diff --git a/lib/ansible/callbacks.py b/lib/ansible/callbacks.py
index 3bd5d9077fe..c3ab099ca9f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/callbacks.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/callbacks.py
@@ -15,20 +15,23 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#######################################################
-
 import utils
 import sys
 import getpass
 import os
 import subprocess
 
-#######################################################
+cowsay = None
+if os.path.exists("/usr/bin/cowsay"):
+    cowsay = "/usr/bin/cowsay"
+elif os.path.exists("/usr/games/cowsay"):
+    cowsay = "/usr/games/cowsay"
 
 class AggregateStats(object):
     ''' holds stats about per-host activity during playbook runs '''   
  
     def __init__(self):
+
         self.processed   = {}
         self.failures    = {}
         self.ok          = {}
@@ -78,6 +81,7 @@ class AggregateStats(object):
 
 def regular_generic_msg(hostname, result, oneline, caption):
     ''' output on the result of a module run that is not command '''
+
     if not oneline:
         return "%s | %s >> %s\n" % (hostname, caption, utils.jsonify(result,format=True))
     else:
@@ -85,30 +89,23 @@ def regular_generic_msg(hostname, result, oneline, caption):
 
 
 def banner(msg):
-    res = ""
-    global COWSAY
-    if os.path.exists("/usr/bin/cowsay"):
-        COWSAY = "/usr/bin/cowsay"
-    elif os.path.exists("/usr/games/cowsay"):
-        COWSAY = "/usr/games/cowsay"
-    else:
-        COWSAY = None
 
-    if COWSAY != None:
-        cmd = subprocess.Popen("%s -W 60 \"%s\"" % (COWSAY, msg), 
+    if cowsay != None:
+        cmd = subprocess.Popen("%s -W 60 \"%s\"" % (cowsay, msg), 
             stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, shell=True)
         (out, err) = cmd.communicate()
-        res = "%s\n" % out 
+        return "%s\n" % out 
     else:
-        res = "\n%s ********************* " % msg
-    return res
+        return "\n%s ********************* " % msg
 
 def command_generic_msg(hostname, result, oneline, caption):
     ''' output the result of a command run '''
+
     rc     = result.get('rc', '0')
     stdout = result.get('stdout','')
     stderr = result.get('stderr', '')
     msg    = result.get('msg', '')
+
     if not oneline:
         buf = "%s | %s | rc=%s >>\n" % (hostname, caption, result.get('rc',0))
         if stdout:
@@ -117,8 +114,7 @@ def command_generic_msg(hostname, result, oneline, caption):
             buf += stderr
         if msg:
             buf += msg
-        buf += "\n"
-        return buf
+        return buf + "\n"
     else:
         if stderr:
             return "%s | %s | rc=%s | (stdout) %s (stderr) %s\n" % (hostname, caption, rc, stdout, stderr)
@@ -127,6 +123,7 @@ def command_generic_msg(hostname, result, oneline, caption):
 
 def host_report_msg(hostname, module_name, result, oneline):
     ''' summarize the JSON results for a particular host '''
+
     failed = utils.is_failed(result)
     if module_name in [ 'command', 'shell', 'raw' ] and 'ansible_job_id' not in result:
         if not failed:
@@ -181,17 +178,21 @@ class CliRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
     ''' callbacks for use by /usr/bin/ansible '''
 
     def __init__(self):
+
         # set by /usr/bin/ansible later
         self.options = None 
         self._async_notified = {}
 
     def on_failed(self, host, res):
+
         self._on_any(host,res)
 
     def on_ok(self, host, res):
+
         self._on_any(host,res)
  
     def on_unreachable(self, host, res):
+
         if type(res) == dict:
             res = res.get('msg','')
         print "%s | FAILED => %s" % (host, res)
@@ -205,12 +206,15 @@ class CliRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
         pass
 
     def on_error(self, host, err):
+
         print >>sys.stderr, "err: [%s] => %s\n" % (host, err)
     
     def on_no_hosts(self):
+
         print >>sys.stderr, "no hosts matched\n"
 
     def on_async_poll(self, host, res, jid, clock):
+
         if jid not in self._async_notified:
             self._async_notified[jid] = clock + 1
         if self._async_notified[jid] > clock:
@@ -218,12 +222,15 @@ class CliRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
             print "<job %s> polling, %ss remaining"%(jid, clock)
 
     def on_async_ok(self, host, res, jid):
+
         print "<job %s> finished on %s => %s"%(jid, host, utils.jsonify(res,format=True))
 
     def on_async_failed(self, host, res, jid):
+
         print "<job %s> FAILED on %s => %s"%(jid, host, utils.jsonify(res,format=True))
 
     def _on_any(self, host, result):
+
         print host_report_msg(host, self.options.module_name, result, self.options.one_line)
         if self.options.tree:
             utils.write_tree_file(self.options.tree, host, utils.json(result,format=True))
@@ -234,17 +241,21 @@ class PlaybookRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
     ''' callbacks used for Runner() from /usr/bin/ansible-playbook '''
 
     def __init__(self, stats, verbose=False):
+
         self.stats = stats
         self._async_notified = {}
         self.verbose = verbose
 
     def on_unreachable(self, host, msg):
+
         print "fatal: [%s] => %s" % (host, msg)
 
     def on_failed(self, host, results):
+
         print "failed: [%s] => %s\n" % (host, utils.jsonify(results))
 
     def on_ok(self, host, host_result):
+
         # show verbose output for non-setup module results if --verbose is used
         if not self.verbose or host_result.get("verbose_override",None) is not None:
             print "ok: [%s]" % (host)
@@ -252,15 +263,19 @@ class PlaybookRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
             print "ok: [%s] => %s" % (host, utils.jsonify(host_result))
 
     def on_error(self, host, err):
+
         print >>sys.stderr, "err: [%s] => %s\n" % (host, err)
 
     def on_skipped(self, host):
+
         print "skipping: [%s]\n" % host
 
     def on_no_hosts(self):
+
         print "no hosts matched or remaining\n"
 
     def on_async_poll(self, host, res, jid, clock):
+
         if jid not in self._async_notified:
             self._async_notified[jid] = clock + 1
         if self._async_notified[jid] > clock:
@@ -268,9 +283,11 @@ class PlaybookRunnerCallbacks(DefaultRunnerCallbacks):
             print "<job %s> polling, %ss remaining"%(jid, clock)
 
     def on_async_ok(self, host, res, jid):
+
         print "<job %s> finished on %s"%(jid, host)
 
     def on_async_failed(self, host, res, jid):
+
         print "<job %s> FAILED on %s"%(jid, host)
 
 ########################################################################
@@ -279,34 +296,45 @@ class PlaybookCallbacks(object):
     ''' playbook.py callbacks used by /usr/bin/ansible-playbook '''
   
     def __init__(self, verbose=False):
+
         self.verbose = verbose
 
     def on_start(self):
+
         pass
 
     def on_notify(self, host, handler):
+
         pass
 
     def on_task_start(self, name, is_conditional):
+
         msg = "TASK: [%s]" % name
         if is_conditional:
             msg = "NOTIFIED: [%s]" % name
         print banner(msg)
 
     def on_vars_prompt(self, varname, private=True):
+
         msg = 'input for %s: ' % varname
         if private:
             return getpass.getpass(msg)
         return raw_input(msg)
         
     def on_setup(self):
+
         print banner("GATHERING FACTS")
     
     def on_import_for_host(self, host, imported_file):
+
         print "%s: importing %s" % (host, imported_file)
 
     def on_not_import_for_host(self, host, missing_file):
+
         print "%s: not importing file: %s" % (host, missing_file)
 
     def on_play_start(self, pattern):
+
         print banner("PLAY [%s]" % pattern)
+
+
diff --git a/lib/ansible/constants.py b/lib/ansible/constants.py
index fc442d26264..e723cf11979 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/constants.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/constants.py
@@ -14,17 +14,12 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-#
 
 import os
 
-
-DEFAULT_HOST_LIST      = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_HOSTS',
-    '/etc/ansible/hosts')
-DEFAULT_MODULE_PATH    = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_LIBRARY',
-    '/usr/share/ansible')
-DEFAULT_REMOTE_TMP     = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_REMOTE_TMP', 
-    '$HOME/.ansible/tmp')
+DEFAULT_HOST_LIST      = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_HOSTS', '/etc/ansible/hosts')
+DEFAULT_MODULE_PATH    = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_LIBRARY', '/usr/share/ansible')
+DEFAULT_REMOTE_TMP     = os.environ.get('ANSIBLE_REMOTE_TMP', '$HOME/.ansible/tmp')
 
 DEFAULT_MODULE_NAME    = 'command'
 DEFAULT_PATTERN        = '*'
diff --git a/lib/ansible/errors.py b/lib/ansible/errors.py
index acc54a6f3cf..0f3776bfdb1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/errors.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/errors.py
@@ -15,11 +15,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-
 class AnsibleError(Exception):
-    """
-    The base Ansible exception from which all others should subclass.
-    """
+    ''' The base Ansible exception from which all others should subclass '''
 
     def __init__(self, msg):
         self.msg = msg
@@ -27,11 +24,9 @@ class AnsibleError(Exception):
     def __str__(self):
         return self.msg
 
-
 class AnsibleFileNotFound(AnsibleError):
     pass
 
 class AnsibleConnectionFailed(AnsibleError):
     pass
 
-
diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/group.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/group.py
index 2e9005e6ff5..a51de0c89c5 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/group.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/group.py
@@ -15,16 +15,11 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#############################################
-
-# from ansible import errors
-
 class Group(object):
-    """ 
-    Group of ansible hosts
-    """
+    ''' a group of ansible hosts '''
 
     def __init__(self, name=None):
+
         self.name = name
         self.hosts = []
         self.vars = {}
@@ -34,19 +29,23 @@ class Group(object):
             raise Exception("group name is required")
 
     def add_child_group(self, group):
+
         if self == group:
             raise Exception("can't add group to itself")
         self.child_groups.append(group)
         group.parent_groups.append(self)
 
     def add_host(self, host):
+
         self.hosts.append(host)
         host.add_group(self)
 
     def set_variable(self, key, value):
+
         self.vars[key] = value
 
     def get_hosts(self):
+
         hosts = []
         for kid in self.child_groups:
             hosts.extend(kid.get_hosts())
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@ class Group(object):
         return hosts 
 
     def get_variables(self):
+
         vars = {}
         # FIXME: verify this variable override order is what we want
         for ancestor in self.get_ancestors():
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class Group(object):
         return vars
 
     def _get_ancestors(self):
+
         results = {}
         for g in self.parent_groups:
             results[g.name] = g
@@ -69,8 +70,6 @@ class Group(object):
         return results
 
     def get_ancestors(self):
-        return self._get_ancestors().values()
-
-
 
+        return self._get_ancestors().values()
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
index 14fb0244b49..0c43471801c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/host.py
@@ -15,17 +15,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#############################################
-
 from ansible import errors
 import ansible.constants as C
 
 class Host(object):
-    """ 
-    Group of ansible hosts
-    """
+    ''' a single ansible host '''
 
     def __init__(self, name=None, port=None):
+
         self.name = name
         self.vars = {}
         self.groups = []
@@ -36,12 +33,15 @@ class Host(object):
             raise Exception("host name is required")
 
     def add_group(self, group):
+
         self.groups.append(group)
 
     def set_variable(self, key, value):
+
         self.vars[key]=value
 
     def get_groups(self):
+
         groups = {}
         for g in self.groups:
             groups[g.name] = g
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class Host(object):
         return groups.values()
 
     def get_variables(self):
+
         results = {}
         for group in self.groups:
             results.update(group.get_variables())
diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/ini.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/ini.py
index 14cf55ce836..d9718010e78 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/ini.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/ini.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class InventoryParser(object):
     # delta asdf=jkl favcolor=red 
 
     def _parse_base_groups(self):
+        # FIXME: refactor
 
         ungrouped = Group(name='ungrouped')
         all = Group(name='all')
diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/script.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/script.py
index 8d0f16a2145..71a5c456b8c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/script.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/script.py
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ from ansible import errors
 from ansible import utils
 
 class InventoryScript(object):
-    """ 
-    Host inventory parser for ansible using external inventory scripts.
-    """
+    ''' Host inventory parser for ansible using external inventory scripts. '''
 
     def __init__(self, filename=C.DEFAULT_HOST_LIST):
 
@@ -39,6 +37,7 @@ class InventoryScript(object):
         self.groups = self._parse()
 
     def _parse(self):
+
         groups = {}
         self.raw = utils.parse_json(self.data)
         all=Group('all')
@@ -55,4 +54,3 @@ class InventoryScript(object):
             all.add_child_group(group)
         return groups  
         
-  
diff --git a/lib/ansible/inventory/yaml.py b/lib/ansible/inventory/yaml.py
index 1fcb155fd12..ddf97653405 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/inventory/yaml.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/inventory/yaml.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#############################################
-
 import ansible.constants as C
 from ansible.inventory.host import Host
 from ansible.inventory.group import Group
@@ -24,9 +22,7 @@ from ansible import errors
 from ansible import utils
 
 class InventoryParserYaml(object):
-    """ 
-    Host inventory for ansible.
-    """
+    ''' Host inventory parser for ansible '''
 
     def __init__(self, filename=C.DEFAULT_HOST_LIST):
 
@@ -37,6 +33,7 @@ class InventoryParserYaml(object):
         self._parse(data)
 
     def _make_host(self, hostname):
+
         if hostname in self._hosts:
             return self._hosts[hostname]
         else:
@@ -47,6 +44,7 @@ class InventoryParserYaml(object):
     # see file 'test/yaml_hosts' for syntax
 
     def _parse(self, data):
+        # FIXME: refactor into subfunctions
 
         all = Group('all')
         ungrouped = Group('ungrouped')
@@ -134,3 +132,5 @@ class InventoryParserYaml(object):
 
         # make sure ungrouped.hosts is the complement of grouped_hosts
         ungrouped_hosts = [host for host in ungrouped.hosts if host not in grouped_hosts]
+
+
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
index 9f33a24e2fe..9ec61b167cd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/__init__.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#############################################
-
 import ansible.inventory
 import ansible.runner
 import ansible.constants as C
@@ -26,8 +24,6 @@ import os
 import collections
 from play import Play
 
-#############################################
-
 class PlayBook(object):
     '''
     runs an ansible playbook, given as a datastructure or YAML filename.  
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index aa860bc0bc9..378ab103f3e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-#############################################
-
 from ansible import errors
 from ansible import utils
 
@@ -93,9 +91,7 @@ class Task(object):
                 raise errors.AnsibleError("with_items must be a list, got: %s" % self.with_items)
         self.module_vars['items'] = self.with_items
 
-
-        # tags allow certain parts of a playbook to be run without
-        # running the whole playbook
+        # tags allow certain parts of a playbook to be run without running the whole playbook
         apply_tags = ds.get('tags', None)
         if apply_tags is not None:
             if type(apply_tags) in [ str, unicode ]:
@@ -104,5 +100,3 @@ class Task(object):
                 self.tags.extend(apply_tags)
         self.tags.extend(import_tags)
                 
-
-
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
index ba932e61c35..07104b4c337 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/__init__.py
@@ -228,8 +228,10 @@ class Runner(object):
         afo.close()
 
         remote = os.path.join(tmp, name)
-        conn.put_file(afile, remote)
-        os.unlink(afile)
+        try:
+            conn.put_file(afile, remote)
+        finally:
+            os.unlink(afile)
         return remote
 
     # *****************************************************
@@ -632,6 +634,7 @@ class Runner(object):
         result = None
 
         handler = getattr(self, "_execute_%s" % self.module_name, None)
+
         if handler:
             result = handler(conn, tmp)
         else:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/local.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/local.py
index ef736787ed1..7bde31c916f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/local.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/local.py
@@ -14,21 +14,11 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-#
-
-################################################
 
-import warnings
 import traceback
 import os
-import time
-import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
-import pipes
-import socket
-import random
-
 from ansible import errors
 
 class LocalConnection(object):
@@ -45,6 +35,7 @@ class LocalConnection(object):
 
     def exec_command(self, cmd, tmp_path, sudo_user, sudoable=False):
         ''' run a command on the local host '''
+
         if self.runner.sudo and sudoable:
             cmd = "sudo -s %s" % cmd
         if self.runner.sudo_pass:
@@ -60,6 +51,7 @@ class LocalConnection(object):
 
     def put_file(self, in_path, out_path):
         ''' transfer a file from local to local '''
+
         if not os.path.exists(in_path):
             raise errors.AnsibleFileNotFound("file or module does not exist: %s" % in_path)
         try:
@@ -77,5 +69,4 @@ class LocalConnection(object):
 
     def close(self):
         ''' terminate the connection; nothing to do here '''
-
         pass
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/paramiko_ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
index 9ef979cd6cf..40aca903fe0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/paramiko_ssh.py
@@ -14,24 +14,19 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-#
-
-################################################
 
 import warnings
 import traceback
 import os
-import time
 import re
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import pipes
 import socket
 import random
-
 from ansible import errors
-# prevent paramiko warning noise
-# see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3920502/
+
+# prevent paramiko warning noise -- see http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3920502/
 HAVE_PARAMIKO=False
 with warnings.catch_warnings():
     warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
@@ -52,27 +47,20 @@ class ParamikoConnection(object):
         if port is None:
             self.port = self.runner.remote_port
 
-    def _get_conn(self):
+    def connect(self):
+        ''' activates the connection object '''
 
         if not HAVE_PARAMIKO:
             raise errors.AnsibleError("paramiko is not installed")
 
         user = self.runner.remote_user
-
         ssh = paramiko.SSHClient()
         ssh.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
 
         try:
-            ssh.connect(
-                self.host,
-                username=user,
-                allow_agent=True,
-                look_for_keys=True,
-                key_filename=self.runner.private_key_file,
-                password=self.runner.remote_pass,
-                timeout=self.runner.timeout,
-                port=self.port
-            )
+            ssh.connect(self.host, username=user, allow_agent=True, look_for_keys=True,
+                key_filename=self.runner.private_key_file, password=self.runner.remote_pass,
+                timeout=self.runner.timeout, port=self.port)
         except Exception, e:
             msg = str(e)
             if "PID check failed" in msg:
@@ -84,17 +72,12 @@ class ParamikoConnection(object):
             else:
                 raise errors.AnsibleConnectionFailed(msg)
 
-        return ssh
-
-    def connect(self):
-        ''' connect to the remote host '''
-
-        self.ssh = self._get_conn()
+        self.ssh = ssh
         return self
 
     def exec_command(self, cmd, tmp_path, sudo_user, sudoable=False):
-
         ''' run a command on the remote host '''
+
         bufsize = 4096
         chan = self.ssh.get_transport().open_session()
         chan.get_pty() 
@@ -128,10 +111,7 @@ class ParamikoConnection(object):
             except socket.timeout:
                 raise errors.AnsibleError('ssh timed out waiting for sudo.\n' + sudo_output)
 
-        stdin = chan.makefile('wb', bufsize)
-        stdout = chan.makefile('rb', bufsize)
-        stderr = ''  # stderr goes to stdout when using a pty, so this will never output anything.
-        return stdin, stdout, stderr
+        return (chan.makefile('wb', bufsize), chan.makefile('rb', bufsize), '')
 
     def put_file(self, in_path, out_path):
         ''' transfer a file from local to remote '''
@@ -141,21 +121,19 @@ class ParamikoConnection(object):
         try:
             sftp.put(in_path, out_path)
         except IOError:
-            traceback.print_exc()
             raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file to %s" % out_path)
         sftp.close()
 
     def fetch_file(self, in_path, out_path):
+        ''' save a remote file to the specified path '''
         sftp = self.ssh.open_sftp()
         try:
             sftp.get(in_path, out_path)
         except IOError:
-            traceback.print_exc()
             raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file from %s" % in_path)
         sftp.close()
 
     def close(self):
         ''' terminate the connection '''
-
         self.ssh.close()
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/ssh.py b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/ssh.py
index 1ae5a7e4aac..803678870ff 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/connection/ssh.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/connection/ssh.py
@@ -16,17 +16,13 @@
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-################################################
-
 import os
-import time
 import subprocess
 import shlex
 import pipes
 import random
 import select
 import fcntl
-
 from ansible import errors
 
 class SSHConnection(object):
@@ -39,6 +35,7 @@ class SSHConnection(object):
 
     def connect(self):
         ''' connect to the remote host '''
+
         self.common_args = []
         extra_args = os.getenv("ANSIBLE_SSH_ARGS", None)
         if extra_args is not None:
@@ -134,5 +131,6 @@ class SSHConnection(object):
             raise errors.AnsibleError("failed to transfer file from %s:\n%s\n%s" % (in_path, stdout, stderr))
 
     def close(self):
-        ''' terminate the connection '''
+        ''' not applicable since we're executing openssh binaries '''
         pass
+
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils.py b/lib/ansible/utils.py
index df3780cf37a..7a73cf0d3e0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils.py
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-###############################################################
-
 import sys
 import os
 import shlex
@@ -45,15 +43,18 @@ except ImportError:
 
 def err(msg):
     ''' print an error message to stderr '''
+
     print >> sys.stderr, msg
 
 def exit(msg, rc=1):
     ''' quit with an error to stdout and a failure code '''
+
     err(msg)
     sys.exit(rc)
 
 def jsonify(result, format=False):
     ''' format JSON output (uncompressed or uncompressed) '''
+
     result2 = result.copy()
     if format:
         return json.dumps(result2, sort_keys=True, indent=4)
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ def jsonify(result, format=False):
 
 def write_tree_file(tree, hostname, buf):
     ''' write something into treedir/hostname '''
+
     # TODO: might be nice to append playbook runs per host in a similar way
     # in which case, we'd want append mode.
     path = os.path.join(tree, hostname)
@@ -71,10 +73,12 @@ def write_tree_file(tree, hostname, buf):
 
 def is_failed(result):
     ''' is a given JSON result a failed result? '''
+
     return ((result.get('rc', 0) != 0) or (result.get('failed', False) in [ True, 'True', 'true']))
 
 def prepare_writeable_dir(tree):
     ''' make sure a directory exists and is writeable '''
+
     if tree != '/':
         tree = os.path.realpath(os.path.expanduser(tree))
     if not os.path.exists(tree):
@@ -87,6 +91,7 @@ def prepare_writeable_dir(tree):
 
 def path_dwim(basedir, given):
     ''' make relative paths work like folks expect '''
+
     if given.startswith("/"):
         return given
     elif given.startswith("~/"):
@@ -96,10 +101,12 @@ def path_dwim(basedir, given):
 
 def json_loads(data):
     ''' parse a JSON string and return a data structure '''
+
     return json.loads(data)
 
 def parse_json(data):
     ''' this version for module return data only '''
+
     try:
         return json.loads(data)
     except:
@@ -132,6 +139,7 @@ _LISTRE = re.compile(r"(\w+)\[(\d+)\]")
 
 def _varLookup(name, vars):
     ''' find the contents of a possibly complex variable in vars. '''
+
     path = name.split('.')
     space = vars
     for part in path:
@@ -153,22 +161,17 @@ _KEYCRE = re.compile(r"\$(?P<complex>\{){0,1}((?(complex)[\w\.\[\]]+|\w+))(?(com
 
 def varLookup(varname, vars):
     ''' helper function used by varReplace '''
+
     m = _KEYCRE.search(varname)
     if not m:
         return None
     return _varLookup(m.group(2), vars)
 
 def varReplace(raw, vars):
-    '''Perform variable replacement of $vars
-
-    @param raw: String to perform substitution on.  
-    @param vars: Dictionary of variables to replace. Key is variable name
-        (without $ prefix). Value is replacement string.
-    @return: Input raw string with substituted values.
-    '''
+    ''' Perform variable replacement of $variables in string raw using vars dictionary '''
     # this code originally from yum
 
-    done = []                      # Completed chunks to return
+    done = [] # Completed chunks to return
 
     while raw:
         m = _KEYCRE.search(raw)
@@ -191,13 +194,14 @@ def varReplace(raw, vars):
 
 def _template(text, vars, setup_cache=None):
     ''' run a text buffer through the templating engine '''
+
     vars = vars.copy()
     vars['hostvars'] = setup_cache
     return varReplace(unicode(text), vars)
 
 def template(text, vars, setup_cache=None):
-    ''' run a text buffer through the templating engine 
-        until it no longer changes '''
+    ''' run a text buffer through the templating engine until it no longer changes '''
+
     prev_text = ''
     depth = 0
     while prev_text != text:
@@ -210,6 +214,7 @@ def template(text, vars, setup_cache=None):
 
 def template_from_file(basedir, path, vars, setup_cache):
     ''' run a file through the templating engine '''
+
     environment = jinja2.Environment(loader=jinja2.FileSystemLoader(basedir), trim_blocks=False)
     data = codecs.open(path_dwim(basedir, path), encoding="utf8").read()
     t = environment.from_string(data)
@@ -222,10 +227,12 @@ def template_from_file(basedir, path, vars, setup_cache):
 
 def parse_yaml(data):
     ''' convert a yaml string to a data structure '''
+
     return yaml.load(data)
   
 def parse_yaml_from_file(path):
     ''' convert a yaml file to a data structure '''
+
     try:
         data = file(path).read()
     except IOError:
@@ -234,6 +241,7 @@ def parse_yaml_from_file(path):
 
 def parse_kv(args):
     ''' convert a string of key/value items to a dict '''
+
     options = {}
     if args is not None:
         vargs = shlex.split(args, posix=True)
@@ -245,6 +253,7 @@ def parse_kv(args):
 
 def md5(filename):
     ''' Return MD5 hex digest of local file, or None if file is not present. '''
+
     if not os.path.exists(filename):
         return None
     digest = _md5()
@@ -263,6 +272,7 @@ def md5(filename):
 
 class SortedOptParser(optparse.OptionParser):
     '''Optparser which sorts the options by opt before outputting --help'''
+
     def format_help(self, formatter=None):
         self.option_list.sort(key=operator.methodcaller('get_opt_string'))
         return optparse.OptionParser.format_help(self, formatter=None)
@@ -321,4 +331,3 @@ def base_parser(constants=C, usage="", output_opts=False, runas_opts=False, asyn
 
     return parser
 
-