Starting here, trunk is broken pending re-organizations. Check out the previous revision if you'd like to tinker.

src/config/managers/commandalias.py

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+"""
+Custom manager for CommandAlias objects.
+"""
+from django.db import models
+
+class CommandAliasManager(models.Manager):
+    pass
+

src/config/managers/configvalue.py

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+"""
+Custom manager for ConfigValue objects.
+"""
+from traceback import format_exc
+from django.db import models
+from src import logger
+
+class ConfigValueManager(models.Manager):
+    def get_configvalue(self, configname):
+        """
+        Retrieve a configuration value.
+        """
+        try:
+            return self.get(conf_key__iexact=configname).conf_value
+        except self.model.DoesNotExist:
+            logger.log_errmsg("Unable to get config value for %s (does not exist):\n%s" % (
+                configname, (format_exc())))
+            
+    def set_configvalue(self, configname, newvalue):
+        """
+        Sets a configuration value with the specified name.
+        Returns the new value for the directive.
+        """
+        try:
+            conf = self.get(conf_key=configname)
+            conf.conf_value = newvalue
+            conf.save()
+            # We'll do this instead of conf.conf_value, might save a DB query.
+            return newvalue
+        except self.model.DoesNotExist:
+            logger.log_errmsg("Unable to set config value for %s (does not exist):\n%s" % (
+                configname, (format_exc())))

src/config/managers/connectscreen.py

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+"""
+Custom manager for ConnectScreen objects.
+"""
+from django.db import models
+
+class ConnectScreenManager(models.Manager):
+    def get_random_connect_screen(self):
+        """
+        Returns a random active connect screen.
+        """
+        try:
+            return self.filter(is_active=True).order_by('?')[0]
+        except IndexError:
+            new_screen = ConnectScreen(name='Default', 
+                connect_screen_text='This is a placeholder connect screen. Remind your admin to edit it through the Admin interface.')
+            new_screen.save()
+            return new_screen