diff --git a/plugins/talks.py b/plugins/talks.py
index 2e128b6..0943e1d 100644
--- a/plugins/talks.py
+++ b/plugins/talks.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def get_global_data():
     with io.open(fname, encoding='utf8') as buf:
         try:
             data = yaml.load(buf)
-        except Exception as exc:
+        except Exception:
             logging.exception("Syntax error reading %s; skipping", fname)
             return None
     if data is None:
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class TalkGridDirective(Directive):
                                  mintime=mintime, maxtime=maxtime,
                                  timestep=GRID_STEP,
                                  )
-            output.append(nodes.raw('', '<h4>%s</h4>' %
+            output.append(nodes.raw('', u'<h4>%s</h4>' %
                                     day.strftime('%A %d').title(),
                                     format='html'))
             output.append(nodes.raw('', render, format='html'))