diff --git a/static/js/pandora.js b/static/js/pandora.js
index 0b14c6c1f..cc3e13e87 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora.js
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ Ox.load('Geo', function() {
                     sectionElement: 'buttons',
                     selectedMovies: []
                 });
+                // fixme: this should not happen
+                !pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list]
+                    && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list] = pandora.user.ui.lists[''];
 
                 if (data.user.level == 'guest' && $.browser.mozilla) {
                     pandora.user.ui.theme = 'classic';
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/URL.js b/static/js/pandora/URL.js
index fdd5bdfbb..fa029e136 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/URL.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/URL.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pandora.URL = (function() {
                     item: ''
                 });
             },
-            '^(calendar|calendars|clips|icons|flow|map|maps|timelines)$': function() {
+            '^(calendar|calendars|clips|icons|flow|map|maps|timelines)$': function(url) {
                 pandora.UI.set({
                     section: 'items',
                     item: ''
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/ui/folderBrowserList.js b/static/js/pandora/ui/folderBrowserList.js
index 31b3991dd..ca3e83bdb 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/ui/folderBrowserList.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/ui/folderBrowserList.js
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ pandora.ui.folderList = function(id) {
                 if (data.ids.length) {
                     $.each(pandora.$ui.folderList, function(id_, $list) {
                         id != id_ && $list.options('selected', []);
-                    })
+                    });
                     pandora.URL.set('?find=list:' + data.ids[0]);
                 } else {
                     pandora.URL.set('?find=');
diff --git a/static/js/pandora/ui/menu.js b/static/js/pandora/ui/menu.js
index dfa1f2529..ea1110b48 100644
--- a/static/js/pandora/ui/menu.js
+++ b/static/js/pandora/ui/menu.js
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ pandora.ui.mainMenu = function() {
                     { id: 'movies', title: 'View ' + pandora.site.itemName.plural, items: [
                         { group: 'viewmovies', min: 1, max: 1, items: $.map(pandora.site.listViews, function(view, i) {
                             return Ox.extend({
-                                checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list]
-                                    && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].listView == view.id,
+                                checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].listView == view.id,
                             }, view);
                         }) },
                     ]},
@@ -105,15 +104,14 @@ pandora.ui.mainMenu = function() {
                     { id: 'sortmovies', title: 'Sort ' + pandora.site.itemName.plural + ' by', items: [
                         { group: 'sortmovies', min: 1, max: 1, items: $.map(pandora.site.sortKeys, function(key, i) {
                             return Ox.extend({
-                                checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list]
-                                    && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].key == key.id
+                                checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].key == key.id
                             }, key);
                         }) }
                     ] },
                     { id: 'ordermovies', title: 'Order ' + pandora.site.itemName.plural, items: [
                         { group: 'ordermovies', min: 1, max: 1, items: [
-                            { id: 'ascending', title: 'Ascending', checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list] && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].operator === '' },
-                            { id: 'descending', title: 'Descending', checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list] && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].operator == '-' }
+                            { id: 'ascending', title: 'Ascending', checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].operator === '' },
+                            { id: 'descending', title: 'Descending', checked: pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].operator == '-' }
                         ]}
                     ] },
                     { id: 'advancedsort', title: 'Advanced Sort...', keyboard: 'shift control s' },
@@ -178,7 +176,7 @@ pandora.ui.mainMenu = function() {
                     else
                         url(id);
                 } else if (data.id == 'ordermovies') {
-                    pandora.$ui.list.sortList(pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list] && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].key, value == 'ascending' ? '' : '-');
+                    pandora.$ui.list.sortList(pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].sort[0].key, value == 'ascending' ? '' : '-');
                 } else if (data.id == 'sortmovies') {
                     var operator = pandora.getSortOperator(value);
                     pandora.$ui.mainMenu.checkItem('sortMenu_ordermovies_' + (operator === '' ? 'ascending' : 'descending'));
@@ -193,7 +191,7 @@ pandora.ui.mainMenu = function() {
                             pandora.$ui.item.reload();
                         }
                         $list = pandora.$ui.browser;
-                    } else if (pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list] && pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].listView == 'icons') {
+                    } else if (pandora.user.ui.lists[pandora.user.ui.list].listView == 'icons') {
                         $list = pandora.$ui.list
                     }
                     $list && $list.options({