Exclude Cat from single loop with multiple page loops

I am running multiple loops on my frontpage http://bradstinyworld.com from the lower left loop (recent posts) I want to exclude category 17 which is featured in the column right next to that (Pop Culture News).

My loop looks like this:
` <div class=”hometitle”>Latest Posts</div>

<?php $page = (get_query_var(‘paged’)) ? get_query_var(‘paged’) : 1; query_posts(“showposts=3&paged=$page”); while ( have_posts() ) : the_post() ?>
” rel=”bookmark”><img style=”padding:5px 0px 2px 0px;” src=”<?php echo get_post_meta($post->ID, “thumbnail”, true); ?>” alt=”<?php echo get_post_meta($post->ID, “Theme Name”, true); ?> Thumbnail” />

<h3>” rel=”bookmark”><?php the_title(); ?></h3>

<?php the_content_limit(175, “[Read more]”); ?>

<?php endwhile; ?>’