py3 fixes

[looooo]

this one should work now:

the problem was a strange starting character. No idea what it was used for. It isn't listed in the diff, but I think it is removed with the commits.

[easyw]

I think for python != when None is present is suggested to use 'is not'
if the_index != None:
becomes
if the_index is not None:
and the same for i.e.
if the_index == None:
becomes
if the_index is None:
Maurice

[looooo]

<> is replaced with !=. So I would go with this syntax as it doesn't change the behavior.

[shaise]

Thanks looooo, '<>' is indeed now obsolete. merging pull request.

[looooo]

thanks