diff --git a/i3pystatus/__init__.py b/i3pystatus/__init__.py
index 485de11..effd7a3 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/__init__.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/__init__.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class IOHandler:
         Raises EOFError if the end of stream has been reached"""
 
         try:
-            line = self.inp.readline().decode("utf-8").strip()
+            line = self.inp.readline().strip()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             raise EOFError()
 
diff --git a/i3pystatus/__main__.py.dist b/i3pystatus/__main__.py.dist
index 2b4f391..8561d0f 100755
--- a/i3pystatus/__main__.py.dist
+++ b/i3pystatus/__main__.py.dist
@@ -5,12 +5,22 @@ from i3pystatus import (
     I3statusHandler,
     mailchecker,
     modsde,
-    notmuchmailchecker,
+    notmuch,
     thunderbird,
+    regex,
 )
 
 status = I3statusHandler()
 
+# Regular expression file watcher
+# If you're using a thinkpad, chances are that this displays your fan speed and level
+regexsettings = {
+    "regex": "speed:\s+([0-9]+)\nlevel:\s+([a-zA-Z0-9]+)",
+    "file": "/proc/acpi/ibm/fan",
+    "format": "{0} [{1}]",
+}
+status.register(regex.Regex(regexsettings))
+
 # The imap checker module
 mailsettings = {
     "color": "#ff0000",
@@ -46,8 +56,9 @@ status.register_module(mde)
 
 # the notmuch mail checker module
 db_path = "path_to_your_notmuch_database"
-notmuch = notmuchmailchecker.NotmuchMailChecker(db_path)
-status.register_module(notmuch)
+nm = notmuch.NotmuchMailChecker(db_path)
+status.register_module(nm)
+
 
 # the thunderbird dbus new mail checker module
 tb = thunderbirdnewmail.ThunderbirdMailChecker()
diff --git a/i3pystatus/mailchecker.py b/i3pystatus/mailchecker.py
index 20a31e4..8b12d57 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/mailchecker.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/mailchecker.py
@@ -20,27 +20,21 @@ class MailChecker(IntervalModule):
         "servers": []
     }
 
-    servers = []
-
     def __init__(self, settings = None):
         self.settings.update(settings)
 
-        for server in settings["servers"]:
-            srv = MailChecker.MailServer(server)
-            self.servers.append(srv)
+        self.servers = list(map(MailChecker.MailServer, settings["servers"]))
 
     def run(self):
-        unread = sum([server.get_unread_count() for server in self.servers])
+        unread = sum(map(lambda server: server.get_unread_count(), self.servers))
 
-        if not unread:
-            return None
-
-        self.output = {
-            "full_text" : "%d new email%s" % (unread, ("s" if unread > 1 else "")), 
-            "name" : "newmail",
-            "urgent" : "true",
-            "color" : self.settings["color"]
-        }
+        if unread:
+            self.output = {
+                "full_text" : "%d new email%s" % (unread, ("s" if unread > 1 else "")), 
+                "name" : "newmail",
+                "urgent" : "true",
+                "color" : self.settings["color"]
+            }
 
     class MailServer:
         """ 
@@ -50,20 +44,13 @@ class MailChecker(IntervalModule):
         tries to reconnect. It checks every "pause" seconds.
         """
 
-        host = ""
-        port = ""
         imap_class = imaplib.IMAP4
-        username = ""
-        password = ""
         connection = None
 
         def __init__(self, settings_dict):
-            self.host = settings_dict["host"]
-            self.port = settings_dict["port"]
-            self.username = settings_dict["username"]
-            self.password = settings_dict["password"]
+            self.__dict__.update(settings_dict)
 
-            if settings_dict["ssl"]:
+            if self.ssl:
                 self.imap_class = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL
 
         def get_connection(self):
@@ -87,5 +74,5 @@ class MailChecker(IntervalModule):
             conn = self.get_connection()
             if conn:
                 unread += len(conn.search(None,"UnSeen")[1][0].split())
-            
+
             return unread
diff --git a/i3pystatus/regex.py b/i3pystatus/regex.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dd3e872
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3pystatus/regex.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import re
+
+from i3pystatus import IntervalModule
+
+class Regex(IntervalModule):
+    """
+    Simple regex file watcher
+
+    Settings:
+    * flags — Python.re flags
+    * regex — regular expression
+    * file — file to search for regex matches
+    * format — new-style format string used for output, default is "{0}"
+    """
+
+    flags = 0
+    format = "{0}"
+
+    def __init__(self, settings):
+        self.__dict__.update(settings)
+
+        self.re = re.compile(self.regex, self.flags)
+
+    def run(self):
+        with open(self.file, "r") as f:
+            match = self.re.search(f.read())
+            self.output = self.output = {
+                "full_text" : self.format.format(*match.groups()),
+                "name" : "regex",
+            }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/i3pystatus/thunderbird.py b/i3pystatus/thunderbird.py
index 1bee801..3336a5c 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/thunderbird.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/thunderbird.py
@@ -7,15 +7,17 @@
 # The plugin must be active and thunderbird running for the module to work
 # properly.
 
-import dbus, gobject
-from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop
 import json
 import threading
 import time
+from functools import partial
 
-from i3pystatus import AsyncModule
+import dbus, gobject
+from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop
 
-class ThunderbirdMailChecker(AsyncModule):
+from i3pystatus import IntervalModule
+
+class ThunderbirdMailChecker(IntervalModule):
     """ 
     This class listens for dbus signals emitted by
     the dbus-sender extension for thunderbird. 
@@ -24,8 +26,8 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(AsyncModule):
     settings = {
         "format": "%d new email"
     }
-
     unread = set()
+    interval = 1
 
     def __init__(self, settings=None):
         if settings is not None:
@@ -43,10 +45,7 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(AsyncModule):
         dbus.mainloop.glib.threads_init()
         self.context = loop.get_context()
 
-    def mainloop(self):
-        while True:
-            self.context.iteration(False)
-            time.sleep(1)
+        self.run = partial(self.context.iteration, False)
 
     def new_msg(self, id, author, subject):
         if id not in self.unread:
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ class ThunderbirdMailChecker(AsyncModule):
             self._output()
 
     def _output(self):
-        self.context.iteration(False)
+        self.run()
 
         unread = len(self.unread)
         if unread: