downloads hanging and more

[clockwise]

recently, i've been having problems with my net connection. large downloads tend to hang, or repeatedly give errors... often i'll set an "emerge -UD world" going, only to find it frozen on the second package two hours later. i've contacted my isp and they're pretty sure there are no problems on their end.

anyway, i'm running a 2.6.1-gentoo-r1 kernel and my nic module is 8139too

just wondering if anyone else has run into similar errors?
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"if an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." - niccolò machiavelli