diff --git a/features/encryption.feature b/features/encryption.feature
index 82d971eb3..d30c48b31 100644
--- a/features/encryption.feature
+++ b/features/encryption.feature
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
         Scenario: Loading an encrypted journal
             Given we use the config "encrypted.yaml"
             When we run "jrnl -n 1" and enter "bad doggie no biscuit"
-            Then we should see the message "Password"
+            Then the output should contain "Password"
             and the output should contain "2013-06-10 15:40 Life is good"
 
         Scenario: Decrypting a journal
@@ -14,16 +14,16 @@
 
         Scenario: Encrypting a journal
             Given we use the config "basic.yaml"
-            When we run "jrnl --encrypt" and enter "swordfish"
+            When we run "jrnl --encrypt" and enter "swordfish" and "n"
             Then we should see the message "Journal encrypted"
             and the config for journal "default" should have "encrypt" set to "bool:True"
             When we run "jrnl -n 1" and enter "swordfish"
-            Then we should see the message "Password"
+            Then the output should contain "Password"
             and the output should contain "2013-06-10 15:40 Life is good"
 
         Scenario: Storing a password in Keychain
             Given we use the config "multiple.yaml"
-            When we run "jrnl simple --encrypt" and enter "sabertooth"
+            When we run "jrnl simple --encrypt" and enter "sabertooth" and "y"
             When we set the keychain password of "simple" to "sabertooth"
             Then the config for journal "simple" should have "encrypt" set to "bool:True"
             When we run "jrnl simple -n 1"
diff --git a/features/environment.py b/features/environment.py
index 6f9ac5dfb..7a918feb7 100644
--- a/features/environment.py
+++ b/features/environment.py
@@ -1,25 +1,15 @@
-from behave import *
 import shutil
 import os
-import jrnl
-try:
-    from io import StringIO
-except ImportError:
-    from cStringIO import StringIO
+
 
 def before_scenario(context, scenario):
     """Before each scenario, backup all config and journal test data."""
-    context.messages = StringIO()
-    jrnl.util.STDERR = context.messages
-    jrnl.util.TEST = True
-
     # Clean up in case something went wrong
     for folder in ("configs", "journals"):
         working_dir = os.path.join("features", folder)
         if os.path.exists(working_dir):
             shutil.rmtree(working_dir)
 
-
     for folder in ("configs", "journals"):
         original = os.path.join("features", "data", folder)
         working_dir = os.path.join("features", folder)
@@ -32,10 +22,9 @@ def before_scenario(context, scenario):
             else:
                 shutil.copy2(source, working_dir)
 
+
 def after_scenario(context, scenario):
     """After each scenario, restore all test data and remove working_dirs."""
-    context.messages.close()
-    context.messages = None
     for folder in ("configs", "journals"):
         working_dir = os.path.join("features", folder)
         if os.path.exists(working_dir):
diff --git a/features/multiple_journals.feature b/features/multiple_journals.feature
index 1d4943ee4..28587f960 100644
--- a/features/multiple_journals.feature
+++ b/features/multiple_journals.feature
@@ -42,5 +42,5 @@ Feature: Multiple journals
 
    Scenario: Don't crash if no file exists for a configured encrypted journal
         Given we use the config "multiple.yaml"
-        When we run "jrnl new_encrypted Adding first entry" and enter "these three eyes"
+        When we run "jrnl new_encrypted Adding first entry" and enter "these three eyes" and "y"
 	Then we should see the message "Journal 'new_encrypted' created"
diff --git a/features/steps/core.py b/features/steps/core.py
index 83981d138..9217f77f3 100644
--- a/features/steps/core.py
+++ b/features/steps/core.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from behave import given, when, then
 from jrnl import cli, install, Journal, util, plugins
@@ -10,10 +9,13 @@
 import json
 import yaml
 import keyring
+import tzlocal
+import shlex
+import sys
 
 
 class TestKeyring(keyring.backend.KeyringBackend):
-    """A test keyring that just stores its valies in a hash"""
+    """A test keyring that just stores its values in a hash"""
 
     priority = 1
     keys = defaultdict(dict)
@@ -31,15 +33,6 @@ def delete_password(self, servicename, username, password):
 keyring.set_keyring(TestKeyring())
 
 
-try:
-    from io import StringIO
-except ImportError:
-    from cStringIO import StringIO
-import tzlocal
-import shlex
-import sys
-
-
 def ushlex(command):
     if sys.version_info[0] == 3:
         return shlex.split(command)
@@ -73,18 +66,41 @@ def set_config(context, config_file):
             cf.write("version: {}".format(__version__))
 
 
+def _mock_getpass(inputs):
+    def prompt_return(prompt="Password: "):
+        print(prompt)
+        return next(inputs)
+    return prompt_return
+
+
+def _mock_input(inputs):
+    def prompt_return(prompt=""):
+        val = next(inputs)
+        print(prompt, val)
+        return val
+    return prompt_return
+
+
 @when('we run "{command}" and enter')
-@when('we run "{command}" and enter "{inputs}"')
-def run_with_input(context, command, inputs=None):
-    text = inputs or context.text
+@when('we run "{command}" and enter "{inputs1}"')
+@when('we run "{command}" and enter "{inputs1}" and "{inputs2}"')
+def run_with_input(context, command, inputs1="", inputs2=""):
+    # create an iterator through all inputs. These inputs will be fed one by one
+    # to the mocked calls for 'input()', 'util.getpass()' and 'sys.stdin.read()'
+    text = iter((inputs1, inputs2)) if inputs1 else iter(context.text.split("\n"))
     args = ushlex(command)[1:]
-    buffer = StringIO(text.strip())
-    util.STDIN = buffer
-    try:
-        cli.run(args or [])
-        context.exit_status = 0
-    except SystemExit as e:
-        context.exit_status = e.code
+    with patch("builtins.input", side_effect=_mock_input(text)) as mock_input:
+        with patch("jrnl.util.getpass", side_effect=_mock_getpass(text)) as mock_getpass:
+            with patch("sys.stdin.read", side_effect=text) as mock_read:
+                try:
+                    cli.run(args or [])
+                    context.exit_status = 0
+                except SystemExit as e:
+                    context.exit_status = e.code
+
+                # assert at least one of the mocked input methods got called
+                assert mock_input.called or mock_getpass.called or mock_read.called
+
 
 
 @when('we run "{command}"')
@@ -190,28 +206,24 @@ def check_output_time_inline(context, text):
 def check_output_inline(context, text=None):
     text = text or context.text
     out = context.stdout_capture.getvalue()
-    if isinstance(out, bytes):
-        out = out.decode('utf-8')
     assert text in out, text
 
 
 @then('the output should not contain "{text}"')
 def check_output_not_inline(context, text):
     out = context.stdout_capture.getvalue()
-    if isinstance(out, bytes):
-        out = out.decode('utf-8')
     assert text not in out
 
 
 @then('we should see the message "{text}"')
 def check_message(context, text):
-    out = context.messages.getvalue()
+    out = context.stderr_capture.getvalue()
     assert text in out, [text, out]
 
 
 @then('we should not see the message "{text}"')
 def check_not_message(context, text):
-    out = context.messages.getvalue()
+    out = context.stderr_capture.getvalue()
     assert text not in out, [text, out]
 
 
diff --git a/features/upgrade.feature b/features/upgrade.feature
index bce026b8c..ddcce4943 100644
--- a/features/upgrade.feature
+++ b/features/upgrade.feature
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ Feature: Upgrading Journals from 1.x.x to 2.x.x
 
     Scenario: Upgrading a journal encrypted with jrnl 1.x
         Given we use the config "encrypted_old.json"
-        When we run "jrnl -n 1" and enter 
+        When we run "jrnl -n 1" and enter
             """
             Y
             bad doggie no biscuit
             bad doggie no biscuit
             """
-        Then we should see the message "Password"
+        Then the output should contain "Password"
         and the output should contain "2013-06-10 15:40 Life is good"
diff --git a/jrnl/DayOneJournal.py b/jrnl/DayOneJournal.py
index 9e988f786..59314c4b9 100644
--- a/jrnl/DayOneJournal.py
+++ b/jrnl/DayOneJournal.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from . import Entry
 from . import Journal
 from . import time as jrnl_time
@@ -26,7 +24,7 @@ class DayOne(Journal.Journal):
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         self.entries = []
         self._deleted_entries = []
-        super(DayOne, self).__init__(**kwargs)
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
     def open(self):
         filenames = [os.path.join(self.config['journal'], "entries", f) for f in os.listdir(os.path.join(self.config['journal'], "entries"))]
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ def write(self):
     def editable_str(self):
         """Turns the journal into a string of entries that can be edited
         manually and later be parsed with eslf.parse_editable_str."""
-        return "\n".join(["# {0}\n{1}".format(e.uuid, e.__unicode__()) for e in self.entries])
+        return "\n".join([f"# {e.uuid}\n{str(e)}" for e in self.entries])
 
     def parse_editable_str(self, edited):
         """Parses the output of self.editable_str and updates its entries."""
@@ -107,7 +105,7 @@ def parse_editable_str(self, edited):
                 current_entry.modified = False
                 current_entry.uuid = m.group(1).lower()
             else:
-                date_blob_re = re.compile("^\[[^\\]]+\] ")
+                date_blob_re = re.compile("^\\[[^\\]]+\\] ")
                 date_blob = date_blob_re.findall(line)
                 if date_blob:
                     date_blob = date_blob[0]
diff --git a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
index a83651e45..1cce66b81 100644
--- a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
+++ b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
@@ -8,14 +8,13 @@
 import sys
 import os
 import base64
-import getpass
 import logging
 
 log = logging.getLogger()
 
 
 def make_key(password):
-    password = util.bytes(password)
+    password = password.encode("utf-8")
     kdf = PBKDF2HMAC(
         algorithm=hashes.SHA256(),
         length=32,
@@ -30,7 +29,7 @@ def make_key(password):
 
 class EncryptedJournal(Journal.Journal):
     def __init__(self, name='default', **kwargs):
-        super(EncryptedJournal, self).__init__(name, **kwargs)
+        super().__init__(name, **kwargs)
         self.config['encrypt'] = True
 
     def open(self, filename=None):
@@ -48,9 +47,9 @@ def open(self, filename=None):
                 self.config['password'] = password
                 text = ""
                 self._store(filename, text)
-                util.prompt("[Journal '{0}' created at {1}]".format(self.name, filename))
+                print(f"[Journal '{self.name}' created at {filename}]", file=sys.stderr)
             else:
-                util.prompt("No password supplied for encrypted journal")
+                print("No password supplied for encrypted journal", file=sys.stderr)
                 sys.exit(1)
         else:
             text = self._load(filename)
@@ -59,7 +58,6 @@ def open(self, filename=None):
         log.debug("opened %s with %d entries", self.__class__.__name__, len(self))
         return self
 
-
     def _load(self, filename, password=None):
         """Loads an encrypted journal from a file and tries to decrypt it.
         If password is not provided, will look for password in the keychain
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@ class LegacyEncryptedJournal(Journal.LegacyJournal):
     """Legacy class to support opening journals encrypted with the jrnl 1.x
     standard. You'll not be able to save these journals anymore."""
     def __init__(self, name='default', **kwargs):
-        super(LegacyEncryptedJournal, self).__init__(name, **kwargs)
+        super().__init__(name, **kwargs)
         self.config['encrypt'] = True
 
     def _load(self, filename, password=None):
diff --git a/jrnl/Entry.py b/jrnl/Entry.py
index 1306cef5a..ca80b231e 100755
--- a/jrnl/Entry.py
+++ b/jrnl/Entry.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import re
 import textwrap
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -51,14 +49,14 @@ def tags(self):
 
     @staticmethod
     def tag_regex(tagsymbols):
-        pattern = r'(?u)(?:^|\s)([{tags}][-+*#/\w]+)'.format(tags=tagsymbols)
-        return re.compile(pattern, re.UNICODE)
+        pattern = fr'(?u)(?:^|\s)([{tagsymbols}][-+*#/\w]+)'
+        return re.compile(pattern)
 
     def _parse_tags(self):
         tagsymbols = self.journal.config['tagsymbols']
-        return set(tag.lower() for tag in re.findall(Entry.tag_regex(tagsymbols), self.text))
+        return {tag.lower() for tag in re.findall(Entry.tag_regex(tagsymbols), self.text)}
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
+    def __str__(self):
         """Returns a string representation of the entry to be written into a journal file."""
         date_str = self.date.strftime(self.journal.config['timeformat'])
         title = "[{}] {}".format(date_str, self.title.rstrip("\n "))
@@ -106,7 +104,7 @@ def pprint(self, short=False):
             )
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "<Entry '{0}' on {1}>".format(self.title.strip(), self.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"))
+        return "<Entry '{}' on {}>".format(self.title.strip(), self.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"))
 
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.__repr__())
diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 72fe94b18..f130823d6 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from . import Entry
 from . import util
 from . import time
 import os
 import sys
-import codecs
 import re
 from datetime import datetime
 import logging
@@ -15,7 +12,7 @@
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class Tag(object):
+class Tag:
     def __init__(self, name, count=0):
         self.name = name
         self.count = count
@@ -24,10 +21,10 @@ def __str__(self):
         return self.name
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "<Tag '{}'>".format(self.name)
+        return f"<Tag '{self.name}'>"
 
 
-class Journal(object):
+class Journal:
     def __init__(self, name='default', **kwargs):
         self.config = {
             'journal': "journal.txt",
@@ -72,7 +69,7 @@ def open(self, filename=None):
         filename = filename or self.config['journal']
 
         if not os.path.exists(filename):
-            util.prompt("[Journal '{0}' created at {1}]".format(self.name, filename))
+            print(f"[Journal '{self.name}' created at {filename}]", file=sys.stderr)
             self._create(filename)
 
         text = self._load(filename)
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@ def validate_parsing(self):
         return True
 
     def _to_text(self):
-        return "\n".join([e.__unicode__() for e in self.entries])
+        return "\n".join([str(e) for e in self.entries])
 
     def _load(self, filename):
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -118,7 +115,7 @@ def _parse(self, journal_txt):
         # Initialise our current entry
         entries = []
 
-        date_blob_re = re.compile("(?:^|\n)\[([^\\]]+)\] ")
+        date_blob_re = re.compile("(?:^|\n)\\[([^\\]]+)\\] ")
         last_entry_pos = 0
         for match in date_blob_re.finditer(journal_txt):
             date_blob = match.groups()[0]
@@ -140,9 +137,6 @@ def _parse(self, journal_txt):
             entry._parse_text()
         return entries
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return self.pprint()
-
     def pprint(self, short=False):
         """Prettyprints the journal's entries"""
         sep = "\n"
@@ -153,7 +147,7 @@ def pprint(self, short=False):
                     tagre = re.compile(re.escape(tag), re.IGNORECASE)
                     pp = re.sub(tagre,
                                 lambda match: util.colorize(match.group(0)),
-                                pp, re.UNICODE)
+                                pp)
             else:
                 pp = re.sub(
                     Entry.Entry.tag_regex(self.config['tagsymbols']),
@@ -162,8 +156,11 @@ def pprint(self, short=False):
                 )
         return pp
 
+    def __str__(self):
+        return self.pprint()
+
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "<Journal with {0} entries>".format(len(self.entries))
+        return f"<Journal with {len(self.entries)} entries>"
 
     def sort(self):
         """Sorts the Journal's entries by date"""
@@ -183,7 +180,7 @@ def tags(self):
                 for entry in self.entries
                 for tag in set(entry.tags)]
         # To be read: [for entry in journal.entries: for tag in set(entry.tags): tag]
-        tag_counts = set([(tags.count(tag), tag) for tag in tags])
+        tag_counts = {(tags.count(tag), tag) for tag in tags}
         return [Tag(tag, count=count) for count, tag in sorted(tag_counts)]
 
     def filter(self, tags=[], start_date=None, end_date=None, starred=False, strict=False, short=False, exclude=[]):
@@ -200,8 +197,8 @@ def filter(self, tags=[], start_date=None, end_date=None, starred=False, strict=
 
         exclude is a list of the tags which should not appear in the results.
         entry is kept if any tag is present, unless they appear in exclude."""
-        self.search_tags = set([tag.lower() for tag in tags])
-        excluded_tags = set([tag.lower() for tag in exclude])
+        self.search_tags = {tag.lower() for tag in tags}
+        excluded_tags = {tag.lower() for tag in exclude}
         end_date = time.parse(end_date, inclusive=True)
         start_date = time.parse(start_date)
 
@@ -226,7 +223,7 @@ def new_entry(self, raw, date=None, sort=True):
         raw = raw.replace('\\n ', '\n').replace('\\n', '\n')
         starred = False
         # Split raw text into title and body
-        sep = re.search("\n|[\?!.]+ +\n?", raw)
+        sep = re.search(r"\n|[?!.]+ +\n?", raw)
         first_line = raw[:sep.end()].strip() if sep else raw
         starred = False
 
@@ -254,7 +251,7 @@ def new_entry(self, raw, date=None, sort=True):
     def editable_str(self):
         """Turns the journal into a string of entries that can be edited
         manually and later be parsed with eslf.parse_editable_str."""
-        return "\n".join([e.__unicode__() for e in self.entries])
+        return "\n".join([str(e) for e in self.entries])
 
     def parse_editable_str(self, edited):
         """Parses the output of self.editable_str and updates it's entries."""
@@ -270,15 +267,15 @@ def parse_editable_str(self, edited):
 class PlainJournal(Journal):
     @classmethod
     def _create(cls, filename):
-        with codecs.open(filename, "a", "utf-8"):
+        with open(filename, "a", encoding="utf-8"):
             pass
 
     def _load(self, filename):
-        with codecs.open(filename, "r", "utf-8") as f:
+        with open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             return f.read()
 
     def _store(self, filename, text):
-        with codecs.open(filename, 'w', "utf-8") as f:
+        with open(filename, 'w', encoding="utf-8") as f:
             f.write(text)
 
 
@@ -287,7 +284,7 @@ class LegacyJournal(Journal):
     standard. Main difference here is that in 1.x, timestamps were not cuddled
     by square brackets. You'll not be able to save these journals anymore."""
     def _load(self, filename):
-        with codecs.open(filename, "r", "utf-8") as f:
+        with open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
             return f.read()
 
     def _parse(self, journal_txt):
@@ -323,7 +320,7 @@ def _parse(self, journal_txt):
                 # escaping for the new format).
                 line = new_date_format_regex.sub(r' \1', line)
                 if current_entry:
-                    current_entry.text += line + u"\n"
+                    current_entry.text += line + "\n"
 
         # Append last entry
         if current_entry:
@@ -347,8 +344,9 @@ def open_journal(name, config, legacy=False):
             from . import DayOneJournal
             return DayOneJournal.DayOne(**config).open()
         else:
-            util.prompt(
-                u"[Error: {0} is a directory, but doesn't seem to be a DayOne journal either.".format(config['journal'])
+            print(
+                f"[Error: {config['journal']} is a directory, but doesn't seem to be a DayOne journal either.",
+                file=sys.stderr
             )
 
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/jrnl/__init__.py b/jrnl/__init__.py
index 57664dbb5..1905b1959 100644
--- a/jrnl/__init__.py
+++ b/jrnl/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
 import pkg_resources
 
diff --git a/jrnl/__main__.py b/jrnl/__main__.py
index 73e08b337..3ce867303 100644
--- a/jrnl/__main__.py
+++ b/jrnl/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from . import cli
 
 
diff --git a/jrnl/cli.py b/jrnl/cli.py
index 65a535169..3cf670309 100644
--- a/jrnl/cli.py
+++ b/jrnl/cli.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
 """
     jrnl
@@ -7,8 +6,6 @@
     license: MIT, see LICENSE for more details.
 """
 
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-from __future__ import absolute_import
 from . import Journal
 from . import util
 from . import install
@@ -91,7 +88,7 @@ def encrypt(journal, filename=None):
     if util.yesno("Do you want to store the password in your keychain?", default=True):
         util.set_keychain(journal.name, journal.config['password'])
 
-    util.prompt("Journal encrypted to {0}.".format(filename or new_journal.config['journal']))
+    print("Journal encrypted to {}.".format(filename or new_journal.config['journal']), file=sys.stderr)
 
 
 def decrypt(journal, filename=None):
@@ -102,12 +99,12 @@ def decrypt(journal, filename=None):
     new_journal = Journal.PlainJournal(filename, **journal.config)
     new_journal.entries = journal.entries
     new_journal.write(filename)
-    util.prompt("Journal decrypted to {0}.".format(filename or new_journal.config['journal']))
+    print("Journal decrypted to {}.".format(filename or new_journal.config['journal']), file=sys.stderr)
 
 
 def list_journals(config):
     """List the journals specified in the configuration file"""
-    result = "Journals defined in {}\n".format(install.CONFIG_FILE_PATH)
+    result = f"Journals defined in {install.CONFIG_FILE_PATH}\n"
     ml = min(max(len(k) for k in config['journals']), 20)
     for journal, cfg in config['journals'].items():
         result += " * {:{}} -> {}\n".format(journal, ml, cfg['journal'] if isinstance(cfg, dict) else cfg)
@@ -138,20 +135,19 @@ def configure_logger(debug=False):
 def run(manual_args=None):
     args = parse_args(manual_args)
     configure_logger(args.debug)
-    args.text = [p.decode('utf-8') if util.PY2 and not isinstance(p, unicode) else p for p in args.text]
     if args.version:
-        version_str = "{0} version {1}".format(jrnl.__title__, jrnl.__version__)
-        print(util.py2encode(version_str))
+        version_str = f"{jrnl.__title__} version {jrnl.__version__}"
+        print(version_str)
         sys.exit(0)
 
     try:
         config = install.load_or_install_jrnl()
     except UserAbort as err:
-        util.prompt("\n{}".format(err))
+        print(f"\n{err}", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
     if args.ls:
-        util.prnt(list_journals(config))
+        print(list_journals(config))
         sys.exit(0)
 
     log.debug('Using configuration "%s"', config)
@@ -161,11 +157,11 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
     # use this!
     journal_name = args.text[0] if (args.text and args.text[0] in config['journals']) else 'default'
 
-    if journal_name is not 'default':
+    if journal_name != 'default':
         args.text = args.text[1:]
     elif "default" not in config['journals']:
-        util.prompt("No default journal configured.")
-        util.prompt(list_journals(config))
+        print("No default journal configured.", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(list_journals(config), file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
     config = util.scope_config(config, journal_name)
@@ -175,12 +171,12 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
         try:
             args.limit = int(args.text[0].lstrip("-"))
             args.text = args.text[1:]
-        except:
+        except ValueError:
             pass
 
     log.debug('Using journal "%s"', journal_name)
     mode_compose, mode_export, mode_import = guess_mode(args, config)
-
+    
     # How to quit writing?
     if "win32" in sys.platform:
         _exit_multiline_code = "on a blank line, press Ctrl+Z and then Enter"
@@ -190,21 +186,22 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
     if mode_compose and not args.text:
         if not sys.stdin.isatty():
             # Piping data into jrnl
-            raw = util.py23_read()
+            raw = sys.stdin.read()
         elif config['editor']:
             template = ""
             if config['template']:
                 try:
                     template = open(config['template']).read()
-                except:
-                    util.prompt("[Could not read template at '']".format(config['template']))
+                except OSError:
+                    print(f"[Could not read template at '{config['template']}']", file=sys.stderr)
                     sys.exit(1)
             raw = util.get_text_from_editor(config, template)
         else:
             try:
-                raw = util.py23_read("[Compose Entry; " + _exit_multiline_code + " to finish writing]\n")
+                print("[Compose Entry; " + _exit_multiline_code + " to finish writing]\n", file=sys.stderr)
+                raw = sys.stdin.read()
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
-                util.prompt("[Entry NOT saved to journal.]")
+                print("[Entry NOT saved to journal.]", file=sys.stderr)
                 sys.exit(0)
         if raw:
             args.text = [raw]
@@ -215,7 +212,7 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
     try:
         journal = Journal.open_journal(journal_name, config)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        util.prompt("[Interrupted while opening journal]".format(journal_name))
+        print(f"[Interrupted while opening journal]", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
     # Import mode
@@ -225,11 +222,9 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
     # Writing mode
     elif mode_compose:
         raw = " ".join(args.text).strip()
-        if util.PY2 and type(raw) is not unicode:
-            raw = raw.decode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
         log.debug('Appending raw line "%s" to journal "%s"', raw, journal_name)
         journal.new_entry(raw)
-        util.prompt("[Entry added to {0} journal]".format(journal_name))
+        print(f"[Entry added to {journal_name} journal]", file=sys.stderr)
         journal.write()
 
     if not mode_compose:
@@ -246,14 +241,14 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
 
     # Reading mode
     if not mode_compose and not mode_export and not mode_import:
-        print(util.py2encode(journal.pprint()))
+        print(journal.pprint())
 
     # Various export modes
     elif args.short:
-        print(util.py2encode(journal.pprint(short=True)))
+        print(journal.pprint(short=True))
 
     elif args.tags:
-        print(util.py2encode(plugins.get_exporter("tags").export(journal)))
+        print(plugins.get_exporter("tags").export(journal))
 
     elif args.export is not False:
         exporter = plugins.get_exporter(args.export)
@@ -275,7 +270,8 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
 
     elif args.edit:
         if not config['editor']:
-            util.prompt("[{1}ERROR{2}: You need to specify an editor in {0} to use the --edit function.]".format(install.CONFIG_FILE_PATH, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR))
+            print("[{1}ERROR{2}: You need to specify an editor in {0} to use the --edit function.]"
+                  .format(install.CONFIG_FILE_PATH, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR), file=sys.stderr)
             sys.exit(1)
         other_entries = [e for e in old_entries if e not in journal.entries]
         # Edit
@@ -286,11 +282,11 @@ def run(manual_args=None):
         num_edited = len([e for e in journal.entries if e.modified])
         prompts = []
         if num_deleted:
-            prompts.append("{0} {1} deleted".format(num_deleted, "entry" if num_deleted == 1 else "entries"))
+            prompts.append("{} {} deleted".format(num_deleted, "entry" if num_deleted == 1 else "entries"))
         if num_edited:
-            prompts.append("{0} {1} modified".format(num_edited, "entry" if num_deleted == 1 else "entries"))
+            prompts.append("{} {} modified".format(num_edited, "entry" if num_deleted == 1 else "entries"))
         if prompts:
-            util.prompt("[{0}]".format(", ".join(prompts).capitalize()))
+            print("[{}]".format(", ".join(prompts).capitalize()), file=sys.stderr)
         journal.entries += other_entries
         journal.sort()
         journal.write()
diff --git a/jrnl/export.py b/jrnl/export.py
index d48733148..1ee4e6ffa 100644
--- a/jrnl/export.py
+++ b/jrnl/export.py
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from .util import ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR
-from .util import slugify, u
-from .template import Template
+from .util import slugify
+from .plugins.template import Template
 import os
-import codecs
 
 
-class Exporter(object):
+class Exporter:
     """This Exporter can convert entries and journals into text files."""
     def __init__(self, format):
         with open("jrnl/templates/" + format + ".template") as f:
@@ -17,8 +14,8 @@ def __init__(self, format):
             self.template = Template(body)
 
     def export_entry(self, entry):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of a single entry."""
-        return entry.__unicode__()
+        """Returns a string representation of a single entry."""
+        return str(entry)
 
     def _get_vars(self, journal):
         return {
@@ -28,36 +25,36 @@ def _get_vars(self, journal):
         }
 
     def export_journal(self, journal):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of an entire journal."""
+        """Returns a string representation of an entire journal."""
         return self.template.render_block("journal", **self._get_vars(journal))
 
     def write_file(self, journal, path):
         """Exports a journal into a single file."""
         try:
-            with codecs.open(path, "w", "utf-8") as f:
+            with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 f.write(self.export_journal(journal))
-                return "[Journal exported to {0}]".format(path)
-        except IOError as e:
-            return "[{2}ERROR{3}: {0} {1}]".format(e.filename, e.strerror, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR)
+                return f"[Journal exported to {path}]"
+        except OSError as e:
+            return f"[{ERROR_COLOR}ERROR{RESET_COLOR}: {e.filename} {e.strerror}]"
 
     def make_filename(self, entry):
-        return entry.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d_{0}.{1}".format(slugify(u(entry.title)), self.extension))
+        return entry.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d_{}.{}".format(slugify(entry.title), self.extension))
 
     def write_files(self, journal, path):
         """Exports a journal into individual files for each entry."""
         for entry in journal.entries:
             try:
                 full_path = os.path.join(path, self.make_filename(entry))
-                with codecs.open(full_path, "w", "utf-8") as f:
+                with open(full_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                     f.write(self.export_entry(entry))
-            except IOError as e:
-                return "[{2}ERROR{3}: {0} {1}]".format(e.filename, e.strerror, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR)
-        return "[Journal exported to {0}]".format(path)
+            except OSError as e:
+                return f"[{ERROR_COLOR}ERROR{RESET_COLOR}: {e.filename} {e.strerror}]"
+        return f"[Journal exported to {path}]"
 
     def export(self, journal, format="text", output=None):
         """Exports to individual files if output is an existing path, or into
         a single file if output is a file name, or returns the exporter's
-        representation as unicode if output is None."""
+        representation as string if output is None."""
         if output and os.path.isdir(output):  # multiple files
             return self.write_files(journal, output)
         elif output:                          # single file
diff --git a/jrnl/install.py b/jrnl/install.py
index 5a80562fb..c104b46b2 100644
--- a/jrnl/install.py
+++ b/jrnl/install.py
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
 import readline
 import glob
 import getpass
@@ -69,7 +67,7 @@ def upgrade_config(config):
         for key in missing_keys:
             config[key] = default_config[key]
         save_config(config)
-        print("[Configuration updated to newest version at {}]".format(CONFIG_FILE_PATH))
+        print(f"[Configuration updated to newest version at {CONFIG_FILE_PATH}]", file=sys.stderr)
 
 
 def save_config(config):
@@ -91,10 +89,10 @@ def load_or_install_jrnl():
         try:
             upgrade.upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path)
         except upgrade.UpgradeValidationException:
-            util.prompt("Aborting upgrade.")
-            util.prompt("Please tell us about this problem at the following URL:")
-            util.prompt("https://github.com/jrnl-org/jrnl/issues/new?title=UpgradeValidationException")
-            util.prompt("Exiting.")
+            print("Aborting upgrade.", file=sys.stderr)
+            print("Please tell us about this problem at the following URL:", file=sys.stderr)
+            print("https://github.com/jrnl-org/jrnl/issues/new?title=UpgradeValidationException", file=sys.stderr)
+            print("Exiting.", file=sys.stderr)
             sys.exit(1)
 
         upgrade_config(config)
@@ -120,8 +118,8 @@ def autocomplete(text, state):
     readline.set_completer(autocomplete)
 
     # Where to create the journal?
-    path_query = 'Path to your journal file (leave blank for {}): '.format(JOURNAL_FILE_PATH)
-    journal_path = util.py23_input(path_query).strip() or JOURNAL_FILE_PATH
+    path_query = f'Path to your journal file (leave blank for {JOURNAL_FILE_PATH}): '
+    journal_path = input(path_query).strip() or JOURNAL_FILE_PATH
     default_config['journals']['default'] = os.path.expanduser(os.path.expandvars(journal_path))
 
     path = os.path.split(default_config['journals']['default'])[0]  # If the folder doesn't exist, create it
@@ -139,7 +137,7 @@ def autocomplete(text, state):
         else:
             util.set_keychain("default", None)
         EncryptedJournal._create(default_config['journals']['default'], password)
-        print("Journal will be encrypted.")
+        print("Journal will be encrypted.", file=sys.stderr)
     else:
         PlainJournal._create(default_config['journals']['default'])
 
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/__init__.py b/jrnl/plugins/__init__.py
index 64d7b3ba2..8d59b5562 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/__init__.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
-
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 from .jrnl_importer import JRNLImporter
 from .json_exporter import JSONExporter
@@ -15,8 +13,8 @@
 __exporters =[JSONExporter, MarkdownExporter, TagExporter, TextExporter, XMLExporter, YAMLExporter] + template_exporters
 __importers =[JRNLImporter]
 
-__exporter_types = dict([(name, plugin) for plugin in __exporters for name in plugin.names])
-__importer_types = dict([(name, plugin) for plugin in __importers for name in plugin.names])
+__exporter_types = {name: plugin for plugin in __exporters for name in plugin.names}
+__importer_types = {name: plugin for plugin in __importers for name in plugin.names}
 
 EXPORT_FORMATS = sorted(__exporter_types.keys())
 IMPORT_FORMATS = sorted(__importer_types.keys())
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py b/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
index 85615e75b..83341cd94 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/jrnl_importer.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
-import codecs
 import sys
 from .. import util
 
-class JRNLImporter(object):
+class JRNLImporter:
     """This plugin imports entries from other jrnl files."""
     names = ["jrnl"]
 
@@ -17,15 +15,15 @@ def import_(journal, input=None):
         old_cnt = len(journal.entries)
         old_entries = journal.entries
         if input:
-            with codecs.open(input, "r", "utf-8") as f:
+            with open(input, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 other_journal_txt = f.read()
         else:
             try:
-                other_journal_txt = util.py23_read()
+                other_journal_txt = sys.stdin.read()
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
-                util.prompt("[Entries NOT imported into journal.]")
+                print("[Entries NOT imported into journal.]", file=sys.stderr)
                 sys.exit(0)
         journal.import_(other_journal_txt)
         new_cnt = len(journal.entries)
-        util.prompt("[{0} imported to {1} journal]".format(new_cnt - old_cnt, journal.name))
+        print("[{} imported to {} journal]".format(new_cnt - old_cnt, journal.name), file=sys.stderr)
         journal.write()
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/json_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/json_exporter.py
index 5abaf9161..e368a300b 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/json_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/json_exporter.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 import json
 from .util import get_tags_count
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ def export_journal(cls, journal):
         """Returns a json representation of an entire journal."""
         tags = get_tags_count(journal)
         result = {
-            "tags": dict((tag, count) for count, tag in tags),
+            "tags": {tag: count for count, tag in tags},
             "entries": [cls.entry_to_dict(e) for e in journal.entries]
         }
         return json.dumps(result, indent=2)
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/markdown_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/markdown_exporter.py
index 19b5404d6..da2b57482 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/markdown_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/markdown_exporter.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals, print_function
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 import os
 import re
@@ -51,15 +50,11 @@ def export_entry(cls, entry, to_multifile=True):
         newbody = newbody + previous_line   # add very last line
 
         if warn_on_heading_level is True:
-            print("{}WARNING{}: Headings increased past H6 on export - {} {}".format(WARNING_COLOR, RESET_COLOR, date_str, entry.title), file=sys.stderr)
+            print(f"{WARNING_COLOR}WARNING{RESET_COLOR}: "
+                  f"Headings increased past H6 on export - {date_str} {entry.title}",
+                  file=sys.stderr)
 
-        return "{md} {date} {title}\n{body} {space}".format(
-            md=heading,
-            date=date_str,
-            title=entry.title,
-            body=newbody,
-            space=""
-        )
+        return f"{heading} {date_str} {entry.title}\n{newbody} "
 
     @classmethod
     def export_journal(cls, journal):
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/tag_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/tag_exporter.py
index 439bac7c8..f5453ced8 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/tag_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/tag_exporter.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 from .util import get_tags_count
 
@@ -26,5 +25,5 @@ def export_journal(cls, journal):
         elif min(tag_counts)[0] == 0:
             tag_counts = filter(lambda x: x[0] > 1, tag_counts)
             result += '[Removed tags that appear only once.]\n'
-        result += "\n".join("{0:20} : {1}".format(tag, n) for n, tag in sorted(tag_counts, reverse=True))
+        result += "\n".join("{:20} : {}".format(tag, n) for n, tag in sorted(tag_counts, reverse=True))
         return result
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/template.py b/jrnl/plugins/template.py
index 21fb28963..7f72e2f80 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/template.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/template.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 INCLUDE_RE = r"{% *include +(.+?) *%}"
 
 
-class Template(object):
+class Template:
     def __init__(self, template):
         self.template = template
         self.clean_template = None
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/template_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/template_exporter.py
index 85aa2236d..f15328f23 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/template_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/template_exporter.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
-
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 from .template import Template
 import os
@@ -14,7 +12,7 @@ class GenericTemplateExporter(TextExporter):
 
     @classmethod
     def export_entry(cls, entry):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of a single entry."""
+        """Returns a string representation of a single entry."""
         vars = {
             'entry': entry,
             'tags': entry.tags
@@ -23,7 +21,7 @@ def export_entry(cls, entry):
 
     @classmethod
     def export_journal(cls, journal):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of an entire journal."""
+        """Returns a string representation of an entire journal."""
         vars = {
             'journal': journal,
             'entries': journal.entries,
@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ def __exporter_from_file(template_file):
     """Create a template class from a file"""
     name = os.path.basename(template_file).replace(".template", "")
     template = Template.from_file(template_file)
-    return type(str("{}Exporter".format(name.title())), (GenericTemplateExporter, ), {
+    return type(str(f"{name.title()}Exporter"), (GenericTemplateExporter, ), {
         "names": [name],
         "extension": template.extension,
         "template": template
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/text_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/text_exporter.py
index dbb54d04e..ce2e71de0 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/text_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/text_exporter.py
@@ -1,41 +1,39 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
-import codecs
-from ..util import u, slugify
+from ..util import slugify
 import os
 from ..util import ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR
 
 
-class TextExporter(object):
+class TextExporter:
     """This Exporter can convert entries and journals into text files."""
     names = ["text", "txt"]
     extension = "txt"
 
     @classmethod
     def export_entry(cls, entry):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of a single entry."""
-        return entry.__unicode__()
+        """Returns a string representation of a single entry."""
+        return str(entry)
 
     @classmethod
     def export_journal(cls, journal):
-        """Returns a unicode representation of an entire journal."""
+        """Returns a string representation of an entire journal."""
         return "\n".join(cls.export_entry(entry) for entry in journal)
 
     @classmethod
     def write_file(cls, journal, path):
         """Exports a journal into a single file."""
         try:
-            with codecs.open(path, "w", "utf-8") as f:
+            with open(path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                 f.write(cls.export_journal(journal))
-                return "[Journal exported to {0}]".format(path)
+                return f"[Journal exported to {path}]"
         except IOError as e:
-            return "[{2}ERROR{3}: {0} {1}]".format(e.filename, e.strerror, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR)
+            return f"[{ERROR_COLOR}ERROR{RESET_COLOR}: {e.filename} {e.strerror}]"
 
     @classmethod
     def make_filename(cls, entry):
-        return entry.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d_{0}.{1}".format(slugify(u(entry.title)), cls.extension))
+        return entry.date.strftime("%Y-%m-%d_{}.{}".format(slugify(str(entry.title)), cls.extension))
 
     @classmethod
     def write_files(cls, journal, path):
@@ -43,17 +41,17 @@ def write_files(cls, journal, path):
         for entry in journal.entries:
             try:
                 full_path = os.path.join(path, cls.make_filename(entry))
-                with codecs.open(full_path, "w", "utf-8") as f:
+                with open(full_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                     f.write(cls.export_entry(entry))
             except IOError as e:
                 return "[{2}ERROR{3}: {0} {1}]".format(e.filename, e.strerror, ERROR_COLOR, RESET_COLOR)
-        return "[Journal exported to {0}]".format(path)
+        return "[Journal exported to {}]".format(path)
 
     @classmethod
     def export(cls, journal, output=None):
         """Exports to individual files if output is an existing path, or into
         a single file if output is a file name, or returns the exporter's
-        representation as unicode if output is None."""
+        representation as string if output is None."""
         if output and os.path.isdir(output):  # multiple files
             return cls.write_files(journal, output)
         elif output:                          # single file
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/util.py b/jrnl/plugins/util.py
index 0a642cb2e..a056b19ab 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/util.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def get_tags_count(journal):
             for entry in journal.entries
             for tag in set(entry.tags)]
     # To be read: [for entry in journal.entries: for tag in set(entry.tags): tag]
-    tag_counts = set([(tags.count(tag), tag) for tag in tags])
+    tag_counts = {(tags.count(tag), tag) for tag in tags}
     return tag_counts
 
 
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/xml_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/xml_exporter.py
index 0af2ed477..2783663b5 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/xml_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/xml_exporter.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 from .json_exporter import JSONExporter
 from .util import get_tags_count
-from ..util import u
 from xml.dom import minidom
 
 
@@ -20,7 +18,7 @@ def export_entry(cls, entry, doc=None):
         entry_el = doc_el.createElement('entry')
         for key, value in cls.entry_to_dict(entry).items():
             elem = doc_el.createElement(key)
-            elem.appendChild(doc_el.createTextNode(u(value)))
+            elem.appendChild(doc_el.createTextNode(value))
             entry_el.appendChild(elem)
         if not doc:
             doc_el.appendChild(entry_el)
@@ -33,8 +31,8 @@ def entry_to_xml(cls, entry, doc):
         entry_el = doc.createElement('entry')
         entry_el.setAttribute('date', entry.date.isoformat())
         if hasattr(entry, "uuid"):
-            entry_el.setAttribute('uuid', u(entry.uuid))
-        entry_el.setAttribute('starred', u(entry.starred))
+            entry_el.setAttribute('uuid', entry.uuid)
+        entry_el.setAttribute('starred', entry.starred)
         entry_el.appendChild(doc.createTextNode(entry.fulltext))
         return entry_el
 
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ def export_journal(cls, journal):
         for count, tag in tags:
             tag_el = doc.createElement('tag')
             tag_el.setAttribute('name', tag)
-            count_node = doc.createTextNode(u(count))
+            count_node = doc.createTextNode(str(count))
             tag_el.appendChild(count_node)
             tags_el.appendChild(tag_el)
         for entry in journal.entries:
diff --git a/jrnl/plugins/yaml_exporter.py b/jrnl/plugins/yaml_exporter.py
index c07358110..4a75667f7 100644
--- a/jrnl/plugins/yaml_exporter.py
+++ b/jrnl/plugins/yaml_exporter.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # encoding: utf-8
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals, print_function
 from .text_exporter import TextExporter
 import os
 import re
@@ -18,7 +17,8 @@ class YAMLExporter(TextExporter):
     def export_entry(cls, entry, to_multifile=True):
         """Returns a markdown representation of a single entry, with YAML front matter."""
         if to_multifile is False:
-            print("{}ERROR{}: YAML export must be to individual files. Please specify a directory to export to.".format("\033[31m", "\033[0m", file=sys.stderr))
+            print("{}ERROR{}: YAML export must be to individual files. "
+                  "Please specify a directory to export to.".format("\033[31m", "\033[0m"), file=sys.stderr)
             return
 
         date_str = entry.date.strftime(entry.journal.config['timeformat'])
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def export_entry(cls, entry, to_multifile=True):
 
         tagsymbols = entry.journal.config['tagsymbols']
         # see also Entry.Entry.rag_regex
-        multi_tag_regex = re.compile(r'(?u)^\s*([{tags}][-+*#/\w]+\s*)+$'.format(tags=tagsymbols), re.UNICODE)
+        multi_tag_regex = re.compile(r'(?u)^\s*([{tags}][-+*#/\w]+\s*)+$'.format(tags=tagsymbols))
 
         '''Increase heading levels in body text'''
         newbody = ''
diff --git a/jrnl/time.py b/jrnl/time.py
index 9ff125aa9..eee3fc207 100644
--- a/jrnl/time.py
+++ b/jrnl/time.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def parse(date_str, inclusive=False, default_hour=None, default_minute=None):
         except TypeError:
             return None
 
-    if flag is 1:  # Date found, but no time. Use the default time.
+    if flag == 1:  # Date found, but no time. Use the default time.
         date = datetime(*date[:3], hour=default_hour or 0, minute=default_minute or 0)
     else:
         date = datetime(*date[:6])
diff --git a/jrnl/upgrade.py b/jrnl/upgrade.py
index f2b80af39..216987a0e 100644
--- a/jrnl/upgrade.py
+++ b/jrnl/upgrade.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
+import sys
 
 from . import __version__
 from . import Journal
@@ -6,11 +6,10 @@
 from .EncryptedJournal import EncryptedJournal
 from .util import UserAbort
 import os
-import codecs
 
 
 def backup(filename, binary=False):
-    util.prompt("  Created a backup at {}.backup".format(filename))
+    print(f"  Created a backup at {filename}.backup", file=sys.stderr)
     filename = os.path.expanduser(os.path.expandvars(filename))
     with open(filename, 'rb' if binary else 'r') as original:
         contents = original.read()
@@ -19,14 +18,14 @@ def backup(filename, binary=False):
 
 
 def upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path):
-    with codecs.open(config_path, "r", "utf-8") as f:
+    with open(config_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         config_file = f.read()
     if not config_file.strip().startswith("{"):
         return
 
     config = util.load_config(config_path)
 
-    util.prompt("""Welcome to jrnl {}.
+    print("""Welcome to jrnl {}.
 
 It looks like you've been using an older version of jrnl until now. That's
 okay - jrnl will now upgrade your configuration and journal files. Afterwards
@@ -63,19 +62,19 @@ def upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path):
 
     longest_journal_name = max([len(journal) for journal in config['journals']])
     if encrypted_journals:
-        util.prompt("\nFollowing encrypted journals will be upgraded to jrnl {}:".format(__version__))
+        print(f"\nFollowing encrypted journals will be upgraded to jrnl {__version__}:", file=sys.stderr)
         for journal, path in encrypted_journals.items():
-            util.prompt("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name))
+            print("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name), file=sys.stderr)
 
     if plain_journals:
-        util.prompt("\nFollowing plain text journals will upgraded to jrnl {}:".format(__version__))
+        print(f"\nFollowing plain text journals will upgraded to jrnl {__version__}:", file=sys.stderr)
         for journal, path in plain_journals.items():
-            util.prompt("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name))
+            print("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name), file=sys.stderr)
 
     if other_journals:
-        util.prompt("\nFollowing journals will be not be touched:")
+        print("\nFollowing journals will be not be touched:", file=sys.stderr)
         for journal, path in other_journals.items():
-            util.prompt("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name))
+            print("    {:{pad}} -> {}".format(journal, path, pad=longest_journal_name), file=sys.stderr)
 
     try:
         cont = util.yesno("\nContinue upgrading jrnl?", default=False)
@@ -85,13 +84,13 @@ def upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path):
         raise UserAbort("jrnl NOT upgraded, exiting.")
 
     for journal_name, path in encrypted_journals.items():
-        util.prompt("\nUpgrading encrypted '{}' journal stored in {}...".format(journal_name, path))
+        print(f"\nUpgrading encrypted '{journal_name}' journal stored in {path}...", file=sys.stderr)
         backup(path, binary=True)
         old_journal = Journal.open_journal(journal_name, util.scope_config(config, journal_name), legacy=True)
         all_journals.append(EncryptedJournal.from_journal(old_journal))
 
     for journal_name, path in plain_journals.items():
-        util.prompt("\nUpgrading plain text '{}' journal stored in {}...".format(journal_name, path))
+        print(f"\nUpgrading plain text '{journal_name}' journal stored in {path}...", file=sys.stderr)
         backup(path)
         old_journal = Journal.open_journal(journal_name, util.scope_config(config, journal_name), legacy=True)
         all_journals.append(Journal.PlainJournal.from_journal(old_journal))
@@ -100,8 +99,9 @@ def upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path):
     failed_journals = [j for j in all_journals if not j.validate_parsing()]
 
     if len(failed_journals) > 0:
-        util.prompt("\nThe following journal{} failed to upgrade:\n{}".format(
-            's' if len(failed_journals) > 1 else '', "\n".join(j.name for j in failed_journals))
+        print("\nThe following journal{} failed to upgrade:\n{}".format(
+            's' if len(failed_journals) > 1 else '', "\n".join(j.name for j in failed_journals)),
+            file=sys.stderr
         )
 
         raise UpgradeValidationException
@@ -110,10 +110,11 @@ def upgrade_jrnl_if_necessary(config_path):
     for j in all_journals:
         j.write()
 
-    util.prompt("\nUpgrading config...")
+    print("\nUpgrading config...", file=sys.stderr)
     backup(config_path)
 
-    util.prompt("\nWe're all done here and you can start enjoying jrnl 2.".format(config_path))
+    print("\nWe're all done here and you can start enjoying jrnl 2.", file=sys.stderr)
+
 
 class UpgradeValidationException(Exception):
     """Raised when the contents of an upgraded journal do not match the old journal"""
diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index bc36ba9b4..959d63a17 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -1,8 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
-# encoding: utf-8
-
-from __future__ import unicode_literals
-from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import sys
 import os
@@ -14,22 +10,12 @@
 import re
 import tempfile
 import subprocess
-import codecs
 import unicodedata
 import shlex
 import logging
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-
-PY3 = sys.version_info[0] == 3
-PY2 = sys.version_info[0] == 2
-STDIN = sys.stdin
-STDERR = sys.stderr
-STDOUT = sys.stdout
-TEST = False
-__cached_tz = None
-
 WARNING_COLOR = "\033[33m"
 ERROR_COLOR = "\033[31m"
 RESET_COLOR = "\033[0m"
@@ -44,18 +30,14 @@
     \s+                 # a sequence of required spaces.
 |                       # Otherwise,
     \n                  # a sentence also terminates newlines.
-)""", re.UNICODE | re.VERBOSE)
+)""", re.VERBOSE)
 
 
 class UserAbort(Exception):
     pass
 
 
-def getpass(prompt="Password: "):
-    if not TEST:
-        return gp.getpass(bytes(prompt))
-    else:
-        return py23_input(prompt)
+getpass = gp.getpass
 
 
 def get_password(validator, keychain=None, max_attempts=3):
@@ -67,14 +49,14 @@ def get_password(validator, keychain=None, max_attempts=3):
         set_keychain(keychain, None)
     attempt = 1
     while result is None and attempt < max_attempts:
-        prompt("Wrong password, try again.")
-        password = getpass()
+        print("Wrong password, try again.", file=sys.stderr)
+        password = gp.getpass()
         result = validator(password)
         attempt += 1
     if result is not None:
         return result
     else:
-        prompt("Extremely wrong password.")
+        print("Extremely wrong password.", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
@@ -88,57 +70,16 @@ def set_keychain(journal_name, password):
     if password is None:
         try:
             keyring.delete_password('jrnl', journal_name)
-        except:
+        except RuntimeError:
             pass
-    elif not TEST:
+    else:
         keyring.set_password('jrnl', journal_name, password)
 
 
-def u(s):
-    """Mock unicode function for python 2 and 3 compatibility."""
-    if not isinstance(s, str):
-        s = str(s)
-    return s if PY3 or type(s) is unicode else s.decode("utf-8")
-
-
-def py2encode(s):
-    """Encodes to UTF-8 in Python 2 but not in Python 3."""
-    return s.encode("utf-8") if PY2 and type(s) is unicode else s
-
-
-def bytes(s):
-    """Returns bytes, no matter what."""
-    if PY3:
-        return s.encode("utf-8") if type(s) is not bytes else s
-    return s.encode("utf-8") if type(s) is unicode else s
-
-
-def prnt(s):
-    """Encode and print a string"""
-    STDOUT.write(u(s + "\n"))
-
-
-def prompt(msg):
-    """Prints a message to the std err stream defined in util."""
-    if not msg.endswith("\n"):
-        msg += "\n"
-    STDERR.write(u(msg))
-
-
-def py23_input(msg=""):
-    prompt(msg)
-    return STDIN.readline().strip()
-
-
-def py23_read(msg=""):
-    print(msg)
-    return STDIN.read()
-
-
 def yesno(prompt, default=True):
-    prompt = prompt.strip() + (" [Y/n]" if default else " [y/N]")
-    raw = py23_input(prompt)
-    return {'y': True, 'n': False}.get(raw.lower(), default)
+    prompt = f"{prompt.strip()} {'[Y/n]' if default else '[y/N]'} "
+    response = input(prompt)
+    return {"y": True, "n": False}.get(response.lower(), default)
 
 
 def load_config(config_path):
@@ -164,51 +105,35 @@ def scope_config(config, journal_name):
 
 def get_text_from_editor(config, template=""):
     filehandle, tmpfile = tempfile.mkstemp(prefix="jrnl", text=True, suffix=".txt")
-    with codecs.open(tmpfile, 'w', "utf-8") as f:
+    with open(tmpfile, 'w', encoding="utf-8") as f:
         if template:
             f.write(template)
     try:
         subprocess.call(shlex.split(config['editor'], posix="win" not in sys.platform) + [tmpfile])
     except AttributeError:
         subprocess.call(config['editor'] + [tmpfile])
-    with codecs.open(tmpfile, "r", "utf-8") as f:
+    with open(tmpfile, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
         raw = f.read()
     os.close(filehandle)
     os.remove(tmpfile)
     if not raw:
-        prompt('[Nothing saved to file]')
+        print('[Nothing saved to file]', file=sys.stderr)
     return raw
 
 
 def colorize(string):
     """Returns the string wrapped in cyan ANSI escape"""
-    return u"\033[36m{}\033[39m".format(string)
+    return f"\033[36m{string}\033[39m"
 
 
 def slugify(string):
     """Slugifies a string.
     Based on public domain code from https://github.com/zacharyvoase/slugify
-    and ported to deal with all kinds of python 2 and 3 strings
     """
-    string = u(string)
-    ascii_string = str(unicodedata.normalize('NFKD', string).encode('ascii', 'ignore'))
-    if PY3:
-        ascii_string = ascii_string[1:]     # removed the leading 'b'
-    no_punctuation = re.sub(r'[^\w\s-]', '', ascii_string).strip().lower()
+    normalized_string = str(unicodedata.normalize('NFKD', string))
+    no_punctuation = re.sub(r'[^\w\s-]', '', normalized_string).strip().lower()
     slug = re.sub(r'[-\s]+', '-', no_punctuation)
-    return u(slug)
-
-
-def int2byte(i):
-    """Converts an integer to a byte.
-    This is equivalent to chr() in Python 2 and bytes((i,)) in Python 3."""
-    return chr(i) if PY2 else bytes((i,))
-
-
-def byte2int(b):
-    """Converts a byte to an integer.
-    This is equivalent to ord(bs[0]) on Python 2 and bs[0] on Python 3."""
-    return ord(b)if PY2 else b
+    return slug
 
 
 def split_title(text):