diff --git a/daemon/core/corehandlers.py b/daemon/core/corehandlers.py
index ac05249d..8b9957df 100644
--- a/daemon/core/corehandlers.py
+++ b/daemon/core/corehandlers.py
@@ -436,6 +436,7 @@ class CoreRequestHandler(SocketServer.BaseRequestHandler):
         Handle an incoming message; dispatch based on message type,
         optionally sending replies.
 
+        :param message: message to handle
         :return: nothing
         """
         if self.session and self.session.broker.handle_message(message):
diff --git a/daemon/core/misc/event.py b/daemon/core/misc/event.py
index 74887067..76bc95f1 100644
--- a/daemon/core/misc/event.py
+++ b/daemon/core/misc/event.py
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import heapq
 import threading
 import time
 
-from core import logger
-
 
 class Timer(threading.Thread):
     """
@@ -245,40 +243,3 @@ class EventLoop(object):
             if self.running and self.timer is None:
                 self.__schedule_event()
         return event
-
-
-# TODO: move example to documentation
-def example():
-    loop = EventLoop()
-
-    def msg(arg):
-        delta = time.time() - loop.start
-        logger.debug("%s arg: %s", delta, arg)
-
-    def repeat(interval, count):
-        count -= 1
-        msg("repeat: interval: %s; remaining: %s" % (interval, count))
-        if count > 0:
-            loop.add_event(interval, repeat, interval, count)
-
-    def sleep(delay):
-        msg("sleep %s" % delay)
-        time.sleep(delay)
-        msg("sleep done")
-
-    def stop(arg):
-        msg(arg)
-        loop.stop()
-
-    loop.add_event(0, msg, "start")
-    loop.add_event(0, msg, "time zero")
-
-    for delay in 5, 4, 10, -1, 0, 9, 3, 7, 3.14:
-        loop.add_event(delay, msg, "time %s" % delay)
-
-    loop.run()
-
-    loop.add_event(0, repeat, 1, 5)
-    loop.add_event(12, sleep, 10)
-
-    loop.add_event(15.75, stop, "stop time: 15.75")
diff --git a/daemon/core/misc/quagga.py b/daemon/core/misc/quagga.py
index 8df3361f..2ab5edb1 100644
--- a/daemon/core/misc/quagga.py
+++ b/daemon/core/misc/quagga.py
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ class Conf(object):
     Provides a configuration object.
     """
 
+    template = Template("")
+
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         """
         Create a Conf instance.
@@ -64,7 +66,6 @@ class Conf(object):
         :return: string representation
         :rtype: str
         """
-        # TODO: seems like an error here
         tmp = self.template.substitute(**self.kwargs)
         if tmp[-1] == "\n":
             tmp = tmp[:-1]
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser0.py b/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser0.py
index 0c7108a7..c0850d9c 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser0.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser0.py
@@ -71,20 +71,20 @@ class CoreDocumentParser0(object):
         """
         Helper to return tuple of attributes common to nodes and nets.
         """
-        id = int(obj.getAttribute("id"))
+        node_id = int(obj.getAttribute("id"))
         name = str(obj.getAttribute("name"))
-        type = str(obj.getAttribute("type"))
-        return id, name, type
+        node_type = str(obj.getAttribute("type"))
+        return node_id, name, node_type
 
     def parsenets(self):
         linkednets = []
         for net in self.np.getElementsByTagName("NetworkDefinition"):
-            id, name, type = self.getcommonattributes(net)
-            nodecls = xmlutils.xml_type_to_node_class(self.session, type)
+            node_id, name, node_type = self.getcommonattributes(net)
+            nodecls = xmlutils.xml_type_to_node_class(node_type)
             if not nodecls:
-                logger.warn("skipping unknown network node '%s' type '%s'", name, type)
+                logger.warn("skipping unknown network node '%s' type '%s'", name, node_type)
                 continue
-            n = self.session.add_object(cls=nodecls, objid=id, name=name, start=self.start)
+            n = self.session.add_object(cls=nodecls, objid=node_id, name=name, start=self.start)
             if name in self.coords:
                 x, y, z = self.coords[name]
                 n.setposition(x, y, z)
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser1.py b/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser1.py
index d325deb9..b73bbb60 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser1.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/xmlparser1.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class CoreDocumentParser1(object):
                         return nodeutils.get_node_class(NodeTypes.EMANE)
                     else:
                         logger.warn('unknown network type: \'%s\'', coretype)
-                        return xmlutils.xml_type_to_node_class(self.session, coretype)
+                        return xmlutils.xml_type_to_node_class(coretype)
             return nodeutils.get_node_class(NodeTypes.WIRELESS_LAN)
         logger.warn('unknown network type: \'%s\'', network_type)
         return None
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/xmlutils.py b/daemon/core/xml/xmlutils.py
index 3300fcd1..3e64b854 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/xmlutils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/xmlutils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,19 @@ from core import logger
 from core.netns import nodes
 
 
+_NODE_MAP = {
+    nodes.CoreNode.__name__: nodes.CoreNode,
+    nodes.SwitchNode.__name__: nodes.SwitchNode,
+    nodes.HubNode.__name__: nodes.HubNode,
+    nodes.WlanNode.__name__: nodes.WlanNode,
+    nodes.RJ45Node.__name__: nodes.RJ45Node,
+    nodes.TunnelNode.__name__: nodes.TunnelNode,
+    nodes.GreTapBridge.__name__: nodes.GreTapBridge,
+    nodes.PtpNet.__name__: nodes.PtpNet,
+    nodes.CtrlNet.__name__: nodes.CtrlNet
+}
+
+
 def add_elements_from_list(dom, parent, iterable, name, attr_name):
     """
     XML helper to iterate through a list and add items to parent using tags
@@ -77,7 +90,8 @@ def get_text_elements_to_list(parent):
         if n.nodeType != Node.ELEMENT_NODE:
             continue
         k = str(n.nodeName)
-        v = ''  # sometimes want None here?
+        # sometimes want None here?
+        v = ''
         for c in n.childNodes:
             if c.nodeType != Node.TEXT_NODE:
                 continue
@@ -251,19 +265,19 @@ def get_params_set_attrs(dom, param_names, target):
         param_name = param.getAttribute("name")
         value = param.getAttribute("value")
         if value is None:
-            continue  # never reached?
+            # never reached?
+            continue
         if param_name in param_names:
             setattr(target, param_name, str(value))
 
 
-def xml_type_to_node_class(session, type):
+def xml_type_to_node_class(node_type):
     """
     Helper to convert from a type string to a class name in nodes.*.
     """
-    if hasattr(nodes, type):
-        # TODO: remove and use a mapping to known nodes
-        logger.error("using eval to retrieve node type: %s", type)
-        return eval("nodes.%s" % type)
+    logger.error("xml type to node type: %s", node_type)
+    if hasattr(nodes, node_type):
+        return _NODE_MAP[node_type]
     else:
         return None
 
diff --git a/daemon/examples/eventloop.py b/daemon/examples/eventloop.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8cf670b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daemon/examples/eventloop.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import time
+
+from core import logger
+from core.misc.event import EventLoop
+
+
+def main():
+    loop = EventLoop()
+
+    def msg(arg):
+        delta = time.time() - loop.start
+        logger.debug("%s arg: %s", delta, arg)
+
+    def repeat(interval, count):
+        count -= 1
+        msg("repeat: interval: %s; remaining: %s" % (interval, count))
+        if count > 0:
+            loop.add_event(interval, repeat, interval, count)
+
+    def sleep(delay):
+        msg("sleep %s" % delay)
+        time.sleep(delay)
+        msg("sleep done")
+
+    def stop(arg):
+        msg(arg)
+        loop.stop()
+
+    loop.add_event(0, msg, "start")
+    loop.add_event(0, msg, "time zero")
+
+    for delay in 5, 4, 10, -1, 0, 9, 3, 7, 3.14:
+        loop.add_event(delay, msg, "time %s" % delay)
+
+    loop.run()
+
+    loop.add_event(0, repeat, 1, 5)
+    loop.add_event(12, sleep, 10)
+
+    loop.add_event(15.75, stop, "stop time: 15.75")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/daemon/examples/netns/distributed.py b/daemon/examples/netns/distributed.py
index 62caeb92..81d49afa 100755
--- a/daemon/examples/netns/distributed.py
+++ b/daemon/examples/netns/distributed.py
@@ -118,10 +118,7 @@ def main():
     # start a shell on node 1
     n[1].term("bash")
 
-    # TODO: access to remote nodes is currently limited in this script
-
     print "elapsed time: %s" % (datetime.datetime.now() - start)
-
     print "To stop this session, use the 'core-cleanup' script on this server"
     print "and on the remote slave server."