosave...) and close the program.
Wait a few seconds then check the menu for the menu to refresh and then see if it works.