diff --git a/plugins/babbler/babbler.go b/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
index 00574c0..0c54b45 100644
--- a/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
+++ b/plugins/babbler/babbler.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 package babbler
 
 import (
+	"database/sql"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
@@ -15,12 +16,43 @@ import (
 	"github.com/velour/catbase/config"
 )
 
+var (
+	NO_BABBLER   = errors.New("babbler not found")
+	SAID_NOTHING = errors.New("hasn't said anything yet")
+	NEVER_SAID   = errors.New("never said that")
+)
+
 type BabblerPlugin struct {
 	Bot    bot.Bot
 	db     *sqlx.DB
 	config *config.Config
 }
 
+type Babbler struct {
+	BabblerId int64  `db:"id"`
+	Name      string `db:"babbler"`
+}
+
+type BabblerWord struct {
+	WordId int64  `db:"id"`
+	Word   string `db:"word"`
+}
+
+type BabblerNode struct {
+	NodeId        int64 `db:"id"`
+	BabblerId     int64 `db:"babblerId"`
+	WordId        int64 `db:"wordId"`
+	Root          int64 `db:"root"`
+	RootFrequency int64 `db:"rootFrequency"`
+}
+
+type BabblerArc struct {
+	ArcId      int64 `db:"id"`
+	FromNodeId int64 `db:"fromNodeId"`
+	ToNodeId   int64 `db:"toNodeId"`
+	Frequency  int64 `db:"frequency"`
+}
+
 func New(bot bot.Bot) *BabblerPlugin {
 	log.SetFlags(log.LstdFlags | log.Lshortfile)
 
@@ -31,10 +63,18 @@ func New(bot bot.Bot) *BabblerPlugin {
 		);`); err != nil {
 			log.Fatal(err)
 		}
+
 		if _, err := bot.DB().Exec(`create table if not exists babblerWords (
+			id integer primary key,
+			word string
+		);`); err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
+		if _, err := bot.DB().Exec(`create table if not exists babblerNodes (
 			id integer primary key,
 			babblerId integer,
-			word string,
+			wordId integer,
 			root integer,
 			rootFrequency integer
 		);`); err != nil {
@@ -43,8 +83,8 @@ func New(bot bot.Bot) *BabblerPlugin {
 
 		if _, err := bot.DB().Exec(`create table if not exists babblerArcs (
 			id integer primary key,
-			fromWordId integer,
-			toWordId interger,
+			fromNodeId integer,
+			toNodeId interger,
 			frequency integer
 		);`); err != nil {
 			log.Fatal(err)
@@ -57,6 +97,8 @@ func New(bot bot.Bot) *BabblerPlugin {
 		config: bot.Config(),
 	}
 
+	plugin.createNewWord("")
+
 	return plugin
 }
 
@@ -65,97 +107,26 @@ func (p *BabblerPlugin) Message(message msg.Message) bool {
 	tokens := strings.Fields(lowercase)
 	numTokens := len(tokens)
 
+	saidSomething := false
+	saidWhat := ""
+
 	if numTokens >= 2 && tokens[1] == "says" {
-		who := tokens[0]
-		_, err := p.getBabbler(who)
-
-		if err != nil {
-			return false
-		}
-
-		var saying string
-		if len(tokens) == 2 {
-			saying, _ = p.babble(who)
-		} else {
-			saying, _ = p.babbleSeed(who, tokens[2:])
-		}
-
-		if saying != "" {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, saying)
-			return true
-		}
+		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.getBabble(tokens)
 	} else if len(tokens) == 4 && strings.Index(lowercase, "initialize babbler for ") == 0 {
-		who := tokens[3]
-		_, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(who)
-		if err != nil {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "babbler initialization failed.")
-			return true
-		}
-		p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "Okay.")
-		return true
+		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.initializeBabbler(tokens)
 	} else if strings.Index(lowercase, "batch learn for ") == 0 {
-		who := tokens[3]
-		babblerId, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(who)
-		if err != nil {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "batch learn failed.")
-			return true
-		}
-
-		body := strings.Join(tokens[4:], " ")
-		body = strings.ToLower(body)
-
-		for _, a := range strings.Split(body, ".") {
-			for _, b := range strings.Split(a, "!") {
-				for _, c := range strings.Split(b, "?") {
-					for _, d := range strings.Split(c, "\n") {
-						trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(d)
-						if trimmed != "" {
-							p.addToMarkovChain(babblerId, trimmed)
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "phew that was tiring.")
-		return true
+		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.batchLearn(tokens)
 	} else if len(tokens) == 5 && strings.Index(lowercase, "merge babbler") == 0 {
-		if tokens[3] != "into" {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "try using 'merge babbler [x] into [y]'")
-			return true
-		}
-
-		who := tokens[2]
-		into := tokens[4]
-
-		if who == into {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "that's annoying. stop it.")
-			return true
-		}
-
-		whoBabbler, err := p.getBabbler(who)
-		if err != nil {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "merge failed.")
-			return true
-		}
-		intoBabbler, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(into)
-		if err != nil {
-			p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "merge failed.")
-			return true
-		}
-
-		p.merge(intoBabbler, whoBabbler, into, who)
-
-		p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, "mooooiggged")
-		return true
+		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.merge(tokens)
 	} else {
-		babblerId, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(message.User.Name)
-		if err == nil {
-			p.addToMarkovChain(babblerId, lowercase)
-		}
+		//this should always return "", false
+		saidWhat, saidSomething = p.addToBabbler(message.User.Name, lowercase)
 	}
 
-	return false
+	if saidSomething {
+		p.Bot.SendMessage(message.Channel, saidWhat)
+	}
+	return saidSomething
 }
 
 func (p *BabblerPlugin) Help(channel string, parts []string) {
@@ -174,391 +145,513 @@ func (p *BabblerPlugin) RegisterWeb() *string {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) makeBabbler(babbler string) (int64, error) {
-	res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblers (babbler) values (?);`, babbler)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) makeBabbler(name string) (*Babbler, error) {
+	res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblers (babbler) values (?);`, name)
 	if err == nil {
-		id, _ := res.LastInsertId()
-		return id, nil
+		id, err := res.LastInsertId()
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return &Babbler{
+			BabblerId: id,
+			Name:      name,
+		}, nil
 	}
-	return -1, err
+	return nil, err
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getBabbler(babbler string) (int64, error) {
-	id := int64(-1)
-	err := p.db.Get(&id, `select id from babblers where babbler = ?`, babbler)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getBabbler(name string) (*Babbler, error) {
+	var bblr Babbler
+	err := p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblers where babbler = ? LIMIT 1;`, name).StructScan(&bblr)
 	if err != nil {
+		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+			log.Printf("failed to find babbler")
+			return nil, NO_BABBLER
+		}
+		log.Printf("encountered problem in babbler lookup")
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return id, err
+	return &bblr, nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getOrCreateBabbler(babbler string) (int64, error) {
-	id, err := p.getBabbler(babbler)
-	if err != nil {
-		id, err = p.makeBabbler(babbler)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getOrCreateBabbler(name string) (*Babbler, error) {
+	babbler, err := p.getBabbler(name)
+	if err == NO_BABBLER {
+		babbler, err = p.makeBabbler(name)
 		if err != nil {
-			return id, err
+			log.Print(err)
+			return nil, err
 		}
-		query := fmt.Sprintf(`select tidbit from factoid where fact like '%s quotes';`, babbler)
-		rows, err := p.db.Query(query)
+
+		rows, err := p.db.Queryx(fmt.Sprintf("select tidbit from factoid where fact like '%s quotes';", babbler.Name))
 		if err != nil {
-			//we'll just ignore this but the actual creation succeeded previously
-			return id, nil
+			log.Print(err)
+			return babbler, nil
 		}
+		defer rows.Close()
+
+		tidbits := []string{}
 		for rows.Next() {
 			var tidbit string
 			err := rows.Scan(&tidbit)
+
+			log.Print(tidbit)
+
 			if err != nil {
-				return id, err
+				log.Print(err)
+				return babbler, err
 			}
-			p.addToMarkovChain(id, tidbit)
+			tidbits = append(tidbits, tidbit)
 		}
 
+		for _, tidbit := range tidbits {
+			if err = p.addToMarkovChain(babbler, tidbit); err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
+			}
+		}
 	}
-	return id, err
+	return babbler, err
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWordId(babblerId int64, word string) (int64, error) {
-	id := int64(-1)
-	err := p.db.Get(&id, `select id from babblerWords where babblerId = ? and word = ?`, babblerId, word)
-	return id, err
-}
-
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) createNewWord(babblerId int64, word string) (int64, error) {
-	res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerWords (babblerId, word, root, rootFrequency) values (?, ?, 0, 0);`, babblerId, word)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWord(word string) (*BabblerWord, error) {
+	var w BabblerWord
+	err := p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerWords where word = ? LIMIT 1;`, word).StructScan(&w)
 	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
+		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+			return nil, NEVER_SAID
+		}
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	id, _ := res.LastInsertId()
-	return id, nil
+	return &w, nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getOrCreateWord(babblerId int64, word string) (int64, error) {
-	id, err := p.getWordId(babblerId, word)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) createNewWord(word string) (*BabblerWord, error) {
+	res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerWords (word) values (?);`, word)
 	if err != nil {
-		return p.createNewWord(babblerId, word)
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return id, err
-}
-
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementRootWordFrequency(babblerId int64, word string) (int64, error) {
-	id, err := p.getOrCreateWord(babblerId, word)
+	id, err := res.LastInsertId()
 	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	_, err = p.db.Exec(`update babblerWords set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + 1, root = 1 where id = ?;`, id)
+	return &BabblerWord{
+		WordId: id,
+		Word:   word,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getOrCreateWord(word string) (*BabblerWord, error) {
+	if w, err := p.getWord(word); err == NEVER_SAID {
+		return p.createNewWord(word)
+	} else {
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+		}
+		return w, err
+	}
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getBabblerNode(babbler *Babbler, word string) (*BabblerNode, error) {
+	w, err := p.getWord(word)
 	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	return id, nil
+
+	var node BabblerNode
+	err = p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerNodes where babblerId = ? and wordId = ? LIMIT 1;`, babbler.BabblerId, w.WordId).StructScan(&node)
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+			return nil, NEVER_SAID
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &node, nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWordArcHelper(fromWordId, toWordId int64) (int64, error) {
-	id := int64(-1)
-	err := p.db.Get(&id, `select id from babblerArcs where fromWordId = ? and toWordId = ?`, fromWordId, toWordId)
-	return id, err
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) createBabblerNode(babbler *Babbler, word string) (*BabblerNode, error) {
+	w, err := p.getOrCreateWord(word)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerNodes (babblerId, wordId, root, rootFrequency) values (?, ?, 0, 0)`, babbler.BabblerId, w.WordId)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	id, err := res.LastInsertId()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &BabblerNode{
+		NodeId:        id,
+		WordId:        w.WordId,
+		Root:          0,
+		RootFrequency: 0,
+	}, nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementWordArc(fromWordId, toWordId int64) (int64, error) {
-	res, err := p.db.Exec(`update babblerArcs set frequency = frequency + 1 where fromWordId = ? and toWordId = ?`, fromWordId, toWordId)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getOrCreateBabblerNode(babbler *Babbler, word string) (*BabblerNode, error) {
+	node, err := p.getBabblerNode(babbler, word)
+	if err != nil {
+		return p.createBabblerNode(babbler, word)
+	}
+	return node, nil
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementRootWordFrequency(babbler *Babbler, word string) (*BabblerNode, error) {
+	node, err := p.getOrCreateBabblerNode(babbler, word)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	_, err = p.db.Exec(`update babblerNodes set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + 1, root = 1 where id = ?;`, node.NodeId)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	node.RootFrequency += 1
+	return node, nil
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getBabblerArc(fromNode, toNode *BabblerNode) (*BabblerArc, error) {
+	var arc BabblerArc
+	err := p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerArcs where fromNodeId = ? and toNodeId = ?;`, fromNode.NodeId, toNode.NodeId).StructScan(&arc)
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
+			return nil, NEVER_SAID
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &arc, nil
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementWordArc(fromNode, toNode *BabblerNode) (*BabblerArc, error) {
+	res, err := p.db.Exec(`update babblerArcs set frequency = frequency + 1 where fromNodeId = ? and toNodeId = ?;`, fromNode.NodeId, toNode.NodeId)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	affectedRows := int64(0)
 	if err == nil {
 		affectedRows, _ = res.RowsAffected()
 	}
 
-	if err != nil || affectedRows == 0 {
-		res, err = p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerArcs (fromWordId, toWordId, frequency) values (?, ?, 1);`, fromWordId, toWordId)
+	if affectedRows == 0 {
+		res, err = p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerArcs (fromNodeId, toNodeId, frequency) values (?, ?, 1);`, fromNode.NodeId, toNode.NodeId)
 		if err != nil {
-
-			return -1, err
+			log.Print(err)
+			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
-	id, _ := res.LastInsertId()
-	return id, nil
+	return p.getBabblerArc(fromNode, toNode)
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementFinalWordArcHelper(wordId int64) (int64, error) {
-	return p.incrementWordArc(wordId, -1)
-}
-
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementWordArcHelper(babblerId, fromWordId int64, toWord string) (int64, error) {
-	toWordId, err := p.getOrCreateWord(babblerId, toWord)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) incrementFinalWordArcHelper(babbler *Babbler, node *BabblerNode) (*BabblerArc, error) {
+	nextNode, err := p.getOrCreateBabblerNode(babbler, " ")
 	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	_, err = p.incrementWordArc(fromWordId, toWordId)
-	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
-	}
-	return toWordId, nil
+	return p.incrementWordArc(node, nextNode)
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) addToMarkovChain(babblerId int64, phrase string) {
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) addToMarkovChain(babbler *Babbler, phrase string) error {
 	words := strings.Fields(strings.ToLower(phrase))
 
-	id, err := p.incrementRootWordFrequency(babblerId, words[0])
+	if len(words) <= 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	curNode, err := p.incrementRootWordFrequency(babbler, words[0])
 	if err != nil {
-		return
+		log.Print(err)
+		return err
 	}
 
 	for i := 1; i < len(words); i++ {
-		id, err = p.incrementWordArcHelper(babblerId, id, words[i])
+		nextNode, err := p.getOrCreateBabblerNode(babbler, words[i])
 		if err != nil {
-			return
+			log.Print(err)
+			return err
 		}
+		_, err = p.incrementWordArc(curNode, nextNode)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+			return err
+		}
+		curNode = nextNode
 	}
 
-	_, err = p.incrementFinalWordArcHelper(id)
+	_, err = p.incrementFinalWordArcHelper(babbler, curNode)
+	return err
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWeightedRootWord(babblerId int64) (int64, string, error) {
-	query := fmt.Sprintf("select id, word, rootFrequency from babblerWords where babblerId = %d and root = 1", babblerId)
-	rows, err := p.db.Query(query)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWeightedRootNode(babbler *Babbler) (*BabblerNode, *BabblerWord, error) {
+	rows, err := p.db.Queryx(`select * from babblerNodes where babblerId = ? and root = 1;`, babbler.BabblerId)
 	if err != nil {
-		return -1, "", err
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 	defer rows.Close()
 
-	idToWord := map[int64]string{}
-	idToFreq := map[int64]int64{}
+	rootNodes := []*BabblerNode{}
 	total := int64(0)
 
 	for rows.Next() {
-		var id int64
-		var word string
-		var rootFrequency int64
-		err = rows.Scan(&id, &word, &rootFrequency)
+		var node BabblerNode
+		err = rows.StructScan(&node)
 		if err != nil {
-			return -1, "", err
+			log.Print(err)
+			return nil, nil, err
 		}
+		rootNodes = append(rootNodes, &node)
+		total += node.RootFrequency
+	}
 
-		total += rootFrequency
-		idToFreq[id] = rootFrequency
-		idToWord[id] = word
+	if len(rootNodes) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, SAID_NOTHING
 	}
 
 	which := rand.Int63n(total)
 	total = 0
-	for id, freq := range idToFreq {
-		if total+freq >= which {
-			return id, idToWord[id], nil
-		}
-		total += freq
-	}
-	log.Fatalf("shouldn't happen")
-	return -1, "", errors.New("failed to find weighted root word")
-}
-
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWeightedNextWord(fromWordId int64) (int64, string, error) {
-	query := fmt.Sprintf("select toWordId, frequency from babblerArcs where fromWordId = %d;", fromWordId)
-	rows, err := p.db.Query(query)
-	if err != nil {
-		return -1, "", err
-	}
-	defer rows.Close()
-
-	idToFreq := map[int64]int64{}
-	total := int64(0)
-
-	for rows.Next() {
-		var toWordId int64
-		var frequency int64
-		err = rows.Scan(&toWordId, &frequency)
-		if err != nil {
-			return -1, "", err
-		}
-		total += frequency
-		idToFreq[toWordId] = frequency
-	}
-
-	which := rand.Int63n(total)
-	total = 0
-	for id, freq := range idToFreq {
-		if total+freq >= which {
-			if id < 0 {
-				return -1, "", nil
-			}
-
-			var word string
-			err := p.db.Get(&word, `select word from babblerWords where id = ?`, id)
+	for _, node := range rootNodes {
+		total += node.RootFrequency
+		if total >= which {
+			var w BabblerWord
+			err := p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerWords where id = ? LIMIT 1;`, node.WordId).StructScan(&w)
 			if err != nil {
-				return -1, "", err
+				log.Print(err)
+				return nil, nil, err
 			}
-			return id, word, nil
+			return node, &w, nil
 		}
-		total +=freq
+
 	}
 	log.Fatalf("shouldn't happen")
-	return -1, "", errors.New("failed to find weighted next word")
+	return nil, nil, errors.New("failed to find weighted root word")
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getWeightedNextWord(fromNode *BabblerNode) (*BabblerNode, *BabblerWord, error) {
+	rows, err := p.db.Queryx(`select * from babblerArcs where fromNodeId = ?;`, fromNode.NodeId)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+
+	arcs := []*BabblerArc{}
+	total := int64(0)
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var arc BabblerArc
+		err = rows.StructScan(&arc)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+		arcs = append(arcs, &arc)
+		total += arc.Frequency
+	}
+
+	if len(arcs) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, errors.New("missing arcs")
+	}
+
+	which := rand.Int63n(total)
+	total = 0
+	for _, arc := range arcs {
+
+		total += arc.Frequency
+
+		if total >= which {
+			var node BabblerNode
+			err := p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerNodes where id = ? LIMIT 1;`, arc.ToNodeId).StructScan(&node)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
+				return nil, nil, err
+			}
+
+			var w BabblerWord
+			err = p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerWords where id = ? LIMIT 1;`, node.WordId).StructScan(&w)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
+				return nil, nil, err
+			}
+			return &node, &w, nil
+		}
+
+	}
+	log.Fatalf("shouldn't happen")
+	return nil, nil, errors.New("failed to find weighted next word")
 }
 
 func (p *BabblerPlugin) babble(who string) (string, error) {
 	return p.babbleSeed(who, []string{})
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) babbleSeed(babbler string, seed []string) (string, error) {
-	babblerId, err := p.getBabbler(babbler)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) babbleSeed(babblerName string, seed []string) (string, error) {
+	babbler, err := p.getBabbler(babblerName)
 	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
 		return "", nil
 	}
 
 	words := seed
 
-	var curWordId int64
+	var curNode *BabblerNode
+	var curWord *BabblerWord
 	if len(seed) == 0 {
-		id, word, err := p.getWeightedRootWord(babblerId)
+		curNode, curWord, err = p.getWeightedRootNode(babbler)
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
 			return "", err
 		}
-		curWordId = id
-		words = append(words, word)
+		words = append(words, curWord.Word)
 	} else {
-		id, err := p.getWordId(babblerId, seed[0])
+		curNode, err = p.getBabblerNode(babbler, seed[0])
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
 			return "", err
 		}
-		curWordId = id
 		for i := 1; i < len(seed); i++ {
-			nextWordId, err := p.getWordId(babblerId, seed[i])
+			nextNode, err := p.getBabblerNode(babbler, seed[i])
 			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
 				return "", err
 			}
-			_, err = p.getWordArcHelper(curWordId, nextWordId)
+			_, err = p.getBabblerArc(curNode, nextNode)
 			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
 				return "", err
 			}
-			curWordId = nextWordId
+			curNode = nextNode
 		}
 	}
 
 	for {
-		id, word, err := p.getWeightedNextWord(curWordId)
+		curNode, curWord, err = p.getWeightedNextWord(curNode)
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
 			return "", err
 		}
-		if id < 0 {
+		if curWord.Word == " " {
 			break
 		}
-		words = append(words, word)
-		curWordId = id
+		words = append(words, curWord.Word)
 	}
 
 	return strings.TrimSpace(strings.Join(words, " ")), nil
 }
 
-func (p *BabblerPlugin) merge(intoId, otherId int64, intoName, otherName string) error {
-	intoString := "<" + intoName + ">"
-	otherString := "<" + otherName + ">"
-
-	mapping := map[int64]int64{}
-
-	query := fmt.Sprintf("select id, word, root, rootFrequency from babblerWords where babblerId = %d;", otherId)
-	rows, err := p.db.Query(query)
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) mergeBabblers(intoBabbler, otherBabbler *Babbler, intoName, otherName string) error {
+	intoNode, err := p.getOrCreateBabblerNode(intoBabbler, "<"+intoName+">")
 	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return err
+	}
+	otherNode, err := p.getOrCreateBabblerNode(otherBabbler, "<"+otherName+">")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
+		return err
+	}
+
+	mapping := map[int64]*BabblerNode{}
+
+	rows, err := p.db.Queryx("select * from babblerNodes where babblerId = ?;", otherBabbler.BabblerId)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Print(err)
 		return err
 	}
 	defer rows.Close()
 
-	type Word struct {
-		Id int64
-		Word string
-		Root int64
-		RootFrequency int64
-	}
-
-	words := []Word{}
+	nodes := []*BabblerNode{}
 
 	for rows.Next() {
-		word := Word{}
-		err = rows.Scan(&word.Id, &word.Word, &word.Root, &word.RootFrequency)
+		var node BabblerNode
+		err = rows.StructScan(&node)
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
 			return err
 		}
-		words = append(words, word)
+		nodes = append(nodes, &node)
 	}
 
-	for _, word := range words {
+	for _, node := range nodes {
+		var res sql.Result
 
-		if word.Word == otherString {
-			word.Word = intoString
+		if node.NodeId == otherNode.NodeId {
+			node.WordId = intoNode.WordId
 		}
 
-		doInsert := false
-		wordId := int64(-1)
-		if word.Root > 0 {
-			res, err := p.db.Exec(`update babblerWords set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + ?, root = 1 where babblerId = ? and word = ? output id	;`, word.RootFrequency, intoId, word.Word)
-			rowsAffected := int64(0)
-			if err == nil {
-				rowsAffected, _ = res.RowsAffected()
-			}
-			if err != nil || rowsAffected == 0 {
-				doInsert = true
-			} else {
-				wordId, _ = res.LastInsertId()
+		if node.Root > 0 {
+			res, err = p.db.Exec(`update babblerNodes set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + ?, root = 1 where babblerId = ? and wordId = ?;`, node.RootFrequency, intoBabbler.BabblerId, node.WordId)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
 			}
 		} else {
-			res, err := p.db.Exec(`update babblerWords set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + ? where babblerId = ? and word = ? output id;`, word.RootFrequency, intoId, word.Word)
+			res, err = p.db.Exec(`update babblerNodes set rootFrequency = rootFrequency + ? where babblerId = ? and wordId = ?;`, node.RootFrequency, intoBabbler.BabblerId, node.WordId)
 			if err != nil {
-				doInsert = true
-			} else {
-				wordId, _ = res.LastInsertId()
+				log.Print(err)
 			}
 		}
 
-		if doInsert {
-			res, err := p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerWords (babblerId, word, root, rootFrequency) values (?,?,?,?) ;`, intoId, word.Word, word.Root, word.RootFrequency)
+		rowsAffected := int64(-1)
+		if err == nil {
+			rowsAffected, _ = res.RowsAffected()
+		}
+
+		if err != nil || rowsAffected == 0 {
+			res, err = p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerNodes (babblerId, wordId, root, rootFrequency) values (?,?,?,?) ;`, intoBabbler.BabblerId, node.WordId, node.Root, node.RootFrequency)
 			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
 				return err
 			}
-			wordId, _ = res.LastInsertId()
 		}
 
-		log.Printf("%s %d -> %d\n", word.Word, word.Id, wordId)
+		var updatedNode BabblerNode
+		err = p.db.QueryRowx(`select * from babblerNodes where babblerId = ? and wordId = ? LIMIT 1;`, intoBabbler.BabblerId, node.WordId).StructScan(&updatedNode)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Print(err)
+			return err
+		}
 
-		mapping[word.Id] = wordId
+		mapping[node.NodeId] = &updatedNode
 	}
 
-	type Arc struct {
-		ToWordId int64
-		Frequency int64
-	}
-
-	for lookup, newArcStart := range mapping {
-		query = fmt.Sprintf("select toWordId, frequency from babblerArcs where fromWordId = %d;", lookup)
-		rows, err := p.db.Query(query)
+	for oldNodeId, newNode := range mapping {
+		rows, err := p.db.Queryx("select * from babblerArcs where fromNodeId = ?;", oldNodeId)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		defer rows.Close()
 
-		arcs := []Arc{}
+		arcs := []*BabblerArc{}
 
 		for rows.Next() {
-			var arc Arc
-			err = rows.Scan(&arc.ToWordId, &arc.Frequency)
+			var arc BabblerArc
+			err = rows.StructScan(&arc)
 			if err != nil {
+				log.Print(err)
 				return err
 			}
-			arcs = append(arcs, arc)
+			arcs = append(arcs, &arc)
 		}
 
 		for _, arc := range arcs {
-			newArcEnd := int64(-1) //handle end arcs
-			if arc.ToWordId >= 0 {
-				newArcEnd = mapping[arc.ToWordId]
-			}
-
-			res, err := p.db.Exec(`update babblerArcs set frequency = frequency + ? where fromWordId = ? and toWordId = ?`, arc.Frequency, newArcStart, newArcEnd)
-			rowsAffected := int64(0)
-			if err == nil {
-				rowsAffected, _ = res.RowsAffected()
-			}
-			if err != nil || rowsAffected == 0 {
-				_, err = p.db.Exec(`insert into babblerArcs (fromWordId, toWordId, frequency) values (?, ?, ?);`, newArcStart, newArcEnd, arc.Frequency)
-				if err != nil {
-					return err
-				}
+			_, err := p.incrementWordArc(newNode, mapping[arc.ToNodeId])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return nil
+
+	return err
 }
diff --git a/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go b/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
index 7263ce7..a568b8b 100644
--- a/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
+++ b/plugins/babbler/babbler_test.go
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ func TestBabblerNoBabbler(t *testing.T) {
 	c.config.Babbler.DefaultUsers = []string{"seabass"}
 	assert.NotNil(t, c)
 	c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass2 says"))
-	res := assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 0)
+	res := assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
 	assert.True(t, res)
+	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[0], "seabass2 babbler not found")
 }
 
 func TestBabblerNothingSaid(t *testing.T) {
@@ -40,8 +41,13 @@ func TestBabblerNothingSaid(t *testing.T) {
 	c := New(mb)
 	c.config.Babbler.DefaultUsers = []string{"seabass"}
 	assert.NotNil(t, c)
-	c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass says"))
-	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 0)
+	res := c.Message(makeMessage("initialize babbler for seabass"))
+	assert.True(t, res)
+	res = c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass says"))
+	assert.True(t, res)
+	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 2)
+	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[0], "okay.")
+	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[1], "seabass hasn't said anything yet.")
 }
 
 func TestBabbler(t *testing.T) {
@@ -130,7 +136,8 @@ func TestBabblerBadSeed(t *testing.T) {
 	seabass.Body = "This is a long message"
 	c.Message(seabass)
 	c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass says noooo this is bad"))
-	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 0)
+	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
+	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[0], "seabass never said 'noooo this is bad'")
 }
 
 func TestBabblerBadSeed2(t *testing.T) {
@@ -146,7 +153,8 @@ func TestBabblerBadSeed2(t *testing.T) {
 	seabass.Body = "This is a long message"
 	c.Message(seabass)
 	c.Message(makeMessage("!seabass says This is a really"))
-	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 0)
+	assert.Len(t, mb.Messages, 1)
+	assert.Contains(t, mb.Messages[0], "seabass never said 'this is a really'")
 }
 
 func TestBabblerBatch(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/plugins/babbler/commands.go b/plugins/babbler/commands.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38e2502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/babbler/commands.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package babbler
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) initializeBabbler(tokens []string) (string, bool) {
+	who := tokens[3]
+	_, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(who)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "babbler initialization failed.", true
+	}
+	return "okay.", true
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) addToBabbler(babblerName, whatWasSaid string) (string, bool) {
+	babblerId, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(babblerName)
+	if err == nil {
+		p.addToMarkovChain(babblerId, whatWasSaid)
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) getBabble(tokens []string) (string, bool) {
+	who := tokens[0]
+	_, err := p.getBabbler(who)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == NO_BABBLER {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s babbler not found.", who), true
+		}
+	} else {
+
+		var saying string
+		if len(tokens) == 2 {
+			saying, err = p.babble(who)
+		} else {
+			saying, err = p.babbleSeed(who, tokens[2:])
+		}
+
+		if err != nil {
+			if err == SAID_NOTHING {
+				return fmt.Sprintf("%s hasn't said anything yet.", who), true
+			} else if err == NEVER_SAID {
+				return fmt.Sprintf("%s never said '%s'", who, strings.Join(tokens[2:], " ")), true
+			}
+		} else if saying != "" {
+			return saying, true
+		}
+	}
+	return "", false
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) batchLearn(tokens []string) (string, bool) {
+	who := tokens[3]
+	babblerId, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(who)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "batch learn failed.", true
+	}
+
+	body := strings.Join(tokens[4:], " ")
+	body = strings.ToLower(body)
+
+	for _, a := range strings.Split(body, ".") {
+		for _, b := range strings.Split(a, "!") {
+			for _, c := range strings.Split(b, "?") {
+				for _, d := range strings.Split(c, "\n") {
+					trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(d)
+					if trimmed != "" {
+						p.addToMarkovChain(babblerId, trimmed)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return "phew that was tiring.", true
+}
+
+func (p *BabblerPlugin) merge(tokens []string) (string, bool) {
+	if tokens[3] != "into" {
+		return "try using 'merge babbler [x] into [y]'", true
+	}
+
+	who := tokens[2]
+	into := tokens[4]
+
+	if who == into {
+		return "that's annoying. stop it.", true
+	}
+
+	whoBabbler, err := p.getBabbler(who)
+	if err != nil {
+		if err == NO_BABBLER {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%s babbler not found.", who), true
+		}
+		return "merge failed.", true
+	}
+	intoBabbler, err := p.getOrCreateBabbler(into)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "merge failed.", true
+	}
+
+	err = p.mergeBabblers(intoBabbler, whoBabbler, into, who)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "merge failed.", true
+	}
+
+	return "mooooiggged", true
+}