diff --git a/networking/DataUtil.py b/networking/DataUtil.py
index 3299512..48448c4 100644
--- a/networking/DataUtil.py
+++ b/networking/DataUtil.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def readByteArray(FileObject, length):
 
 def readString(FileObject):
     length = readShort(FileObject) * 2
-    return FileObject.read(length).decode("utf-16be")
+    return unicode(FileObject.read(length), "utf-16be")
 
 
 def sendBoolean(socket, value):
@@ -88,10 +88,9 @@ def sendDouble(socket, value):
 
 
 def sendString(socket, value):
-    if (type(value) is not types.StringType):
-        value = str(value)
-    socket.send(struct.pack('>h', value.__len__()))
-    socket.send(value.encode('utf-16be'))
+    value = unicode(value).encode('utf-16be')
+    socket.send(struct.pack('>h', len(value) / 2))
+    socket.send(value)
 
 
 def readEntityMetadata(FileObject):
@@ -145,4 +144,4 @@ def readSlotData(FileObject):
                 }
     return {'BlockID': -1,
             'ItemCount': 0
-            }
\ No newline at end of file
+            }
diff --git a/networking/NetworkManager.py b/networking/NetworkManager.py
index 4321940..edc7eaf 100644
--- a/networking/NetworkManager.py
+++ b/networking/NetworkManager.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import traceback
 import threading
 import hashlib
 import string
+import unicodedata
 import Utils
 import sys
 from networking import PacketSenderManager
@@ -194,12 +195,10 @@ class PacketListener(threading.Thread):
                 print "Logged in \o/ Received an entity id of " + str(packet['EntityID'])
             elif (response == "\x03"):
                 packet = PacketListenerManager.handle03(self.FileObject)
-                # Add "\x1b" because it is essential for ANSI escapes emitted by translate_escapes
                 if not self.connection.options.disableAnsiColours:
-                    filtered_string = filter(lambda x: x in string.printable + "\x1b",
-                        Utils.translate_escapes(packet['Message']))
+                    filtered_string = Utils.translate_escapes(packet['Message'])
                 else:
-                    filtered_string = filter(lambda x: x in string.printable, packet['Message'])
+                    filtered_string = packet['Message']
                 print filtered_string
 
             elif (response == "\x04"):
diff --git a/start.py b/start.py
index f415bb6..f625baa 100644
--- a/start.py
+++ b/start.py
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         try:
             chat_input = raw_input()
             if (connection.isConnected):
-                PacketSenderManager.send03(connection.grabSocket(), chat_input)
+                PacketSenderManager.send03(connection.grabSocket(),
+                        chat_input.decode('utf-8')[:100])
             else:
                 pass
         except KeyboardInterrupt, e: