docs: def encode_simple(d):
      """Encode strings in basic python objects."""
      if isinstance(d, unicode):
          return d.encode()
      if isinstance(d, list):
          return list(map(encode_simple, d))
      if isinstance(d, dict):
          return dict([(encode_simple(k), encode_simple(v)) for k, v in d.items()])
      return d