diff --git a/AOsocket.py b/AOsocket.py
index f71e93e..ed83fc1 100644
--- a/AOsocket.py
+++ b/AOsocket.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ import platform
 
 import websocket
 import ssl
+from PyQt4.QtCore import QString
 
 from constants import *
 
-printPackets = False
+printPackets = False # Enable for debugging packets sent and received
 
 class AOtcpSocket(object):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -50,13 +51,24 @@ class AOtcpSocket(object):
             totals[i] = totals[i].split("#")
             del totals[i][-1]
         if printPackets:
-            print "[packet]  Got:", totals
+            try:
+                print "[packet] <-", totals[0]
+            except:
+                print "(unable to print)"
         return 0, totals
 
     def send(self, data):
         if printPackets:
-            print "[packet] Sent:", data
-        return self.sock.send(data)
+            try:
+                print "[packet] ->", data
+            except:
+                print "(unable to print)"
+        # Qt pls
+        if isinstance(data, QString):
+            #return self.sock.send(unicode(data).encode('utf-8'))
+            return self.sock.send(str(data.toUtf8()))
+        else:
+            return self.sock.send(data.encode('utf-8'))
 
     def close(self):
         self.sock.close()
@@ -106,12 +118,18 @@ class AOwebSocket(object):
             del totals[i][-1]
         
         if printPackets:
-            print "[packet]  Got:", totals
+            try:
+                print "[packet] <-", totals[0]
+            except:
+                print "(unable to print)"
         return 0, totals
 
     def send(self, data):
         if printPackets:
-            print "[packet] Sent:", data
+            try:
+                print "[packet] ->", data
+            except:
+                print "(unable to print)"
         return self.sock.send(unicode(data))
 
     def close(self):
diff --git a/charselect.py b/charselect.py
index e4f3307..87edb48 100644
--- a/charselect.py
+++ b/charselect.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ class charselect(QtGui.QWidget):
             self.showCharPage()   
 
     def selectChar(self, charIndex):
-        self.parent.tcp.send("CC#0#"+str(charIndex)+"#ur mom gay#%")
+        self.parent.tcp.send("CC#0#"+str(charIndex)+"##%")
         
     def onCancel(self):
         self.hide()
diff --git a/gameview.py b/gameview.py
index ca1f577..8ac6ea0 100644
--- a/gameview.py
+++ b/gameview.py
@@ -2264,7 +2264,7 @@ class GUI(QtGui.QWidget):
         server_is_2_8 = "additive" in self.features and "looping_sfx" in self.features and "effects" in self.features
 
         if server_is_2_8:
-            self.tcp.send("SP#"+self.charSide+"#%") # all hail new AO 2.8 packet
+            self.tcp.send("SP#" + self.charSide + "#%") # all hail new AO 2.8 packet
         else:
             self.sendOOCchat(self.OOCNameInput.text().toUtf8(), "/pos "+self.charSide)
 
@@ -3690,7 +3690,7 @@ class GUI(QtGui.QWidget):
             self.bench.setPixmap(bench)
             self.bench.move(self.viewport.width() / 2 - bench.size().width() / 2, 0)
 
-    def setBench(self, isPreanim = False):
+    def setBench(self, isPreanim = False, side = "wit"):
         if self.animIsEmpty:
             return
 
@@ -3887,7 +3887,7 @@ class GUI(QtGui.QWidget):
                 self.slideLastPos = None
 
         if (emoteMod == PRE or emoteMod == PRE_SHOUT or emoteMod == NOPRE_ZOOM_SHOUT):
-            self.setBench(True)
+            self.setBench(True, side)
             self.playPre(False)
         elif emoteMod == NOPRE or emoteMod == NOPRE_ZOOM:
             if self.mChatMessage[NO_INTERRUPT] == "0":
@@ -3942,10 +3942,10 @@ class GUI(QtGui.QWidget):
 
     def handleChatMessage3(self):
         self.startChatTicking()
-        self.setBench(False)
 
         fEvidenceId = int(self.mChatMessage[EVIDENCE])
         fSide = self.mChatMessage[SIDE]
+        self.setBench(False, fSide)
 
         emoteMod = int(self.mChatMessage[EMOTE_MOD])
 
diff --git a/mainmenu.py b/mainmenu.py
index f1c0aa5..7e74ef0 100644
--- a/mainmenu.py
+++ b/mainmenu.py
@@ -491,6 +491,10 @@ class AOServerInfo(QtCore.QThread):
                 return
 
             for network in totals:
+                if not network:
+                    print "[debug] Received empty packet"
+                    continue
+                    
                 header = network[0]
                 
                 if header == 'PN':
diff --git a/packets.py b/packets.py
index c20c21e..94e7ace 100644
--- a/packets.py
+++ b/packets.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def handlePackets(caller, total, record=True):
         header = network[0]
         if header == 'MS':
             if len(network) < 15:
-                print '[warning]', 'malformed/incomplete MS#chat (IC chat) network message was received'
+                print '[warning]', 'Malformed/incomplete MS packet was received'
                 continue
             
             if isinstance(network[CHATMSG], unicode):
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ def handlePackets(caller, total, record=True):
         elif header == 'CT':
             name = decodeAOString(network[1].decode('utf-8'))
             chatmsg = decodeAOString(network[2].decode('utf-8').replace("\n", "<br />"))
-            caller.OOC_Log.emit("<b>%s:</b> %s" % (name, chatmsg.replace("<", "&lt;").replace("&lt;br />","<br />") if network[3] == "0" else chatmsg))
+            caller.OOC_Log.emit("<b>%s:</b> %s" % (name, chatmsg.replace("<", "&lt;").replace("&lt;br />","<br />") if len(network) > 3 and network[3] == "0" else chatmsg))
         
         elif header == 'PV':
-            caller.parent.myChar = int(network[3])
+            caller.parent.myChar = int(network[3]) if network[3] else 0
             caller.parent.charSelect.hide()
             caller.newChar.emit(caller.parent.charList[caller.parent.myChar][0])