diff --git a/lib/csys/csys.ex b/lib/csys/csys.ex
index bbc2c0d..58cb54d 100644
--- a/lib/csys/csys.ex
+++ b/lib/csys/csys.ex
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSys do
   # notifications
 
   def notify_created(new, scope) do
-    msg = Shape.create([:csys, :created], data: %{old: self(), new: new})
+    msg = Shape.create(~w(csys created)a, data: %{old: self(), new: new})
     notify(msg, scope)
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/csys/environ.ex b/lib/csys/environ.ex
index 879f1a8..9b4c4c0 100644
--- a/lib/csys/environ.ex
+++ b/lib/csys/environ.ex
@@ -28,7 +28,11 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSys.Environ do
     neurons = [new | state.neurons]
     names = data[:name] && Map.put(state.names, data.name, new) || state.names
     {step, seq} = List.pop_at(state.init_seq, 0)
-    CSys.update({%State{neurons: neurons, names: names, init_seq: seq}, proc, syns, env})
-    if step, do: step.(neurons)
+    state1 = %State{neurons: neurons, names: names, init_seq: seq}
+    CSys.update({state1, proc, syns, env})
+    if step do
+      Process.sleep(1)
+      step.(neurons)
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/csys/program.ex b/lib/csys/program.ex
index 12e5483..04e2e67 100644
--- a/lib/csys/program.ex
+++ b/lib/csys/program.ex
@@ -103,13 +103,13 @@ alias Scopes.CSys
   def create_succ(msg, scope) do
     new = CSys.create(msg, restart(scope))
     data = Shape.data(msg)
-    CSys.send_message(self(), [:csys, :connect], Map.put(data, :target, new))
+    CSys.send_message(self(), ~w(csys connect)a, Map.put(data, :target, new))
   end
 
   def create_pred(msg, scope) do
     new = CSys.create(msg, restart(scope))
     data = Shape.data(msg)
-    CSys.send_message(new, [:csys, :connect], Map.put(data, :target, self()))
+    CSys.send_message(new, ~w(csys connect)a, Map.put(data, :target, self()))
   end
 
   # synapse operations
@@ -133,14 +133,14 @@ alias Scopes.CSys
   # demo init sequences
  
   def init_seq_b1() do [
-    fn [zero | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(zero, [:csys, :create, :pred], 
+    fn [zero | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(zero, ~w(csys create pred)a, 
       %{op: [CSys.data_only(), negate()]}) end,
-    fn [one | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(one, [:csys, :create, :succ], 
+    fn [one | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(one, ~w(csys create succ)a, 
       %{op: CSys.data_only()}) end,
-    fn [two | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(two, [:csys, :create, :pred]) end,
+    fn [two | _ns] -> CSys.send_message(two, ~w(csys create pred)a) end,
     fn [three | others] ->
       zero = List.last(others)
-      CSys.send_message(three, [:csys, :connect], %{target: zero})
+      CSys.send_message(three, ~w(csys connect)a, %{target: zero})
     end
   ]
   end
diff --git a/test/csys_test.exs b/test/csys_test.exs
index c23ba26..1546a5d 100644
--- a/test/csys_test.exs
+++ b/test/csys_test.exs
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSysTest do
   describe "basic:" do
     test "minimal-neural-net" do
       _env = Environ.setup(Program.prepare_basic(), Program.init_seq_b1())
-      zero = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
+      zero = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
       CSys.send_value(zero, 0)
       assert 0 = receive_data().value
-      one = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
-      _two = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
-      three = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
+      one = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
+      _two = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
+      three = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
       Process.sleep(50)
       CSys.send_value(one, 1)
       assert receive_data().value == 1
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSysTest do
 
   def init_recursive_1() do [
     fn [zero] -> 
-      CSys.send_message(zero, [:csys, :connect], %{target: zero, op: Program.negate()}) 
-      CSys.send_message(zero, [:csys, :create, :succ])
+      CSys.send_message(zero, ~w(csys connect)a, %{target: zero, op: Program.negate()}) 
+      CSys.send_message(zero, ~w(csys create succ)a)
     end
   ]
   end
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ defmodule Scopes.CSysTest do
   describe "recursive:" do
     test "zero + effector" do
       _env = Environ.setup(Program.prepare_basic(), init_recursive_1())
-      zero = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
-      _eff = receive_data([:csys, :created]).new
+      zero = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
+      _eff = receive_data(~w(csys created)a).new
       Process.sleep(50)
       CSys.send_value(zero, 42)
       assert receive_data().value == 42
diff --git a/test/shape_test.exs b/test/shape_test.exs
index 55d6255..55c6abf 100644
--- a/test/shape_test.exs
+++ b/test/shape_test.exs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ defmodule Scopes.ShapeTest do
 
   describe "shape:" do
     test "basic" do
-      rec = Shape.create([:dom, :data], data: %{value: 42})
+      rec = Shape.create(~w(dom data)a, data: %{value: 42})
       assert 42 = Shape.data(rec).value
     end
   end