diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/memoize.py b/r2/r2/lib/memoize.py
index 422b8912a..9aa65a4b6 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/memoize.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/memoize.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 # CondeNet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 ################################################################################
 from r2.config import cache
-import sha
+from r2.lib.filters import _force_utf8
 
 class NoneResult(object): pass
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def memoize(iden, time = 0):
     def memoize_fn(fn):
         from r2.lib.memoize import NoneResult
         def new_fn(*a, **kw):
-            key = iden + str(a) + str(kw)
+            key = _make_key(iden, a, kw)
             #print 'CHECKING', key
             res = cache.get(key)
             if res is None:
@@ -43,10 +43,28 @@ def memoize(iden, time = 0):
     return memoize_fn
 
 def clear_memo(iden, *a, **kw):
-    key = iden + str(a) + str(kw)
+    key = _make_key(iden, a, kw)
     #print 'CLEARING', key
     cache.delete(key)
 
+def _make_key(iden, a, kw):
+    """
+    Make the cache key. We have to descend into *a and **kw to make
+    sure that only regular strings are used in the key to keep 'foo'
+    and u'foo' in an args list from resulting in differing keys
+    """
+    def _conv(s):
+        if isinstance(s, str):
+            return s
+        elif isinstance(s, unicode):
+            return _force_utf8(s)
+        else:
+            return str(s)
+
+    return (_conv(iden)
+            + str([_conv(x) for x in a])
+            + str(dict((_conv(x),_conv(y)) for (x,y) in kw)))
+
 @memoize('test')
 def test(x, y):
     import time
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/subreddit.html b/r2/r2/templates/subreddit.html
index 2bf711c4d..0276acc5a 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/subreddit.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/subreddit.html
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 <%!
    from r2.lib.strings import strings
+   from r2.lib.utils import timesince
    %>
 <%inherit  file="printable.html"/>
 
@@ -54,7 +55,8 @@
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="tagline()">
-  ${self.score(thing, thing.subscriber)}
+  ${self.score(thing, thing.subscriber)},
+  ${_("a community for %(time)s") % dict(time=timesince(thing._date))}
 </%def>
 
 ##this function is used by subscriptionbox.html