diff --git a/irc.py b/irc.py
index fab33d8..b9d098a 100755
--- a/irc.py
+++ b/irc.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class Bot(asynchat.async_chat):
     #     asynchat.async_chat.push(self, *args, **kargs)
 
     def __write(self, args, text=None): 
-        # print '%r %r %r' % (self, args, text)
+        # print 'PUSH: %r %r %r' % (self, args, text)
         try: 
             if text is not None: 
                 # 510 because CR and LF count too, as nyuszika7h points out
diff --git a/modules/oblique.py b/modules/oblique.py
index 50ea7cf..a8179bb 100644
--- a/modules/oblique.py
+++ b/modules/oblique.py
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ def service(phenny, input, command, args):
     lines = bytes.splitlines()
     if not lines: 
         return phenny.reply("Sorry, the service didn't respond any output.")
+    try: line = lines[0].encode('utf-8')[:350]
+    except: line = lines[0][:250]
     phenny.say(lines[0][:350])
 
 def refresh(phenny): 
diff --git a/modules/startup.py b/modules/startup.py
index fdc0d4f..ce0c0f4 100644
--- a/modules/startup.py
+++ b/modules/startup.py
@@ -58,11 +58,12 @@ def startup(phenny, input):
 
     if hasattr(phenny.config, 'password'): 
         phenny.msg('NickServ', 'IDENTIFY %s' % phenny.config.password)
-        __import__('time').sleep(5)
+        time.sleep(5)
 
     # Cf. http://swhack.com/logs/2005-12-05#T19-32-36
     for channel in phenny.channels: 
         phenny.write(('JOIN', channel))
+        time.sleep(0.5)
 startup.rule = r'(.*)'
 startup.event = '251'
 startup.priority = 'low'
diff --git a/phenny b/phenny
index 375ac80..2ecb0a3 100755
--- a/phenny
+++ b/phenny
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ def main(argv=None):
    # Step Two: Check Dependencies
 
    check_python_version() # require python2.4 or later
-   check_dotdir() # require ~/.phenny, or make it and exit
+   if not opts.config:
+      check_dotdir() # require ~/.phenny, or make it and exit
 
    # Step Three: Load The Configurations