diff --git a/dr.botzo.cfg.example b/dr.botzo.cfg.example
index 8d5c024..8953f36 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.cfg.example
+++ b/dr.botzo.cfg.example
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@ dbhost = localhost
 dbuser = dr_botzo
 dbpass = password
 dbname = dr_botzo
+ssl = no
+ipv6 = yes
 
 [IrcAdmin]
 autojoin = #bss
+sleep = 30
 automsg = nickserv identify foo
 
 [Karma]
diff --git a/dr.botzo.py b/dr.botzo.py
index 7f73642..64a1f4a 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.py
+++ b/dr.botzo.py
@@ -85,12 +85,33 @@ except NoOptionError as e:
     sys.exit("Aborted due to error with necessary configuration: "
              "{0:s}".format(str(e)))
 
+# get some optional parameters
+use_ssl = False
+try:
+    use_ssl = config.getboolean('dr.botzo', 'ssl')
+except NoOptionError:
+    pass
+if use_ssl:
+    log.info("SSL support enabled")
+else:
+    log.debug("SSL not requested")
+
+use_ipv6 = False
+try:
+    use_ipv6 = config.getboolean('dr.botzo', 'ipv6')
+except NoOptionError:
+    pass
+if use_ipv6:
+    log.info("IPv6 support enabled")
+else:
+    log.debug("IPv6 not requested")
+
 # start up the IRC bot
 
 # create IRC and server objects and connect
 irc = DrBotIRC.DrBotIRC(config)
 server = irc.server().connect(botserver, botport, botnick, botpass,
-                              botuser, botircname)
+                              botuser, botircname, ssl=use_ssl, ipv6=use_ipv6)
 
 # load features
 try:
diff --git a/modules/Dispatch.py b/modules/Dispatch.py
index 7cc9711..d087c71 100644
--- a/modules/Dispatch.py
+++ b/modules/Dispatch.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class Dispatch(Module):
         key, dest = self._get_key_and_destination(key)
 
         if key is not None and dest is not None:
-            msg = "[{0:s}] {1:s}".format(key, message)
+            msg = "[{0:s}] {1:s}".format(key, message.encode('utf-8', 'ignore'))
             self.new_sendmsg(dest, msg)
 
             return dest, msg
diff --git a/modules/IrcAdmin.py b/modules/IrcAdmin.py
index 86fa3cb..bacc4f4 100644
--- a/modules/IrcAdmin.py
+++ b/modules/IrcAdmin.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 """
 
 from ConfigParser import NoOptionError
+import time
 
 from extlib import irclib
 
@@ -56,6 +57,12 @@ class IrcAdmin(Module):
                                    ' '.join(command.split(' ')[1:]))
         except NoOptionError: pass
 
+        # sleep for a bit before autojoining, if told to
+        try:
+            sleep = self.config.getint(self.__class__.__name__, 'sleep')
+            time.sleep(sleep)
+        except NoOptionError: pass
+
         # join the specified channels
         try:
             autojoins = self.config.get(self.__class__.__name__, 'autojoin').split(',')