diff --git a/src/Mimetypes.cpp b/src/Mimetypes.cpp
index 576568a..5e03014 100644
--- a/src/Mimetypes.cpp
+++ b/src/Mimetypes.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// borrowed significantly from mailserver. thanks! <3
+// borrowed significantly (addAttribute) from mailserver. thanks! <3
 #include <iostream>
 #include <Application.h>
 #include <DateTime.h>
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <MimeType.h>
 #include "Mimetypes.h"
 
+// install the Feed Entry mimetype, if need be
 bool
 feedMimeType ( )
 {
@@ -25,12 +26,12 @@ feedMimeType ( )
 	addAttribute( info, "FEED:source", "Source" );
 	addAttribute( info, "FEED:when", "When", B_TIME_TYPE, 150 );
 
-	mime.SetAttrInfo( &info );
-	return true;
+	return mime.SetAttrInfo( &info );
 }
 
 // -------------------------------------
 
+// add the given attribute to a BMessage for use as attr info
 static void
 addAttribute
 ( BMessage& msg, const char* name, const char* publicName, int32 type, int32 width )
diff --git a/src/Util.cpp b/src/Util.cpp
index 99b3c6e..fbc5849 100644
--- a/src/Util.cpp
+++ b/src/Util.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ withinDateRange ( BDateTime minDate, BDateTime nowDate, BDateTime maxDate )
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+// return whether or not the given path is remote
+bool
+isRemotePath ( BString path ) {
+	BUrl givenUrl = BUrl( path );
+	BString protocol = givenUrl.Protocol().String();
+
+	if ( protocol == NULL  ||  protocol == BString("file")  ||  givenUrl.UrlString() == NULL )
+		return false;
+	return true;
+}
+
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 int32
 webFetch ( BUrl url, BDataIO* reply )
 {
diff --git a/src/Util.h b/src/Util.h
index a838c79..6afac85 100644
--- a/src/Util.h
+++ b/src/Util.h
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ BString dateTo3339String	( BDateTime );
 
 bool withinDateRange ( BDateTime, BDateTime, BDateTime );
 
+bool isRemotePath ( BString );
+
 int32 webFetch	( BUrl,  BDataIO*, BString* );
 int32 webFetch	( BUrl,  BDataIO* );