diff --git a/arvo/hoon.hoon b/arvo/hoon.hoon
index 732e0b69e..cda1049d4 100644
--- a/arvo/hoon.hoon
+++ b/arvo/hoon.hoon
@@ -1179,7 +1179,7 @@
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 ::                section 2cF, signed and modular ints  ::
 ::
-++  si  !:                                              ::  signed integer
+++  si                                                  ::  signed integer
   |%
   ++  abs  |=(a=@s (add (end 0 1 a) (rsh 0 1 a)))       ::  absolute value
   ++  dif  |=  [a=@s b=@s]                              ::  subtraction
@@ -1254,7 +1254,6 @@
   --
 ::
 ++  stat                                                ::  positive counter
-  !:
   |*  a=$+(* *)
   |=  (trel ,? a (map a ,@ud))
   ^+  r
@@ -4940,7 +4939,7 @@
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 ::            section 2eW, lite number theory           ::
 ::
-++  egcd  !:                                            ::  schneier's egcd
+++  egcd                                                ::  schneier's egcd
   |=  [a=@ b=@]
   =+  si
   =+  [c=(sun a) d=(sun b)]
@@ -6601,7 +6600,6 @@
   (~(win re tac) tab edg)
 ::
 ++  wa                                                  ::  cached compile
-  !:
   |_  worm
   ++  nell  |=(ref=type (nest [%cell %noun %noun] ref)) ::  nest in cell
   ++  nest                                              ::  nest:ut
@@ -6668,11 +6666,17 @@
     =^  typ  +>+<.$  (play p.vax [%wtgr gen [%$ 1]])
     [[typ q.vax] +>+<.$]
   ::
-  ++  spot                                              ::  slot and spec
+  ++  spot                                              ::  slot then spec
     |=  [axe=@ vax=vase]
     ^-  [vase worm]
     =^  xav  +>+<  (slot axe vax)
     (spec xav)
+  ::
+  ++  stop                                              ::  spec then slot
+    |=  [axe=@ vax=vase]
+    ^-  [vase worm]
+    =^  xav  +>+<  (spec vax)
+    (slot axe xav)
   --
 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
 ::                section 2fB, macro expansion          ::
@@ -9023,7 +9027,7 @@
       $(i.ruw t.i.ruw, cah [i.i.ruw cah])
     $(i.ruw t.i.ruw, cah ~, yun [p.i.i.ruw (wod cah yun)])
   ::
-  ++  posh  !:
+  ++  posh
     |=  [pre=(unit tyke) pof=(unit ,[p=@ud q=tyke])]
     ^-  (unit (list twig))
     =-  ?^(- - ~&(%posh-fail -))
@@ -9331,7 +9335,7 @@
       ==
     --
   ::
-  ++  scat  !:
+  ++  scat
     %+  knee  *twig  |.  ~+
     %-  stew
     ^.  stet  ^.  limo
@@ -10345,14 +10349,14 @@
         ==
       ?.(-.hig ~ `[(slym gat +>.hil) +.hig])
     ::
-    ++  slur-a  ~/(%slur-a |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-b  ~/(%slur-b |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-c  ~/(%slur-c |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-d  ~/(%slur-d |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-e  ~/(%slur-e |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-f  ~/(%slur-f |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-g  ~/(%slur-g |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
-    ++  slur-z  ~/(%slur-z |=([gat=vase hil=mill] (slur gat hil)))
+    ++  slur-a  ~/(%slur-a |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%a (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-b  ~/(%slur-b |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%b (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-c  ~/(%slur-c |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%c (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-d  ~/(%slur-d |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%d (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-e  ~/(%slur-e |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%e (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-f  ~/(%slur-f |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%f (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-g  ~/(%slur-g |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%g (slur gat hil))))
+    ++  slur-z  ~/(%slur-z |=([gat=vase hil=mill] =+(%z (slur gat hil))))
     ::
     ++  slur-pro                                        ::  profiling slur
       ~/  %slur-pro