diff --git a/ttbp/config/__init__.py b/ttbp/config/__init__.py
index 6d8639d..e363efe 100644
--- a/ttbp/config/__init__.py
+++ b/ttbp/config/__init__.py
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 import os
+import sys
 
-from . import util
+from .. import util
 
 ## System config
 
 # We refer to some package files (ie .css stuff), so we save a reference to the
 # path.
-INSTALL_PATH = dirname(sys.modules['ttbp'].__file__)
+INSTALL_PATH = os.path.dirname(sys.modules['ttbp'].__file__)
 
 # We use this to store any persisted, global state.
 VAR = '/var/global/ttbp'
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ GRAFF_DIR = os.path.join(VAR, "graffiti")
 WALL = os.path.join(GRAFF_DIR, "wall.txt")
 WALL_LOCK = os.path.join(GRAFF_DIR, ".lock")
 
+if not os.path.isdir(GRAFF_DIR):
+    os.mkdir(GRAFF_DIR)
+
 ## Defaults
 
 DEFAULT_HEADER = '''
@@ -44,13 +48,13 @@ DEFAULT_HEADER = '''
     </div>
 
     <div id="tlogs">
-'''.ltrim()
+'''.lstrip()
 
 DEFAULT_FOOTER = '''
     </div>
   </body>
 </html>
-'''.ltrim()
+'''.lstrip()
 
 with open(os.path.join(INSTALL_PATH, 'config', 'defaults', 'style.css')) as f:
     DEFAULT_STYLE = f.read()
@@ -79,4 +83,4 @@ __________________________________________________________
 |  |    |___ |___ |___ ___]    |___ | \| |__] | | \| |___  |
 |                               ver 0.10.0 (almost stable) |
 |__________________________________________________________|
-'''.ltrim()
+'''.lstrip()
diff --git a/ttbp/ttbp.py b/ttbp/ttbp.py
index cfd0f01..271b355 100644
--- a/ttbp/ttbp.py
+++ b/ttbp/ttbp.py
@@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ press <enter> to begin, or <ctrl-c> to get out of here.
     headerfile.close()
 
     ## copy footer and default stylesheet
-    with open(os.path.join(config.USER_CONFIG, 'footer.txt', 'w')) as f:
+    with open(os.path.join(config.USER_CONFIG, 'footer.txt'), 'w') as f:
         f.write(config.DEFAULT_FOOTER)
-    with open(os.path.join(config.USER_CONFIG, 'style.css', 'w')) as f:
+    with open(os.path.join(config.USER_CONFIG, 'style.css'), 'w') as f:
         f.write(config.DEFAULT_STYLE)
 
     ## run user-interactive setup and load core engine
@@ -924,9 +924,8 @@ def unpublish():
     '''
     remove user's published directory, if it exists. this should only remove the symlink in public_html.
     '''
-
     directory = SETTINGS.get("publish dir")
-    if dir:
+    if directory:
         publishDir = os.path.join(config.PUBLIC, directory)
         subprocess.call(["rm", publishDir])
 
@@ -1138,7 +1137,7 @@ ver 0.9.2 features:
         * things should otherwise be the same!
         * check out https://github.com/modgethanc/ttbp if you'd like to contribute.
         * takes advantage of new /var/global
-        """.ltrim())
+        """.lstrip())
 
 #####