diff --git a/wicd/gui.py b/wicd/gui.py
index f492b3c..4d357de 100644
--- a/wicd/gui.py
+++ b/wicd/gui.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ else:
     from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop
     DBusGMainLoop(set_as_default=True)
 
-proxy_obj, daemon, wireless, wired, bus = [None for x in range(0, 5)]
+proxy_obj = daemon = wireless = wired = bus = None
 language = misc.get_language_list_gui()
 
 def setup_dbus(dbus_man=None):
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ def setup_dbus(dbus_man=None):
     wired = dbus_ifaces['wired']
     return True
     
+    
 def error(parent, message): 
     """ Shows an error dialog """
     dialog = gtk.MessageDialog(parent, gtk.DIALOG_MODAL, gtk.MESSAGE_ERROR,
@@ -91,6 +92,14 @@ def error(parent, message):
     dialog.set_markup(message)
     dialog.run()
     dialog.destroy()
+    
+def alert(parent, message): 
+    """ Shows an error dialog """
+    dialog = gtk.MessageDialog(parent, gtk.DIALOG_MODAL, gtk.MESSAGE_WARNING,
+                               gtk.BUTTONS_OK)
+    dialog.set_markup(message)
+    dialog.run()
+    dialog.destroy()
 
 ########################################
 ##### GTK EXTENSION CLASSES
diff --git a/wicd/misc.py b/wicd/misc.py
index 26ea78b..cfe537c 100644
--- a/wicd/misc.py
+++ b/wicd/misc.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ def WriteLine(my_file, text):
 
 def ExecuteScript(script):
     """ Execute a command and send its output to the bit bucket. """
-    os.system("%s > /dev/null 2>&1" % script)
+    call("%s > /dev/null 2>&1" % script)
 
 def ReadFile(filename):
     """ read in a file and return it's contents as a string """
diff --git a/wicd/monitor.py b/wicd/monitor.py
index f49a6bb..d0b009a 100755
--- a/wicd/monitor.py
+++ b/wicd/monitor.py
@@ -289,7 +289,14 @@ def main():
     
     """
     monitor = ConnectionStatus()
-    gobject.timeout_add(2500, monitor.update_connection_status)
+    if daemon.GetCurrentBackend() == "ioctl":
+        to_time = 2.5
+    else:
+        to_time = 4
+    try:
+        gobject.timeout_add_seconds(to_time, monitor.update_connection_status)
+    except:
+        gobject.timeout_add(to_time * 1000, monitor.update_connection_status)
     
     mainloop = gobject.MainLoop()
     mainloop.run()
diff --git a/wicd/wicd-daemon.py b/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
index 2f573bd..9cd2112 100644
--- a/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
+++ b/wicd/wicd-daemon.py
@@ -591,7 +591,10 @@ class WicdDaemon(dbus.service.Object):
         print "Attempting to autoconnect with wired interface..."
         self.auto_connecting = True
         time.sleep(1.5)
-        gobject.timeout_add(3000, self._monitor_wired_autoconnect)
+        try:
+            gobject.timeout_add_seconds(3, self._monitor_wired_autoconnect)
+        except:
+            gobject.timeout_add(3000, self._monitor_wired_autoconnect)
         return True
 
     def _monitor_wired_autoconnect(self):
@@ -1025,7 +1028,7 @@ class WirelessDaemon(dbus.service.Object):
         
     def _wireless_autoconnect(self):
         """ Attempts to autoconnect to a wireless network. """
-        print "No wired connection present, attempting to autoconnect" + \
+        print "No wired connection present, attempting to autoconnect " + \
               "to wireless network"
         if self.wifi.wireless_interface is None:
             print 'Autoconnect failed because wireless interface returned None'