diff --git a/oml/changelog.py b/oml/changelog.py
index 55dc853..3f89f47 100644
--- a/oml/changelog.py
+++ b/oml/changelog.py
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@ def add_record(action, *args, **kwargs):
     revision = next_revision()
 
     data = [revision, timestamp, [action] + list(args)]
-    data = json.dumps(data, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8')
+    data = json.dumps(data, ensure_ascii=False)
 
     path = changelog_path()
     if os.path.exists(path):
-        mode = 'ab'
+        mode = 'a'
         state.changelog_size = os.path.getsize(path)
     else:
-        mode = 'wb'
+        mode = 'w'
         state.changelog_size = 0
     makefolder(path)
     with open(path, mode) as fd:
diff --git a/oml/item/models.py b/oml/item/models.py
index 508f46e..c9523fb 100644
--- a/oml/item/models.py
+++ b/oml/item/models.py
@@ -311,20 +311,13 @@ class Item(db.Model):
 
     def delete(self, commit=True):
         Sort.query.filter_by(item_id=self.id).delete()
-        Find.query.filter_by(item_id=self.id).delete()
         if state.downloads and self.id in state.downloads.transfers:
             del state.downloads.transfers[self.id]
         state.db.session.delete(self)
-        if commit:
-            state.db.session.commit()
         icons.clear('cover:%s' % self.id)
         icons.clear('preview:%s' % self.id)
-
-    def remove_annotations(self):
-        from annotation.models import Annotation
-        for a in Annotation.query.filter_by(item_id=self.id, user_id=state.user()):
-            a.add_record('removeannotation')
-            a.delete()
+        if commit:
+            state.db.session.commit()
 
     meta_keys = (
         'author',
@@ -569,7 +562,6 @@ class Item(db.Model):
         state.db.session.add(self)
 
     def remove_file(self):
-        folders = set()
         for f in self.files.all():
             path = f.fullpath()
             if os.path.exists(path):
@@ -577,12 +569,10 @@ class Item(db.Model):
                 try:
                     os.chmod(path, mode)
                     os.unlink(path)
-                    folders.add(os.path.dirname(path))
+                    remove_empty_folders(os.path.dirname(path))
                 except:
                     pass
             state.db.session.delete(f)
-        for folder in folders:
-            remove_empty_folders(folder)
         user = state.user()
         if user in self.users:
             self.users.remove(user)
@@ -599,7 +589,6 @@ class Item(db.Model):
             if self.id in state.downloads.transfers:
                 del state.downloads.transfers[self.id]
         add_record('removeitem', self.id)
-        self.remove_annotations()
 
 class Sort(db.Model):
     __tablename__ = 'sort'
diff --git a/oml/library.py b/oml/library.py
index 09cc474..3c17ed0 100644
--- a/oml/library.py
+++ b/oml/library.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-import codecs
 import json
 import os
 import time
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ class Peer(object):
     def apply_log(self):
         changes = []
         if os.path.exists(self._logpath):
-            with codecs.open(self._logpath, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fd:
+            with open(self._logpath) as fd:
                 for line in fd:
                     if line:
                         try:
diff --git a/oml/nodes.py b/oml/nodes.py
index 27d7658..3e4c575 100644
--- a/oml/nodes.py
+++ b/oml/nodes.py
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ class Node(Thread):
                 else:
                     if not self._q.qsize():
                         time.sleep(5)
-                    else:
-                        time.sleep(0.1)
                     self.queue(action[0], *action[1])
             else:
                 logger.debug('unknown action %s', action)
@@ -85,8 +83,7 @@ class Node(Thread):
             self._q.put('ping')
 
     def queue(self, action, *args):
-        if DEBUG_NODES:
-            logger.debug('queue node action %s->%s%s', self.user_id, action, args)
+        logger.debug('queue node action %s->%s%s', self.user_id, action, args)
         self._q.put([action, args])
 
     def _call(self, action, *args):
diff --git a/oml/tor.py b/oml/tor.py
index 17056ca..18180c1 100644
--- a/oml/tor.py
+++ b/oml/tor.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ AvoidDiskWrites 1
 Log notice stdout
 SocksPort 9830
 ControlPort 9831
-#CookieAuthentication 1
+CookieAuthentication 1
                 '''.strip())
         tor_data = os.path.join(settings.data_path, 'TorData')
         if sys.platform == 'win32':
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ DirReqStatistics 0
                 for line in self.p.stdout:
                     self._status.append(line)
                     logger.debug(line)
-                self.p.communicate()
                 time.sleep(0.5)
             self.p = None
 
diff --git a/static/js/annotationPanel.js b/static/js/annotationPanel.js
index f0cf0e5..c189abc 100644
--- a/static/js/annotationPanel.js
+++ b/static/js/annotationPanel.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
-oml.ui.annotationPanel = function(options, self) {
-    self = self || {};
+oml.ui.annotationPanel = function() {
     var ui = oml.user.ui;
 
     var ui = oml.user.ui;
@@ -30,15 +29,14 @@ oml.ui.annotationPanel = function(options, self) {
         click: function() {
             var $annotation = oml.$ui.annotationFolder.find('.OMLAnnotation.selected')
             $annotation.length && $annotation.delete()
-            that.updateSelection()
+            $deleteQuote.options({disabled: true})
         }
     }).appendTo($bar);
 
     var $menuButton = Ox.MenuButton({
         items: [
-            {id: 'addAnnotation', title: 'Add Annotation', disabled: true, keyboard: 'return'},
-            {id: 'removeAnnotation', title: 'Remove Annotation', disabled: true, keyboard: 'delete'},
-            {id: 'removeAnnotations', title: 'Remove All Annotation', disabled: true},
+            {id: 'addAnnotation', title: 'Add Annotation', disabled: true},
+            {id: 'removeAnnotation', title: 'Remove Annotation', disabled: true},
             {},
             {id: 'show', title: Ox._('Show Annotations'), disabled: true},
             {group: 'showAnnotationUsers', min: 1, max: 1, items: [
@@ -84,14 +82,6 @@ oml.ui.annotationPanel = function(options, self) {
                 }, function(result) {
                     oml.ui.exportAnnotationsDialog(result.data).open()
                 })
-            } else if (id =='addAnnotation') {
-                oml.$ui.viewer.postMessage('addAnnotation', {})
-            } else if (id =='removeAnnotation') {
-                var $annotation = oml.$ui.annotationFolder.find('.OMLAnnotation.selected')
-                $annotation.length && $annotation.delete()
-                that.updateSelection()
-            } else if (id =='removeAnnotations') {
-                oml.ui.removeAnnotationsDialog().open()
             } else {
                 console.log('click', id, data)
             }
@@ -123,18 +113,16 @@ oml.ui.annotationPanel = function(options, self) {
             }
         ],
         orientation: 'vertical'
-    }, self).update({
-        hasAnnotations: function() {
-            $menuButton[self.options.hasAnnotations ? 'enableItem' : 'disableItem']('removeAnnotations')
-        }
     });
 
     that.updateSelection = function(selection) {
+        $addQuote.options({
+            disabled: !selection
+        })
         var $annotation = oml.$ui.annotationFolder.find('.OMLAnnotation.selected')
-        $addQuote.options({disabled: !selection})
-        $deleteQuote.options({disabled: !$annotation.length})
-        $menuButton[selection ? 'enableItem' : 'disableItem']('addAnnotation')
-        $menuButton[$annotation.length ? 'enableItem' : 'disableItem']('removeAnnotation')
+        $deleteQuote.options({
+            disabled: !$annotation.length
+        })
     }
 
     return that;
diff --git a/static/js/removeAnnotations.js b/static/js/removeAnnotations.js
deleted file mode 100644
index d9e169a..0000000
--- a/static/js/removeAnnotations.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-'use strict';
-
-oml.ui.removeAnnotationsDialog = function() {
-
-    var ui = oml.user.ui,
-
-        annotations = oml.$ui.viewer.getAnnotations().filter(function(a) {
-            return a.user == oml.user.id
-        }),
-        annotationsName = Ox._(annotations.length == 1 ? 'Annotation' : 'Annotations'),
-        theseAnnotationsName = annotations.length == 1
-            ? Ox._('this annotation')
-            : Ox._('these {0} annotations', [Ox.formatNumber(annotations.length)]),
-
-        that = oml.ui.confirmDialog({
-            buttons: [
-                Ox.Button({
-                    style: 'squared',
-                    title: Ox._('No, Keep {0}', [annotationsName])
-                }),
-                Ox.Button({
-                    style: 'squared',
-                    title: Ox._('Yes, Delete {0}', [annotationsName])
-                })
-            ],
-            content: Ox._(
-                'Are you sure that you want to permanently delete {0}?',
-                [theseAnnotationsName]
-            ),
-            title: Ox._('Delete {0}', [annotationsName])
-        }, function() {
-            Ox.serialForEach(annotations, function(a, index, annotations, next) {
-                oml.api.removeAnnotation({
-                    item: ui.item,
-                    annotation: a.id
-                }, function(result) {
-                    next()
-                })
-            }, function() {
-                Ox.Request.clearCache();
-                oml.$ui.viewer.renderAnnotations(true);
-            })
-        });
-
-    return that;
-
-};
-
diff --git a/static/js/viewer.js b/static/js/viewer.js
index 24c48a2..eb4d902 100644
--- a/static/js/viewer.js
+++ b/static/js/viewer.js
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
         if (save !== false) {
             oml.api.addAnnotation(a)
         }
-        data.user = a.user || oml.user.id
         data.notes = data.notes || [];
         annotations.push(data);
     }
@@ -158,13 +157,9 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
                             oml.$ui.annotationFolder.append($annotation);
                             $annotation.annotate();
                             oml.$ui.annotationPanel.updateSelection(false)
-                            oml.$ui.annotationPanel.options({hasAnnotations: true})
                         } else if (event == 'removeAnnotation') {
                             oml.$ui.annotationFolder.find('#a-' + data.id).remove()
                             data.id && removeAnnotation(data.id)
-                            oml.$ui.annotationPanel.options({hasAnnotations: annotations.filter(function(a) {
-                                return a.user == oml.user.id
-                            }).length > 0})
                         } else if (event == 'selectAnnotation') {
                             if (data.id) {
                                 var $annotation = oml.$ui.annotationFolder.find('#a-' + data.id)
@@ -201,7 +196,7 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
     that.getAnnotations = function() {
         return annotations;
     }
-    that.renderAnnotations = function(load=false) {
+    that.renderAnnotations = function() {
         var sortKey = ui.sortAnnotations
         if (sortKey == 'date') {
             sortKey = 'created'
@@ -212,15 +207,9 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
         if (sortKey == 'quote') {
             sortKey = 'text'
         }
-        if (load) {
-            loadAnnotations(function() {
-                that.renderAnnotations()
-            })
-        }
         annotations = Ox.sortBy(annotations, sortKey)
         oml.$ui.annotationFolder.empty();
         var visibleAnnotations = [];
-        var hasAnnotations = false;
         annotations.forEach(function(data) {
             //that.postMessage('removeAnnotation', {id: data.id})
             if (ui.showAnnotationUsers == 'all' || data.user == oml.user.id) {
@@ -228,11 +217,7 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
                 oml.$ui.annotationFolder.append($annotation);
                 visibleAnnotations.push(data)
             }
-            if (data.user == oml.user.id) {
-                hasAnnotations = true
-            }
         })
-        oml.$ui.annotationPanel.options({hasAnnotations: hasAnnotations})
         // fixme: trigger loaded event from reader instead?
         setTimeout(function() {
             that.postMessage('addAnnotations', {
@@ -240,7 +225,6 @@ oml.ui.viewer = function() {
                 replace: true
             })
         }, 500)
-
     }
     return that.updateElement();
 };
diff --git a/static/json/js.json b/static/json/js.json
index e493cf5..f283185 100644
--- a/static/json/js.json
+++ b/static/json/js.json
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@
     "preferencesPanel.js",
     "previewButton.js",
     "previewDialog.js",
-    "removeAnnotations.js",
     "resetUIDialog.js",
     "rightPanel.js",
     "sectionButtons.js",