diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3d74a9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+*.pyc
+*~
diff --git a/pyfpdb/Database.py b/pyfpdb/Database.py
index 8c03a249..ad6ffa4b 100755
--- a/pyfpdb/Database.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Database.py
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ class Database:
     #end def dropAllIndexes
     
     def fillDefaultData(self):
-        c = self.get_cursor()
+        c = self.get_cursor() 
         c.execute("INSERT INTO Settings (version) VALUES (118);")
         c.execute("INSERT INTO Sites (name,currency) VALUES ('Full Tilt Poker', 'USD')")
         c.execute("INSERT INTO Sites (name,currency) VALUES ('PokerStars', 'USD')")
diff --git a/pyfpdb/Hand.py b/pyfpdb/Hand.py
index 0946e6f9..75aab808 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Hand.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Hand.py
@@ -453,6 +453,7 @@ Add a raise on [street] by [player] to [amountTo]
 
     def addCheck(self, street, player):
         #print "DEBUG: %s %s checked" % (street, player)
+        logging.debug("%s %s checks" % (street, player))
         self.checkPlayerExists(player)
         self.actions[street].append((player, 'checks'))
 
diff --git a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
index bb30e705..fb7311ab 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 #Copyright 2008 Carl Gherardi
 #This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -95,9 +96,14 @@ Otherwise, finish at eof.
         else:
             handsList = self.allHandsAsList()
             logging.info("Parsing %d hands" % len(handsList))
+            nBadHangs = 0
             for handText in handsList:
-                self.processedHands.append(self.processHand(handText))
-            numHands=  len(handsList)
+                try:
+                    self.processedHands.append(self.processHand(handText))
+                except Exception, e: # TODO: it's better to replace it with s-t like HhcEception
+                    nBadHangs += 1
+                    logging.error("Caught exception while parsing hand: %s" % str(e))
+            numHands =  len(handsList) - nBadHangs
         endtime = time.time()
         print "read %d hands in %.3f seconds" % (numHands, endtime - starttime)
         if self.out_fh != sys.stdout:
diff --git a/pyfpdb/PartyPokerToFpdb.py b/pyfpdb/PartyPokerToFpdb.py
index c0161bf0..af1081df 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/PartyPokerToFpdb.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/PartyPokerToFpdb.py
@@ -70,25 +70,6 @@ class PartyPoker(HandHistoryConverter):
             (?P<DATETIME>.+)
             """, re.VERBOSE)
     re_Hid          = re.compile("^Game \#(?P<HID>\d+) starts.")
-    #re_GameInfo     = re.compile("""
-          #PartyPoker\sGame\s\#(?P<HID>[0-9]+):\s+
-          #(Tournament\s\#                # open paren of tournament info
-          #(?P<TOURNO>\d+),\s
-          #(?P<BUYIN>[%(LS)s\+\d\.]+      # here's how I plan to use LS
-          #\s?(?P<TOUR_ISO>%(LEGAL_ISO)s)?
-          #)\s)?                          # close paren of tournament info
-          #(?P<MIXED>HORSE|8\-Game|HOSE)?\s?\(?
-          #(?P<GAME>Hold\'em|Razz|7\sCard\sStud|7\sCard\sStud\sHi/Lo|Omaha|Omaha\sHi/Lo|Badugi|Triple\sDraw\s2\-7\sLowball)\s
-          #(?P<LIMIT>No\sLimit|Limit|Pot\sLimit)\)?,?\s
-          #(-\sLevel\s(?P<LEVEL>[IVXLC]+)\s)?
-          #\(?                            # open paren of the stakes
-          #(?P<CURRENCY>%(LS)s|)?
-          #(?P<SB>[.0-9]+)/(%(LS)s)?
-          #(?P<BB>[.0-9]+)
-          #\s?(?P<ISO>%(LEGAL_ISO)s)?
-          #\)\s-\s                        # close paren of the stakes
-          #(?P<DATETIME>.*$)""" % substitutions,
-          #re.MULTILINE|re.VERBOSE)
 
     re_PlayerInfo   = re.compile("""
           Seat\s(?P<SEAT>\d+):\s
@@ -96,11 +77,6 @@ class PartyPoker(HandHistoryConverter):
           \(\s*\$?(?P<CASH>[0-9,.]+)\s*(?:USD|)\s*\)
           """ , 
           re.VERBOSE)
-    #re_PlayerInfo   = re.compile("""
-          #^Seat\s(?P<SEAT>[0-9]+):\s
-          #(?P<PNAME>.*)\s
-          #\((%(LS)s)?(?P<CASH>[.0-9]+)\sin\schips\)""" % substitutions, 
-          #re.MULTILINE|re.VERBOSE)
 
     re_HandInfo     = re.compile("""
             ^Table\s+
@@ -111,12 +87,6 @@ class PartyPoker(HandHistoryConverter):
             Seat\s+(?P<BUTTON>\d+)\sis\sthe\sbutton
             """, 
           re.MULTILINE|re.VERBOSE)
-    #re_HandInfo     = re.compile("""
-          #^Table\s\'(?P<TABLE>[-\ a-zA-Z\d]+)\'\s
-          #((?P<MAX>\d+)-max\s)?
-          #(?P<PLAY>\(Play\sMoney\)\s)?
-          #(Seat\s\#(?P<BUTTON>\d+)\sis\sthe\sbutton)?""", 
-          #re.MULTILINE|re.VERBOSE)
 
     re_SplitHands   = re.compile('\x00+')
     re_TailSplitHands   = re.compile('(\x00+)')
@@ -124,7 +94,6 @@ class PartyPoker(HandHistoryConverter):
     re_Button       = re.compile('Seat (?P<BUTTON>\d+) is the button', re.MULTILINE)
     re_Board        = re.compile(r"\[(?P<CARDS>.+)\]")
     re_NoSmallBlind = re.compile('^There is no Small Blind in this hand as the Big Blind of the previous hand left the table')
-#        self.re_setHandInfoRegex('.*#(?P<HID>[0-9]+): Table (?P<TABLE>[ a-zA-Z]+) - \$?(?P<SB>[.0-9]+)/\$?(?P<BB>[.0-9]+) - (?P<GAMETYPE>.*) - (?P<HR>[0-9]+):(?P<MIN>[0-9]+) ET - (?P<YEAR>[0-9]+)/(?P<MON>[0-9]+)/(?P<DAY>[0-9]+)Table (?P<TABLE>[ a-zA-Z]+)\nSeat (?P<BUTTON>[0-9]+)')    
 
 
     def __init__(self, in_path = '-', out_path = '-', follow = False, autostart=True, index=0):
@@ -148,14 +117,12 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
     def compilePlayerRegexs(self,  hand):
         players = set([player[1] for player in hand.players])
         if not players <= self.compiledPlayers: # x <= y means 'x is subset of y'
-            # we need to recompile the player regexs.
-# TODO: should probably rename re_HeroCards and corresponding method,
-#    since they are used to find all cards on lines starting with "Dealt to:"
-#    They still identify the hero.
             self.compiledPlayers = players
             player_re = "(?P<PNAME>" + "|".join(map(re.escape, players)) + ")"
             subst = {'PLYR': player_re, 'CUR_SYM': hand.SYMBOL[hand.gametype['currency']],
                 'CUR': hand.gametype['currency'] if hand.gametype['currency']!='T$' else ''}
+            for key in ('CUR_SYM', 'CUR'):
+                subst[key] = re.escape(subst[key])
             logging.debug("player_re: " + subst['PLYR'])
             logging.debug("CUR_SYM: " + subst['CUR_SYM'])
             logging.debug("CUR: " + subst['CUR'])
@@ -168,12 +135,6 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
             self.re_Antes = re.compile(
                 r"^%(PLYR)s posts ante \[%(CUR_SYM)s(?P<ANTE>[.0-9]+) ?%(CUR)s\]\." %  subst,
                 re.MULTILINE)
-            #self.re_BringIn = re.compile(
-                #r"^%(PLYR)s: brings[- ]in( low|) for %(CUR)s(?P<BRINGIN>[.0-9]+)" % subst,
-                #re.MULTILINE)
-            #self.re_PostBoth = re.compile(
-                #r"^%(PLYR)s: posts small \& big blinds \[%(CUR)s (?P<SBBB>[.0-9]+)" %  subst,
-                #re.MULTILINE)
             self.re_HeroCards = re.compile(
                 r"^Dealt to %(PLYR)s \[\s*(?P<NEWCARDS>.+)\s*\]" % subst,
                 re.MULTILINE)
@@ -190,11 +151,6 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
                 r""""^%(PLYR)s \s+ wins \s+
                 %(CUR_SYM)s(?P<POT>[.\d]+)\s*%(CUR)s""" %  subst, 
                 re.MULTILINE|re.VERBOSE)
-            #self.re_sitsOut    = re.compile("^%s sits out" %  player_re, re.MULTILINE)
-            #self.re_ShownCards = re.compile(
-                #"^Seat (?P<SEAT>[0-9]+): %s (\(.*\) )?
-                #(?P<SHOWED>showed|mucked) \[(?P<CARDS>.*)\].*" %  player_re, 
-                #re.MULTILINE)
 
     def readSupportedGames(self):
         return [["ring", "hold", "nl"],
@@ -211,8 +167,6 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
             # let's determine whether hand is trny
             # and whether 5-th line contains head line
             headLine = handText.split(self.lineSplitter)[4]
-            #print headLine
-            #sys.exit(1)
             for headLineContainer in headLine, handText:
                 for regexp in self.re_GameInfoTrny, self.re_GameInfoRing:
                     m = regexp.search(headLineContainer)
@@ -222,18 +176,18 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
         return self._gameType
     
     def determineGameType(self, handText):
-#    inspect the handText and return the gametype dict
-#    gametype dict is:
-#    {'limitType': xxx, 'base': xxx, 'category': xxx}
+        """inspect the handText and return the gametype dict
+        
+        gametype dict is:
+        {'limitType': xxx, 'base': xxx, 'category': xxx}"""
 
-        print self.ParsingException().wrapHh( handText )
+        logging.debug(self.ParsingException().wrapHh( handText ))
         
         info = {}
         m = self._getGameType(handText)
         if m is None:
             return None
         
-
         mg = m.groupdict()
         # translations from captured groups to fpdb info strings
         limits = { 'NL':'nl', 
@@ -273,13 +227,12 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
         if info['type'] == 'ring':
             info['sb'], info['bb'] = ringBlinds(mg['RINGLIMIT'])
             # FIXME: there are only $ and play money availible for cash
-            info['currency'] = currencies(mg['CURRENCY'])
+            info['currency'] = currencies[mg['CURRENCY']]
         else:
             info['sb'] = renderTrnyMoney(mg['SB'])
             info['bb'] = renderTrnyMoney(mg['BB'])
             info['currency'] = 'T$'
             
-
         # NB: SB, BB must be interpreted as blinds or bets depending on limit type.
         return info
 
@@ -297,10 +250,9 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
         if m: info.update(m.groupdict())
 
         # FIXME: it's a hack cause party doesn't supply hand.maxseats info
-        #hand.maxseats = '9'
+        #hand.maxseats = ???
         hand.mixed = None
         
-        # TODO : I rather like the idea of just having this dict as hand.info
         logging.debug("readHandInfo: %s" % info)
         for key in info:
             if key == 'DATETIME':
@@ -313,6 +265,7 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
                 month = months.index(m2.group('M')) + 1
                 datetimestr = "%s/%s/%s %s:%s:%s" % (m2.group('Y'), month,m2.group('D'),m2.group('H'),m2.group('MIN'),m2.group('S'))
                 hand.starttime = datetime.datetime.strptime(datetimestr, "%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")
+                # FIXME: some timezone correction required
                 #tzShift = defaultdict(lambda:0, {'EDT': -5, 'EST': -6, 'MSKS': 3})
                 #hand.starttime -= datetime.timedelta(hours=tzShift[m2.group('TZ')])
                   
@@ -373,13 +326,11 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
         logging.debug("reading antes")
         m = self.re_Antes.finditer(hand.handText)
         for player in m:
-            #~ logging.debug("hand.addAnte(%s,%s)" %(player.group('PNAME'), player.group('ANTE')))
             hand.addAnte(player.group('PNAME'), player.group('ANTE'))
     
     def readBringIn(self, hand):
         m = self.re_BringIn.search(hand.handText,re.DOTALL)
         if m:
-            #~ logging.debug("readBringIn: %s for %s" %(m.group('PNAME'),  m.group('BRINGIN')))
             hand.addBringIn(m.group('PNAME'),  m.group('BRINGIN'))
         
     def readBlinds(self, hand):
@@ -426,15 +377,11 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
                 
 
     def readHeroCards(self, hand):
-#    streets PREFLOP, PREDRAW, and THIRD are special cases beacause
-#    we need to grab hero's cards
+        # we need to grab hero's cards
         for street in ('PREFLOP',):
             if street in hand.streets.keys():
                 m = self.re_HeroCards.finditer(hand.streets[street])
                 for found in m:
-#                    if m == None:
-#                        hand.involved = False
-#                    else:
                     hand.hero = found.group('PNAME')
                     newcards = renderCards(found.group('NEWCARDS'))
                     hand.addHoleCards(street, hand.hero, closed=newcards, shown=False, mucked=False, dealt=True)
@@ -445,13 +392,9 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
         for action in m:
             acts = action.groupdict()
             if action.group('ATYPE') in ('raises','is all-In'):
-                #print action.groupdict()
-                #sys.exit(1)
                 hand.addRaiseBy( street, action.group('PNAME'), action.group('BET') )
             elif action.group('ATYPE') == 'calls':
                 hand.addCall( street, action.group('PNAME'), action.group('BET') )
-                #print action.groupdict()
-                #sys.exit(1)
             elif action.group('ATYPE') == 'bets':
                 hand.addBet( street, action.group('PNAME'), action.group('BET') )
             elif action.group('ATYPE') == 'folds':
@@ -465,10 +408,6 @@ follow :  whether to tail -f the input"""
     def readShowdownActions(self, hand):
         # all action in readShownCards
         pass
-## TODO: pick up mucks also??
-        #for shows in self.re_ShowdownAction.finditer(hand.handText):            
-            #cards = shows.group('CARDS').split(' ')
-            #hand.addShownCards(cards, shows.group('PNAME'))
 
     def readCollectPot(self,hand):
         for m in self.re_CollectPot.finditer(hand.handText):
@@ -503,7 +442,7 @@ def renderCards(string):
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser = OptionParser()
-    parser.add_option("-i", "--input", dest="ipath", help="parse input hand history", default="regression-test-files/stars/horse/HH20090226 Natalie V - $0.10-$0.20 - HORSE.txt")
+    parser.add_option("-i", "--input", dest="ipath", help="parse input hand history")
     parser.add_option("-o", "--output", dest="opath", help="output translation to", default="-")
     parser.add_option("-f", "--follow", dest="follow", help="follow (tail -f) the input", action="store_true", default=False)
     parser.add_option("-q", "--quiet",