diff --git a/drawing/Common.lua b/drawing/Common.lua
index bf83691..5d67802 100644
--- a/drawing/Common.lua
+++ b/drawing/Common.lua
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ end
 
 -- TODO this is pretty confusing, nil means -1 which gets fed to any text
 -- formatting functions
-M.percent_plot_set = function(pp, cr, value)
+M.percent_plot_set = function(pp, value)
    local t = -1
    local p = 0
    if value ~= nil then
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ M.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic = function(asp, cr)
    ScaledTimeseries.draw_dynamic(asp.plot, cr)
 end
 
-M.annotated_scale_plot_set = function(asp, cr, value)
+M.annotated_scale_plot_set = function(asp, value)
    Text.set(asp.value, value)
    ScaledTimeseries.update(asp.plot, value)
 end
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ M.build_rate_timeseries = function(x, y, w, h, format_fun, label_fun, spacing,
    }
 end
 
-M.update_rate_timeseries = function(obj, cr, value)
+M.update_rate_timeseries = function(obj, value)
    local rate = obj.derive(obj.prev_value, value)
    Text.set(obj.value, rate)
    ScaledTimeseries.update(obj.plot, rate)
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ M.text_ring_draw_dynamic = function(tr, cr)
    ThresholdText.draw(tr.value, cr)
 end
 
-M.text_ring_set = function(tr, cr, value)
+M.text_ring_set = function(tr, value)
    ThresholdText.set(tr.value, value)
 end
 
@@ -407,9 +407,9 @@ M.dial = function(x, y, radius, thickness, threshold, format)
    }
 end
 
-M.dial_set = function(dl, cr, value)
+M.dial_set = function(dl, value)
    Dial.set(dl.dial, value)
-   M.text_ring_set(dl.text_ring, cr, value)
+   M.text_ring_set(dl.text_ring, value)
 end
 
 M.dial_draw_static = function(dl, cr)
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ M.text_row_draw_dynamic = function(row, cr)
    Text.draw(row.value, cr)
 end
 
-M.text_row_set = function(row, cr, value)
+M.text_row_set = function(row, value)
    Text.set(row.value, value)
 end
 
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ M.text_row_crit_draw_dynamic = function(row, cr)
    ThresholdText.draw(row.value, cr)
 end
 
-M.text_row_crit_set = function(row, cr, value)
+M.text_row_crit_set = function(row, value)
    ThresholdText.set(row.value, value)
 end
 
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ M.text_rows_draw_dynamic = function(rows, cr)
    TextColumn.draw(rows.values, cr)
 end
 
-M.text_rows_set = function(rows, cr, i, value)
+M.text_rows_set = function(rows, i, value)
    TextColumn.set(rows.values, i, value)
 end
 
diff --git a/drawing/FileSystem.lua b/drawing/FileSystem.lua
index 7e95ce6..7262035 100644
--- a/drawing/FileSystem.lua
+++ b/drawing/FileSystem.lua
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ return function()
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main functions
 
-   local update = function(cr)
+   local update = function()
       local smart_pid = Util.execute_cmd('pidof smartd', nil, '*n')
-      Common.text_row_set(smart, cr, (smart_pid == '') and 'Error' or 'Running')
+      Common.text_row_set(smart, (smart_pid == '') and 'Error' or 'Running')
 
       for i = 1, FS_NUM do
          local percent = Util.conky_numeric(CONKY_USED_PERC[i])
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ return function()
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr, trigger)
-      if trigger == 0 then update(cr) end
+      if trigger == 0 then update() end
       Common.text_row_draw_dynamic(smart, cr)
       Common.compound_bar_draw_dynamic(fs, cr)
    end
diff --git a/drawing/Graphics.lua b/drawing/Graphics.lua
index 87e497d..e75d98c 100644
--- a/drawing/Graphics.lua
+++ b/drawing/Graphics.lua
@@ -149,39 +149,39 @@ return function(update_freq)
 
    local GPU_BUS_CTRL = '/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/power/control'
 
-   local nvidia_off = function(cr)
-      Common.text_row_crit_set(internal_temp, cr, -1)
-      Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, cr, 1, NA)
-      Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, cr, 2, NA)
-      Common.percent_plot_set(gpu_util, cr, nil)
-      Common.percent_plot_set(vid_util, cr, nil)
-      Common.percent_plot_set(mem_util, cr, nil)
+   local nvidia_off = function()
+      Common.text_row_crit_set(internal_temp, -1)
+      Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, 1, NA)
+      Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, 2, NA)
+      Common.percent_plot_set(gpu_util, nil)
+      Common.percent_plot_set(vid_util, nil)
+      Common.percent_plot_set(mem_util, nil)
    end
 
-   local update = function(cr)
+   local update = function()
       if Util.read_file(GPU_BUS_CTRL, nil, '*l') == 'on' then
          local nvidia_settings_glob = Util.execute_cmd(NV_QUERY)
          if nvidia_settings_glob == '' then
-            Text.set(status.value, cr, 'Error')
-            nvidia_off(cr)
+            Text.set(status.value, 'Error')
+            nvidia_off()
          else
-            Common.text_row_set(status, cr, 'On')
+            Common.text_row_set(status, 'On')
 
             local used_memory, total_memory, temp_reading, gpu_frequency,
                memory_frequency, gpu_utilization, vid_utilization
                = __string_match(nvidia_settings_glob, NV_REGEX)
 
-            Common.text_row_crit_set(internal_temp, cr, temp_reading)
-            Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, cr, 1, gpu_frequency..' Mhz')
-            Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, cr, 2, memory_frequency..' Mhz')
+            Common.text_row_crit_set(internal_temp, temp_reading)
+            Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, 1, gpu_frequency..' Mhz')
+            Common.text_rows_set(clock_speed, 2, memory_frequency..' Mhz')
 
-            Common.percent_plot_set(gpu_util, cr, gpu_utilization)
-            Common.percent_plot_set(mem_util, cr, used_memory / total_memory * 100)
-            Common.percent_plot_set(vid_util, cr, vid_utilization)
+            Common.percent_plot_set(gpu_util, gpu_utilization)
+            Common.percent_plot_set(mem_util, used_memory / total_memory * 100)
+            Common.percent_plot_set(vid_util, vid_utilization)
          end
       else
-         Text.set(status.value, cr, 'Off')
-         nvidia_off(cr)
+         Text.set(status.value, 'Off')
+         nvidia_off()
       end
    end
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr)
-      update(cr)
+      update()
 
       Common.text_row_draw_dynamic(status, cr)
       Common.text_row_crit_draw_dynamic(internal_temp, cr)
diff --git a/drawing/Memory.lua b/drawing/Memory.lua
index 66a81bb..a0f649b 100644
--- a/drawing/Memory.lua
+++ b/drawing/Memory.lua
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main functions
 
-   local update = function(cr)
+   local update = function()
       local conky = Util.conky
       -- see manpage for free command for formulas
 
@@ -153,13 +153,13 @@ return function(update_freq)
           buffers -
           sreclaimable) / memtotal
 
-      Common.dial_set(mem, cr, used_percent)
-      Common.dial_set(swap, cr, (swaptotal - swapfree) / swaptotal)
+      Common.dial_set(mem, used_percent)
+      Common.dial_set(swap, (swaptotal - swapfree) / swaptotal)
 
-      Common.text_rows_set(cache, cr, 1, cached / memtotal * 100)
-      Common.text_rows_set(cache, cr, 2, buffers / memtotal * 100)
-      Common.text_rows_set(cache, cr, 3, shmem / memtotal * 100)
-      Common.text_rows_set(cache, cr, 4, sreclaimable / memtotal * 100)
+      Common.text_rows_set(cache, 1, cached / memtotal * 100)
+      Common.text_rows_set(cache, 2, buffers / memtotal * 100)
+      Common.text_rows_set(cache, 3, shmem / memtotal * 100)
+      Common.text_rows_set(cache, 4, sreclaimable / memtotal * 100)
 
       Timeseries.update(plot, used_percent)
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr)
-      update(cr)
+      update()
 
       Common.dial_draw_dynamic(mem, cr)
       Common.dial_draw_dynamic(swap, cr)
diff --git a/drawing/Network.lua b/drawing/Network.lua
index 7f9804c..966fba5 100644
--- a/drawing/Network.lua
+++ b/drawing/Network.lua
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@ return function(update_freq)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main drawing functions
 
-   local update = function(cr)
+   local update = function()
       local rx_bits, tx_bits = read_interfaces()
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(rx, cr, rx_bits)
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(tx, cr, tx_bits)
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(rx, rx_bits)
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(tx, tx_bits)
    end
 
    local draw_static = function(cr)
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr)
-      update(cr)
+      update()
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(rx, cr)
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(tx, cr)
    end
diff --git a/drawing/Pacman.lua b/drawing/Pacman.lua
index 433656d..86dd4e4 100644
--- a/drawing/Pacman.lua
+++ b/drawing/Pacman.lua
@@ -22,17 +22,17 @@ return function()
       {'Total', 'Explicit', 'Outdated', 'Orphaned', 'Local'}
    )
 
-   local update = function(cr, pacman_stats)
+   local update = function(pacman_stats)
       local stats = __string_match(pacman_stats, '%d+%s+[^%s]+%s+[^%s]+%s+(.*)$')
       if stats then
          local i = 1
          for v in __string_gmatch(stats, '%d+') do
-            Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, i, v)
+            Common.text_rows_set(rows, i, v)
             i = i + 1
          end
       else
          for i=1, 5 do
-            Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, i, 'N/A')
+            Common.text_rows_set(rows, i, 'N/A')
          end
       end
    end
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ return function()
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr, pacman_stats)
-      update(cr, pacman_stats)
+      update(pacman_stats)
       Common.text_rows_draw_dynamic(rows, cr)
    end
 
diff --git a/drawing/Power.lua b/drawing/Power.lua
index 88c37b5..361885b 100644
--- a/drawing/Power.lua
+++ b/drawing/Power.lua
@@ -114,10 +114,10 @@ return function(update_freq)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main functions
 
-   local update = function(cr, is_using_ac)
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(pkg0, cr, read_pkg0_joules())
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(dram, cr, read_dram_joules())
-      Common.annotated_scale_plot_set(bat, cr, read_battery_power(is_using_ac))
+   local update = function(is_using_ac)
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(pkg0, read_pkg0_joules())
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(dram, read_dram_joules())
+      Common.annotated_scale_plot_set(bat, read_battery_power(is_using_ac))
    end
 
    local draw_static = function(cr)
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr, is_using_ac)
-      update(cr, is_using_ac)
+      update(is_using_ac)
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(pkg0, cr)
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(dram, cr)
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(bat, cr)
diff --git a/drawing/Processor.lua b/drawing/Processor.lua
index dbae682..d3023fd 100644
--- a/drawing/Processor.lua
+++ b/drawing/Processor.lua
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main functions
 
-   local update = function(cr, trigger)
+   local update = function(trigger)
       local conky = Util.conky
       local load_sum = 0
 
@@ -147,18 +147,18 @@ return function(update_freq)
 
       for conky_core_id, path in pairs(coretemp_paths) do
          local temp = __math_floor(0.001 * Util.read_file(path, nil, '*n'))
-         Common.text_ring_set(cores[conky_core_id].coretemp, cr, temp)
+         Common.text_ring_set(cores[conky_core_id].coretemp, temp)
       end
 
       -- For some reason this call is slow (querying anything with pstate in
       -- general seems slow), but I also don't need to see an update every cycle,
       -- hence the trigger
       if trigger == 0 then
-         Common.text_rows_set(cpu_status, cr, 1, CPU.read_hwp(hwp_paths))
+         Common.text_rows_set(cpu_status, 1, CPU.read_hwp(hwp_paths))
       end
-      Common.text_rows_set(cpu_status, cr, 2, CPU.read_freq())
+      Common.text_rows_set(cpu_status, 2, CPU.read_freq())
 
-      Common.percent_plot_set(total_load, cr, load_sum / ncpus * 100)
+      Common.percent_plot_set(total_load, load_sum / ncpus * 100)
 
       for r = 1, NUM_ROWS do
          local pid = conky(TABLE_CONKY[r].pid, '(%d+)') -- may have leading spaces
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr, trigger)
-      update(cr, trigger)
+      update(trigger)
 
       for i = 1, #cores do
          CompoundDial.draw_dynamic(cores[i].loads, cr)
diff --git a/drawing/ReadWrite.lua b/drawing/ReadWrite.lua
index 0f2b4f5..ef6071c 100644
--- a/drawing/ReadWrite.lua
+++ b/drawing/ReadWrite.lua
@@ -85,10 +85,10 @@ return function(update_freq)
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -- main drawing functions
 
-   local update = function(cr)
+   local update = function()
       local read_bytes, write_bytes = read_devices()
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(reads, cr, read_bytes)
-      Common.update_rate_timeseries(writes, cr, write_bytes)
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(reads, read_bytes)
+      Common.update_rate_timeseries(writes, write_bytes)
    end
 
    local draw_static = function(cr)
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ return function(update_freq)
    end
 
    local draw_dynamic = function(cr)
-      update(cr)
+      update()
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(reads, cr)
       Common.annotated_scale_plot_draw_dynamic(writes, cr)
    end
diff --git a/drawing/System.lua b/drawing/System.lua
index 1342665..d1138f1 100644
--- a/drawing/System.lua
+++ b/drawing/System.lua
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ return function()
          last_update, last_sync = __string_match(pacman_stats, "^%d+%s+([^%s]+)%s+([^%s]+).*")
       end
       -- TODO this doesn't need to be update every time
-      Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, 1, Util.conky('$kernel'))
-      Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, 2, Util.conky('$uptime'))
-      Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, 3, last_update)
-      Common.text_rows_set(rows, cr, 4, last_sync)
+      Common.text_rows_set(rows, 1, Util.conky('$kernel'))
+      Common.text_rows_set(rows, 2, Util.conky('$uptime'))
+      Common.text_rows_set(rows, 3, last_update)
+      Common.text_rows_set(rows, 4, last_sync)
       Common.text_rows_draw_dynamic(rows, cr)
    end