diff --git a/csys/csys.lisp b/csys/csys.lisp
index 6e41da2..36b3264 100644
--- a/csys/csys.lisp
+++ b/csys/csys.lisp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
         (when nmsg 
           (setf (nth 1 (shape:head nmsg)) :effect)
           (forward nmsg (syns nscope))
-          (notify nmsg nscope))
+          (unless (syns nscope) (notify nmsg nscope)))
         (update nscope)))))
 
 (defun handle-action (msg scope &key (default (no-op)) actions)
diff --git a/csys/environ.lisp b/csys/environ.lisp
index 733a4c5..ade31ac 100644
--- a/csys/environ.lisp
+++ b/csys/environ.lisp
@@ -8,12 +8,15 @@
                     (:message :scopes/core/message)
                     (:shape :scopes/shape)
                     (:util :scopes/util))
-  (:export #:create #:simple-proc
+  (:export #:*env*
+           #:create #:simple-proc
            #:actions
            #:send-value #:send-connect))
 
 (in-package :scopes/csys/environ)
 
+(defvar *env* nil)
+
 (defclass scope (csys:scope)
   ((cells :reader cells :initform (make-hash-table :test #'equal))))
 
@@ -92,9 +95,9 @@
 
 ;;;; public shortcuts
 
-(defun send-value (env val &key (domain :csys) (cat :c00) (loc ""))
-  (let ((head (list domain :value cat loc)))
-   (actor:send env (message:create head :data `(:value ,val)))))
+(defun send-value (cat-loc val &key (domain :csys) (env *env*))
+  (let ((head (cons domain (cons :value cat-loc))))
+    (actor:send env (message:create head :data `(:value ,val)))))
 
 (defun send-connect (env &rest args &key (domain :csys) addr to target op)
   (let ((head (list domain :connect))) 
diff --git a/test/test-csys.lisp b/test/test-csys.lisp
index cdc5189..008a314 100644
--- a/test/test-csys.lisp
+++ b/test/test-csys.lisp
@@ -67,19 +67,19 @@
 ;;;; test definitions
  
 (deftest test-basic-0 ()
-  (let ((env (setup-test (list (program:basic-0)))))
+  (let ((environ:*env* (setup-test (list (program:basic-0)))))
         ;(rcvr (tc:receiver t:*test-suite*))
     (sleep 0.1)
     ;(tc:expect rcvr (message:create '(:csys :effect :e01) :data '(:value 1)))
-    (environ:send-value env 1 :cat :s01 :loc "0-1")
-    (environ:send-value env 2 :cat :s01 :loc "0-1")
+    (environ:send-value '(:s01 "0-1") 1)
+    (environ:send-value '(:s01 "0-1") 2)
     (sleep 0.1)
     (core:shutdown)))
 
 (deftest test-basic-1 ()
-  (let ((env (setup-test (program:config-basic-1))))
+  (let ((environ:*env* (setup-test (program:config-basic-1))))
     (sleep 0.1)
-    (environ:send-value env 1 :cat :s00 :loc "0-0")
-    (environ:send-value env 2 :cat :s00 :loc "0-1")
+    (environ:send-value '(:s00 "0-0") 1)
+    (environ:send-value '(:s00 "0-1") 2)
     (sleep 0.1)
     (core:shutdown)))