diff --git a/AvivoreXT/__init__.py b/AvivoreXT/__init__.py
index e69de29..5a5df3b 100644
--- a/AvivoreXT/__init__.py
+++ b/AvivoreXT/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__version__ = '1.2.3'
diff --git a/AvivoreXT/avivore.py b/AvivoreXT/avivore.py
index dc0cef3..4e529aa 100644
--- a/AvivoreXT/avivore.py
+++ b/AvivoreXT/avivore.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf8 -*-
 
+import AvivoreXT
 from twitter import *
 import time
 import re
@@ -73,17 +74,17 @@ def read_config(self):
             qresult = dbcur.fetchone()
             if qresult is not None:  # We should only have to pull one.
                 # read search term definitions
-                twitter_search_term = qresult[5].strip(" '\"\n")
+                twitter_search_term = qresult[5].strip(" \n")
                 twitter_search_terms_raw = twitter_search_term.split(',')
                 for x in twitter_search_terms_raw:
                     self.twitter_search_terms.append(x)
 
                 # read other settings
-                self.database_path = qresult[0].strip("'\"")
-                self.twitter_consumer_key = qresult[1].strip("'\"")
-                self.twitter_consumer_secret = qresult[2].strip("'\"")
-                self.credentials_file = qresult[3].strip("'\"")
-                self.twitter_track_keywords = qresult[4].strip("'\"")
+                self.database_path = qresult[0].strip()
+                self.twitter_consumer_key = qresult[1].strip()
+                self.twitter_consumer_secret = qresult[2].strip()
+                self.credentials_file = qresult[3].strip()
+                self.twitter_track_keywords = qresult[4].strip()
                 self.twitter_search_interval = int(qresult[6])
             else:
                 failed = True
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ def twitter_query_main(avivore):
 
 # continuously checks twitter stream API
 def twitter_stream_main(avivore):
+    Output("Beginning stream processing [S].")
     stored = []
     twitter_stream_inst = avivore.twitter_stream_auth()
 
@@ -393,7 +395,7 @@ def SoftwareExit(status, message):
 
 
 def start():
-    SoftwareInitMsg("1.2.3.dev1")
+    SoftwareInitMsg(AvivoreXT.__version__)
     CheckUsage(sys.argv)
     try:
         main(sys.argv)
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b878692..b018719 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,10 +75,12 @@ and `consumer_secret` in section `twitter_auth`. Both values can be obtained
 from https://dev.twitter.com/apps after registration of a new Twitter app.
 Comments explain all remaining options in the config file. After defining data
 sets and search terms as needed you're good to go. Both are located in sections
-`twitter_search_objects` and `twitter_search` respectively. Tracking keywords
+`twitter_search_objects` and `twitter_search` respectively. [Tracking keywords](
+https://dev.twitter.com/streaming/overview/request-parameters#track)
 that are used to monitor the Twitter Streaming API can be configured by setting
 the option `stream_tracking_keyword` which is also found in section
-`twitter_search`.
+`twitter_search`. Check out the sample config file `sample.conf` for more
+information regarding the configuration options!
 
 Running AvivoreXT is quite easy:
 
diff --git a/sample.conf b/sample.conf
index 53817e5..2d5577e 100644
--- a/sample.conf
+++ b/sample.conf
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ credentials_file: '.avivore.cred'
 # twitter search definitions
 #  Tracking keyword:
 #  String that contains all keywords that are tracked using
-#  the Twitter streaming API. Separate keywords by ','. No
-#  spaces allowed. Use \'contains spaces\' to add keywords
-#  containing spaces.
+#  the Twitter streaming API. Separate keywords by ','. Use
+#  spaces to create tracking phrases. For more info see:
+#  https://dev.twitter.com/streaming/overview/request-parameters#track
 #
 #  Search terms:
 #  Search terms are enclosed in '\'' and separated by ','.
@@ -52,13 +52,15 @@ credentials_file: '.avivore.cred'
 #
 #  Search interval:
 #  Specifies time interval (in seconds) to wait between to
-#  consecutive search queries.
+#  consecutive search queries. You'll want to set this to 30
+#  seconds or higher to avoid hitting Twitter's Streaming API
+#  rate limits!
 ###
 [twitter_search]
 # Used to filter tweets from Twitter Streaming API
-stream_tracking_keyword: 'ip,bbm,\'bb pin\',bb,bbm,pin,call,phone,text,number'
+stream_tracking_keyword: 'ip,bbm,bb pin,bb,bbm,pin,call,phone,text,number'
 # Used to issue separate search queries for each term
 csv_search_term: 'ip server', 'ip address', 'blackberry pin', 'bb pin',
 	'bbm pin', 'text me', 'call me', 'phone me', 'new phone', 'new number'
-# You'll want to set this to 10 seconds or higher!
-interval: 30
+# You'll want to set this to 30 seconds or higher!
+interval: 120
diff --git a/sample_conf.db b/sample_conf.db
index 21dd17f..4d72728 100644
Binary files a/sample_conf.db and b/sample_conf.db differ
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f036186..15211cd 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
+import AvivoreXT
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
-version = '1.2.3.dev1'
-
 dependencies = ['twitter']
 
 scripts = ['avivore']
 
 setup(name='AvivoreXT',
-      version=version,
+      version=AvivoreXT.__version__,
       description='Twitter data mining tool',
       long_description=open("./README.md", "r").read(),
       classifiers=[