diff --git a/system/helpers/file_helper.php b/system/helpers/file_helper.php
index 93bddb0..32c0b2c 100644
--- a/system/helpers/file_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/file_helper.php
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@
  * @param	string	file data
  * @return	bool
  */	
-function write_file($path, $data)
+function write_file($path, $data, $mode = 'wb')
 {
-	if ( ! $fp = @fopen($path, 'wb'))
+	if ( ! $fp = @fopen($path, $mode))
 	{
 		return FALSE;
 	}
diff --git a/system/helpers/url_helper.php b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
index 03d6c3b..09169e3 100644
--- a/system/helpers/url_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 function base_url()
 { 
 	$obj =& get_instance();
-	return $obj->config->item('base_url', 1);
+	return $obj->config->slash_item('base_url');
 }
 	
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------