diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index ddee0d0..d0aabc5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ toots.db-journal
 toots.db-wal
 __pycache__/*
 .vscode/
+.editorconfig
diff --git a/create.py b/functions.py
similarity index 59%
rename from create.py
rename to functions.py
index 61218f5..80ec6fe 100755
--- a/create.py
+++ b/functions.py
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@
 # file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
 
 import markovify
-import json
-import re, random, multiprocessing, time, sqlite3, shutil, os
+from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
+import re, random, multiprocessing, sqlite3, shutil, os, json
 
 def make_sentence(output):
-	class nlt_fixed(markovify.NewlineText):
+	class nlt_fixed(markovify.NewlineText): #modified version of NewlineText that never rejects sentences
 		def test_sentence_input(self, sentence):
 			return True #all sentences are valid <3
 
-	shutil.copyfile("toots.db", "toots-copy.db")
+	shutil.copyfile("toots.db", "toots-copy.db") #create a copy of the database because reply.py will be using the main one
 	db = sqlite3.connect("toots-copy.db")
 	db.text_factory=str
 	c = db.cursor()
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ def make_sentence(output):
 	while sentence is None and tries < 10:
 		sentence = model.make_short_sentence(500, tries=10000)
 		tries = tries + 1
-	sentence = re.sub("^@\u202B[^ ]* ", "", sentence)
+
+	sentence = re.sub("^(?:@\u202B[^ ]* )*", "", sentence) #remove leading pings (don't say "@bob blah blah" but still say "blah @bob blah")
+	sentence = re.sub("^(?:@\u200B[^ ]* )*", "", sentence)
+
 	output.send(sentence)
 
 def make_toot(force_markov = False, args = None):
@@ -39,21 +42,21 @@ def make_toot(force_markov = False, args = None):
 def make_toot_markov(query = None):
 	tries = 0
 	toot = None
-	while toot == None and tries < 25:
+	while toot == None and tries < 10: #try to make a toot 10 times
 		pin, pout = multiprocessing.Pipe(False)
 		p = multiprocessing.Process(target = make_sentence, args = [pout])
 		p.start()
-		p.join(10)
-		if p.is_alive():
+		p.join(10) #wait 10 seconds to get something
+		if p.is_alive(): #if it's still trying to make a toot after 10 seconds
 			p.terminate()
 			p.join()
 			toot = None
-			tries = tries + 1
+			tries = tries + 1 #give up, and increment tries by one
 		else:
 			toot = pin.recv()
-	if toot == None:
+	if toot == None: #if we've tried and failed ten times, just give up
 		toot = "Toot generation failed! Contact Lynne (lynnesbian@fedi.lynnesbian.space) for assistance."
 	return {
-			"toot":toot,
-			"media":None
+			"toot": toot,
+			"media": None
 		}
diff --git a/gen.py b/gen.py
index a07dcce..3143e39 100755
--- a/gen.py
+++ b/gen.py
@@ -5,13 +5,11 @@
 
 from mastodon import Mastodon
 import argparse, sys, traceback, json
-import create
+import functions
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Generate and post a toot.')
-parser.add_argument('reply', metavar='reply', type=str, nargs='?', 
-	help='ID of the status to reply to')
 parser.add_argument('-s', '--simulate', dest='simulate', action='store_true',
-	help="Print the toot to stdout without posting it")
+	help="Print the toot without actually posting it. Use this to make sure your bot's actually working.")
 
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ client = Mastodon(
   api_base_url=cfg['site'])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-	toot = create.make_toot()
+	toot = functions.make_toot()
 	if not args.simulate:
 		try:
 			if toot['media'] != None:
@@ -35,10 +33,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 				client.status_post(toot['toot'], visibility = 'unlisted', spoiler_text = cfg['cw'])
 		except Exception as err:
 			toot = {
-			"toot":
-			"Mistress @lynnesbian@fedi.lynnesbian.space, something has gone terribly" \
-			+ " wrong! While attempting to post a toot, I received the following" \
-			+ " error:\n" + "\n".join(traceback.format_tb(sys.exc_info()[2]))
+			"toot": "An unknown error that should never happen occurred. Maybe it's because of the spoiler text, which is {}. If not, I have no idea what went wrong. This is an error message -- contact lynnesbian@fedi.lynnesbian.space for assistance.".format(cfg['cw'])
 			}
 			client.status_post(toot['toot'], visibility = 'unlisted', spoiler_text = "Error!")
 	print(toot['toot'])
diff --git a/reply.py b/reply.py
index 36a5c0f..233ef0c 100755
--- a/reply.py
+++ b/reply.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import mastodon
 import os, random, re, json
-import create
+import functions
 from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
 
 cfg = json.load(open('config.json', 'r'))
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class ReplyListener(mastodon.StreamListener):
 			acct = "@" + notification['account']['acct']
 			post_id = notification['status']['id']
 			mention = extract_toot(notification['status']['content'])
-			toot = create.make_toot(True)['toot']
+			toot = functions.make_toot(True)['toot']
 			toot = acct + " " + toot
 			print(acct + " says " + mention)
 			visibility = notification['status']['visibility']