diff --git a/brains.py b/brains.py
index 6ce98d2..88a80f7 100644
--- a/brains.py
+++ b/brains.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ def post_tweet( api, tweet, in_reply_to_status_id=None ):
 		except Exception, err:
 			logging.debug( "brains.run(): error from twitter api: %s" % err )
 
+def learn_from_ids( api, guru_ids, deadline ):
+	for guru_id in guru_ids:
+			guru = twitter.get_user( id_str=guru_id )
+			statuses_digested += digest_user( api, deadline, guru )	
+
 def run( creds, force_tweet=False, debug=False ):	
 
 	if not debug:
@@ -89,9 +94,10 @@ def run( creds, force_tweet=False, debug=False ):
 		statuses_digested = digest_user( api, deadline, guru )
 	elif learning_style == constants.learning_style_following:
 		guru_ids = api.friends_ids( stringify_ids=True )
-		for guru_id in guru_ids:
-			guru = twitter.get_user( id_str=guru_id )
-			statuses_digested += digest_user( api, deadline, guru )
+		learn_from_ids( api, guru_ids, deadline )
+	elif learning_style == constants.learning_style_followers:
+		guru_ids = api.followers_ids( stringify_ids=True )
+		learn_from_ids( api, guru_ids, deadline )
 	
 	logging.debug( "brains.run(): digested %d new statuses" % statuses_digested )
 
@@ -144,24 +150,25 @@ def run( creds, force_tweet=False, debug=False ):
 		for mention in mentions:
 			
 			# only reply when we've been directly addressed
-			if mention.text[:len(my_name)] == my_name:
-
-				reply = "@%s" % mention.author.screen_name
-				tweet = None
-				safety = 3
-				while tweet is None and safety > 0:
-					if datetime.datetime.now() >= deadline:
-						break
-					tweet = queen.secrete_reply( mention.text, 130 - len(reply), deadline )
-					safety = safety -1
-					last_replied_id = mention.id_str
-
-				if tweet is not None:
-					reply = "%s %s" % (reply, tweet)
-					if debug:
-						logging.debug( "brains.run()[DEBUG MODE]: would post: %s" % reply )
-					else:
-						post_tweet( api, reply, last_replied_id )
+			#if mention.text[:len(my_name)] != my_name:
+			#	break
+
+			reply = "@%s" % mention.author.screen_name
+			tweet = None
+			safety = 3
+			while tweet is None and safety > 0:
+				if datetime.datetime.now() >= deadline:
+					break
+				tweet = queen.secrete_reply( mention.text, 130 - len(reply), deadline )
+				safety = safety -1
+				last_replied_id = mention.id_str
+
+			if tweet is not None:
+				reply = "%s %s" % (reply, tweet)
+				if debug:
+					logging.debug( "brains.run()[DEBUG MODE]: would post: %s" % reply )
+				else:
+					post_tweet( api, reply, last_replied_id )
 
 		creds.last_replied_id = last_replied_id
 		creds.put()
diff --git a/verbivorejr.py b/verbivorejr.py
index 3cd680c..197631e 100644
--- a/verbivorejr.py
+++ b/verbivorejr.py
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ def secrete_from_dbword( self, db_word, length, deadline, include_dbword=False,
 				else:
 					arr_out.append( next_dbword )
 					rightmost_dbword = next_dbword
+					if next_dbword.word == ".":
+						finished_right = True
 
 				if bidirectional:
 					# extend leftwards
@@ -205,6 +207,8 @@ def secrete_from_dbword( self, db_word, length, deadline, include_dbword=False,
 					else:
 						arr_out.insert( 0, next_dbword )
 						leftmost_dbword = next_dbword
+						if next_dbword.word == ".":
+							finished_left = True
 
 				# check doneness
 				if bidirectional:
@@ -235,6 +239,7 @@ def secrete_reply( self, text, length, deadline):
 		tokens = tokenise( text )
 		tokens.reverse()
 		pivot_dbword = None
+		reply = None
 		for token in tokens:
 			if not word_is_special( token ):
 				logging.debug( "-> looking for matches for token: %s" % token )
@@ -244,11 +249,16 @@ def secrete_reply( self, text, length, deadline):
 					pivot_dbword = db_word
 					break
 
-		if pivot_dbword is not None:
-			logging.debug( "-> pivot_dbword is %s" % pivot_dbword.word )
-			return self.secrete_from_dbword( pivot_dbword, length, deadline, include_dbword=True, bidirectional=True )
-		else:
-			return self.secrete( length, deadline )
+			if pivot_dbword is not None:
+				logging.debug( "-> pivot_dbword is %s" % pivot_dbword.word )
+				reply = self.secrete_from_dbword( pivot_dbword, length, deadline, include_dbword=True, bidirectional=True )
+			
+			if reply is not None:
+				break
+		
+		if reply is None:
+			reply = self.secrete( length, deadline )
+		return reply
 
 	def secrete( self, length, deadline ):
 		db_word = vbword_for_word( "." )