diff --git a/res/layout/message_status.xml b/res/layout/message_status.xml
index fd8890ea..33487984 100644
--- a/res/layout/message_status.xml
+++ b/res/layout/message_status.xml
@@ -6,35 +6,8 @@
     android:paddingTop="6dp"
     android:paddingBottom="6dp"
     android:paddingRight="6dp"
-    android:paddingLeft="24dp">
-
-    <LinearLayout
-        android:id="@+id/linearLayout1"
-        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
-        android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/message_photo"
-        android:background="@drawable/message_border"
-        android:minHeight="dp"
-        android:visibility="gone">
-
-        <LinearLayout
-            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-            android:layout_height="fill_parent"
-            android:background="#ededed"
-            android:orientation="vertical">
-            
-            <TextView
-                android:layout_gravity="center_vertical"
-                android:id="@+id/message_body"
-                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
-                android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-                android:textColor="#333333"
-                android:textSize="14sp"
-                android:text="your contact has read up to this point"/>
-        </LinearLayout>
-    </LinearLayout>
-
+    android:paddingLeft="8dp">
+    
     <ImageView
         android:id="@+id/message_photo"
         android:layout_width="32dp"
@@ -44,6 +17,6 @@
         android:layout_marginRight="-1.5dp"
         android:padding="0dp"
         android:scaleType="fitXY"
-        android:src="@drawable/ic_profile" />
+        android:src="@drawable/ic_profile"/>
 
 </RelativeLayout>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java b/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
index adcf9258..4a246492 100644
--- a/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
+++ b/src/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/ConversationFragment.java
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ public class ConversationFragment extends Fragment {
 													.getContact(),
 											getActivity()
 													.getApplicationContext()));
+							viewHolder.contact_picture.setAlpha(128);
 
 						}
 						break;