diff --git a/lib/action/action.go b/lib/action/action.go
index 008d1c7..7191b3d 100644
--- a/lib/action/action.go
+++ b/lib/action/action.go
@@ -18,3 +18,43 @@ func (spec *baseSpec) Receivers() []string {
 func BaseSpec(hdlr lib.ActionHandler, rcvrs []string) *baseSpec {
 	return &baseSpec{hdlr, rcvrs}
 }
+
+// action selection
+
+func Select(ctx lib.Context, msg lib.Message) []lib.Action {
+	var acts []lib.Action
+	// act := action{ctx, spec, msg}
+	// acts = append(acts, &act)
+	return acts
+}
+
+// action
+
+type action struct {
+	ctx  lib.Context
+	spec lib.ActionSpec
+	msg  lib.Message
+}
+
+func (act *action) Context() lib.Context {
+	return act.ctx
+}
+
+func (act *action) Spec() lib.ActionSpec {
+	return act.spec
+}
+
+func (act *action) Message() lib.Message {
+	return act.msg
+}
+
+func (act *action) Handle() bool {
+	return act.spec.Handler()(act)
+}
+
+// predefined action handlers
+
+func Forward(act lib.Action) bool {
+	// Send(ctx, addr. msg)
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/lib/core/core.go b/lib/core/core.go
index d482494..eb8358b 100644
--- a/lib/core/core.go
+++ b/lib/core/core.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib"
+	"git.sr.ht/~cco/go-scopes/lib/action"
 )
 
 func Start(ctx lib.Context) {
@@ -29,7 +30,12 @@ func Step(ctx lib.Context) (loop bool) {
 	return
 }
 
-func HandleMessage(ctx lib.Context, msg lib.Message) bool {
-	fmt.Println("HandleMessage", msg)
-	return true
+func HandleMessage(ctx lib.Context, msg lib.Message) (loop bool) {
+	loop = true
+	fmt.Println("core.HandleMessage", msg)
+	for _, act := range action.Select(ctx, msg) {
+		//loop = act.Spec().Handler()(act)
+		loop = act.Handle()
+	}
+	return
 }
diff --git a/lib/lib.go b/lib/lib.go
index 93f0c46..98d55f1 100644
--- a/lib/lib.go
+++ b/lib/lib.go
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ type Action interface {
 	Context() Context
 	Spec() ActionSpec
 	Message() Message
+	Handle() bool
 }
 
 type Proc = func(Context)
diff --git a/tests/etc/etc.go b/tests/etc/etc.go
index 12d07fb..b62704d 100644
--- a/tests/etc/etc.go
+++ b/tests/etc/etc.go
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ func Config() lib.Config {
 	return &cfg
 }
 
-// register action handlers from ..._test.go here:
-
+// register action handlers from ..._test.go here.
 var (
 	AH_Receiver lib.ActionHandler
 )