diff --git a/hashpy/io/obspyIO.py b/hashpy/io/obspyIO.py
index a78e267..66620ab 100644
--- a/hashpy/io/obspyIO.py
+++ b/hashpy/io/obspyIO.py
@@ -25,8 +25,10 @@ def inputOBSPY(hp, event):
          event.origins you want to use
     """
     # Takes an obspy event and loads FM data into HASH
-    _o = event.preferred_origin()
-    _m = event.preferred_magnitude()
+#    _o = event.preferred_origin()
+    _o = event.preferred_origin
+#    _m = event.preferred_magnitude()
+    _m = event.preferred_magnitude
     
     hp.tstamp = _o.time.timestamp
     hp.qlat   = _o.latitude
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ def inputOBSPY(hp, event):
     hp.sez    = _o.origin_uncertainty.confidence_ellipsoid.semi_intermediate_axis_length
     if _m:
 	hp.qmag   = _m.mag
-    
+        
     # The index 'k' is deliberately non-Pythonic to deal with the fortran
     # subroutines which need to be called and the structure of the original HASH code.
     # May be able to update with a rewrite... YMMV
@@ -63,21 +65,22 @@ def inputOBSPY(hp, event):
 	if arrv.phase not in 'Pp':
 	    continue
 	
-	if (pick.polarity is 'positive'):
-	    hp.p_pol[k] = 1
-	elif (pick.polarity is 'negative'):
-	    hp.p_pol[k] = -1
-	else:
-	    continue
-	
-	if  (pick.onset is 'impulsive'):
+	if  (pick.onset == 'impulsive'):
 	    hp.p_qual[k] = 0
-	elif (pick.onset is 'emergent'):
+	elif (pick.onset == 'emergent'):
 	    hp.p_qual[k] = 1
-	elif (pick.onset is 'questionable'):
+	elif (pick.onset == 'questionable'):
 	    hp.p_qual[k] = 1
 	else:
 	    hp.p_qual[k] = 0
+
+	if (pick.polarity == 'positive'):
+	    hp.p_pol[k] = 1
+	elif (pick.polarity == 'negative'):
+	    hp.p_pol[k] = -1
+	else:
+	    continue
+	
 	    
 	# polarity check in original code... doesn't work here
 	#hp.p_pol[k] = hp.p_pol[k] * hp.spol
@@ -85,6 +88,8 @@ def inputOBSPY(hp, event):
 	k += 1
     hp.npol = k # k is zero indexed in THIS loop
 
+# ===============================================================
+
 def outputOBSPY(hp, event=None, only_fm_picks=False):
     """
     Make an Event which includes the current focal mechanism information from HASH
@@ -107,6 +112,7 @@ def outputOBSPY(hp, event=None, only_fm_picks=False):
     
     Event will be new if no event was input, FocalMech added to existing event
     """
+
     # Returns new (or updates existing) Event with HASH solution
     n = hp.npol
     if event is None:
@@ -137,6 +143,7 @@ def outputOBSPY(hp, event=None, only_fm_picks=False):
 	    event.picks.append(p)
 	event.origins.append(origin)
 	event.preferred_origin_id = str(origin.resource_id)
+
     else: # just update the changes
 	origin = event.preferred_origin()
 	picks = []
@@ -151,8 +158,10 @@ def outputOBSPY(hp, event=None, only_fm_picks=False):
 	if only_fm_picks:
 	    origin.arrivals = arrivals
 	    event.picks = picks
+
     # Use me double couple calculator and populate planes/axes etc
     x = hp._best_quality_index
+
     # Put all the mechanisms into the 'focal_mechanisms' list, mark "best" as preferred
     for s in range(hp.nmult):
         dc = DoubleCouple([hp.str_avg[s], hp.dip_avg[s], hp.rak_avg[s]])
@@ -179,5 +188,6 @@ def outputOBSPY(hp, event=None, only_fm_picks=False):
         event.focal_mechanisms.append(focal_mech)
         if s == x:
             event.preferred_focal_mechanism_id = str(focal_mech.resource_id)
+
     return event
     
diff --git a/hashpy/plotting/focalmechplotter.py b/hashpy/plotting/focalmechplotter.py
index f9f09b0..4ae7306 100644
--- a/hashpy/plotting/focalmechplotter.py
+++ b/hashpy/plotting/focalmechplotter.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ def plot_on_stereonet(self, axis=None, fm=None):
                        'markeredgewidth' : 2,
                        }
         for ind, a in enumerate(self._orig.arrivals):
+            plotit = True
             p = a.pick_id.getReferredObject()
             # Calculate strike azi from direct (dip-pointing) azi 
             azi = a.azimuth - 90.
@@ -122,16 +123,17 @@ def plot_on_stereonet(self, axis=None, fm=None):
             elif 90. <= a.takeoff_angle <= 180.:
                 toa = 270. - a.takeoff_angle  # project upward angles
             else:
+                plotit = False
                 raise ValueError("Takeoff angle ({0}) must be in [0, 180]".format(a.azimuth))
             
-            if p.polarity is 'positive':
+            if p.polarity == 'positive' and plotit == True:
                 #plot_specs.update({'markeredgecolor' : 'black', 'markerfacecolor' : 'red'   })
                 h += ax.rake(azi, toa, 90, 'o', markeredgecolor='black', markerfacecolor='red', **plot_specs)
-            if p.polarity is 'negative':
+            if p.polarity == 'negative' and plotit == True:
                 #plot_specs.update({'markeredgecolor' : 'blue', 'markerfacecolor' : 'white' })
                 h += ax.rake(azi, toa, 90, 'o', markeredgecolor='blue', markerfacecolor='white', **plot_specs)
             index.append(ind)
-            if True:
+            if plotit:
                 h_text = ax.rake(azi, toa+5, 90, marker='$   {0}$'.format(p.waveform_id.station_code), color='black',markersize=20)
         
         for comm in self.focm.comments: