diff --git a/demo.modal b/demo.modal
index 7caa03a..aa62b1b 100644
--- a/demo.modal
+++ b/demo.modal
@@ -2,130 +2,95 @@
 -- ( little endian binary integers )
 
 -- ( constants )
-<> zero ((0 nil))
-<> one ((1 nil))
-<> two ((0 (1 nil)))
-<> three ((1 (1 nil)))
-<> ten ((0 (1 (0 (1 nil)))))
+<> zero ((0 ()))
+<> one ((1 ()))
+<> ten ((0 (1 (0 (1 ())))))
 
 -- ( decimal digit to binary )
-<> (binary 0) ((0 nil))
-<> (binary 1) ((1 nil))
-<> (binary 2) ((0 (1 nil)))
-<> (binary 3) ((1 (1 nil)))
-<> (binary 4) ((0 (0 (1 nil))))
-<> (binary 5) ((1 (0 (1 nil))))
-<> (binary 6) ((0 (1 (1 nil))))
-<> (binary 7) ((1 (1 (1 nil))))
-<> (binary 8) ((0 (0 (0 (1 nil)))))
-<> (binary 9) ((1 (0 (0 (1 nil)))))
+<> (binary 0) ((0 ()))
+<> (binary 1) ((1 ()))
+<> (binary 2) ((0 (1 ())))
+<> (binary 3) ((1 (1 ())))
+<> (binary 4) ((0 (0 (1 ()))))
+<> (binary 5) ((1 (0 (1 ()))))
+<> (binary 6) ((0 (1 (1 ()))))
+<> (binary 7) ((1 (1 (1 ()))))
+<> (binary 8) ((0 (0 (0 (1 ())))))
+<> (binary 9) ((1 (0 (0 (1 ())))))
 
 -- ( binary to decimal digit )
-<> ((decimal (0 nil))) (0)
-<> ((decimal (1 nil))) (1)
-<> ((decimal (0 (1 nil)))) (2)
-<> ((decimal (1 (1 nil)))) (3)
-<> ((decimal (0 (0 (1 nil))))) (4)
-<> ((decimal (1 (0 (1 nil))))) (5)
-<> ((decimal (0 (1 (1 nil))))) (6)
-<> ((decimal (1 (1 (1 nil))))) (7)
-<> ((decimal (0 (0 (0 (1 nil)))))) (8)
-<> ((decimal (1 (0 (0 (1 nil)))))) (9)
+<> ((decimal (0 ()))) (0)
+<> ((decimal (1 ()))) (1)
+<> ((decimal (0 (1 ())))) (2)
+<> ((decimal (1 (1 ())))) (3)
+<> ((decimal (0 (0 (1 ()))))) (4)
+<> ((decimal (1 (0 (1 ()))))) (5)
+<> ((decimal (0 (1 (1 ()))))) (6)
+<> ((decimal (1 (1 (1 ()))))) (7)
+<> ((decimal (0 (0 (0 (1 ())))))) (8)
+<> ((decimal (1 (0 (0 (1 ())))))) (9)
 
--- create nil-terminated list
-<> (nilify (?h)) ((?h nil))
-<> (nilify (?h ?t)) ((?h nilify ?t))
-
--- reverse nil-terminated list
-<> (reverse ?x) (reverse' nil ?x)
-<> (reverse' ?a nil) (?a)
+-- reverse ()-terminated list
+<> (reverse ?x) (reverse' () ?x)
+<> (reverse' ?a ()) (?a)
 <> (reverse' ?a (?h ?t)) (reverse' (?h ?a) ?t)
 
--- map
-<> (map ?f (list ?l)) (map/l map/f ?f ?l)
-<> (map/f ?f (?h ?t)) (?f ?h (map/f ?f ?t))
-<> (map/f ?f (?h)) (map/r (?f ?h))
-<> (?h (map/r ?t)) (map/r (?h ?t))
-<> (map/l map/r ?l) (list ?l)
-
 -- ( normalize, remove trailing zeros )
--- ( currently zero is (0 nil) though arguably it could be nil )
+-- ( currently zero is (0 ()) though arguably it could be () )
 -- ( that change would require auditing our rules )
-<> (normalize (?h ?t)) ((?h normalize' nil ?t))
-<> (normalize' ?s nil) (nil)
+<> (normalize (?h ?t)) ((?h normalize' () ?t))
+<> (normalize' ?s ()) (())
 <> (normalize' ?s (0 ?t)) (normalize' (0 ?s) ?t)
-<> (normalize' nil (1 ?t)) ((1 normalize' nil ?t))
+<> (normalize' () (1 ?t)) ((1 normalize' () ?t))
 <> (normalize' (0 ?s) (1 ?t)) ((0 normalize' ?s (1 ?t)))
 
 -- ( to integer )
-<> ((int ?*)) ((sum f (one) g reverse nilify (?*)))
-<> (g nil) (nil)
+<> ((int ?*)) ((sum f (one) g reverse (?*)))
+<> (g ()) (())
 <> (g (?h ?t)) ((binary ?h g ?t))
-<> (f (?u) nil) (nil) 
+<> (f (?u) ()) (()) 
 <> (f (?u) (?h ?t)) (((mul ?h ?u) f ((mul ?u ten)) ?t))
 
 -- ( to binary str )
-<> ((bstr ?x)) ((bstr1 ?x))
-<> ((bstr1 (0 nil))) ((0 (b 0)))
-<> ((bstr1 (1 nil))) ((0 (b 1)))
-<> ((bstr1 (0 (0 ?c)))) ((bstr2 ?c (0 0)))
-<> ((bstr1 (1 (0 ?c)))) ((bstr2 ?c (0 1)))
-<> ((bstr1 (0 (1 ?c)))) ((bstr2 ?c (1 0)))
-<> ((bstr1 (1 (1 ?c)))) ((bstr2 ?c (1 1)))
-<> ((bstr2 nil ?z)) ((stringify (0 (b ?z))))
-<> ((bstr2 (0 ?t) ?z)) ((bstr2 ?t (0 ?z)))
-<> ((bstr2 (1 ?t) ?z)) ((bstr2 ?t (1 ?z)))
+<> ((bstr ?x)) (emit force (0 (b ?x)))
 
 -- ( to string: TODO, need division for this one )
-<> ((str ?x)) ((str1 (divmod ?x ten) nil))
-<> ((str1 (?q ?r) ?a)) ((str2 ?q (?r ?a)))
-<> ((str2 (0 nil) ?a)) ((str3 ?a nil))
-<> ((str2 (0 (?h ?t)) ?a)) ((str1 (divmod (0 (?h ?t)) ten) ?a))
-<> ((str2 (1 ?t) ?a)) ((str1 (divmod (1 ?t) ten) ?a))
-<> ((str3 nil ?a)) ((digitize ?a nil))
-<> ((str3 (?h ?t) nil)) ((str3 ?t (decimal ?h)))
-<> ((str3 (?h ?t) (?a ?b))) ((str3 ?t ((decimal ?h) (?a ?b))))
+<> ((str ?x)) ((str1 ?x ()))
+<> ((str1 (0 ()) ?a)) (emit force ?a)
+<> ((str1 (?h ?t) ?a)) ((str2 (divmod (?h ?t) ten) ?a))
+<> ((str2 (?q ?r) ?a)) ((str1 ?q ((decimal ?r) ?a)))
 
-<> ((digitize (0 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (0)))
-<> ((digitize (1 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (1)))
-<> ((digitize (2 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (2)))
-<> ((digitize (3 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (3)))
-<> ((digitize (4 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (4)))
-<> ((digitize (5 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (5)))
-<> ((digitize (6 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (6)))
-<> ((digitize (7 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (7)))
-<> ((digitize (8 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (8)))
-<> ((digitize (9 ?t) nil)) ((digitize ?t (9)))
+-- ( force a list to evaluate to digits/letters )
+<> ((?h force/r ?t)) (force/r (?h ?t))
+<> (force ()) (force/r ())
+<> (force (0 ?t)) ((0 force ?t))
+<> (force (1 ?t)) ((1 force ?t))
+<> (force (2 ?t)) ((2 force ?t))
+<> (force (3 ?t)) ((3 force ?t))
+<> (force (4 ?t)) ((4 force ?t))
+<> (force (5 ?t)) ((5 force ?t))
+<> (force (6 ?t)) ((6 force ?t))
+<> (force (7 ?t)) ((7 force ?t))
+<> (force (8 ?t)) ((8 force ?t))
+<> (force (9 ?t)) ((9 force ?t))
+<> (force (a ?t)) ((a force ?t))
+<> (force (b ?t)) ((b force ?t))
+<> (force (c ?t)) ((c force ?t))
+<> (force (d ?t)) ((d force ?t))
+<> (force (e ?t)) ((e force ?t))
+<> (force (f ?t)) ((f force ?t))
+<> (force (x ?t)) ((x force ?t))
 
-<> ((digitize (0 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (0 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (1 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (1 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (2 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (2 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (3 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (3 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (4 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (4 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (5 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (5 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (6 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (6 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (7 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (7 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (8 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (8 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize (9 ?t) ?a)) ((digitize ?t (9 ?a)))
-
-<> ((digitize 0 ?a)) ((stringify (0 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 1 ?a)) ((stringify (1 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 2 ?a)) ((stringify (2 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 3 ?a)) ((stringify (3 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 4 ?a)) ((stringify (4 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 5 ?a)) ((stringify (5 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 6 ?a)) ((stringify (6 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 7 ?a)) ((stringify (7 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 8 ?a)) ((stringify (8 ?a)))
-<> ((digitize 9 ?a)) ((stringify (9 ?a)))
+-- ( emit )
+<> (emit force/r ?*) (?*)
 
 -- ( comparison operartions )
 <> ((cmp ?x ?y)) ((cmpc #eq ?x ?y))
-<> ((cmpc ?e nil nil)) (?e)
-<> ((cmpc ?e (1 ?x) nil)) (#gt)
-<> ((cmpc ?e (0 ?x) nil)) ((cmpc ?e ?x nil))
-<> ((cmpc ?e nil (1 ?y))) (#lt)
-<> ((cmpc ?e nil (0 ?y))) ((cmpc ?e nil ?y))
+<> ((cmpc ?e () ())) (?e)
+<> ((cmpc ?e (1 ?x) ())) (#gt)
+<> ((cmpc ?e (0 ?x) ())) ((cmpc ?e ?x ()))
+<> ((cmpc ?e () (1 ?y))) (#lt)
+<> ((cmpc ?e () (0 ?y))) ((cmpc ?e () ?y))
 <> ((cmpc ?e (0 ?x) (0 ?y))) ((cmpc ?e ?x ?y))
 <> ((cmpc ?e (1 ?x) (0 ?y))) ((cmpc #gt ?x ?y))
 <> ((cmpc ?e (0 ?x) (1 ?y))) ((cmpc #lt ?x ?y))
@@ -133,10 +98,10 @@
 
 -- ( addition )
 <> ((add ?x ?y)) (addc 0 ?x ?y)
-<> (addc 0 nil nil) (nil)
-<> (addc 1 nil nil) ((1 nil))
-<> (addc ?c ?x nil) (addc ?c ?x (0 nil))
-<> (addc ?c nil ?y) (addc ?c (0 nil) ?y)
+<> (addc 0 () ()) (())
+<> (addc 1 () ()) ((1 ()))
+<> (addc ?c ?x ()) (addc ?c ?x (0 ()))
+<> (addc ?c () ?y) (addc ?c (0 ()) ?y)
 <> (addc 0 (0 ?x) (0 ?y)) ((0 addc 0 ?x ?y))
 <> (addc 0 (0 ?x) (1 ?y)) ((1 addc 0 ?x ?y))
 <> (addc 0 (1 ?x) (0 ?y)) ((1 addc 0 ?x ?y))
@@ -147,23 +112,23 @@
 <> (addc 1 (1 ?x) (1 ?y)) ((1 addc 1 ?x ?y))
 
 -- ( summation )
-<> ((sum nil)) ((0 nil))
-<> ((sum (?a nil))) (?a)
+<> ((sum ())) ((0 ()))
+<> ((sum (?a ()))) (?a)
 <> ((sum (?a (?b ?c)))) ((sum ((add ?a ?b) ?c)))
 
 -- ( multiplication )
-<> ((mul ?x ?y)) (mulc nil ?x ?y)
-<> (mulc ?t nil ?y) ((sum ?t))
+<> ((mul ?x ?y)) (mulc () ?x ?y)
+<> (mulc ?t () ?y) ((sum ?t))
 <> (mulc ?t (0 ?x) ?y) (mulc ?t ?x (0 ?y))
 <> (mulc ?t (1 ?x) ?y) (mulc (?y ?t) ?x (0 ?y))
 
 -- ( subtraction )
 <> ((sub ?x ?y)) (normalize subc 0 ?x ?y)
-<> (subc 0 nil nil) (nil)
-<> (subc 1 nil nil) (#err)
-<> (subc 0 ?x nil) (?x)
-<> (subc 1 ?x nil) (subc 1 ?x (0 nil))
-<> (subc ?c nil ?y) (subc ?c (0 nil) ?y)
+<> (subc 0 () ()) (())
+<> (subc 1 () ()) (#err)
+<> (subc 0 ?x ()) (?x)
+<> (subc 1 ?x ()) (subc 1 ?x (0 ()))
+<> (subc ?c () ?y) (subc ?c (0 ()) ?y)
 <> (subc 0 (0 ?x) (0 ?y)) ((0 subc 0 ?x ?y))
 <> (subc 0 (0 ?x) (1 ?y)) ((1 subc 1 ?x ?y))
 <> (subc 0 (1 ?x) (0 ?y)) ((1 subc 0 ?x ?y))
@@ -173,39 +138,55 @@
 <> (subc 1 (1 ?x) (0 ?y)) ((0 subc 0 ?x ?y))
 <> (subc 1 (1 ?x) (1 ?y)) ((1 subc 1 ?x ?y))
 
--- ( dec )
-<> (dec (0 nil)) (#err)
-<> (dec ?x) (normalize dec' ?x)
-<> (dec' (0 ?t)) ((1 dec' ?t))
+<> (dec (0 ())) (#err)
+<> (dec (1 ())) ((0 ()))
+<> (dec (1 ?t)) ((0 ?t))
+<> (dec (0 ?t)) (dec' (0 ?t))
+<> (dec' (1 ())) (())
 <> (dec' (1 ?t)) ((0 ?t))
+<> (dec' (0 ?t)) ((1 dec' ?t))
 
 -- ( inc )
-<> ((inc nil)) ((1 nil))
+<> ((inc ())) ((1 ()))
 <> ((inc (0 ?t))) ((1 ?t))
 <> ((inc (1 ?t))) ((0 (inc ?t)))
 
 -- ( left shift; lshift x b means x<<b )
-<> ((lshift ?x (0 nil))) (?x)
-<> ((lshift ?x (1 nil))) ((0 ?x))
-<> ((lshift ?x (?h (?a ?b)))) ((lshift (0 ?x) dec (?h (?a ?b))))
+<> ((lshift ?x (0 ()))) (?x)
+<> ((lshift ?x (1 ()))) ((0 ?x))
+<> ((lshift ?x (0 (?a ?b)))) ((lshift (0 ?x) dec (0 (?a ?b))))
+<> ((lshift ?x (1 (?a ?b)))) ((lshift (0 ?x) (0 (?a ?b))))
+
+<> ((rshift1 (?a ()))) ((0 ()))
+<> ((rshift1 (?a (?b ?c)))) ((?b ?c))
 
 -- ( divmod, i.e. quotient and remainder )
+-- ( x is the dividend, or what's left of it )
+-- ( y is the divisor )
+-- ( s is the number of bits to shift, so far )
+-- ( o is the next valuet o add to the quotient )
+-- ( m is the next multiple of y to work with )
+-- ( d is the quotient, so far )
 <> ((divmod ?x ?y)) ((divmod1 ?x ?y (cmp ?x ?y)))
 <> ((divmod1 ?x ?y #lt)) ((zero ?x))
 <> ((divmod1 ?x ?y #eq)) ((one zero))
-<> ((divmod1 ?x ?y #gt)) ((divmod2 ?x ?y zero (0 ?y)))
-<> ((divmod2 ?x ?y ?s ?m)) ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m (cmp ?x ?m)))
-<> ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m #lt)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s zero))
-<> ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m #eq)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y (inc ?s) zero))
+<> ((divmod1 ?x ?y #gt)) ((divmod2 ?x ?y zero ?y))
+
+<> ((divmod2 ?x ?y ?s ?m)) ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m (cmp ?x (0 ?m))))
 <> ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m #gt)) ((divmod2 ?x ?y (inc ?s) (0 ?m)))
-<> ((divmod4 ?x ?y (0 nil) ?d)) (((add ?d one) (sub ?x ?y)))
-<> ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?d)) ((divmod5 (sub ?x (lshift ?y ?s)) ?y dec ?s (add ?d (lshift one ?s))))
-<> ((divmod5 (0 nil) ?y ?s ?d)) ((?d (0 nil)))
-<> ((divmod5 ?x ?y ?s ?d)) ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?d (cmp ?x (lshift ?y ?s))))
-<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y (0 nil) ?d #lt)) ((?d ?x))
-<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?d #lt)) ((divmod5 ?x ?y dec ?s ?d))
-<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?d #eq)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?d))
-<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?d #gt)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?d))
+<> ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m #eq)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y (inc ?s) (0 ?m) zero))
+<> ((divmod3 ?x ?y ?s ?m #lt)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?m zero))
+
+<> ((divmod4 ?x ?y (0 ()) ?m ?d)) (((add ?d one) (sub ?x ?y)))
+<> ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d)) ((divmod5 (sub ?x ?m) ?y dec ?s (rshift1 ?m) (add ?d (lshift one ?s))))
+
+<> ((divmod5 (0 ()) ?y ?s ?m ?d)) ((?d (0 ())))
+<> ((divmod5 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d)) ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d (cmp ?x ?m)))
+
+<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y (0 ()) ?m ?d #lt)) ((?d ?x))
+<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d #lt)) ((divmod5 ?x ?y dec ?s (rshift1 ?m) ?d))
+<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d #eq)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d))
+<> ((divmod6 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d #gt)) ((divmod4 ?x ?y ?s ?m ?d))
 
 -- ( floor divison )
 <> ((div ?x ?y)) ((div' (divmod ?x ?y)))
@@ -215,7 +196,5 @@
 <> ((mod ?x ?y)) ((mod' (divmod ?x ?y)))
 <> ((mod' (?q ?r))) (?r)
 
--- ( stringify )
-<> ((stringify ?*)) (?*)
-
-(bstr (mul (int 2399) (int 3499)))
+-- (bstr (mul (int 2399) (int 3499)))
+(str (int 1234567890))