Make sure default value is not a pointer

What is the problem with the current state of the code?

It works but it is common practice to do it like this. It is less confusing: http://effbot.org/zone/default-values.htm

mentioned in issue #39 (closed)

Again, I don't see any need for that, but it also does not hurt. And I am not sure that I haven't used these kind of default values in other places (where it doesn't matter, too).

Status changed to merged

mentioned in commit aa5aec27