diff --git a/i/n/a.h b/i/n/a.h
index 9a42bdcc48..541e24e5fe 100644
--- a/i/n/a.h
+++ b/i/n/a.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 
     /* u3a_fbox_no: number of free lists per size.
     */
-#     define u3a_fbox_no   28
+#     define u3a_fbox_no   27
 
 
   /**  Structures.
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@
 
         struct {                              //  allocation pools
           u3p(u3a_fbox) fre_p[u3a_fbox_no];   //  heap by node size log
+          u3p(u3a_fbox) cel_p;                //  custom cell allocator
           c3_w fre_w;                         //  number of free words
         } all;
 
@@ -276,6 +277,11 @@
           void*
           u3a_walloc(c3_w len_w);
 
+        /* u3a_celloc(): allocate a cell.  Faster, sometimes.
+        */
+          c3_w*
+          u3a_celloc(void);
+
         /* u3a_wfree(): free storage.
         */
           void
diff --git a/i/n/t.h b/i/n/t.h
index 2fa0f00620..e629639c80 100644
--- a/i/n/t.h
+++ b/i/n/t.h
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
         c3_o noc_o;                 //  now executing in nock interpreter
         c3_o glu_o;                 //  now executing in jet glue
         c3_o mal_o;                 //  now executing in allocator
-        c3_o far_o;                 //  now executing in fragmentor.
+        c3_o far_o;                 //  now executing in fragmentor
+        c3_o coy_o;                 //  now executing in copy
+        c3_o euq_o;                 //  now executing in equal
       } u3t_trace;
 
   /**  Macros.
diff --git a/j/e/mink.c b/j/e/mink.c
index 1b30c2d3a0..2d30d1e3ad 100644
--- a/j/e/mink.c
+++ b/j/e/mink.c
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
       return u3m_bail(c3__exit);
     }
     else {
-      return u3n_nock_in(u3k(fly), u3k(bus), u3k(fol));
+      u3_noun som;
+
+      som = u3n_nock_in(u3k(fly), u3k(bus), u3k(fol));
+
+      return som;
     }
   }
diff --git a/n/a.c b/n/a.c
index 0848e1767b..68a102b0b3 100644
--- a/n/a.c
+++ b/n/a.c
@@ -529,28 +529,6 @@ u3a_calloc(size_t num_i, size_t len_i)
   return out_w;
 }
 
-#if 0
-/* u3a_malloc(): allocate storage measured in bytes.
-*/
-void*
-u3a_malloc(size_t len_i)
-{
-  c3_w len_w = (c3_w)len_i;
-
-  return u3a_walloc((len_w + 3) >> 2);
-}
-
-/* u3a_realloc(): realloc in bytes.
-*/
-void*
-u3a_realloc(void* lag_v, size_t len_i)
-{
-  c3_w len_w = (c3_w)len_i;
-
-  return u3a_wealloc(lag_v, (len_w + 3) >> 2);
-}
-
-#else
 /* u3a_malloc(): aligned storage measured in bytes.
 */
 void*
@@ -576,6 +554,43 @@ u3a_malloc(size_t len_i)
   return out_w;
 }
 
+/* u3a_celloc(): allocate a cell.
+*/
+c3_w*
+u3a_celloc(void)
+{
+  u3p(u3a_fbox) cel_p;
+
+  if ( (u3R == &(u3H->rod_u)) || !(cel_p = u3R->all.cel_p) ) {
+    return u3a_walloc(c3_wiseof(u3a_cell));
+  }
+  else {
+    u3a_box* box_u = &(u3to(u3a_fbox, cel_p)->box_u);
+
+    box_u->use_w = 1;
+    u3R->all.cel_p = u3to(u3a_fbox, cel_p)->nex_p;
+
+    return u3a_boxto(box_u);
+  }
+}
+
+/* u3a_cfree(): free a cell.
+*/
+void
+u3a_cfree(c3_w* cel_w)
+{
+  if ( u3R == &(u3H->rod_u) ) {
+    return u3a_wfree(cel_w);
+  } 
+  else {
+    u3a_box*      box_u = u3a_botox(cel_w);
+    u3p(u3a_fbox) fre_p = u3of(u3a_fbox, box_u); 
+
+    u3to(u3a_fbox, fre_p)->nex_p = u3R->all.cel_p;
+    u3R->all.cel_p = fre_p;
+  }
+}
+
 /* u3a_realloc(): aligned realloc in bytes.
 */
 void*
@@ -639,7 +654,6 @@ u3a_free2(void* tox_v, size_t siz_i)
 {
   return u3a_free(tox_v);
 }
-#endif
 
 #if 1
 /* _me_wash_north(): clean up mug slots after copy.
@@ -1045,9 +1059,14 @@ u3a_take(u3_noun som)
     return som;
   }
   else {
-    return _(u3a_is_north(u3R))
+    u3t_on(coy_o);
+
+    som = _(u3a_is_north(u3R))
               ? _me_take_north(som)
               : _me_take_south(som);
+
+    u3t_off(coy_o);
+    return som;
   }
 }
 
@@ -1138,7 +1157,7 @@ top:
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(h_dog)) ) {
             _me_lose_north(h_dog);
           }
-          u3a_wfree(dog_w);
+          u3a_cfree(dog_w);
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(t_dog)) ) {
             dog = t_dog;
             goto top;
@@ -1178,7 +1197,7 @@ top:
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(h_dog)) ) {
             _me_lose_south(h_dog);
           }
-          u3a_wfree(dog_w);
+          u3a_cfree(dog_w);
           if ( !_(u3a_is_cat(t_dog)) ) {
             dog = t_dog;
             goto top;
@@ -1512,7 +1531,7 @@ u3a_sweep(void)
 c3_w*
 u3a_slab(c3_w len_w)
 {
-  c3_w*       nov_w = u3a_walloc(len_w + c3_wiseof(u3a_atom));
+  c3_w*     nov_w = u3a_walloc(len_w + c3_wiseof(u3a_atom));
   u3a_atom* pug_u = (void *)nov_w;
 
   pug_u->mug_w = 0;
diff --git a/n/e.c b/n/e.c
index 25022767c3..4d165ce843 100644
--- a/n/e.c
+++ b/n/e.c
@@ -820,10 +820,12 @@ u3e_live(c3_o nuu_o, c3_c* dir_c)
   u3P.nor_u.nam_c = "north";
   u3P.sou_u.nam_c = "south";
 
+#if 0
   if ( u3C.wag_w & u3o_dryrun ) {
     return c3y;
-  }
-  else {
+  } else
+#endif
+  {
     /* Open and apply any patches.
     */
     if ( _(nuu_o) ) {
diff --git a/n/i.c b/n/i.c
index 3c96ec00df..cfc010e03e 100644
--- a/n/i.c
+++ b/n/i.c
@@ -208,7 +208,8 @@ u3i_cell(u3_noun a, u3_noun b)
   c3_assert(!_(u3a_is_junior(u3R, b)));
 
   {
-    c3_w*       nov_w = u3a_walloc(c3_wiseof(u3a_cell));
+    // c3_w*       nov_w = u3a_walloc(c3_wiseof(u3a_cell));
+    c3_w*       nov_w = u3a_celloc();
     u3a_cell* nov_u = (void *)nov_w;
     u3_noun     pro;
 
diff --git a/n/j.c b/n/j.c
index 2056b872af..470d20f8f4 100644
--- a/n/j.c
+++ b/n/j.c
@@ -305,8 +305,7 @@ _cj_hot_mean(c3_l par_l, u3_noun mop, u3_noun bat)
   return 0;
 }
 
-
-/* _cj_hot_mine(): in hoting state, declare a core.  RETAINS.
+/* _cj_hot_mine(): in hot state, declare a core.  RETAINS.
 */
 static c3_l
 _cj_hot_mine(u3_noun mop, u3_noun cor)
@@ -909,6 +908,7 @@ _cj_warm_reap(u3_noun kev)
     if ( !_(u3a_is_junior(u3R, bat)) &&
          (u3_none != u3h_git(u3R->jed.har_p, bat)) ) {
       fprintf(stderr, "reap: promote collision (bat %x)\r\n", u3r_mug(bat));
+      u3m_p("collision", u3h(u3t(u3t(u3h(cax)))));
     }
     else {
       u3_noun tab = u3a_take(bat);
diff --git a/n/m.c b/n/m.c
index b17a4b2660..08a09326ca 100644
--- a/n/m.c
+++ b/n/m.c
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         c3_o
         u3m_trap(void);
 #else
-#       define u3m_trap() (u3_noun)(setjmp(u3R->esc.buf))
+#       define u3m_trap() (u3_noun)(_setjmp(u3R->esc.buf))
 #endif
 
       /* u3m_signal(): treat a nock-level exception as a signal interrupt.
@@ -725,18 +725,19 @@ u3m_hate(c3_w pad_w)
 u3_noun
 u3m_love(u3_noun pro)
 {
-  u3_noun das           = u3R->jed.das;
-  u3p(u3h_root) har_p = u3R->jed.har_p;
+  {
+    u3_noun das         = u3R->jed.das;
+    u3p(u3h_root) har_p = u3R->jed.har_p;
 
-  u3m_fall();
+    u3m_fall();
 
-  pro = u3a_take(pro);
+    pro = u3a_take(pro);
 
-  u3j_reap(das, har_p);
-
-  u3R->cap_p = u3R->ear_p;
-  u3R->ear_p = 0;
+    u3j_reap(das, har_p);
 
+    u3R->cap_p = u3R->ear_p;
+    u3R->ear_p = 0;
+  }
   return pro;
 }
 
@@ -822,7 +823,7 @@ u3m_soft_top(c3_w    sec_w,                     //  timer seconds
 
   /* Trap for ordinary nock exceptions.
   */
-  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)_setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
     pro = fun_f(arg);
 
     /* Make sure the inner routine did not create garbage.
@@ -894,11 +895,11 @@ u3m_soft_nock(u3_noun bus, u3_noun fol)
 */
 u3_noun 
 u3m_soft_run(u3_noun fly,
-               u3_funq fun_f,
-               u3_noun aga,
-               u3_noun agb)
+             u3_funq fun_f,
+             u3_noun aga,
+             u3_noun agb)
 {
-  u3_noun why, pro;
+  u3_noun why = 0, pro;
 
   /* Record the cap, and leap.
   */
@@ -911,16 +912,14 @@ u3m_soft_run(u3_noun fly,
     u3R->pro.don = u3R->par_u->pro.don;
     u3R->bug.tax = 0;
   }
+  u3t_on(coy_o);
 
   /* Trap for exceptions.
   */
-  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)_setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
+    u3t_off(coy_o);
     pro = fun_f(aga, agb);
 
-    if ( u3C.wag_w & u3o_debug_ram ) {
-      u3m_grab(pro, u3_none);
-    }
- 
     /* Produce success, on the old road.
     */
     pro = u3nc(0, u3m_love(pro));
@@ -1004,7 +1003,7 @@ u3m_soft_esc(u3_noun sam)
 
   /* Trap for exceptions.
   */
-  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
+  if ( 0 == (why = (u3_noun)_setjmp(u3R->esc.buf)) ) {
     pro = u3n_slam_on(fly, sam);
 
     /* Fall back to the old road, leaving temporary memory intact.
diff --git a/n/r.c b/n/r.c
index d626df124f..8480944de8 100644
--- a/n/r.c
+++ b/n/r.c
@@ -711,7 +711,13 @@ c3_o
 u3r_sing(u3_noun a,
            u3_noun b)
 {
-  return _sing_x(a, b);
+  c3_o ret_o;
+
+  u3t_on(euq_o);
+  ret_o = _sing_x(a, b);
+  u3t_off(euq_o);
+
+  return ret_o;
 }
 
 /* u3r_sung(): yes iff (a) and (b) are the same noun, unifying equals.
diff --git a/n/t.c b/n/t.c
index f111510d31..a2e8dc3a9f 100644
--- a/n/t.c
+++ b/n/t.c
@@ -196,6 +196,12 @@ u3t_samp(void)
     if ( _(u3T.mal_o) ) {
       mot_l = c3_s3('m','a','l');
     }
+    else if ( _(u3T.coy_o) ) {
+      mot_l = c3_s3('c','o','y');
+    }
+    else if ( _(u3T.euq_o) ) {
+      mot_l = c3_s3('e','u','q');
+    }
     else if ( _(u3T.far_o) ) {
       mot_l = c3_s3('f','a','r');
     }
@@ -285,6 +291,8 @@ u3t_init(void)
   u3T.glu_o = c3n;
   u3T.mal_o = c3n;
   u3T.far_o = c3n;
+  u3T.coy_o = c3n;
+  u3T.euq_o = c3n;
 }
 
 /* u3t_boot(): turn sampling on.
diff --git a/v/loop.c b/v/loop.c
index 9f3e477e88..f0c5326cb6 100644
--- a/v/loop.c
+++ b/v/loop.c
@@ -646,6 +646,7 @@ u3_lo_loop()
 
   u3_raft_init();
 
+#if 1
   if ( _(u3_Host.ops_u.dry) ) {
     u3t_boff();
     u3t_damp();
@@ -654,7 +655,9 @@ u3_lo_loop()
     fprintf(stderr, "dry run: exit\r\n");
     exit(0);
   }
-  else { 
+  else 
+#endif
+  { 
     if ( c3n == u3_Host.ops_u.bat ) {
       uv_run(u3L, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
     }
diff --git a/v/temp.c b/v/temp.c
index 6d8a3e31c2..3a7d19125b 100644
--- a/v/temp.c
+++ b/v/temp.c
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ u3_temp_io_poll(void)
   {
     c3_d gap_d = u3_time_gap_ms(u3k(u3A->now), u3k(u3t(wen)));
 
+#if 0
+    fprintf(stderr, "gap_d %llu, plus %llu\r\n", 
+        gap_d, gap_d + (c3_d)teh_u->run_w);
+#endif
     gap_d += teh_u->run_w;
 
     if ( c3y == teh_u->alm ) {