diff --git a/include/api.php b/include/api.php
index 36e38a86e1..740acea50b 100644
--- a/include/api.php
+++ b/include/api.php
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ function api_login(App $a)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!$record || !count($record)) {
+	if (DBM::is_result($record)) {
 		logger('API_login failure: ' . print_r($_SERVER, true), LOGGER_DEBUG);
 		header('WWW-Authenticate: Basic realm="Friendica"');
 		//header('HTTP/1.0 401 Unauthorized');
@@ -4870,22 +4870,22 @@ function api_friendica_remoteauth()
 
 	// traditional DFRN
 
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['uid' => api_user(), 'nurl' => $c_url]);
+	$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['uid' => api_user(), 'nurl' => $c_url]);
 
-	if (!DBM::is_result($r) || ($r['network'] !== NETWORK_DFRN)) {
+	if (!DBM::is_result($contact) || ($contact['network'] !== NETWORK_DFRN)) {
 		throw new BadRequestException("Unknown contact");
 	}
 
-	$cid = $r['id'];
+	$cid = $contact['id'];
 
-	$dfrn_id = defaults($r, 'issued-id', $r['dfrn-id']);
+	$dfrn_id = defaults($contact, 'issued-id', $contact['dfrn-id']);
 
-	if ($r['duplex'] && $r['issued-id']) {
-		$orig_id = $r['issued-id'];
+	if ($contact['duplex'] && $contact['issued-id']) {
+		$orig_id = $contact['issued-id'];
 		$dfrn_id = '1:' . $orig_id;
 	}
-	if ($r['duplex'] && $r['dfrn-id']) {
-		$orig_id = $r['dfrn-id'];
+	if ($contact['duplex'] && $contact['dfrn-id']) {
+		$orig_id = $contact['dfrn-id'];
 		$dfrn_id = '0:' . $orig_id;
 	}
 
@@ -4901,10 +4901,10 @@ function api_friendica_remoteauth()
 		intval(time() + 45)
 	);
 
-	logger($r['name'] . ' ' . $sec, LOGGER_DEBUG);
+	logger($contact['name'] . ' ' . $sec, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 	$dest = ($url ? '&destination_url=' . $url : '');
 	goaway(
-		$r['poll'] . '?dfrn_id=' . $dfrn_id
+		$contact['poll'] . '?dfrn_id=' . $dfrn_id
 		. '&dfrn_version=' . DFRN_PROTOCOL_VERSION
 		. '&type=profile&sec=' . $sec . $dest . $quiet
 	);
diff --git a/include/contact_widgets.php b/include/contact_widgets.php
index cc25c88ed5..aa1bc2436a 100644
--- a/include/contact_widgets.php
+++ b/include/contact_widgets.php
@@ -224,14 +224,14 @@ function common_friends_visitor_widget($profile_uid)
 
 	if (!$cid) {
 		if (get_my_url()) {
-			$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'],
+			$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'],
 					['nurl' => normalise_link(get_my_url()), 'uid' => $profile_uid]);
-			if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-				$cid = $r['id'];
+			if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+				$cid = $contact['id'];
 			} else {
-				$r = dba::selectFirst('gcontact', ['id'], ['nurl' => normalise_link(get_my_url())]);
-				if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-					$zcid = $r['id'];
+				$gcontact = dba::selectFirst('gcontact', ['id'], ['nurl' => normalise_link(get_my_url())]);
+				if (DBM::is_result($gcontact)) {
+					$zcid = $gcontact['id'];
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/include/conversation.php b/include/conversation.php
index 228e90598b..0e45de5587 100644
--- a/include/conversation.php
+++ b/include/conversation.php
@@ -968,10 +968,15 @@ function best_link_url($item, &$sparkle, $url = '') {
 	$clean_url = normalise_link($item['author-link']);
 
 	if (local_user()) {
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'],
-			['network' => NETWORK_DFRN, 'uid' => local_user(), 'nurl' => normalise_link($clean_url), 'pending' => false]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$best_url = 'redir/' . $r['id'];
+		$condition = [
+			'network' => NETWORK_DFRN,
+			'uid' => local_user(),
+			'nurl' => normalise_link($clean_url),
+			'pending' => false
+		];
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'], $condition);
+		if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+			$best_url = 'redir/' . $contact['id'];
 			$sparkle = true;
 			if ($url != '') {
 				$hostname = get_app()->get_hostname();
@@ -1019,11 +1024,12 @@ function item_photo_menu($item) {
 	$cid = 0;
 	$network = '';
 	$rel = 0;
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', array('id', 'network', 'rel'), array('uid' => local_user(), 'nurl' => normalise_link($item['author-link'])));
-	if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-		$cid = $r['id'];
-		$network = $r['network'];
-		$rel = $r['rel'];
+	$condition = ['uid' => local_user(), 'nurl' => normalise_link($item['author-link'])];
+	$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id', 'network', 'rel'], $condition);
+	if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+		$cid = $contact['id'];
+		$network = $contact['network'];
+		$rel = $contact['rel'];
 	}
 
 	if ($sparkle) {
diff --git a/include/enotify.php b/include/enotify.php
index 2869572562..51e25572d3 100644
--- a/include/enotify.php
+++ b/include/enotify.php
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ function notification($params)
 	}
 
 	if ($params['type'] == NOTIFY_COMMENT) {
-		$p = dba::selectFirst('thread', ['ignored'], ['iid' => $parent_id]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($p) && $p["ignored"]) {
+		$thread = dba::selectFirst('thread', ['ignored'], ['iid' => $parent_id]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($thread) && $thread["ignored"]) {
 			logger("Thread ".$parent_id." will be ignored", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 			return;
 		}
@@ -128,13 +128,13 @@ function notification($params)
 
 		// if it's a post figure out who's post it is.
 
-		$p = null;
+		$item = null;
 
 		if ($params['otype'] === 'item' && $parent_id) {
-			$p = dba::selectFirst('item', [], ['id' => $parent_id]);
+			$item = dba::selectFirst('item', [], ['id' => $parent_id]);
 		}
 
-		$item_post_type = item_post_type($p);
+		$item_post_type = item_post_type($item);
 
 		// "a post"
 		$dest_str = sprintf(t('%1$s commented on [url=%2$s]a %3$s[/url]'),
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ function notification($params)
 								$item_post_type);
 
 		// "George Bull's post"
-		if ($p) {
+		if ($item) {
 			$dest_str = sprintf(t('%1$s commented on [url=%2$s]%3$s\'s %4$s[/url]'),
 						'[url='.$params['source_link'].']'.$params['source_name'].'[/url]',
 						$itemlink,
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ function notification($params)
 		}
 
 		// "your post"
-		if ($p['owner-name'] == $p['author-name'] && $p['wall']) {
+		if (DBM::is_result($item) && $item['owner-name'] == $item['author-name'] && $item['wall']) {
 			$dest_str = sprintf(t('%1$s commented on [url=%2$s]your %3$s[/url]'),
 								'[url='.$params['source_link'].']'.$params['source_name'].'[/url]',
 								$itemlink,
diff --git a/include/identity.php b/include/identity.php
index 0c62245942..f370a9aec0 100644
--- a/include/identity.php
+++ b/include/identity.php
@@ -154,28 +154,27 @@ function profile_load(App $a, $nickname, $profile = 0, $profiledata = array(), $
  *
  * @param string $nickname nick
  * @param int    $uid      uid
- * @param int    $profile  ID of the profile
+ * @param int    $profile_id  ID of the profile
  * @returns array
  */
-function get_profiledata_by_nick($nickname, $uid = 0, $profile = 0)
+function get_profiledata_by_nick($nickname, $uid = 0, $profile_id = 0)
 {
 	if (remote_user() && count($_SESSION['remote'])) {
 		foreach ($_SESSION['remote'] as $visitor) {
 			if ($visitor['uid'] == $uid) {
-				$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['profile-id'], ['id' => $visitor['cid']]);
-				if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-					$profile = $r['profile-id'];
+				$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['profile-id'], ['id' => $visitor['cid']]);
+				if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+					$profile_id = $contact['profile-id'];
 				}
 				break;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	$r = null;
+	$profile = null;
 
-	if ($profile) {
-		$profile_int = intval($profile);
-		$r = dba::fetch_first(
+	if ($profile_id) {
+		$profile = dba::fetch_first(
 			"SELECT `contact`.`id` AS `contact_id`, `contact`.`photo` AS `contact_photo`,
 				`contact`.`thumb` AS `contact_thumb`, `contact`.`micro` AS `contact_micro`,
 				`profile`.`uid` AS `profile_uid`, `profile`.*,
@@ -185,11 +184,11 @@ function get_profiledata_by_nick($nickname, $uid = 0, $profile = 0)
 			INNER JOIN `user` ON `profile`.`uid` = `user`.`uid`
 			WHERE `user`.`nickname` = ? AND `profile`.`id` = ? LIMIT 1",
 			$nickname,
-			$profile_int
+			intval($profile_id)
 		);
 	}
-	if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
-		$r = dba::fetch_first(
+	if (!DBM::is_result($profile)) {
+		$profile = dba::fetch_first(
 			"SELECT `contact`.`id` AS `contact_id`, `contact`.`photo` as `contact_photo`,
 				`contact`.`thumb` AS `contact_thumb`, `contact`.`micro` AS `contact_micro`,
 				`profile`.`uid` AS `profile_uid`, `profile`.*,
@@ -202,7 +201,7 @@ function get_profiledata_by_nick($nickname, $uid = 0, $profile = 0)
 		);
 	}
 
-	return $r;
+	return $profile;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -215,7 +214,7 @@ function get_profiledata_by_nick($nickname, $uid = 0, $profile = 0)
  * @param int $block
  * @param boolean $show_connect Show connect link
  *
- * @return HTML string stuitable for sidebar inclusion
+ * @return HTML string suitable for sidebar inclusion
  *
  * @note Returns empty string if passed $profile is wrong type or not populated
  *
diff --git a/include/message.php b/include/message.php
index 189de2aef9..146643b2e6 100644
--- a/include/message.php
+++ b/include/message.php
@@ -68,11 +68,7 @@ function send_message($recipient = 0, $body = '', $subject = '', $replyto = '')
 			'created' => datetime_convert(), 'updated' => datetime_convert(),
 			'subject' => $subject, 'recips' => $handles);
 		dba::insert('conv', $fields);
-
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('conv', ['id'], ['guid' => $conv_guid, 'uid' => local_user()]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$convid = $r['id'];
-		}
+		$convid = dba::lastInsertId();
 	}
 
 	if (!$convid) {
@@ -103,15 +99,7 @@ function send_message($recipient = 0, $body = '', $subject = '', $replyto = '')
 		dbesc($replyto),
 		datetime_convert()
 	);
-
-
-	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `mail` WHERE `uri` = '%s' AND `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
-		dbesc($uri),
-		intval(local_user())
-	);
-	if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-		$post_id = $r[0]['id'];
-	}
+	$post_id = dba::lastInsertId();
 
 	/**
 	 *
@@ -187,15 +175,13 @@ function send_wallmessage($recipient = '', $body = '', $subject = '', $replyto =
 		'created' => datetime_convert(), 'updated' => datetime_convert(),
 		'subject' => $subject, 'recips' => $handles);
 	dba::insert('conv', $fields);
-
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('conv', ['id'], ['guid' => $conv_guid, 'uid' => $recipient['uid']]);
-	if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+	$convid = dba::lastInsertId();
+	
+	if (!$convid) {
 		logger('send message: conversation not found.');
 		return -4;
 	}
 
-	$convid = $r['id'];
-
 	q("INSERT INTO `mail` ( `uid`, `guid`, `convid`, `from-name`, `from-photo`, `from-url`,
 		`contact-id`, `title`, `body`, `seen`, `reply`, `replied`, `uri`, `parent-uri`, `created`, `unknown`)
 		VALUES ( %d, '%s', %d, '%s', '%s', '%s', %d, '%s', '%s', %d, %d, %d, '%s', '%s', '%s', %d )",
diff --git a/include/nav.php b/include/nav.php
index ac76dd5aaa..312e3de521 100644
--- a/include/nav.php
+++ b/include/nav.php
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ function nav_info(App $a)
 		$nav['usermenu'][] = array('notes/', t('Personal notes'), '', t('Your personal notes'));
 
 		// user info
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['micro'], ['uid' => $a->user['uid'], 'self' => true]);
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['micro'], ['uid' => $a->user['uid'], 'self' => true]);
 		$userinfo = array(
-			'icon' => (DBM::is_result($r) ? $a->remove_baseurl($r['micro']) : 'images/person-48.jpg'),
+			'icon' => (DBM::is_result($contact) ? $a->remove_baseurl($contact['micro']) : 'images/person-48.jpg'),
 			'name' => $a->user['username'],
 		);
 	} else {
diff --git a/include/session.php b/include/session.php
index cf51518f20..3e58623cc0 100644
--- a/include/session.php
+++ b/include/session.php
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ function ref_session_read($id)
 		return '';
 	}
 
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('session', ['data'], ['sid' => $id]);
-	if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+	$session = dba::selectFirst('session', ['data'], ['sid' => $id]);
+	if (DBM::is_result($session)) {
 		$session_exists = true;
-		return $r['data'];
+		return $session['data'];
 	} else {
 		logger("no data for session $id", LOGGER_TRACE);
 	}
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index f966279940..7436a51125 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ if (!$a->is_backend()) {
  * We have to do it here because the session was just now opened.
  */
 if (x($_SESSION, 'authenticated') && !x($_SESSION, 'language')) {
-	// we didn't loaded user data yet, but we need user language
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('user', ['language'], ['uid' => $_SESSION['uid']]);
+	// we haven't loaded user data yet, but we need user language
+	$user = dba::selectFirst('user', ['language'], ['uid' => $_SESSION['uid']]);
 	$_SESSION['language'] = $lang;
 	if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-		$_SESSION['language'] = $r['language'];
+		$_SESSION['language'] = $user['language'];
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/mod/contacts.php b/mod/contacts.php
index 90c4af7d1b..54e9b5b644 100644
--- a/mod/contacts.php
+++ b/mod/contacts.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function contacts_init(App $a)
 		$a->page['aside'] = '';
 	}
 
-	$contact = [];
+	$contact = null;
 	if ((($a->argc == 2) && intval($a->argv[1])) || (($a->argc == 3) && intval($a->argv[1]) && ($a->argv[2] == "posts"))) {
 		$contact_id = intval($a->argv[1]);
 		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['id' => $contact_id, 'uid' => local_user()]);
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ function _contact_update($contact_id)
 
 	$uid = $contact["uid"];
 
-	if ($r[0]["network"] == NETWORK_OSTATUS) {
+	if ($contact["network"] == NETWORK_OSTATUS) {
 		$result = Contact::createFromProbe($uid, $contact["url"], false, $contact["network"]);
 
 		if ($result['success']) {
diff --git a/mod/hovercard.php b/mod/hovercard.php
index a9cd95f587..d7ba0f4f58 100644
--- a/mod/hovercard.php
+++ b/mod/hovercard.php
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ function hovercard_content()
 	$cid = 0;
 	if (local_user() && strpos($profileurl, 'redir/') === 0) {
 		$cid = intval(substr($profileurl, 6));
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['nurl'], ['id' => $cid]);
-		$profileurl = defaults($r, 'nurl', '');
+		$remote_contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['nurl'], ['id' => $cid]);
+		$profileurl = defaults($remote_contact, 'nurl', '');
 	}
 
 	$contact = [];
diff --git a/mod/network.php b/mod/network.php
index 84dc9255e2..1e6832541a 100644
--- a/mod/network.php
+++ b/mod/network.php
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 
 	$datequery = $datequery2 = '';
 
-	$group = 0;
+	$gid = 0;
 
 	if ($a->argc > 1) {
 		for ($x = 1; $x < $a->argc; $x ++) {
@@ -529,8 +529,8 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 					$_GET['order'] = 'post';
 				}
 			} elseif (intval($a->argv[$x])) {
-				$group = intval($a->argv[$x]);
-				$def_acl = array('allow_gid' => '<' . $group . '>');
+				$gid = intval($a->argv[$x]);
+				$def_acl = array('allow_gid' => '<' . $gid . '>');
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -565,8 +565,8 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 		$tabs = network_tabs($a);
 		$o .= $tabs;
 
-		if ($group) {
-			if (($t = Contact::getOStatusCountByGroupId($group)) && !PConfig::get(local_user(), 'system', 'nowarn_insecure')) {
+		if ($gid) {
+			if (($t = Contact::getOStatusCountByGroupId($gid)) && !PConfig::get(local_user(), 'system', 'nowarn_insecure')) {
 				notice(tt("Warning: This group contains %s member from a network that doesn't allow non public messages.",
 						"Warning: This group contains %s members from a network that doesn't allow non public messages.",
 						$t) . EOL);
@@ -596,12 +596,12 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 			'allow_location' => $a->user['allow_location'],
 			'default_location' => $a->user['default-location'],
 			'nickname' => $a->user['nickname'],
-			'lockstate'=> ((($group) || ($cid) || ($nets) || (is_array($a->user) &&
+			'lockstate'=> ((($gid) || ($cid) || ($nets) || (is_array($a->user) &&
 					((strlen($a->user['allow_cid'])) || (strlen($a->user['allow_gid'])) ||
 					(strlen($a->user['deny_cid'])) || (strlen($a->user['deny_gid']))))) ? 'lock' : 'unlock'),
 			'default_perms'	=> get_acl_permissions($a->user),
-			'acl'	=> populate_acl((($group || $cid || $nets) ? $def_acl : $a->user), true),
-			'bang'	=> (($group || $cid || $nets) ? '!' : ''),
+			'acl'	=> populate_acl((($gid || $cid || $nets) ? $def_acl : $a->user), true),
+			'bang'	=> (($gid || $cid || $nets) ? '!' : ''),
 			'visitor' => 'block',
 			'profile_uid' => local_user(),
 			'content' => $content,
@@ -631,17 +631,18 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 
 	$sql_nets = (($nets) ? sprintf(" and $sql_table.`network` = '%s' ", dbesc($nets)) : '');
 
-	if ($group) {
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('group', ['name'], ['id' => $group, 'uid' => $_SESSION['uid']]);
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			if ($update)
+	if ($gid) {
+		$group = dba::selectFirst('group', ['name'], ['id' => $gid, 'uid' => $_SESSION['uid']]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($group)) {
+			if ($update) {
 				killme();
+			}
 			notice(t('No such group') . EOL);
 			goaway('network/0');
 			// NOTREACHED
 		}
 
-		$contacts = Group::expand(array($group));
+		$contacts = Group::expand(array($gid));
 
 		if ((is_array($contacts)) && count($contacts)) {
 			$contact_str_self = "";
@@ -654,40 +655,40 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 
 			$sql_post_table .= " INNER JOIN `item` AS `temp1` ON `temp1`.`id` = ".$sql_table.".".$sql_parent;
 			$sql_extra3 .= " AND (`thread`.`contact-id` IN ($contact_str) ";
-			$sql_extra3 .= " OR (`thread`.`contact-id` = '$contact_str_self' AND `temp1`.`allow_gid` LIKE '".protect_sprintf('%<'.intval($group).'>%')."' AND `temp1`.`private`))";
+			$sql_extra3 .= " OR (`thread`.`contact-id` = '$contact_str_self' AND `temp1`.`allow_gid` LIKE '".protect_sprintf('%<'.intval($gid).'>%')."' AND `temp1`.`private`))";
 		} else {
 			$sql_extra3 .= " AND false ";
 			info(t('Group is empty'));
 		}
 
 		$o = replace_macros(get_markup_template("section_title.tpl"),array(
-			'$title' => t('Group: %s', $r['name'])
+			'$title' => t('Group: %s', $group['name'])
 		)) . $o;
 
 	} elseif ($cid) {
 		$fields = ['id', 'name', 'network', 'writable', 'nurl',
 				'forum', 'prv', 'contact-type', 'addr', 'thumb', 'location'];
 		$condition = ["`id` = ? AND (NOT `blocked` OR `pending`)", $cid];
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', $fields, $condition);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', $fields, $condition);
+		if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			$sql_extra = " AND ".$sql_table.".`contact-id` = ".intval($cid);
 
 			$entries[0] = array(
 				'id' => 'network',
-				'name' => htmlentities($r['name']),
-				'itemurl' => (($r['addr']) ? ($r['addr']) : ($r['nurl'])),
-				'thumb' => proxy_url($r['thumb'], false, PROXY_SIZE_THUMB),
-				'details' => $r['location'],
+				'name' => htmlentities($contact['name']),
+				'itemurl' => defaults($contact, 'addr', $contact['nurl']),
+				'thumb' => proxy_url($contact['thumb'], false, PROXY_SIZE_THUMB),
+				'details' => $contact['location'],
 			);
 
-			$entries[0]["account_type"] = Contact::getAccountType($r);
+			$entries[0]["account_type"] = Contact::getAccountType($contact);
 
 			$o = replace_macros(get_markup_template("viewcontact_template.tpl"),array(
 				'contacts' => $entries,
 				'id' => 'network',
 			)) . $o;
 
-			if ($r['network'] === NETWORK_OSTATUS && $r['writable'] && !PConfig::get(local_user(),'system','nowarn_insecure')) {
+			if ($contact['network'] === NETWORK_OSTATUS && $contact['writable'] && !PConfig::get(local_user(),'system','nowarn_insecure')) {
 				notice(t('Private messages to this person are at risk of public disclosure.') . EOL);
 			}
 
@@ -698,7 +699,7 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!$group && !$cid && !$update && !Config::get('theme','hide_eventlist')) {
+	if (!$gid && !$cid && !$update && !Config::get('theme','hide_eventlist')) {
 		$o .= get_birthdays();
 		$o .= get_events();
 	}
@@ -887,7 +888,7 @@ function networkThreadedView(App $a, $update = 0) {
 	// level which items you've seen and which you haven't. If you're looking
 	// at the top level network page just mark everything seen.
 
-	if (!$group && !$cid && !$star) {
+	if (!$gid && !$cid && !$star) {
 		$condition = array('unseen' => true, 'uid' => local_user());
 		networkSetSeen($condition);
 	} elseif ($parents_str) {
diff --git a/mod/proxy.php b/mod/proxy.php
index 80a84a165f..db0a615244 100644
--- a/mod/proxy.php
+++ b/mod/proxy.php
@@ -145,20 +145,19 @@ function proxy_init(App $a) {
 	}
 
 	$valid = true;
-	$r = array();
-
+	$photo = null;
 	if (!$direct_cache && ($cachefile == '')) {
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['data', 'desc'], ['resource-id' => $urlhash]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$img_str = $r['data'];
-			$mime = $r['desc'];
+		$photo = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['data', 'desc'], ['resource-id' => $urlhash]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($photo)) {
+			$img_str = $photo['data'];
+			$mime = $photo['desc'];
 			if ($mime == '') {
 				$mime = 'image/jpeg';
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+	if (!DBM::is_result($photo)) {
 		// It shouldn't happen but it does - spaces in URL
 		$_REQUEST['url'] = str_replace(' ', '+', $_REQUEST['url']);
 		$redirects = 0;
diff --git a/mod/xrd.php b/mod/xrd.php
index af1167581f..05b07dc162 100644
--- a/mod/xrd.php
+++ b/mod/xrd.php
@@ -36,24 +36,24 @@ function xrd_init(App $a)
 		$name = substr($local, 0, strpos($local, '@'));
 	}
 
-	$r = dba::selectFirst('user', [], ['nickname' => $name]);
-	if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+	$user = dba::selectFirst('user', [], ['nickname' => $name]);
+	if (!DBM::is_result($user)) {
 		killme();
 	}
 
-	$profile_url = System::baseUrl().'/profile/'.$r['nickname'];
+	$profile_url = System::baseUrl().'/profile/'.$user['nickname'];
 
 	$alias = str_replace('/profile/', '/~', $profile_url);
 
-	$addr = 'acct:'.$r['nickname'].'@'.$a->get_hostname();
+	$addr = 'acct:'.$user['nickname'].'@'.$a->get_hostname();
 	if ($a->get_path()) {
 		$addr .= '/'.$a->get_path();
 	}
 
 	if ($mode == 'xml') {
-		xrd_xml($a, $addr, $alias, $profile_url, $r);
+		xrd_xml($a, $addr, $alias, $profile_url, $user);
 	} else {
-		xrd_json($a, $addr, $alias, $profile_url, $r);
+		xrd_json($a, $addr, $alias, $profile_url, $user);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Content/OEmbed.php b/src/Content/OEmbed.php
index 364648d071..1b21dbf036 100644
--- a/src/Content/OEmbed.php
+++ b/src/Content/OEmbed.php
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ class OEmbed
 		$a = get_app();
 
 		$condition = ['url' => normalise_link($embedurl), 'maxwidth' => $a->videowidth];
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('oembed', ['content'], $condition);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$txt = $r["content"];
+		$oembed = dba::selectFirst('oembed', ['content'], $condition);
+		if (DBM::is_result($oembed)) {
+			$txt = $oembed["content"];
 		} else {
 			$txt = Cache::get($a->videowidth . $embedurl);
 		}
diff --git a/src/Core/Cache.php b/src/Core/Cache.php
index dfb6591b9d..0d3c2ebe93 100644
--- a/src/Core/Cache.php
+++ b/src/Core/Cache.php
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ class Cache
 		// Frequently clear cache
 		self::clear();
 
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('cache', ['v'], ['k' => $key]);
+		$cache = dba::selectFirst('cache', ['v'], ['k' => $key]);
 
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$cached = $r['v'];
+		if (DBM::is_result($cache)) {
+			$cached = $cache['v'];
 			$value = @unserialize($cached);
 
 			// Only return a value if the serialized value is valid.
diff --git a/src/Core/Config.php b/src/Core/Config.php
index 3b08dee6b6..b0c05fff8d 100644
--- a/src/Core/Config.php
+++ b/src/Core/Config.php
@@ -97,10 +97,10 @@ class Config
 			}
 		}
 
-		$ret = dba::selectFirst('config', ['v'], ['cat' => $family, 'k' => $key]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($ret)) {
+		$config = dba::selectFirst('config', ['v'], ['cat' => $family, 'k' => $key]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($config)) {
 			// manage array value
-			$val = (preg_match("|^a:[0-9]+:{.*}$|s", $ret['v']) ? unserialize($ret['v']) : $ret['v']);
+			$val = (preg_match("|^a:[0-9]+:{.*}$|s", $config['v']) ? unserialize($config['v']) : $config['v']);
 
 			// Assign the value from the database to the cache
 			self::$cache[$family][$key] = $val;
diff --git a/src/Core/PConfig.php b/src/Core/PConfig.php
index 50fea04469..ad658f8f8a 100644
--- a/src/Core/PConfig.php
+++ b/src/Core/PConfig.php
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ class PConfig
 			}
 		}
 
-		$ret = dba::selectFirst('pconfig', ['v'], ['uid' => $uid, 'cat' => $family, 'k' => $key]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($ret)) {
-			$val = (preg_match("|^a:[0-9]+:{.*}$|s", $ret['v']) ? unserialize($ret['v']) : $ret['v']);
+		$pconfig = dba::selectFirst('pconfig', ['v'], ['uid' => $uid, 'cat' => $family, 'k' => $key]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($pconfig)) {
+			$val = (preg_match("|^a:[0-9]+:{.*}$|s", $pconfig['v']) ? unserialize($pconfig['v']) : $pconfig['v']);
 			$a->config[$uid][$family][$key] = $val;
 			self::$in_db[$uid][$family][$key] = true;
 
diff --git a/src/Core/Worker.php b/src/Core/Worker.php
index 96e4a5bb16..48f689d61d 100644
--- a/src/Core/Worker.php
+++ b/src/Core/Worker.php
@@ -165,9 +165,9 @@ class Worker
 	private static function highestPriority()
 	{
 		$condition = array("`executed` <= ? AND NOT `done`", NULL_DATE);
-		$s = dba::selectFirst('workerqueue', ['priority'], $condition, ['order' => ['priority']]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($s)) {
-			return $s["priority"];
+		$workerqueue = dba::selectFirst('workerqueue', ['priority'], $condition, ['order' => ['priority']]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($workerqueue)) {
+			return $workerqueue["priority"];
 		} else {
 			return 0;
 		}
diff --git a/src/Model/Contact.php b/src/Model/Contact.php
index d92d4dd1d2..4cec36c9ea 100644
--- a/src/Model/Contact.php
+++ b/src/Model/Contact.php
@@ -145,13 +145,12 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 	public static function remove($id)
 	{
 		// We want just to make sure that we don't delete our "self" contact
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['uid'], ['id' => $id, 'self' => false]);
-
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r) || !intval($r['uid'])) {
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['uid'], ['id' => $id, 'self' => false]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($contact) || !intval($contact['uid'])) {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$archive = PConfig::get($r['uid'], 'system', 'archive_removed_contacts');
+		$archive = PConfig::get($contact['uid'], 'system', 'archive_removed_contacts');
 		if ($archive) {
 			dba::update('contact', array('archive' => true, 'network' => 'none', 'writable' => false), array('id' => $id));
 			return;
@@ -490,9 +489,10 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 				return $menu;
 			}
 
-			$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['nurl' => $contact['nurl'], 'network' => $contact['network'], 'uid' => $uid]);
-			if ($r) {
-				return self::photoMenu($r, $uid);
+			// Look for our own contact if the uid doesn't match and isn't public
+			$contact_own = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['nurl' => $contact['nurl'], 'network' => $contact['network'], 'uid' => $uid]);
+			if (DBM::is_result($contact_own)) {
+				return self::photoMenu($contact_own, $uid);
 			} else {
 				$profile_link = zrl($contact['url']);
 				$connlnk = 'follow/?url=' . $contact['url'];
@@ -664,9 +664,8 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 		if (!DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			// The link could be provided as http although we stored it as https
 			$ssl_url = str_replace('http://', 'https://', $url);
-			$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id', 'avatar', 'avatar-date'], ['`alias` IN (?, ?, ?) AND `uid` = ?', $url, normalise_link($url), $ssl_url, $uid]);
-			$contact = dba::fetch($r);
-			dba::close($r);
+			$condition = ['`alias` IN (?, ?, ?) AND `uid` = ?', $url, normalise_link($url), $ssl_url, $uid];
+			$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id', 'avatar', 'avatar-date'], $condition);
 		}
 
 		if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
@@ -697,12 +696,12 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 			}
 
 			// Get data from the gcontact table
-			$gcontacts = dba::selectFirst('gcontact', ['name', 'nick', 'url', 'photo', 'addr', 'alias', 'network'], ['nurl' => normalise_link($url)]);
-			if (!DBM::is_result($gcontacts)) {
+			$gcontact = dba::selectFirst('gcontact', ['name', 'nick', 'url', 'photo', 'addr', 'alias', 'network'], ['nurl' => normalise_link($url)]);
+			if (!DBM::is_result($gcontact)) {
 				return 0;
 			}
 
-			$data = array_merge($data, $gcontacts);
+			$data = array_merge($data, $gcontact);
 		}
 
 		if (!$contact_id && ($data["alias"] != '') && ($data["alias"] != $url)) {
@@ -726,7 +725,7 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 				'readonly' => 0, 'pending' => 0)
 			);
 
-			$s = dba::select('contact', array('id'), array('nurl' => normalise_link($data["url"]), 'uid' => $uid), array('order' => array('id'), 'limit' => 2));
+			$s = dba::select('contact', ['id'], ['nurl' => normalise_link($data["url"]), 'uid' => $uid], ['order' => ['id'], 'limit' => 2]);
 			$contacts = dba::inArray($s);
 			if (!DBM::is_result($contacts)) {
 				return 0;
@@ -979,15 +978,14 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 	 */
 	public static function updateAvatar($avatar, $uid, $cid, $force = false)
 	{
-		// Limit = 1 returns the row so no need for dba:inArray()
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['avatar', 'photo', 'thumb', 'micro', 'nurl'], ['id' => $cid]);
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['avatar', 'photo', 'thumb', 'micro', 'nurl'], ['id' => $cid]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			return false;
 		} else {
-			$data = array($r["photo"], $r["thumb"], $r["micro"]);
+			$data = array($contact["photo"], $contact["thumb"], $contact["micro"]);
 		}
 
-		if (($r["avatar"] != $avatar) || $force) {
+		if (($contact["avatar"] != $avatar) || $force) {
 			$photos = Photo::importProfilePhoto($avatar, $uid, $cid, true);
 
 			if ($photos) {
@@ -999,7 +997,7 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 
 				// Update the public contact (contact id = 0)
 				if ($uid != 0) {
-					$pcontact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'], ['nurl' => $r[0]['nurl']]);
+					$pcontact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'], ['nurl' => $contact['nurl']]);
 					if (DBM::is_result($pcontact)) {
 						self::updateAvatar($avatar, 0, $pcontact['id'], $force);
 					}
@@ -1023,15 +1021,16 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 		This will reliably kill your communication with Friendica contacts.
 		*/
 
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['url', 'nurl', 'addr', 'alias', 'batch', 'notify', 'poll', 'poco', 'network'], ['id' => $id]);
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+		$fields = ['url', 'nurl', 'addr', 'alias', 'batch', 'notify', 'poll', 'poco', 'network'];
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', $fields, ['id' => $id]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		$ret = Probe::uri($r["url"]);
+		$ret = Probe::uri($contact["url"]);
 
 		// If Probe::uri fails the network code will be different
-		if ($ret["network"] != $r["network"]) {
+		if ($ret["network"] != $contact["network"]) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -1039,11 +1038,13 @@ class Contact extends BaseObject
 
 		// make sure to not overwrite existing values with blank entries
 		foreach ($ret as $key => $val) {
-			if (isset($r[$key]) && ($r[$key] != "") && ($val == ""))
-				$ret[$key] = $r[$key];
+			if (isset($contact[$key]) && ($contact[$key] != "") && ($val == "")) {
+				$ret[$key] = $contact[$key];
+			}
 
-			if (isset($r[$key]) && ($ret[$key] != $r[$key]))
+			if (isset($contact[$key]) && ($ret[$key] != $contact[$key])) {
 				$update = true;
+			}
 		}
 
 		if (!$update) {
diff --git a/src/Model/GContact.php b/src/Model/GContact.php
index 510afdf164..f7984f0d37 100644
--- a/src/Model/GContact.php
+++ b/src/Model/GContact.php
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ class GContact
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		$r = q(
+		$public_contact = q(
 			"SELECT `name`, `nick`, `photo`, `location`, `about`, `addr`, `generation`, `birthday`, `gender`, `keywords`,
 				`contact-type`, `hide`, `nsfw`, `network`, `alias`, `notify`, `server_url`, `connect`, `updated`, `url`
 			FROM `gcontact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ class GContact
 
 		// Get all field names
 		$fields = array();
-		foreach ($r[0] as $field => $data) {
+		foreach ($public_contact[0] as $field => $data) {
 			$fields[$field] = $data;
 		}
 
@@ -789,22 +789,22 @@ class GContact
 			unset($contact["keywords"]);
 		}
 
-		if ($r[0]["keywords"] == "0") {
-			$r[0]["keywords"] = "";
+		if ($public_contact[0]["keywords"] == "0") {
+			$public_contact[0]["keywords"] = "";
 		}
 
 		// assign all unassigned fields from the database entry
 		foreach ($fields as $field => $data) {
 			if (!isset($contact[$field]) || ($contact[$field] == "")) {
-				$contact[$field] = $r[0][$field];
+				$contact[$field] = $public_contact[0][$field];
 			}
 		}
 
 		if (!isset($contact["hide"])) {
-			$contact["hide"] = $r[0]["hide"];
+			$contact["hide"] = $public_contact[0]["hide"];
 		}
 
-		$fields["hide"] = $r[0]["hide"];
+		$fields["hide"] = $public_contact[0]["hide"];
 
 		if ($contact["network"] == NETWORK_STATUSNET) {
 			$contact["network"] = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
@@ -839,16 +839,16 @@ class GContact
 		$update = false;
 		unset($fields["generation"]);
 
-		if ((($contact["generation"] > 0) && ($contact["generation"] <= $r[0]["generation"])) || ($r[0]["generation"] == 0)) {
+		if ((($contact["generation"] > 0) && ($contact["generation"] <= $public_contact[0]["generation"])) || ($public_contact[0]["generation"] == 0)) {
 			foreach ($fields as $field => $data) {
-				if ($contact[$field] != $r[0][$field]) {
-					logger("Difference for contact ".$contact["url"]." in field '".$field."'. New value: '".$contact[$field]."', old value '".$r[0][$field]."'", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+				if ($contact[$field] != $public_contact[0][$field]) {
+					logger("Difference for contact ".$contact["url"]." in field '".$field."'. New value: '".$contact[$field]."', old value '".$public_contact[0][$field]."'", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 					$update = true;
 				}
 			}
 
-			if ($contact["generation"] < $r[0]["generation"]) {
-				logger("Difference for contact ".$contact["url"]." in field 'generation'. new value: '".$contact["generation"]."', old value '".$r[0]["generation"]."'", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+			if ($contact["generation"] < $public_contact[0]["generation"]) {
+				logger("Difference for contact ".$contact["url"]." in field 'generation'. new value: '".$contact["generation"]."', old value '".$public_contact[0]["generation"]."'", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 				$update = true;
 			}
 		}
@@ -874,21 +874,18 @@ class GContact
 
 			// Now update the contact entry with the user id "0" as well.
 			// This is used for the shadow copies of public items.
-			$r = q(
-				"SELECT `id` FROM `contact` WHERE `nurl` = '%s' AND `uid` = 0 ORDER BY `id` LIMIT 1",
-				dbesc(normalise_link($contact["url"]))
-			);
+			
+			$public_contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['id'], ['nurl' => normalise_link($contact["url"]), 'uid' => 0]);
+			if (DBM::is_result($public_contact)) {
+				logger("Update public contact ".$public_contact["id"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-			if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-				logger("Update public contact ".$r[0]["id"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
-
-				Contact::updateAvatar($contact["photo"], 0, $r[0]["id"]);
+				Contact::updateAvatar($contact["photo"], 0, $public_contact["id"]);
 
 				$fields = array('name', 'nick', 'addr',
 						'network', 'bd', 'gender',
 						'keywords', 'alias', 'contact-type',
 						'url', 'location', 'about');
-				$old_contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', $fields, ['id' => $r[0]["id"]]);
+				$old_contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', $fields, ['id' => $public_contact["id"]]);
 
 				// Update it with the current values
 				$fields = array('name' => $contact['name'], 'nick' => $contact['nick'],
@@ -898,7 +895,7 @@ class GContact
 						'contact-type' => $contact['contact-type'], 'url' => $contact['url'],
 						'location' => $contact['location'], 'about' => $contact['about']);
 
-				dba::update('contact', $fields, array('id' => $r[0]["id"]), $old_contact);
+				dba::update('contact', $fields, array('id' => $public_contact["id"]), $old_contact);
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/Model/Photo.php b/src/Model/Photo.php
index a91636b672..62b6088d97 100644
--- a/src/Model/Photo.php
+++ b/src/Model/Photo.php
@@ -38,16 +38,16 @@ class Photo
 	 */
 	public static function store(Image $Image, $uid, $cid, $rid, $filename, $album, $scale, $profile = 0, $allow_cid = '', $allow_gid = '', $deny_cid = '', $deny_gid = '', $desc = '')
 	{
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['guid'], ["`resource-id` = ? AND `guid` != ?", $rid, '']);
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$guid = $r['guid'];
+		$photo = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['guid'], ["`resource-id` = ? AND `guid` != ?", $rid, '']);
+		if (DBM::is_result($photo)) {
+			$guid = $photo['guid'];
 		} else {
 			$guid = get_guid();
 		}
 
-		$x = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['id'], ['resource-id' => $rid, 'uid' => $uid, 'contact-id' => $cid, 'scale' => $scale]);
+		$existing_photo = dba::selectFirst('photo', ['id'], ['resource-id' => $rid, 'uid' => $uid, 'contact-id' => $cid, 'scale' => $scale]);
 
-		$fields = array(
+		$fields = [
 			'uid' => $uid,
 			'contact-id' => $cid,
 			'guid' => $guid,
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ class Photo
 			'deny_cid' => $deny_cid,
 			'deny_gid' => $deny_gid,
 			'desc' => $desc
-		);
+		];
 
-		if (DBM::is_result($x)) {
-			$r = dba::update('photo', $fields, array('id' => $x['id']));
+		if (DBM::is_result($existing_photo)) {
+			$r = dba::update('photo', $fields, ['id' => $existing_photo['id']]);
 		} else {
 			$r = dba::insert('photo', $fields);
 		}
@@ -80,34 +80,33 @@ class Photo
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * @param string  $photo         photo
+	 * @param string  $image_url     Remote URL
 	 * @param integer $uid           user id
 	 * @param integer $cid           contact id
 	 * @param boolean $quit_on_error optional, default false
 	 * @return array
 	 */
-	public static function importProfilePhoto($photo, $uid, $cid, $quit_on_error = false)
+	public static function importProfilePhoto($image_url, $uid, $cid, $quit_on_error = false)
 	{
-		$r = dba::selectFirst(
+		$photo = dba::selectFirst(
 			'photo', ['resource-id'], ['uid' => $uid, 'contact-id' => $cid, 'scale' => 4, 'album' => 'Contact Photos']
 		);
-
-		if (DBM::is_result($r) && strlen($r['resource-id'])) {
-			$hash = $r['resource-id'];
+		if (x($photo['resource-id'])) {
+			$hash = $photo['resource-id'];
 		} else {
 			$hash = photo_new_resource();
 		}
 
 		$photo_failure = false;
 
-		$filename = basename($photo);
-		$img_str = fetch_url($photo, true);
+		$filename = basename($image_url);
+		$img_str = fetch_url($image_url, true);
 
 		if ($quit_on_error && ($img_str == "")) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		$type = Image::guessType($photo, true);
+		$type = Image::guessType($image_url, true);
 		$Image = new Image($img_str, $type);
 		if ($Image->isValid()) {
 			$Image->scaleToSquare(175);
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ class Photo
 
 			$suffix = '?ts=' . time();
 
-			$photo = System::baseUrl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.' . $Image->getExt() . $suffix;
+			$image_url = System::baseUrl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-4.' . $Image->getExt() . $suffix;
 			$thumb = System::baseUrl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-5.' . $Image->getExt() . $suffix;
 			$micro = System::baseUrl() . '/photo/' . $hash . '-6.' . $Image->getExt() . $suffix;
 
@@ -167,12 +166,12 @@ class Photo
 		}
 
 		if ($photo_failure) {
-			$photo = System::baseUrl() . '/images/person-175.jpg';
+			$image_url = System::baseUrl() . '/images/person-175.jpg';
 			$thumb = System::baseUrl() . '/images/person-80.jpg';
 			$micro = System::baseUrl() . '/images/person-48.jpg';
 		}
 
-		return array($photo, $thumb, $micro);
+		return array($image_url, $thumb, $micro);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/src/Network/FKOAuth1.php b/src/Network/FKOAuth1.php
index 07e15ad51e..64ae3374a9 100644
--- a/src/Network/FKOAuth1.php
+++ b/src/Network/FKOAuth1.php
@@ -63,11 +63,10 @@ class FKOAuth1 extends OAuthServer
 			$a->timezone = $a->user['timezone'];
 		}
 
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['uid' => $_SESSION['uid'], 'self' => 1]);
-		
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			$a->contact = $r;
-			$a->cid = $r['id'];
+		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['uid' => $_SESSION['uid'], 'self' => 1]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+			$a->contact = $contact;
+			$a->cid = $contact['id'];
 			$_SESSION['cid'] = $a->cid;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/Network/FKOAuthDataStore.php b/src/Network/FKOAuthDataStore.php
index ccb08ccbba..ec6e1b59f1 100644
--- a/src/Network/FKOAuthDataStore.php
+++ b/src/Network/FKOAuthDataStore.php
@@ -88,10 +88,9 @@ class FKOAuthDataStore extends OAuthDataStore
 	 */
 	public function lookup_nonce($consumer, $token, $nonce, $timestamp)
 	{
-		$r = dba::selectFirst('tokens', ['id', 'secret'], ['client_id' => $consumer->key, 'id' => $nonce, 'expires' => $timestamp]);
-
-		if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-			return new \OAuthToken($r['id'], $r['secret']);
+		$token = dba::selectFirst('tokens', ['id', 'secret'], ['client_id' => $consumer->key, 'id' => $nonce, 'expires' => $timestamp]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($token)) {
+			return new \OAuthToken($token['id'], $token['secret']);
 		}
 
 		return null;
diff --git a/src/Object/Post.php b/src/Object/Post.php
index c5b97fc136..dada4dd651 100644
--- a/src/Object/Post.php
+++ b/src/Object/Post.php
@@ -261,14 +261,14 @@ class Post extends BaseObject
 					'classundo' => $item['starred'] ? "" : "hidden",
 					'starred'   => t('starred'),
 				);
-				$r = dba::selectFirst('thread', ['ignored'], ['uid' => $item['uid'], 'iid' => $item['id']]);
-				if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+				$thread = dba::selectFirst('thread', ['ignored'], ['uid' => $item['uid'], 'iid' => $item['id']]);
+				if (DBM::is_result($thread)) {
 					$ignore = array(
 						'do'        => t("ignore thread"),
 						'undo'      => t("unignore thread"),
 						'toggle'    => t("toggle ignore status"),
-						'classdo'   => $r['ignored'] ? "hidden" : "",
-						'classundo' => $r['ignored'] ? "" : "hidden",
+						'classdo'   => $thread['ignored'] ? "hidden" : "",
+						'classundo' => $thread['ignored'] ? "" : "hidden",
 						'ignored'   => t('ignored'),
 					);
 				}
diff --git a/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php b/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
index f579a40190..d60fe3fc82 100644
--- a/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
+++ b/src/Protocol/PortableContact.php
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ class PortableContact
 
 		if ($cid) {
 			if (!$url || !$uid) {
-				$r = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['poco', 'uid'], ['id' => $cid]);
-				if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
-					$url = $r['poco'];
-					$uid = $r['uid'];
+				$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', ['poco', 'uid'], ['id' => $cid]);
+				if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
+					$url = $contact['poco'];
+					$uid = $contact['uid'];
 				}
 			}
 			if (!$uid) {
@@ -813,30 +813,30 @@ class PortableContact
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		$servers = dba::selectFirst('gserver', [], ['nurl' => normalise_link($server_url)]);
-		if (DBM::is_result($servers)) {
-			if ($servers["created"] <= NULL_DATE) {
+		$gserver = dba::selectFirst('gserver', [], ['nurl' => normalise_link($server_url)]);
+		if (DBM::is_result($gserver)) {
+			if ($gserver["created"] <= NULL_DATE) {
 				$fields = ['created' => datetime_convert()];
 				$condition = ['nurl' => normalise_link($server_url)];
 				dba::update('gserver', $fields, $condition);
 			}
-			$poco = $servers["poco"];
-			$noscrape = $servers["noscrape"];
+			$poco = $gserver["poco"];
+			$noscrape = $gserver["noscrape"];
 
 			if ($network == "") {
-				$network = $servers["network"];
+				$network = $gserver["network"];
 			}
 
-			$last_contact = $servers["last_contact"];
-			$last_failure = $servers["last_failure"];
-			$version = $servers["version"];
-			$platform = $servers["platform"];
-			$site_name = $servers["site_name"];
-			$info = $servers["info"];
-			$register_policy = $servers["register_policy"];
-			$registered_users = $servers["registered-users"];
+			$last_contact = $gserver["last_contact"];
+			$last_failure = $gserver["last_failure"];
+			$version = $gserver["version"];
+			$platform = $gserver["platform"];
+			$site_name = $gserver["site_name"];
+			$info = $gserver["info"];
+			$register_policy = $gserver["register_policy"];
+			$registered_users = $gserver["registered-users"];
 
-			if (!$force && !self::updateNeeded($servers["created"], "", $last_failure, $last_contact)) {
+			if (!$force && !self::updateNeeded($gserver["created"], "", $last_failure, $last_contact)) {
 				logger("Use cached data for server ".$server_url, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 				return ($last_contact >= $last_failure);
 			}
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ class PortableContact
 			$last_contact = NULL_DATE;
 			$last_failure = NULL_DATE;
 		}
-		logger("Server ".$server_url." is outdated or unknown. Start discovery. Force: ".$force." Created: ".$servers["created"]." Failure: ".$last_failure." Contact: ".$last_contact, LOGGER_DEBUG);
+		logger("Server ".$server_url." is outdated or unknown. Start discovery. Force: ".$force." Created: ".$gserver["created"]." Failure: ".$last_failure." Contact: ".$last_contact, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 		$failure = false;
 		$possible_failure = false;
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ class PortableContact
 
 		// Quit if there is a timeout.
 		// But we want to make sure to only quit if we are mostly sure that this server url fits.
-		if (DBM::is_result($servers) && ($orig_server_url == $server_url) &&
+		if (DBM::is_result($gserver) && ($orig_server_url == $server_url) &&
 			($serverret['errno'] == CURLE_OPERATION_TIMEDOUT)) {
 			logger("Connection to server ".$server_url." timed out.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 			dba::update('gserver', array('last_failure' => datetime_convert()), array('nurl' => normalise_link($server_url)));
diff --git a/src/Worker/OnePoll.php b/src/Worker/OnePoll.php
index 08dd23ad8b..093d78baae 100644
--- a/src/Worker/OnePoll.php
+++ b/src/Worker/OnePoll.php
@@ -384,16 +384,15 @@ Class OnePoll
 							// Have we seen it before?
 							$fields = ['deleted', 'id'];
 							$condition = ['uid' => $importer_uid, 'uri' => $datarray['uri']];
-							$r = dba::selectFirst('item', $fields, $condition);
-
-							if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+							$item = dba::selectFirst('item', $fields, $condition);
+							if (DBM::is_result($item)) {
 								logger("Mail: Seen before ".$msg_uid." for ".$mailconf['user']." UID: ".$importer_uid." URI: ".$datarray['uri'],LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 								// Only delete when mails aren't automatically moved or deleted
 								if (($mailconf['action'] != 1) && ($mailconf['action'] != 3))
-									if ($meta->deleted && ! $r['deleted']) {
+									if ($meta->deleted && ! $item['deleted']) {
 										$fields = array('deleted' => true, 'changed' => datetime_convert());
-										dba::update('item', $fields, array('id' => $r['id']));
+										dba::update('item', $fields, array('id' => $item['id']));
 									}
 
 								switch ($mailconf['action']) {
diff --git a/src/Worker/Queue.php b/src/Worker/Queue.php
index 1b8620a9d3..d9ffb69d07 100644
--- a/src/Worker/Queue.php
+++ b/src/Worker/Queue.php
@@ -68,18 +68,11 @@ class Queue
 
 
 		// delivering
-
-		$r = q(
-			"SELECT * FROM `queue` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($queue_id)
-		);
-
-		if (!DBM::is_result($r)) {
+		$q_item = dba::selectFirst('queue', [], ['id' => $queue_id]);
+		if (!DBM::is_result($q_item)) {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$q_item = $r[0];
-
 		$contact = dba::selectFirst('contact', [], ['id' => $q_item['cid']]);
 		if (!DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 			remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
diff --git a/util/global_community_silence.php b/util/global_community_silence.php
index 14cd06e7aa..26fc04d8dd 100755
--- a/util/global_community_silence.php
+++ b/util/global_community_silence.php
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ if (in_array($net['network'], array(NETWORK_PHANTOM, NETWORK_MAIL))) {
 	exit(1);
 }
 $nurl = normalise_link($net['url']);
-$r = dba::selectFirst("contact", ["id"], ["nurl" => $nurl, "uid" => 0]);
-if (DBM::is_result($r)) {
+$contact = dba::selectFirst("contact", ["id"], ["nurl" => $nurl, "uid" => 0]);
+if (DBM::is_result($contact)) {
 	dba::update("contact", array("hidden" => true), array("id" => $r["id"]));
 	echo "NOTICE: The account should be silenced from the global community page\r\n";
 } else {