diff --git a/onionr/onionr.py b/onionr/onionr.py
index 9e90ebc3..3e386555 100755
--- a/onionr/onionr.py
+++ b/onionr/onionr.py
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ class Onionr:
                     with open(plugins.get_plugins_folder(plugin_name) + '/main.py', 'a') as main:
                         contents = ''
                         with open('static-data/default_plugin.py', 'rb') as file:
-                            contents = file.read()
+                            contents = file.read().decode()
 
                         # TODO: Fix $user. os.getlogin() is   B U G G Y
                         main.write(contents.replace('$user', 'some random developer').replace('$date', datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d')).replace('$name', plugin_name))
diff --git a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
index 23609072..6dc9029a 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class Block:
             self.bheader = json.loads(self.getRaw()[:self.getRaw().index('\n')])
             self.bcontent = self.getRaw()[self.getRaw().index('\n') + 1:]
             self.bmetadata = json.loads(self.getHeader('meta'))
-            self.parent = (None if not 'parent' in self.getMetadata() else Block(self.getMetadata('parent')))
+            self.parent = (None if not 'parent' in self.getMetadata() else self.getMetadata('parent'))
             self.btype = self.getMetadata('type')
             self.powHash = self.getMetadata('powHash')
             self.powToken = self.getMetadata('powToken')
@@ -263,6 +263,14 @@ class Block:
             - (Block): the Block's parent
         '''
 
+        if type(self.parent) == str:
+            if self.parent == self.getHash():
+                self.parent = self
+            elif Block.exists(self.parent):
+                self.parent = Block(self.getMetadata('parent'))
+            else:
+                self.parent = None
+
         return self.parent
 
     def getDate(self):
@@ -459,7 +467,6 @@ class Block:
 
                     if relevant:
                         relevant_blocks.append(block)
-
             if bool(reverse):
                 relevant_blocks.reverse()