[Matplotlib-users] subplots and forked show()

Hi,

Two quick little issues I haven't been able to figure out how to fix on 
my own so far:

1.  Is there an easy way to change the spacing between subplots, so 
that they aren't so crammed together?  It's none too pretty when the 
x-axis text for the upper plot is overlapping or even below the title 
for the lower plot.

2.  Is there a way to make the 'show()' command execute so that the 
script keeps running (instead of waiting for the windows to be closed), 
and to have the output persist past the end of the run?

Thanks,
Mark