diff --git a/README b/README
index e9d0214e..a9aeb8a5 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ the Creative Commons BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
 = People =
  Erwan Briand - Handler and MultiUserChat classes
  Gaëtan Ribémont (http://www.bonbref.com) - Logo design
+= Project =
+ Gajim - send_vcard method
 
 ======================
        The code
diff --git a/data/poezio_80.png b/data/poezio_80.png
index 10655931..e56c6128 100644
Binary files a/data/poezio_80.png and b/data/poezio_80.png differ
diff --git a/src/client.py b/src/client.py
index 9840d259..d3561a86 100644
--- a/src/client.py
+++ b/src/client.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 import sys
 # disable any printout (this would mess the display)
 stderr = sys.stderr
-sys.stdout = open('/dev/null', 'w')
-sys.stderr = open('/dev/null', 'w')
+# sys.stdout = open('/dev/null', 'w')
+# sys.stderr = open('/dev/null', 'w')
 
 from connection import Connection
 from multiuserchat import MultiUserChat
diff --git a/src/common.py b/src/common.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..015f1cec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# Copyright 2010, Florent Le Coz <louizatakk@fedoraproject.org>
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation version 3 of the License.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+# various useful functions
+
+import base64
+import os
+import mimetypes
+import hashlib
+
+def get_base64_from_file(path):
+    if not os.path.isfile(path):
+        return (None, None, "File does not exist")
+    size = os.path.getsize(path)
+    if size > 16384:
+        return (None, None,"File is too big")
+    fd = open(path, 'rb')
+    data = fd.read()
+    encoded = base64.encodestring(data)
+    sha1 = hashlib.sha1(data).hexdigest()
+    mime_type = mimetypes.guess_type(path)[0]
+    return (encoded, mime_type, sha1)
diff --git a/src/connection.py b/src/connection.py
index 8a042502..2dec8f35 100644
--- a/src/connection.py
+++ b/src/connection.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class Connection(threading.Thread):
         if not self.authenticate():
             logger.error('Could not authenticate to server')
             sys.exit(-1)
-        self.client.sendInitPresence()
+        self.client.sendInitPresence(requestRoster=0)
         self.online = 1      # 2 when confirmation of auth is received
         self.register_handlers()
         while 1:
diff --git a/src/multiuserchat.py b/src/multiuserchat.py
index 4f132fd4..8c948513 100644
--- a/src/multiuserchat.py
+++ b/src/multiuserchat.py
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
 
 from xmpp import NS_MUC_ADMIN, NS_MUC
 from xmpp.protocol import Presence, Iq, Message, JID
+import xmpp
+import common
+import threading
 
 from handler import Handler
 from config import config
@@ -34,9 +37,72 @@ def is_jid(jid):
     if JID(jid).getNode() != '':
         return True
 
+class VcardSender(threading.Thread):
+    """
+    avatar sending is really slow (don't know why...)
+    use a thread to send it...
+    """
+    def __init__(self, connection):
+        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
+        self.connection = connection
+        self.handler = Handler()
+
+    def run(self):
+        self.send_vcard()
+
+    def send_vcard(self):
+        """
+        Method stolen from Gajim (thanks)
+        ## Copyright (C) 2006 Dimitur Kirov <dkirov AT gmail.com>
+        ##                    Junglecow J <junglecow AT gmail.com>
+        ## Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Tomasz Melcer <liori AT exroot.org>
+        ##                         Travis Shirk <travis AT pobox.com>
+        ##                         Nikos Kouremenos <kourem AT gmail.com>
+        ## Copyright (C) 2006-2008 Yann Leboulanger <asterix AT lagaule.org>
+        ## Copyright (C) 2007 Julien Pivotto <roidelapluie AT gmail.com>
+        ## Copyright (C) 2007-2008 Brendan Taylor <whateley AT gmail.com>
+        ##                         Jean-Marie Traissard <jim AT lapin.org>
+        ##                         Stephan Erb <steve-e AT h3c.de>
+        ## Copyright (C) 2008 Jonathan Schleifer <js-gajim AT webkeks.org>
+        (one of these people coded this method, probably)
+        """
+        if not self.connection:
+            return
+        vcard = {
+            "FN":"Poezio tester",
+            }
+        photo_file_path = config.get('photo', '../data/poezio_80.png')
+        (image, mime_type, sha1) = common.get_base64_from_file(photo_file_path)
+        if image:
+            vcard['PHOTO'] = {"TYPE":mime_type,"BINVAL":image}
+        iq = xmpp.Iq(typ = 'set')
+        iq2 = iq.setTag(xmpp.NS_VCARD + ' vCard')
+        for i in vcard:
+            if i == 'jid':
+                continue
+            if isinstance(vcard[i], dict):
+                iq3 = iq2.addChild(i)
+                for j in vcard[i]:
+                    iq3.addChild(j).setData(vcard[i][j])
+            elif isinstance(vcard[i], list):
+                for j in vcard[i]:
+                    iq3 = iq2.addChild(i)
+                    for k in j:
+                        iq3.addChild(k).setData(j[k])
+            else:
+                iq2.addChild(i).setData(vcard[i])
+        # id_ = self.connect.getAnId()
+        # iq.setID(id_)
+        self.connection.send(iq)
+        iq = xmpp.Iq(typ = 'set')
+        iq2 = iq.setTag(xmpp.NS_VCARD_UPDATE)
+        iq2.addChild('PHOTO').setData(sha1)
+        self.connection.send(iq)
+
 class MultiUserChat(object):
     def __init__(self, connection):
         self.connection = connection
+        self.vcard_sender = VcardSender(self.connection)
 
         self.rooms = []
         self.rn = {}
@@ -64,6 +130,7 @@ class MultiUserChat(object):
             else:
                 nick = config.get('default_nick', 'poezio')
             self.handler.emit('join-room', room=roomname, nick=nick)
+        self.vcard_sender.start()
 
     def send_message(self, room, message):
         mes = Message(to=room)