diff --git a/boot.php b/boot.php
index a8c84c7b9..4e266f4f1 100755
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@@ -241,6 +241,8 @@ define ( 'PHOTO_XCHAN',            0x0002 );
 define ( 'PHOTO_THING',            0x0004 );
 define ( 'PHOTO_ADULT',            0x0008 );
 
+define ( 'PHOTO_FLAG_OS',          0x4000 );
+
 /**
  * Menu types
  */
diff --git a/mod/ping.php b/mod/ping.php
index ef8afd91c..cdb6aa0b2 100644
--- a/mod/ping.php
+++ b/mod/ping.php
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ function ping_init(&$a) {
 	if(local_user())  {
 		$vnotify = get_pconfig(local_user(),'system','vnotify');
 		$evdays = intval(get_pconfig(local_user(),'system','evdays'));
+		$ob_hash = get_observer_hash();
 	}
 
 	// if unset show all visual notification types
@@ -275,10 +276,12 @@ function ping_init(&$a) {
 		$result = array();
 
 		$r = q("SELECT * FROM item
-			WHERE item_restrict = %d and ( item_flags & %d ) > 0 and uid = %d",
+			WHERE item_restrict = %d and ( item_flags & %d ) > 0 and uid = %d
+			and author_xchan != '%s' ",
 			intval(ITEM_VISIBLE),
 			intval(ITEM_UNSEEN),
-			intval(local_user())
+			intval(local_user()),
+			dbesc($ob_hash)
 		);
 
 		if($r) {
@@ -381,10 +384,12 @@ function ping_init(&$a) {
 
 	if($vnotify & (VNOTIFY_NETWORK|VNOTIFY_CHANNEL)) {
 		$r = q("SELECT id, item_restrict, item_flags FROM item
-			WHERE (item_restrict = %d) and ( item_flags & %d ) > 0 and uid = %d",
+			WHERE (item_restrict = %d) and ( item_flags & %d ) > 0 and uid = %d
+			and author_xchan != '%s'",
 			intval(ITEM_VISIBLE),
 			intval(ITEM_UNSEEN),
-			intval(local_user())
+			intval(local_user()),
+			dbesc($ob_hash)
 		);
 
 		if($r) {	
diff --git a/version.inc b/version.inc
index 9523d00d1..43e85b852 100644
--- a/version.inc
+++ b/version.inc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2014-12-27.902
+2014-12-28.903