diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py b/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
index f50094e..4b4049f 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/__init__.py
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ class BaseCommand(object):
         self.config = bot.config
         self.logger = bot.commands.logger.getChild(self.name)
 
+        # Convenience functions:
+        self.say = lambda target, msg: self.bot.frontend.say(target, msg)
+        self.reply = lambda data, msg: self.bot.frontend.reply(data, msg)
+        self.action = lambda target, msg: self.bot.frontend.action(target, msg)
+        self.notice = lambda target, msg: self.bot.frontend.notice(target, msg)
+        self.join = lambda chan: self.bot.frontend.join(chan)
+        self.part = lambda chan: self.bot.frontend.part(chan)
+        self.mode = lambda t, level, msg: self.bot.frontend.mode(t, level, msg)
+        self.pong = lambda target: self.bot.frontend.pong(target)
+
     def _wrap_check(self, data):
         """Check whether this command should be called, catching errors."""
         try:
@@ -66,8 +76,7 @@ class BaseCommand(object):
             self.logger.exception(e.format(self.name, data))
 
     def _wrap_process(self, data):
-        """Make a connection alias, process() the message, and catch errors."""
-        self.connection = self.bot.frontend
+        """process() the message, catching and reporting any errors."""
         try:
             self.process(data)
         except Exception:
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/afc_report.py b/earwigbot/commands/afc_report.py
index 9803a33..aa1b332 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/afc_report.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/afc_report.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         if not data.args:
             msg = "what submission do you want me to give information about?"
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         title = " ".join(data.args)
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if page:
             return self.report(page)
 
-        msg = "submission \x0302{0}\x0301 not found.".format(title)
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+        self.reply(data, "submission \x0302{0}\x0301 not found.".format(title))
 
     def get_page(self, title):
         page = self.site.get_page(title, follow_redirects=False)
@@ -89,9 +88,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if status == "accepted":
             msg3 = "Reviewed by \x0302{0}\x0301 ({1})"
 
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg1.format(short, url))
-        self.connection.say(self.data.chan, msg2.format(status))
-        self.connection.say(self.data.chan, msg3.format(user_name, user_url))
+        self.reply(self.data, msg1.format(short, url))
+        self.say(self.data.chan, msg2.format(status))
+        self.say(self.data.chan, msg3.format(user_name, user_url))
 
     def get_status(self, page):
         if page.is_redirect():
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/afc_status.py b/earwigbot/commands/afc_status.py
index 08333a9..49d2a78 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/afc_status.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/afc_status.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         if data.line[1] == "JOIN":
             status = " ".join(("\x02Current status:\x0F", self.get_status()))
-            self.connection.notice(data.nick, status)
+            self.notice(data.nick, status)
             return
 
         if data.args:
@@ -57,17 +57,17 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             if action.startswith("sub") or action == "s":
                 subs = self.count_submissions()
                 msg = "there are \x0305{0}\x0301 pending AfC submissions (\x0302WP:AFC\x0301)."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(subs))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(subs))
 
             elif action.startswith("redir") or action == "r":
                 redirs = self.count_redirects()
                 msg = "there are \x0305{0}\x0301 open redirect requests (\x0302WP:AFC/R\x0301)."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(redirs))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(redirs))
 
             elif action.startswith("file") or action == "f":
                 files = self.count_redirects()
                 msg = "there are \x0305{0}\x0301 open file upload requests (\x0302WP:FFU\x0301)."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(files))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(files))
 
             elif action.startswith("agg") or action == "a":
                 try:
@@ -78,21 +78,21 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                     agg_num = self.get_aggregate_number(agg_data)
                 except ValueError:
                     msg = "\x0303{0}\x0301 isn't a number!"
-                    self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(data.args[1]))
+                    self.reply(data, msg.format(data.args[1]))
                     return
                 aggregate = self.get_aggregate(agg_num)
                 msg = "aggregate is \x0305{0}\x0301 (AfC {1})."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(agg_num, aggregate))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(agg_num, aggregate))
 
             elif action.startswith("nocolor") or action == "n":
-                self.connection.reply(data, self.get_status(color=False))
+                self.reply(data, self.get_status(color=False))
 
             else:
                 msg = "unknown argument: \x0303{0}\x0301. Valid args are 'subs', 'redirs', 'files', 'agg', 'nocolor'."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(data.args[0]))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(data.args[0]))
 
         else:
-            self.connection.reply(data, self.get_status())
+            self.reply(data, self.get_status())
 
     def get_status(self, color=True):
         subs = self.count_submissions()
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/calc.py b/earwigbot/commands/calc.py
index f6d3177..1f7f834 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/calc.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/calc.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
     def process(self, data):
         if not data.args:
-            self.connection.reply(data, "what do you want me to calculate?")
+            self.reply(data, "what do you want me to calculate?")
             return
 
         query = ' '.join(data.args)
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         match = r_result.search(result)
         if not match:
-            self.connection.reply(data, "Calculation error.")
+            self.reply(data, "Calculation error.")
             return
 
         result = match.group(1)
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             result += " " + query.split(" in ", 1)[1]
 
         res = "%s = %s" % (query, result)
-        self.connection.reply(data, res)
+        self.reply(data, res)
 
     def cleanup(self, query):
         fixes = [
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/chanops.py b/earwigbot/commands/chanops.py
index 1bec2d6..f429a95 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/chanops.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/chanops.py
@@ -23,32 +23,45 @@
 from earwigbot.commands import BaseCommand
 
 class Command(BaseCommand):
-    """Voice, devoice, op, or deop users in the channel."""
+    """Voice, devoice, op, or deop users in the channel, or join or part from
+    other channels."""
     name = "chanops"
 
     def check(self, data):
-        commands = ["chanops", "voice", "devoice", "op", "deop"]
+        commands = ["chanops", "voice", "devoice", "op", "deop", "join", "part"]
         if data.is_command and data.command in commands:
             return True
         return False
 
     def process(self, data):
         if data.command == "chanops":
-            msg = "available commands are !voice, !devoice, !op, and !deop."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            msg = "available commands are !voice, !devoice, !op, !deop, !join, and !part."
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
-
         if data.host not in self.config.irc["permissions"]["admins"]:
-            msg = "you must be a bot admin to use this command."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, "you must be a bot admin to use this command.")
             return
 
-        # If it is just !op/!devoice/whatever without arguments, assume they
-        # want to do this to themselves:
-        if not data.args:
-            target = data.nick
-        else:
-            target = data.args[0]
+        if data.command in ["voice", "devoice", "op", "deop"]:
+            # If it is just !op/!devoice/whatever without arguments, assume they
+            # want to do this to themselves:
+            if not data.args:
+                target = data.nick
+            else:
+                target = data.args[0]
 
-        msg = " ".join((data.command, data.chan, target))
-        self.connection.say("ChanServ", msg)
+            msg = " ".join((data.command, data.chan, target))
+            self.say("ChanServ", msg)
+
+        else:
+            if not data.args:
+                msg = "you must specify a channel to join or part from."
+                self.reply(data, msg)
+                return
+            channel = data.args[0]
+            if not channel.startswith("#"):
+                channel = "#" + channel
+            if data.command == "join":
+                self.join(channel)
+            else:
+                self.part(channel)
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/crypt.py b/earwigbot/commands/crypt.py
index e71e139..cf7c369 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/crypt.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/crypt.py
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def process(self, data):
         if data.command == "crypt":
             msg = "available commands are !hash, !encrypt, and !decrypt."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         if not data.args:
             msg = "what do you want me to {0}?".format(data.command)
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         if data.command == "hash":
@@ -52,14 +52,14 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             if algo == "list":
                 algos = ', '.join(hashlib.algorithms)
                 msg = algos.join(("supported algorithms: ", "."))
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+                self.reply(data, msg)
             elif algo in hashlib.algorithms:
                 string = ' '.join(data.args[1:])
                 result = getattr(hashlib, algo)(string).hexdigest()
-                self.connection.reply(data, result)
+                self.reply(data, result)
             else:
                 msg = "unknown algorithm: '{0}'.".format(algo)
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+                self.reply(data, msg)
 
         else:
             key = data.args[0]
@@ -67,14 +67,14 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
             if not text:
                 msg = "a key was provided, but text to {0} was not."
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(data.command))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(data.command))
                 return
 
             try:
                 if data.command == "encrypt":
-                    self.connection.reply(data, blowfish.encrypt(key, text))
+                    self.reply(data, blowfish.encrypt(key, text))
                 else:
-                    self.connection.reply(data, blowfish.decrypt(key, text))
+                    self.reply(data, blowfish.decrypt(key, text))
             except blowfish.BlowfishError as error:
                 msg = "{0}: {1}.".format(error.__class__.__name__, error)
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+                self.reply(data, msg)
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/ctcp.py b/earwigbot/commands/ctcp.py
index 824cb4f..45455b7 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/ctcp.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/ctcp.py
@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if command == "PING":
             msg = " ".join(data.line[4:])
             if msg:
-                self.connection.notice(target, "\x01PING {0}\x01".format(msg))
+                self.notice(target, "\x01PING {0}\x01".format(msg))
             else:
-                self.connection.notice(target, "\x01PING\x01")
+                self.notice(target, "\x01PING\x01")
 
         elif command == "TIME":
             ts = time.strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %Z", time.localtime())
-            self.connection.notice(target, "\x01TIME {0}\x01".format(ts))
+            self.notice(target, "\x01TIME {0}\x01".format(ts))
 
         elif command == "VERSION":
             default = "EarwigBot - $1 - Python/$2 https://github.com/earwig/earwigbot"
             vers = self.config.irc.get("version", default)
             vers = vers.replace("$1", __version__)
             vers = vers.replace("$2", platform.python_version())
-            self.connection.notice(target, "\x01VERSION {0}\x01".format(vers))
+            self.notice(target, "\x01VERSION {0}\x01".format(vers))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/editcount.py b/earwigbot/commands/editcount.py
index 92341b0..b503d8a 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/editcount.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/editcount.py
@@ -49,10 +49,10 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             count = user.editcount()
         except wiki.UserNotFoundError:
             msg = "the user \x0302{0}\x0301 does not exist."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name))
+            self.reply(data, msg.format(name))
             return
 
         safe = quote_plus(user.name())
         url = "http://toolserver.org/~tparis/pcount/index.php?name={0}&lang=en&wiki=wikipedia"
         msg = "\x0302{0}\x0301 has {1} edits ({2})."
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name, count, url.format(safe)))
+        self.reply(data, msg.format(name, count, url.format(safe)))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/git.py b/earwigbot/commands/git.py
index c86ff70..c22d719 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/git.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/git.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         self.data = data
         if data.host not in self.config.irc["permissions"]["owners"]:
             msg = "you must be a bot owner to use this command."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         if not data.args:
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         else:  # They asked us to do something we don't know
             msg = "unknown argument: \x0303{0}\x0301.".format(data.args[0])
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
 
     def exec_shell(self, command):
         """Execute a shell command and get the output."""
@@ -89,13 +89,13 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         for key in sorted(help.keys()):
             msg += "\x0303{0}\x0301 ({1}), ".format(key, help[key])
         msg = msg[:-2]  # Trim last comma and space
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, "sub-commands are: {0}.".format(msg))
+        self.reply(self.data, "sub-commands are: {0}.".format(msg))
 
     def do_branch(self):
         """Get our current branch."""
         branch = self.exec_shell("git name-rev --name-only HEAD")
         msg = "currently on branch \x0302{0}\x0301.".format(branch)
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+        self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_branches(self):
         """Get a list of branches."""
@@ -106,14 +106,14 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         branches = branches.replace('\n  ', ', ')
         branches = branches.strip()
         msg = "branches: \x0302{0}\x0301.".format(branches)
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+        self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_checkout(self):
         """Switch branches."""
         try:
             branch = self.data.args[1]
         except IndexError: # no branch name provided
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, "switch to which branch?")
+            self.reply(self.data, "switch to which branch?")
             return
 
         current_branch = self.exec_shell("git name-rev --name-only HEAD")
@@ -122,51 +122,51 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             result = self.exec_shell("git checkout %s" % branch)
             if "Already on" in result:
                 msg = "already on \x0302{0}\x0301!".format(branch)
-                self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+                self.reply(self.data, msg)
             else:
                 ms = "switched from branch \x0302{1}\x0301 to \x0302{1}\x0301."
                 msg = ms.format(current_branch, branch)
-                self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+                self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
             # Git couldn't switch branches; assume the branch doesn't exist:
             msg = "branch \x0302{0}\x0301 doesn't exist!".format(branch)
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+            self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_delete(self):
         """Delete a branch, while making sure that we are not already on it."""
         try:
             delete_branch = self.data.args[1]
         except IndexError: # no branch name provided
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, "delete which branch?")
+            self.reply(self.data, "delete which branch?")
             return
 
         current_branch = self.exec_shell("git name-rev --name-only HEAD")
 
         if current_branch == delete_branch:
             msg = "you're currently on this branch; please checkout to a different branch before deleting."
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+            self.reply(self.data, msg)
             return
 
         try:
             self.exec_shell("git branch -d %s" % delete_branch)
             msg = "branch \x0302{0}\x0301 has been deleted locally."
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg.format(delete_branch))
+            self.reply(self.data, msg.format(delete_branch))
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
             # Git couldn't switch branches; assume the branch doesn't exist:
             msg = "branch \x0302{0}\x0301 doesn't exist!".format(delete_branch)
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+            self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_pull(self):
         """Pull from our remote repository."""
         branch = self.exec_shell("git name-rev --name-only HEAD")
         msg = "pulling from remote (currently on \x0302{0}\x0301)..."
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg.format(branch))
+        self.reply(self.data, msg.format(branch))
 
         result = self.exec_shell("git pull")
 
         if "Already up-to-date." in result:
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, "done; no new changes.")
+            self.reply(self.data, "done; no new changes.")
         else:
             regex = "\s*((.*?)\sfile(.*?)tions?\(-\))"
             changes = re.findall(regex, result)[0][0]
@@ -176,11 +176,11 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 cmnd_url = "git config --get remote.{0}.url".format(remote)
                 url = self.exec_shell(cmnd_url)
                 msg = "done; {0} [from {1}].".format(changes, url)
-                self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+                self.reply(self.data, msg)
             except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
                 # Something in .git/config is not specified correctly, so we
                 # cannot get the remote's URL. However, pull was a success:
-                self.connection.reply(self.data, "done; %s." % changes)
+                self.reply(self.data, "done; %s." % changes)
 
     def do_status(self):
         """Check whether we have anything to pull."""
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         result = self.exec_shell("git fetch --dry-run")
         if not result:  # Nothing was fetched, so remote and local are equal
             msg = "last commit was {0}. Local copy is \x02up-to-date\x0F with remote."
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg.format(last))
+            self.reply(self.data, msg.format(last))
         else:
             msg = "last local commit was {0}. Remote is \x02ahead\x0F of local copy."
-            self.connection.reply(self.data, msg.format(last))
+            self.reply(self.data, msg.format(last))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/help.py b/earwigbot/commands/help.py
index 95d9e39..6897484 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/help.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/help.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         msg = "Hi, I'm a bot! I have {0} commands loaded: {1}. You can get help for any command with '!help <command>'."
         cmnds = sorted(self.bot.commands)
         msg = msg.format(len(cmnds), ', '.join(cmnds))
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+        self.reply(data, msg)
 
     def do_command_help(self, data):
         """Give the user help for a specific command."""
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 doc = cmnd.__doc__.replace("\n", "")
                 doc = re.sub("\s\s+", " ", doc)
                 msg = "help for command \x0303{0}\x0301: \"{1}\""
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(command, doc))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(command, doc))
                 return
             break
 
         msg = "sorry, no help for \x0303{0}\x0301.".format(command)
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+        self.reply(data, msg)
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/link.py b/earwigbot/commands/link.py
index 675096e..6f84d44 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/link.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/link.py
@@ -43,15 +43,15 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if re.search("(\[\[(.*?)\]\])|(\{\{(.*?)\}\})", msg):
             links = self.parse_line(msg)
             links = " , ".join(links)
-            self.connection.reply(data, links)
+            self.reply(data, links)
 
         elif data.command == "link":
             if not data.args:
-                self.connection.reply(data, "what do you want me to link to?")
+                self.reply(data, "what do you want me to link to?")
                 return
             pagename = ' '.join(data.args)
             link = self.parse_link(pagename)
-            self.connection.reply(data, link)
+            self.reply(data, link)
 
     def parse_line(self, line):
         results = []
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/praise.py b/earwigbot/commands/praise.py
index c9e3950..fb611f5 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/praise.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/praise.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 msg = "You use this command to praise certain people. Who they are is a secret."
             else:
                 msg = "You're doing it wrong."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
-        self.connection.say(data.chan, msg)
+        self.say(data.chan, msg)
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/quit.py b/earwigbot/commands/quit.py
index 9b8cbc3..db3f168 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/quit.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/quit.py
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
     def process(self, data):
         if data.host not in self.config.irc["permissions"]["owners"]:
-            msg = "you must be a bot owner to use this command."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, "you must be a bot owner to use this command.")
             return
         if data.command == "quit":
             self.do_quit(data)
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def do_quit(self, data):
         nick = self.config.irc.frontend["nick"]
         if not data.args or data.args[0].lower() != nick.lower():
-            self.connection.reply(data, "to confirm this action, the first argument must be my nickname.")
+            self.reply(data, "to confirm this action, the first argument must be my nickname.")
             return
         if data.args[1:]:
             msg = " ".join(data.args[1:])
@@ -66,4 +65,4 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         self.logger.info("Reloading IRC commands and bot tasks")
         self.bot.commands.load()
         self.bot.tasks.load()
-        self.connection.reply(data, "IRC commands and bot tasks reloaded.")
+        self.reply(data, "IRC commands and bot tasks reloaded.")
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/registration.py b/earwigbot/commands/registration.py
index 6db8775..ad42269 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/registration.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/registration.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     name = "registration"
 
     def check(self, data):
-        commands = ["registration", "age"]
+        commands = ["registration", "reg", "age"]
         if data.is_command and data.command in commands:
             return True
         return False
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             reg = user.registration()
         except wiki.UserNotFoundError:
             msg = "the user \x0302{0}\x0301 does not exist."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name))
+            self.reply(data, msg.format(name))
             return
 
         date = time.strftime("%b %d, %Y at %H:%M:%S UTC", reg)
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             gender = "They're"
         
         msg = "\x0302{0}\x0301 registered on {1}. {2} {3} old."
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name, date, gender, age))
+        self.reply(data, msg.format(name, date, gender, age))
 
     def get_diff(self, t1, t2):
         parts = {"years": 31536000, "days": 86400, "hours": 3600,
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/remind.py b/earwigbot/commands/remind.py
index 115cb4c..930deda 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/remind.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/remind.py
@@ -37,19 +37,19 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     def process(self, data):
         if not data.args:
             msg = "please specify a time (in seconds) and a message in the following format: !remind <time> <msg>."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         try:
             wait = int(data.args[0])
         except ValueError:
             msg = "the time must be given as an integer, in seconds."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
         message = ' '.join(data.args[1:])
         if not message:
             msg = "what message do you want me to give you when time is up?"
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         end = time.localtime(time.time() + wait)
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         msg = 'Set reminder for "{0}" in {1} seconds (ends {2}).'
         msg = msg.format(message, wait, end_time_with_timezone)
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+        self.reply(data, msg)
 
         t_reminder = threading.Thread(target=self.reminder,
                                       args=(data, message, wait))
@@ -68,4 +68,4 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
     def reminder(self, data, message, wait):
         time.sleep(wait)
-        self.connection.reply(data, message)
+        self.reply(data, message)
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/replag.py b/earwigbot/commands/replag.py
index 32b664d..b62e6f1 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/replag.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/replag.py
@@ -47,4 +47,4 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         conn.close()
 
         msg = "Replag on \x0302{0}\x0301 is \x02{1}\x0F seconds."
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(args["db"], replag))
+        self.reply(data, msg.format(args["db"], replag))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/rights.py b/earwigbot/commands/rights.py
index 65d3975..38045a6 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/rights.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/rights.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             rights = user.groups()
         except wiki.UserNotFoundError:
             msg = "the user \x0302{0}\x0301 does not exist."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name))
+            self.reply(data, msg.format(name))
             return
 
         try:
@@ -55,4 +55,4 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         except ValueError:
             pass
         msg = "the rights for \x0302{0}\x0301 are {1}."
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(name, ', '.join(rights)))
+        self.reply(data, msg.format(name, ', '.join(rights)))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/test.py b/earwigbot/commands/test.py
index edc4567..e0a2875 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/test.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/test.py
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     name = "test"
 
     def process(self, data):
+        user = "\x02{0}\x0F".format(data.nick)
         hey = random.randint(0, 1)
         if hey:
-            self.connection.say(data.chan, "Hey \x02%s\x0F!" % data.nick)
+            self.say(data.chan, "Hey {0}!".format(user))
         else:
-            self.connection.say(data.chan, "'sup \x02%s\x0F?" % data.nick)
+            self.say(data.chan, "'sup {0}?".format(user))
diff --git a/earwigbot/commands/threads.py b/earwigbot/commands/threads.py
index 46858a5..39f2517 100644
--- a/earwigbot/commands/threads.py
+++ b/earwigbot/commands/threads.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         self.data = data
         if data.host not in self.config.irc["permissions"]["owners"]:
             msg = "you must be a bot owner to use this command."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         if not data.args:
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 self.do_list()
             else:
                 msg = "no arguments provided. Maybe you wanted '!{0} list', '!{0} start', or '!{0} listall'?"
-                self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(data.command))
+                self.reply(data, msg.format(data.command))
             return
 
         if data.args[0] == "list":
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         else:  # They asked us to do something we don't know
             msg = "unknown argument: \x0303{0}\x0301.".format(data.args[0])
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
 
     def do_list(self):
         """With !tasks list (or abbreviation !tasklist), list all running
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             msg = "\x02{0}\x0F threads active: {1}, and \x020\x0F task threads."
             msg = msg.format(len(threads), ', '.join(normal_threads))
 
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+        self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_listall(self):
         """With !tasks listall or !tasks all, list all loaded tasks, and report
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         tasks = ", ".join(tasklist)
 
         msg = "{0} tasks loaded: {1}.".format(len(tasklist), tasks)
-        self.connection.reply(self.data, msg)
+        self.reply(self.data, msg)
 
     def do_start(self):
         """With !tasks start, start any loaded task by name with or without
@@ -130,23 +130,23 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         try:
             task_name = data.args[1]
         except IndexError:  # No task name given
-            self.connection.reply(data, "what task do you want me to start?")
+            self.reply(data, "what task do you want me to start?")
             return
 
         try:
             data.parse_kwargs()
         except KwargParseException, arg:
             msg = "error parsing argument: \x0303{0}\x0301.".format(arg)
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+            self.reply(data, msg)
             return
 
         if task_name not in self.bot.tasks:
             # This task does not exist or hasn't been loaded:
             msg = "task could not be found; either it doesn't exist, or it wasn't loaded correctly."
-            self.connection.reply(data, msg.format(task_name))
+            self.reply(data, msg.format(task_name))
             return
 
         data.kwargs["fromIRC"] = True
         self.bot.tasks.start(task_name, **data.kwargs)
         msg = "task \x0302{0}\x0301 started.".format(task_name)
-        self.connection.reply(data, msg)
+        self.reply(data, msg)
diff --git a/earwigbot/irc/connection.py b/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
index a14284d..9ede2e9 100644
--- a/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
+++ b/earwigbot/irc/connection.py
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ class IRCConnection(object):
         msg = "PART {0}".format(chan)
         self._send(msg)
 
-    def mode(self, chan, level, msg):
+    def mode(self, target, level, msg):
         """Send a mode message to the server."""
-        msg = "MODE {0} {1} {2}".format(chan, level, msg)
+        msg = "MODE {0} {1} {2}".format(target, level, msg)
         self._send(msg)
 
     def pong(self, target):