In the news a few days ago ...

"Virgin Media customers have been left without TV, Internet and Video 
on-demand services after a suspected arson attack knocked out power to 
60,000 homes in Manchester city centre, Salford, Bury and Wigan last night. 
Power was completely restored by 9pm, and most users were restored cable 
service by 2am.
Readers at The Register believed that Virgins problems were caused by the 
air conditioning for its servers losing power, however the Virgin spokesman 
was not able to confirm this. More details of the incident are on the Virgin 
Media status page. "

I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was running 
as slowly as it always does?   :o)


-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message
> In the news a few days ago ...
>
> I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was 
> running as slowly as it always does?   :o)
>
Hi Dave and yep virg broadband, particularly in the evenings, is almost as 
slow as the old dialup.

Clicking on your post and 'properties' I see you've dumped v/band, thus 
qualifying you as an oldbie - neat move.

BD

Bertie Doe wrote:
> 
> "Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message
> > In the news a few days ago ...
> >
> > I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was
> > running as slowly as it always does?   :o)
> >
> Hi Dave and yep virg broadband, particularly in the evenings, is almost as
> slow as the old dialup.

While I'm aware that everyone else has speed problems I never have.
Checked again today and am getting 975k on a 1 Meg connection. 

Alec

bill@hotmail.com wrote:
> 
> Bertie Doe wrote:
>> "Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message
>>> In the news a few days ago ...
>>>
>>> I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was
>>> running as slowly as it always does?   :o)
>>>
>> Hi Dave and yep virg broadband, particularly in the evenings, is almost as
>> slow as the old dialup.
> 
> While I'm aware that everyone else has speed problems I never have.
> Checked again today and am getting 975k on a 1 Meg connection. 
> 
> Alec

For me, the Virgin Net email server has been atrociously slow during the 
evenings of late. Some evenings accessing web sites has also generally 
been very slow. I'm starting to think about exploring other ISP's - but 
are they any better???

John

John Cletheroe wrote:

> For me, the Virgin Net email server has been atrociously slow during the
> evenings of late. Some evenings accessing web sites has also generally
> been very slow. I'm starting to think about exploring other ISP's - but
> are they any better???
> 

I must confess that email has been slow but general browsing has been
fine, any time of day. Currently receiving email is ok but it takes an
age to send a message. 

As for choosing a new ISP, I really don't know. While not from personal
experience, the only ISP I've only heard good of is Zen. 

Alec

This recent item makes interesting reading, as do the comments posted under 
it ....

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3285-virgin-media-and-its-adsl-broadband-problems.html


-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"John Cletheroe"
wrote in message>>

> For me, the Virgin Net email server has been atrociously slow during the 
> evenings of late. Some evenings accessing web sites has also generally 
> been very slow. I'm starting to think about exploring other ISP's - but 
> are they any better???
>
> John

I don't have too many probs with mail, some of my emails have some pretty 
large attachments and it will get there - eventually. Mind you, I tend to 
post these between 8 and 9am.

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)"  wrote in message
> This recent item makes interesting reading, as do the comments posted 
> under it ....
>
> http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3285-virgin-media-and-its-adsl-broadband-problems.html
>
>
Ouch, that's a real eye-opener Dave. I've got one of those B/band Speed Test 
thingies, which also makes for grim reading. Often the download test speed 
is "inconclusive" because it 'times out' before the test can be completed.
The test also confirms that virgin have no proxy server/webcache. This may 
be the reason why I get error messages, when viewing posts in a forum 
(mostly evenings)
BD

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:
> 
> In the news a few days ago ...
> 
> "Virgin Media customers have been left without TV, Internet and Video
> on-demand services after a suspected arson attack knocked out power to
> 60,000 homes in Manchester city centre, Salford, Bury and Wigan last night.
> Power was completely restored by 9pm, and most users were restored cable
> service by 2am.
> Readers at The Register believed that Virgins problems were caused by the
> air conditioning for its servers losing power, however the Virgin spokesman
> was not able to confirm this. More details of the incident are on the Virgin
> Media status page. "
> 
> I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was running
> as slowly as it always does?   :o)

Dave, or anyone reading this thread, this:

> Subject: Gadget show Broadband speeds
> Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:29:38 GMT
> From: Pam Moore 
> Organization: ntl Virgin ADSL News Service
> Newsgroups: virgin.feedback
> 
> Did anyone watch The Gadget Show tonight (12.11.07)?
> They are doing a survey of broadband speeds and hope to shame the ISPs
> into providing a better service.
> 
> The website is five.tv/gadgetshow but I had difficulty finding the
> Broadband section.
> This link takes you direct to the test;
> http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/speed_test.htm
> They ask us to do several tests over several days, at different times,
> and keep a record.
> Not sure what to do then, but watch the website!
> Pam

 was posted in Virgin Feedback and I've taken the liberty of repeating
it here for those who don't/can't look at virgin.feedback. Speedtest
confirmed what I suspected, my 1 Meg service is running at 1Meg! 

Alec

Thanks guyz for those two links, very useful.

My test results: download 991kbps, upload 243kbps, service advertised as 
being 1Mbps. No complaints there then, but it's 7:30am!

John

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:03:54 +0000, Dave (Sgt. Pepper) wrote:

> This recent item makes interesting reading, as do the comments posted under 
> it ....
> http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/3285-virgin-media-and-its-adsl-broadband-problems.html

I left Virgin Internet about 5 or so years ago.  Service was appalling,
even then.

Recently, (over the past 6 months) I've also noticed a *huge* drop in
signal strength, when a signal is available at all, for their mobile
'phone service in the area I live.  So, I've left them too.

The name Virgin has become a joke.   :-(

-- 
 Regards  _
         / )           "The blindingly obvious is
        / _)rad        never immediately apparent"

You destroyed my confidence, you broke my nerve
Nervous Wreck - Radio Stars

John Cletheroe wrote:
> 
> Thanks guyz for those two links, very useful.
> 
> My test results: download 991kbps, upload 243kbps, service advertised as
> being 1Mbps. No complaints there then, but it's 7:30am!

Similar results to you John, 976k & 234k, again for the 1 Mb service.
Had similar results all day yesterday. Can't help thinking that the 1Mb
service comes off a different server and/or there are so few people on
it that there is plenty of bandwidth.  

Alec

"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
news:5ptig6Fta1okU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message
>> In the news a few days ago ...
>>
>> I wonder if anyone actually noticed, or did they just assume it was 
>> running as slowly as it always does?   :o)
>>
> Hi Dave and yep virg broadband, particularly in the evenings, is almost as 
> slow as the old dialup.
>
> Clicking on your post and 'properties' I see you've dumped v/band, thus 
> qualifying you as an oldbie - neat move.
>
> BD

No, I'm still with Virgin Bertie, I just use a totally false email addy when 
posting to newsgroups to avoid spambots and also some undesirables (not in 
this group I hasten to add) who like to cause mischief when they have your 
real address    ;o)
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"John Cletheroe"  wrote in message 
news:GEh_i.24037$6v.20228@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>
> For me, the Virgin Net email server has been atrociously slow during the 
> evenings of late. Some evenings accessing web sites has also generally 
> been very slow. I'm starting to think about exploring other ISP's - but 
> are they any better???
>
> John

Same for me.  I have thought of changing, but when you browse through the 
ThinkBroadband website forums, they all seem to have problems of one sort or 
another, so it could well end up being a case of 'out of the frying pan into 
the fire'.  The other thing that puts me off changing is the prospect of 
having to notify a change of email address to so many people and websites 
(online banking, online shopping etc.).
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

I'm not very techy, so I may need some advice here. I use 'Dan Elwell's 
Broadband Test' This is typical of some of the results I'm getting lately :_

Ping Rates to UK Servers, "You should get 30ms (lower is better)"
What I got was 250ms, 238ms, 250ms and 235ms.
"Should be investigated further".

Download speeds from UK Servers "You should get 512 Kb/s"
What I got was 111 Kb/s
"Should be investigated further"

Download speeds from Europen and east-coast USA Servers.
In both cases I got "This individual test failed due to a server timeout or 
other error" "Invstigate further"

Is there another possibility, which may give the above figures. Could it be 
the BT line between here and the exchange? Dunno where the exchange is, but 
if it's in the town centre, that would be about 2 miles away. Can BT do a 
test if I axe them nicely?

Bertie

Bertie,

Try the test early in the morning if possible. If the speeds are better 
then the problem probably lies with the ISP and there's not much you can 
do except complain. If the speeds are the same then I'd suspect your 
connection to the exchange, or your wireless network setup if you have one.

Does the modem icon appear in the system tray (near the clock, bottom 
right of the screen)? If you drift the mouse over it without clicking, 
it should display the connection speed (listed as "Speed"). This should 
be the same every time you connect and shouldn't alter once connected. 
It's the speed of your connection to the exchange (or to your router if 
you've got one, I think - sorry, I don't know much about routers). If 
it's the exchange connection speed then it should be the same as 
advertised by the ISP, i.e. 1Mbps or 8Mbps, probably. If it doesn't 
agree and you're not using a router then that might indicate a problem 
(maybe, I'm not an expert). If you're using a router then it might be 
much higher (I think).

The speed at which data is actually transferred, as reported by that 
test program, depends on the entire chain of cables and equipment from 
the server computer to your computer and how busy they all are. So it 
will vary, sometimes drastically, sometimes even minute by minute, and 
definitely from server to server.

HTH, John

"John Cletheroe" wrote in message > Bertie,
>
> Try the test early in the morning if possible. If the speeds are better 
> then the problem probably lies with the ISP and there's not much you can 
> do except complain. If the speeds are the same then I'd suspect your 
> connection to the exchange, or your wireless network setup if you have 
> one.
>
Thanks John, I'll try a speedtest again now 09.25 and perhaps again tomorrow 
at say 08.00. We do use a modem to network our 2 computers. I drifted the 
mouse over the icon in the corner and got ' LAC Speed 100.0 Mbps' which I 
assume equates to your 1 Mbps speed you mentioned.
If I do complain to virgin, can they 'tweak' my supply from their end?
I don't want to ask BT to turn up the gain, if the fault isn't theirs?

Bertie

"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message
> I'm not very techy, so I may need some advice here. I use 'Dan Elwell's 
> Broadband Test' This is typical of some of the results I'm getting lately 
> :_
>
> Ping Rates to UK Servers, "You should get 30ms (lower is better)"
> What I got was 250ms, 238ms, 250ms and 235ms.
> "Should be investigated further".
>
> Download speeds from UK Servers "You should get 512 Kb/s"
> What I got was 111 Kb/s
> "Should be investigated further"
>
> Download speeds from Europen and east-coast USA Servers.
> In both cases I got "This individual test failed due to a server timeout 
> or other error" "Invstigate further"
>

"John Cletheroe"  wrote in message 
news:aeS_i.37464$uH.25266@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> Bertie,
>
> Try the test early in the morning if possible. If the speeds are better 
> then the problem probably lies with the ISP and there's not much you can 
> do except complain. If the speeds are the same then I'd suspect your 
> connection to the exchange, or your wireless network setup if you have 
> one.
>
A bit of an improvement this morning :-
Ping rates to UK servers : 40ms,40ms,49ms and 53ms.(por but aceptable, I 
guess)
Downloads from UK servers, should be 512 but I got 1175Kbps, wow that's a 
good result.
Downloads from European and east-coast USA - sadly 'timed out' again.
But mornings seem to be good(ish).
BD

Bertie Doe wrote:
 >
> Thanks John, I'll try a speedtest again now 09.25 and perhaps again tomorrow
> at say 08.00. We do use a modem to network our 2 computers. I drifted the
> mouse over the icon in the corner and got ' LAC Speed 100.0 Mbps' which I
> assume equates to your 1 Mbps speed you mentioned.
> If I do complain to virgin, can they 'tweak' my supply from their end?
> I don't want to ask BT to turn up the gain, if the fault isn't theirs?

Could always be the tester I suppose. Can't use that one as I have a Mac
but have tried several in the past and they seem to give different
results. I always feel that the ultimate test is download speed from a
good server which is more of a real world test. 

I recall getting the gain turned up in the past but that was a modem
thing surely. Never heard of it being applicable to Broadband.

For a second opinion you could try
http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/speed_test.htm 

Alec

wrote in message > I recall getting the gain turned up in 
the past but that was a modem
> thing surely. Never heard of it being applicable to Broadband.
>
> For a second opinion you could try
> http://gadgetshow.five.tv/jsp/speed_test.htm
>
> Alec
>

Thanks Alec, you are right, turning up the gain could be a dial-up thang. 
I'll give gadgetshow a try later, but I suspect there will always be a trend 
of 'slow' evenings and 'sluggish' thereafter. -:)

I wrote to Virgin about 3 years ago, suggesting they changed their name to 
'Lightning' on the offchance that it would inspire their staff and send a 
subliminal message etc. I'm still waiting for a reply.

BD

Bertie,

"LAC Speed 100.0 Mbps" looks like the connection speed between your 
computer and - er - something (!) - maybe a modem, maybe a router???

It's not the speed of your connection to the exchange, that's for sure. 
I don't think even cable television connections go anywhere near that 
speed. The absolute max with ADSL is 8Mbsp AFAIK.

John

wrote in message news:473C784F.DDA7C879@hotmail.com...
>
> I recall getting the gain turned up in the past but that was a modem
> thing surely. Never heard of it being applicable to Broadband.

I believe it is just as relevant to Broadband as it was to dial-up if you 
are receiving your service via phone lines (as opposed to cable) Alec.  The 
signal is still coming down the BT wires and if you are a long way from the 
exchange, getting BT to increase the gain is a good move on the technical 
front (especially if your modem status reports lots of errors) ... but 
you're still left with the lack of Virgin investment in sufficient pipes on 
the supply front.

That's the real problem here, lack of investment in adequate infrastructure 
to support all the new broadband customers that Virgin have suckered in with 
their advertising BS.  They just about get away with it overnight and during 
the working day when most subscribers are away using their employers' 
systems, but when everyone gets home and switches on, then the contention 
increases and too many users are trying to share the same data pipes ... 
result, everything grinds to a near standstill.

-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote:
 
> I believe it is just as relevant to Broadband as it was to dial-up if you
> are receiving your service via phone lines (as opposed to cable) Alec.  The
> signal is still coming down the BT wires and if you are a long way from the
> exchange, getting BT to increase the gain is a good move on the technical
> front (especially if your modem status reports lots of errors) ... but
> you're still left with the lack of Virgin investment in sufficient pipes on
> the supply front.

Thanks Dave, I stand corrected. Bit of an assumption really as talk of
turning up the gain was common in modem days but I've never heard it
mentioned with regard to BB. I had assumed that you either sync with the
exchange or you don't.
> 
> That's the real problem here, lack of investment in adequate infrastructure
> to support all the new broadband customers that Virgin have suckered in with
> their advertising BS.  They just about get away with it overnight and during
> the working day when most subscribers are away using their employers'
> systems, but when everyone gets home and switches on, then the contention
> increases and too many users are trying to share the same data pipes ...
> result, everything grinds to a near standstill.

There's always the old standby of the ISP blaming BT who blames the ISP
etc., neither caring about the poor bloody customer!!!!

Alec

"John Cletheroe"  wrote in message
> Bertie,
>
> "LAC Speed 100.0 Mbps" looks like the connection speed between your 
> computer and - er - something (!) - maybe a modem, maybe a router???
>
> It's not the speed of your connection to the exchange, that's for sure. I 
> don't think even cable television connections go anywhere near that speed. 
> The absolute max with ADSL is 8Mbsp AFAIK.
>
> John

Both my wife's computer in the next room, network via a modem. The LAC speed 
is always 100.0 Mbps

The icon, next to the time in the bottom right hand corner, represents 2 
computers, bluish in colour, one overlapping the other slightly. The 
'screens' on these 2 computers, alternates black, in a random sort of 
sequence. If I drift the mouse over them, it shows the above speed.

Bertie

"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
news:5q3mkjFu0k9eU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> The icon, next to the time in the bottom right hand corner, represents 2 
> computers, bluish in colour, one overlapping the other slightly. The 
> 'screens' on these 2 computers, alternates black, in a random sort of 
> sequence. If I drift the mouse over them, it shows the above speed.
>
> Bertie

Bertie, that icon represents your internet connection.  If you are not 
connected, then a red cross appears alongside the 'two computer'.  When you 
are connected, the red cross disappears and you see just the 'two computers' 
in the icon.  They will alternate between black and blue when data is being 
actively uploaded or downloaded.

What you are seeing when you hover your mouse over that icon is only the 
theoretical synchronisation speed that your service has been set up for ... 
in my case 2.2 Mbps.  It will not vary.  It does not represent the *actual* 
speed that is taking place, which will, as has been discussed, vary greatly 
throughout the day.

Since you seem to be unfamiliar with this icon, let me just add that if you 
Right-mouse-click on it you will be presented with a menu.  Select 'Status' 
and a window will pop up showing you the number of bits sent and received 
during the current connected session ... quite interesting in itself.  Even 
if you are only downloading, you might be surprised to see how much is being 
uploaded by way of 'hand-shaking' to verify the integrity of the data you 
are receiving.  Note also that there is an 'Errors' count ... in a perfect 
technical setup, this should remain at zero for both up and down data 
streams.  If you are getting errors recorded, it may signify that you have 
connection problems, either with your phone line or with the filters, modem, 
or connections between.

I went through a spell of seeing huge error counts whenever I connected and 
in my case it turned out to be my old modem that had developed a fault. 
Replaced the modem and like magic, no more error counts.

HTH

-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

In news:5q3mkjFu0k9eU1@mid.individual.net,
Bertie Doe  wibbled :
> "John Cletheroe"  wrote in message
>> Bertie,
>>
>> "LAC Speed 100.0 Mbps" looks like the connection speed between your
>> computer and - er - something (!) - maybe a modem, maybe a router???
>>
>> It's not the speed of your connection to the exchange, that's for
>> sure. I don't think even cable television connections go anywhere
>> near that speed. The absolute max with ADSL is 8Mbsp AFAIK.
>>
>> John
>
> Both my wife's computer in the next room, network via a modem. The
> LAC speed is always 100.0 Mbps
>
> The icon, next to the time in the bottom right hand corner,
> represents 2 computers, bluish in colour, one overlapping the other
> slightly. The 'screens' on these 2 computers, alternates black, in a
> random sort of sequence. If I drift the mouse over them, it shows the
> above speed.
> Bertie

I think you'll find that's the speed of the Ethernet card/connection, 
not t'Internet.
Basically the max which the card is capable.

-- 
Wisdom and experience come with age, they say, but I wish I could
remember the darn question

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)"  wrote in message
>
>
> Bertie, that icon represents your internet connection.  If you are not 
> connected, then a red cross appears alongside the 'two computer'.  When 
> you are connected, the red cross disappears and you see just the 'two 
> computers' in the icon.  They will alternate between black and blue when 
> data is being actively uploaded or downloaded.
>
> What you are seeing when you hover your mouse over that icon is only the 
> theoretical synchronisation speed that your service has been set up for 
> ... in my case 2.2 Mbps.  It will not vary.  It does not represent the 
> *actual* speed that is taking place, which will, as has been discussed, 
> vary greatly throughout the day.
>
> Since you seem to be unfamiliar with this icon, let me just add that if 
> you Right-mouse-click on it you will be presented with a menu.  Select 
> 'Status' and a window will pop up showing you the number of bits sent and 
> received during the current connected session ... quite interesting in 
> itself.  Even if you are only downloading, you might be surprised to see 
> how much is being uploaded by way of 'hand-shaking' to verify the 
> integrity of the data you are receiving.  Note also that there is an 
> 'Errors' count ... in a perfect technical setup, this should remain at 
> zero for both up and down data streams.  If you are getting errors 
> recorded, it may signify that you have connection problems, either with 
> your phone line or with the filters, modem, or connections between.
>
> I went through a spell of seeing huge error counts whenever I connected 
> and in my case it turned out to be my old modem that had developed a 
> fault. Replaced the modem and like magic, no more error counts.
>
Thanks Dave, didn't know this menu existed.:-
Speed (as before 100.0 Mbps
Activity 7hrs 1min
Packets sent 68,402
Packets received 24,100
No reference to error count under General or Support tabs.
Under LAC Properties
(General) Connect using : Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller, then 
there's a few bits about connections, Microsoft Networks QoS packet 
scheduler (all ticked).
Then there's a tab with details about Authentication and an Advanced tab 
about Windows Firewall etc, but no refs to recorded errors - perhaps there 
are none? BD

"GbH"  wrote in message > I think you'll find that's the speed of the 
Ethernet card/connection,
> not t'Internet.
> Basically the max which the card is capable.
>
> -- 
> Wisdom and experience come with age, they say, but I wish I could
> remember the darn question
I'm not arguing with someone with a newsname of GBH (I guess you've heard 
that one before) but thanks Geoff, so it's the card's max, not actual.

BD

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message > I went through a spell of seeing 
huge error counts whenever I connected and
> in my case it turned out to be my old modem that had developed a fault. 
> Replaced the modem and like magic, no more error counts.
>
> HTH
>
> -- 
> Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
>     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq

Thanks Dave and nice pics in your blog BTW (cue creep crawl mode) slightly 
OT, I'm not very techy, but what's the best ng for the following:-

I want to do a spoof avatar for one of my caffiene forums. Instead of the 
usual boring latte art http://www.latteart.org/latteart.htm , I'd like an 
avatar of a coffee cup with the 'Haywaine' or 'Mona Liza' floating on the 
surface in say sepia colour.

It would obviously be a wind up, as pouring milk into espresso, from a great 
height, limits you to apples, hearts and pear shapes (?). Any pointers would 
be appreciated, thanks.

Bertie

"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
news:5rifssF14j13oU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Dave (Sgt. Pepper)" wrote in message > I went through a spell of seeing 
> huge error counts whenever I connected and
>> in my case it turned out to be my old modem that had developed a fault. 
>> Replaced the modem and like magic, no more error counts.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> -- 
>> Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
>>     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
>
> Thanks Dave and nice pics in your blog BTW (cue creep crawl mode) slightly 
> OT, I'm not very techy, but what's the best ng for the following:-
>
> I want to do a spoof avatar for one of my caffiene forums. Instead of the 
> usual boring latte art http://www.latteart.org/latteart.htm , I'd like an 
> avatar of a coffee cup with the 'Haywaine' or 'Mona Liza' floating on the 
> surface in say sepia colour.
>
> It would obviously be a wind up, as pouring milk into espresso, from a 
> great height, limits you to apples, hearts and pear shapes (?). Any 
> pointers would be appreciated, thanks.
>
> Bertie


Sorry Bertie, I can't be of any help there at all.  I just see the world 
through a camera lens, I don't get involved in any of the on-screen artsy 
stuff   :o)
-- 
Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"

"Dave (Sgt. Pepper)"  wrote in message

> Sorry Bertie, I can't be of any help there at all.  I just see the world 
> through a camera lens, I don't get involved in any of the on-screen artsy 
> stuff   :o)
> -- 
> Dave (Sgt. Pepper)       Epsom, England
>     My photo galleries at  http://www.pbase.com/davecq
>    "I will not tolerate intolerance ... Doh!!"
>
That was a quick reply, thanks Dave.

Bertie

Bertie Doe wrote:
> 
 Thanks Dave and nice pics in your blog BTW (cue creep crawl mode) slightly
> OT, I'm not very techy, but what's the best ng for the following:-
> 
> I want to do a spoof avatar for one of my caffiene forums. Instead of the
> usual boring latte art http://www.latteart.org/latteart.htm , I'd like an
> avatar of a coffee cup with the 'Haywaine' or 'Mona Liza' floating on the
> surface in say sepia colour.
> 
> It would obviously be a wind up, as pouring milk into espresso, from a great
> height, limits you to apples, hearts and pear shapes (?). Any pointers would
> be appreciated, thanks.

Can't help with your question but I do like the site and will have to
have a good look around. I do like my coffee more than almost anything else.

Alec

wrote in message >> It would obviously be a wind up, as 
pouring milk into espresso, from a great
>> height, limits you to apples, hearts and pear shapes (?). Any pointers 
>> would
>> be appreciated, thanks.
>
> Can't help with your question but I do like the site and will have to
> have a good look around. I do like my coffee more than almost anything 
> else.
>
> Alec

Thanks Alec. Last night I discovered I had 'Dell Picture Studio' which was a 
freebie. I can overlay a pic of a coffee cup, with say 'The Laughing 
Cavalier'. I can even change the colour of TLC, to shades of sepia, but I 
can't (yet) tilt the pic to 25 degrees to get some realism.

My current avatar on TMC (there my usename is cumberpach) is a bit boring.
The Gene referred to in the thread, is a half pound coffee roaster, which 
seems to have died. Matt has the reputation for breaking things - hence the 
black humour. http://tinyurl.com/2wxbog

Bertie

"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
news:5rkih6F1598j6U1@mid.individual.net...
>
>  wrote in message >> >> Can't help with your question 
> but I do like the site and will have to
>> have a good look around. I do like my coffee more than almost anything 
>> else.
>>
>> Alec
>
> Thanks Alec. Last night I discovered I had 'Dell Picture Studio' which was 
> a freebie.

Update : It's a free trial only. So I'll have a look on the net for some 
photo imaging.

BD

Things have sped up a lot, since I dumped OE in favour of Firefox. I'm 
getting fewer 'timeouts' with virgin, in the evening. I guess all the 
filters on OE combined with virgin .... was a deadly combination.

Bertie

This is to let you know that Marie known as Lethe or elethean (?) died on 
20th dec 2007.
"Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
news:5ta83gF1cf8k2U1@mid.individual.net...
> Things have sped up a lot, since I dumped OE in favour of Firefox. I'm 
> getting fewer 'timeouts' with virgin, in the evening. I guess all the 
> filters on OE combined with virgin .... was a deadly combination.
>
> Bertie
>

" Lethe"  wrote in message 
news:flnp8s$6hv$1@news.datemas.de...
> This is to let you know that Marie known as Lethe or elethean (?) died on 
> 20th dec 2007.
> "Bertie Doe"  wrote in message 
> news:5ta83gF1cf8k2U1@mid.individual.net...
>> Things have sped up a lot, since I dumped OE in favour of Firefox. I'm 
>> getting fewer 'timeouts' with virgin, in the evening. I guess all the 
>> filters on OE combined with virgin .... was a deadly combination.
>>
>> Bertie
>>
>
Sorry to hear that Marie has passed. I'll never forget her comment "I've 
been wandering around like the 'Flying Dutchman' looking for a working 
server".

Bertie

Lethe wrote:
> 
> This is to let you know that Marie known as Lethe or elethean (?) died on
> 20th dec 2007.

Very sorry to hear that. Thank you for letting us know.

Alec