diff --git a/apps/upper_case.C b/apps/upper_case.C
index 95059b6bbb..a343a35e9e 100755
--- a/apps/upper_case.C
+++ b/apps/upper_case.C
@@ -157,8 +157,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     retval = boinc_init(standalone);
     if (retval) exit(retval);
 
-    boinc_mask();       // mask clock signal since we're about to do I/O
-
 #ifdef BOINC_APP_GRAPHICS
     strcpy(display_buf, "(none)\0");
     retval = boinc_init_opengl();
@@ -238,9 +236,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
             }
         }
 
-        boinc_unmask();
         bool flag = boinc_time_to_checkpoint();
-        boinc_mask();
         if (flag) {
             retval = do_checkpoint(out, nchars);
             if (retval) {
diff --git a/sched/db_dump.C b/sched/db_dump.C
index db62bf4048..3e7f9a81a9 100644
--- a/sched/db_dump.C
+++ b/sched/db_dump.C
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 // NOTE: the goal is to make the full DB available (view *_id files)
 // to those who want it,
 // while allowing those who want to see only a particular row,
-// or the highest-ranked rows, to get this info with limited transfer
+// or the highest-ranked rows, to get this info with a small download
 //
 //
 // tables.xml