No offence taken - how could you know I'm an honest person? It's just kind of funny for me because as I said, I haven't got a clue how to modify...well, I did learn how to download skins...
I've got a feeling it has something to do with the connection - maybe my firewall? I'll make the checks others have suggested too.
Actually, I gave up on LFS for a long time because although I love the sim the AI isn't that much fun either. It's not that I'm a hermit, but honestly I get stressed out enough at work, so I tend to avoid crowds on my time off...just don't need the friction.