diff --git a/curses/netentry_curses.py b/curses/netentry_curses.py
index 99e9086..0beed28 100644
--- a/curses/netentry_curses.py
+++ b/curses/netentry_curses.py
@@ -26,11 +26,7 @@ from curses_misc import TextDialog,DynWrap,MaskingEdit,ComboBox,error
 import wicd.misc as misc
 from wicd.misc import noneToString, stringToNone, noneToBlankString, to_bool
 
-
-
 from wicd.translations import language
-for i in language.keys():
-    language[i] = language[i].decode('utf8')
 
 daemon = None
 wired = None
diff --git a/curses/prefs_curses.py b/curses/prefs_curses.py
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
index c13d756..20d45d2
--- a/curses/prefs_curses.py
+++ b/curses/prefs_curses.py
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ wireless = None
 wired = None
 
 from wicd.translations import language
-for i in language.keys():
-    language[i] = language[i].decode('utf8')
 
 class PrefsDialog(urwid.WidgetWrap):
     def __init__(self,body,pos,ui,dbus=None):
diff --git a/curses/wicd-curses.py b/curses/wicd-curses.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 71b2319..323d7e8
--- a/curses/wicd-curses.py
+++ b/curses/wicd-curses.py
@@ -866,7 +866,6 @@ def main():
     # Import the screen based on whatever the user picked.
     # The raw_display will have some features that may be useful to users
     # later
-    parser.set_defaults(screen='raw')
     if options.screen == 'raw':
         import urwid.raw_display
         ui = urwid.raw_display.Screen()
@@ -955,7 +954,6 @@ setup_dbus()
 ########################################
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser = OptionParser(version="wicd-curses-%s (using wicd %s)" % (CURSES_REVNO,daemon.Hello()))
-    # raw = True. curses = False
     parser.set_defaults(screen='raw')
     parser.add_option("-r", "--raw-screen",action="store_const",const='raw'
             ,dest='screen',help="use urwid's raw screen controller (default)")
diff --git a/wicd/translations.py b/wicd/translations.py
index e9523b1..397236c 100644
--- a/wicd/translations.py
+++ b/wicd/translations.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -* coding: utf-8 -*-
-# ^^ why do I need this?
 
 #
 #   Copyright (C) 2007 - 2009 Adam Blackburn