diff --git a/csys/csys.lisp b/csys/csys.lisp
index 36b3264..a2a0924 100644
--- a/csys/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys/csys.lisp
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@
 
 ;;;; action handlers
 
-(defun basic-actions (&key (threshold 1))
-  (list :value (value-add :threshold threshold)
+(defun basic-actions ()
+  (list :value (value-add)
         :create (create)
         :connect (connect)
         :next (no-op :no-forward t)))
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
     (setf (value scope) (shape:data-value msg :value))
     (values msg scope)))
 
-(defun value-add (&key (bias 0) (threshold 0))
+(defun value-add (&key (bias 0) (threshold 1))
   (lambda (msg scope)
     (let* ((val (getf (shape:data msg) :value))
            (newval (+ val (value scope))))
diff --git a/csys/program.lisp b/csys/program.lisp
index 4fcfd0c..3133121 100644
--- a/csys/program.lisp
+++ b/csys/program.lisp
@@ -37,14 +37,15 @@
   (csys:make-program
     (list '(:s00 :initial) (csys:std-proc :next (b1-next-zero))
           '(:s00 :basic) (csys:std-proc :next (b1-next-one))
-          '(:e00 :default) (csys:eff-proc)
+          '(:e00 :default) (csys:eff-proc :value (csys:value-add :bias 2))
           ':default (csys:std-proc))))
 
 (defun b1-next-zero ()
   (lambda (msg scope) 
     (let ((self actor:*self*))
-      (csys:send-create self :cat :e00 :loc "1-0" :connect :succ)
-      (csys:send-create self :cat :e00 :loc "1-1" :connect :succ :op (csys:multiply -1))
+      (csys:send-create self :cat :e00 :loc "1-0" :value 2 :connect :succ)
+      (csys:send-create self :cat :e00 :loc "1-1" :value 2 
+                        :connect :succ :op (csys:multiply -1))
       (csys:send-create self :cat :s00 :loc "0-1" :stage :basic)
       ;; switch :active
       nil)))
diff --git a/scratch.lisp b/scratch.lisp
index 640ce83..a53a59c 100644
--- a/scratch.lisp
+++ b/scratch.lisp
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
-;;; cl-scopes/scratch - interactive testing
+;;;; cl-scopes/scratch - interactive testing
 
-(asdf:load-system :scopes)
+;(asdf:load-system :scopes)
+(asdf:load-system :scopes-csys)
 
-(in-package :cl-user)
+;(in-package :cl-user)
 (use-package :trivial-package-local-nicknames)
 
-;;; real scratch area
+;;;; csys stuff
+
+(add-package-local-nickname :environ :scopes/csys/environ)
+(add-package-local-nickname :program :scopes/csys/program)
+
+(scopes/util/async:init)
+(setf environ:*env* (environ:simple-setup (program:config-basic-1)))
+
+;(environ:send-value '(:s00 "0-1") 2)
+
+;;;; iterator experiments - obsolete?
 
 (defun make-iter ()
   (let ((pointers (vector nil nil nil)))
-    #'(lambda (fn)
-        (funcall fn pointers))))
+    (lambda (fn)
+      (funcall fn pointers))))
 
 (defun iter-current (it)
-  (funcall it #'(lambda (p) (car (svref p 0)))))
+  (funcall it (lambda (p) (car (svref p 0)))))
 
diff --git a/test/test-csys.lisp b/test/test-csys.lisp
index 008a314..36e2404 100644
--- a/test/test-csys.lisp
+++ b/test/test-csys.lisp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 (defun setup-config ()
   (config:add :test-receiver :setup #'tc:setup)
   (config:add-action '(:csys :effect :e01) (value-in '(1 2)))
-  (config:add-action '(:csys :effect :e00) (value-in '(1 2)))
+  (config:add-action '(:csys :effect :e00) (value-in '(1 2 3 4)))
   ;(config:add-action '(:csys :effect) #'tc:check-message)
   (config:add-action '(:csys) (constantly nil)))