diff --git a/CHANGESTODO b/CHANGESTODO
index bcf1d43..d294745 100644
--- a/CHANGESTODO
+++ b/CHANGESTODO
@@ -8,11 +8,19 @@ ________________________________________________________________________
 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
 ? support tls multiplexing on all suitable ports
 
+? bugs in psyced install procedure
+
 - pointless to keep gentoo files in this git, if they can't be updated
   separately
+
++ teach net/smtp to trust localhost etc.
++ teach net/smtp to ask recipient object if spam rules are to be applied
 ________________________________________________________________________
 == currently being inspected ===========================================
 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
+- jabber logout isn't announced or offline avail isn't processed
+  ... apparently other side did not logout properly, as it doesn't happen always
+
 - neither USE_THE_NICK or USE_AUTOALIAS work flawlessly. in the case of
   the latter, _nick either displays without uniform for remote people,
   or it occasionally shows a room's nick instead of the user's nick.
@@ -22,6 +30,11 @@ ________________________________________________________________________
   templates and removing _nick vars. during this tradition we keep the
   USE_THE_NICK code running. several "invite issues" should be solved once
   nicks are gone.
+
+- psyced.org tells me: Ungültige Route nach psyc://psyced.org
+    im psyc://psyced.org/~lynx Context festgestellt.
+
+? who's gonna clean up the mess of having too many websites ?
 ________________________________________________________________________
 == psyced 1.0 ==========================================================
 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
@@ -1367,6 +1380,11 @@ ________________________________________________________________________
 ! When the /topic command makes funny errors, then your room has a custom
   cmd() and doesn't pass vars over. It should use ON_COMMAND instead!
 
+________________________________________________________________________
+* PSYC FUTURES		    see also http://about.psyc.eu/Category:Vapor
+¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
++ http://about.psyc.eu/Hashtags
++ http://about.psyc.eu/Follower
 ________________________________________________________________________
 * TOYS IN THE ATTIC
 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
@@ -1478,7 +1496,7 @@ ________________________________________________________________________
   is not accepted by the UNI and thus does not make it into _list_places
 - _do_leave does not forward the echo from remote places back to the client
 
-- NEW_UNLINK: place and v("place") aren't in sync (new changes for psyc clients)
+- place and v("place") aren't in sync (new changes for psyc clients)
 
 + if newbie: directly show register dialog
   (lynx should add _status_unregistered or so)
@@ -1769,6 +1787,10 @@ see also: http://about.psyc.eu/SPAM
    evtl nicht alle im richtigen channel, um den enter zu sehen..)
 
 == IRC ISSUES 1.0 ======================================================
+- according to rfc and ircd source IRC parser should accept when the last
+  argument is just a word instead of a phrase prefixed by :
+  this is unusual, but legal:  "PRIVMSG #blah hello"
+
 + some irc clients do not implement their own pinging, and some NATs really
   kill your irc session if it is too quiet too long. we need optional server
   side pings
@@ -3870,4 +3892,6 @@ psyctext
 	entity nicknames (experimental). allows to remove nicks from protocol.
 spyc/* psyc/*
 +	should a _date type run on unixtime minus PSYC_EPOCH?
-
+install.sh
++	don't leave _host_IP uncommented
++	mkdir data/* log/*
diff --git a/bin/psyconf b/bin/psyconf
index 3625e4b..7b4d5ab 100755
--- a/bin/psyconf
+++ b/bin/psyconf
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ X
 
 	my $hc = 0;
 	## ldmud bug number one: you have to provide hostname AFTER hostaddr
-	if ($c{_basic_host_IP}) {
+	if ($c{_basic_host_IP} =~ /^[0-9\.]+$/) {
 		$psyced .= " --hostaddr $c{_basic_host_IP}";
 		$hc = 1;	# problem?
 	}
diff --git a/config/versioncontrol.tcsh b/config/versioncontrol.tcsh
index e16e5ea..4304350 100644
--- a/config/versioncontrol.tcsh
+++ b/config/versioncontrol.tcsh
@@ -36,3 +36,10 @@ alias	ctoc	'(cd $CVSHOME;cvs diff -bur HEAD CHANGESTODO|& difvu -'
 alias	ctodo	'(cd $PSYCEDHOME;cvs update CHANGESTODO;$EDITOR CHANGESTODO;cvs ci -m + CHANGESTODO)'
 alias	todo	'(cd $PSYCEDHOME;$EDITOR CHANGESTODO)'
 
+# edit all files that contain a certain keyword
+# uses the +/searchstring syntax supported by vi and other smart editors
+alias   gred	'$EDITOR "+/\!*" `grep -swIrl \!* .`'
+# grep -r is a bit stupid: it follows symlinks, then shows us files twice
+# so using the git full text index may be smarter and faster
+alias	ggred	'$EDITOR "+/\!*" `git grep -w -l \!*`'
+
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index fdc9378..04861b1 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,18 +1,20 @@
 #!/bin/sh
+#
 # new age sh (SUSv2 etc) are supposed to handle our syntax
 # but if that's not true, try a bash or ksh here.
 #
-# psyced installation script
-# $Id: install.sh,v 1.165 2008/10/16 13:07:13 lynx Exp $
-#
-# original version by oswald!osw@ld.pages.de on IRCnet, 22aug00
-# heavy improvements by heldensaga and psyc://psyced.org/~lynX
-# switched from function foo to foo() syntax as suggested by cebewee
-#
 # we could also use a strategy for finding the best bash or ksh
 # on this system and re-execing ourselves because an old bourne
 # shell will not be able to deal with this script completely
 
+####### psyced installation script #######
+#
+# original version 2000-08-22 by Kai 'Oswald' Seidler (oswaldism.de)
+# heavy improvements by heldensaga and psyc://psyced.org/~lynX
+# switched from function foo to foo() syntax as suggested by cebewee
+#
+#######
+
 # Use 'ldmud' here if you want to use an ldmud rather than a psyclpc'
 #driver="ldmud"
 #zip="gz"
@@ -39,24 +41,32 @@ lo=""
 
 if test -d "/etc/portage"
 then
-	cat <<EOT
-${hi}!!INFO FOR GENTOO USERS!!${lo}
-If you are running gentoo/portage, you should try out our beautiful ebuilds
-at http://www.psyced.org/files/gentoo.tar.bz2 --- They are also in the
-data.tar. Unpack it, then go into the config/gentoo directory and run make. 
+	cat <<X
 
-EOT
+!!${hi} HEY YOU, PORTAGE USER ${lo}!!
+If you are running gentoo/portage you should try out our beautiful ebuilds
+at http://www.psyced.org/files/gentoo.tar.bz2 instead of this installation
+script. Stop it now.
+
+${hi}Warning: OLD-SCHOOL install.sh STARTING${lo} ...
+
+X
 	sleep 2
 fi
 
 if test -e .config
 then
-	echo "You have been installing this before. I will use the previous"
-	echo "install settings as defaults for this run."
+	cat <<X
+You have been installing this before. I will use the previous install .config
+as defaults for this run.
+
+X
 else
-	echo "Should you want to use the install settings from the last time"
-	echo "you installed psyced, please copy the .config file into here"
-	echo "and restart this script."
+	cat <<X
+Should you want to use the install settings from the last time you installed
+psyced, please copy the .config file into here and restart this script.
+
+X
 fi
 
 if touch .config 2> /dev/null
@@ -164,10 +174,12 @@ echo "${hi}PSYCED INSTALLATION WIZARD${lo}"
 
 if ! test -e data.tar
 then
-    echo "This installation script is designed to work with an image of the"
-    echo "current development tree in a file called data.tar. Obtain a"
-    echo "psyced release tar from http://www.psyced.org, which contains"
-    echo "both this script and its data.tar"
+    cat <<X
+This installation script is designed to work with an image of the current
+development tree in a file called data.tar. Obtain a psyced release tar from
+http://www.psyced.org, which contains both this script and its data.tar.
+
+X
     $exit
 fi
 
@@ -399,17 +411,18 @@ ask "Set PSYC hostname to" SERVER_HOST
 get CHATNAME $HOST_NAME
 #ask "Name of your chat service" CHATNAME
 
-echo ""
-echo "Now comes the best part. You get to decide which of the many"
-echo "protocols and services that psyced provides you want to"
-echo "activate. Since ${driver} doesn't have the ability to run safely"
-echo "as root all protocols use non-privileged port numbers."
-echo "We also mention the official privileged port numbers in case"
-echo "you want to set up a firewall based port mapping."
-#cho ""
-#cho "If you need to change the port numbers you can do so later on"
-#cho "by editing the psyced script. You must remain however"
-#cho "within certain numeric ranges for each protocol."
+cat <<X
+
+Now comes the best part. You get to decide which of the many protocols and
+services that psyced provides you want to activate. Since ${driver} doesn't
+have the ability to run safely as root, all protocols use non-privileged
+port numbers. We also mention the official privileged port numbers in case
+you want to set up a firewall based port mapping.
+
+If you need to change the port numbers later on, you can do so by editing
+the psyconf.ini configuration file.
+X
+# FIXME: in fact we should probably not ask about port numbers here
 
 get PSYC_YN "y"
 ask "Enable PSYC (you better say yes here)" PSYC_YN
@@ -464,7 +477,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 get JABBER_YN "y"
-ask "Enable access for Jabber/XMPP clients (experimental)" JABBER_YN
+ask "Enable access for Jabber/XMPP clients" JABBER_YN
 
 if test "$JABBER_YN" = "n"
 then
@@ -974,7 +987,7 @@ _host_domain = $DOMAIN_NAME
 
 ; Would you like to bind the server to a specific IP address?
 ; If you do you MUST also provide _host_name and _host_domain
-;_host_IP = $HOST_IP
+_host_IP = $HOST_IP
 
 ; Nickname for the chatserver. Appears in login message, telnet prompt,
 ; IRC gateways and some web pages. Will use _host_name if unspecified.
@@ -1066,7 +1079,7 @@ then
 	echo "Creating $BASE_DIR..."
 	if mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $BASE_DIR 2> /dev/null
 	then
-		:
+		;
 	else
 		if test "x$userid" = "xroot"
 		then
@@ -1107,7 +1120,16 @@ else
     $exit
 fi
 
+# we need to be completely sure these directories exist,
+# so we just go ahead with brute force  :)
+#
+mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $LOG_DIR 2> /dev/null
+mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $LOG_DIR/place 2> /dev/null
+mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $DATA_DIR 2> /dev/null
+mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $DATA_DIR/person 2> /dev/null
+mkdir -m $BASE_PERM -p $DATA_DIR/place 2> /dev/null
 mkdir -p $ARCH_DIR 2>/dev/null
+
 if test -d $ARCH_DIR 
 then
 	if test ! -w $ARCH_DIR
@@ -1193,11 +1215,10 @@ EOF
 #	    # TODO: don't say this if either $driver or erq failed to compile!
 #	    echo "${hi}COMPILATION DONE${lo}"
 	    echo ""
-	fi
 
-	# i have a feeling i should be using ARCH_DIR here
-	if test -d bin-$arch 
-	then
+	    # i have a feeling i should be using ARCH_DIR here
+	    if test -d bin-$arch 
+	    then
 		cd bin-$arch
 		for i in *
 		do
@@ -1209,9 +1230,10 @@ EOF
 		done
 		cd ..
 
-	else
+	    else
 		echo "${hi}WARNING:${lo} Couldn't install architecture dependent binaries because I can't find them!"
 		echo ""
+	    fi
 	fi
 else
 	echo "Hmm.. couldn't create $ARCH_DIR! Aborting."
diff --git a/place/ircgate.c b/place/ircgate.c
index bc64167..c06e1ec 100644
--- a/place/ircgate.c
+++ b/place/ircgate.c
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 //
 // to make this work you need to add the following to local.h:
 //
-//	#define RELAY "ircgate"
+//	#define RELAY		"ircgate"	    // name of ircnet (?)
+//	#define RELAY_OBJECT	"place/ircgate"	    // this class
 //
 // do not use in existing psyced communities in the current set up
 // as currently all incoming traffic is presumed to be meant for the
@@ -39,13 +40,13 @@
 #define IRCGATE_LOCAL	"pw"
 
 #define	NAME		"IRCgate"
-#define ON_CONNECT	login();
+#define ON_CONNECT	onConnect();
 #define	CONNECT_IRC	"localhost", 7000
 #define EMULATE_SERVER	// don't be a bot
 
 #include <place.gen>
 
-login() {
+onConnect() {
 	PT(("ircgate serving into "+query_ip_number()+"\n"))
 	// login procedure may vary with different flavors of ircd,
 	// that's why we keep it entirely here
diff --git a/world/default/en/jabber.textdb b/world/default/en/jabber.textdb
index e8b32c9..5d8dd52 100644
--- a/world/default/en/jabber.textdb
+++ b/world/default/en/jabber.textdb
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 <PSYC:TEXTDB> ## vim:syntax=mail
 ## Check utf-8: Praise Atatürk!
 
+_notice_add_alias_temporary
+|## shouldn't be sent to jabber clients
+
+_failure_unavailable_alias
+|## shouldn't be sent to jabber clients
+
 _MISC_character_command
 |## since several clients started catching / commands..
 |+
diff --git a/world/local b/world/local
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..c820590
--- /dev/null
+++ b/world/local
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../local
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/world/log b/world/log
new file mode 120000
index 0000000..033579f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/world/log
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../log
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/world/net/include/net.h b/world/net/include/net.h
index 0903830..f57a14b 100644
--- a/world/net/include/net.h
+++ b/world/net/include/net.h
@@ -216,8 +216,6 @@
 # define WANT_S2S_SASL
 # define ENTER_MEMBERS
 # define PERSISTENT_MASTERS
-# define NEW_LINK
-# define NEW_UNLINK
 # define NEW_RENDER
 # define MUCSUC
 #endif
@@ -232,7 +230,7 @@
 	// fippo's brilliant single-user channel emulation for jabber MUCs
 	// unfortunately it provides no advantages over the old method, yet.
 	// would be cool to cache a member list at least!  TODO
-# define PERSISTENT_SLAVES
+// efine PERSISTENT_SLAVES  // postponed
 // efine IRC_FRIENDCHANNEL  // hopelessly needs more work
 # ifdef HTTP_PATH
 #  define HTFORWARD	    // let person entity buffer output for http usage
diff --git a/world/net/include/place.gen b/world/net/include/place.gen
index 373ed3d..d03b00d 100644
--- a/world/net/include/place.gen
+++ b/world/net/include/place.gen
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ inherit NET_PATH "place/mailcast";
 #           ifdef PUBLIC
 inherit NET_PATH "place/public";
 #           else
-	     // special case in the archetype options logic, see also the .pl
+	     // special case in the archetype options logic, see also psyconf
 #	     ifndef PLACE_HISTORY
 #	      ifdef PLACE_HISTORY_EXPORT
 #	       define PLACE_HISTORY
diff --git a/world/net/irc/common.c b/world/net/irc/common.c
index 7b5aa8c..061b705 100644
--- a/world/net/irc/common.c
+++ b/world/net/irc/common.c
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ parse(a) {
 	if (a == "") return;		// don't let " \n" execute "/s"
 	unless (sscanf(a, ":%s %s", from, t)) t = a;
 	sscanf(t, "%s :%s", t, text);
+	// when 'text' is not present, the last argument could be a single
+	// word text according to rfc. this has never seemed to hurt, but
+	// we are not exactly compliant in that sense. we could copy the
+	// last arg over into text, but that requires to change the api
+	// into explode()-based. WONTFIX
 	unless (sscanf(t, "%s %s", cmd, args)) cmd = t;
 	if (cmd) ircMsg(from, lower_case(cmd), args, text, a);
 	return 1;
diff --git a/world/net/irc/server.c b/world/net/irc/server.c
index 238ef2f..a1efe60 100644
--- a/world/net/irc/server.c
+++ b/world/net/irc/server.c
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ volatile string pass;
 
 // for now it's a bit complicated to re-issue all joins and i'm not
 // even sure if it would be enough for the irc clients.. so better
-// just quit the old object and start anew.
+// just quit the old object and start anew. a bit silly when user
+// objects have just been incarnated and never actually logged in -
+// for each ircer we thus incarnate twice. FIXME
 keepUserObject(user) { return 0; }
 
 qScheme() { return "irc"; }
diff --git a/world/net/jabber/user.c b/world/net/jabber/user.c
index 8961af0..3f91137 100644
--- a/world/net/jabber/user.c
+++ b/world/net/jabber/user.c
@@ -571,17 +571,14 @@ iq(XMLNode node) {
 
     P3(("%O IQ node %O\n", ME, node))
     firstchild = getfirstchild(node);
-    unless(firstchild) {
-	switch(node["@type"]) {
+    unless(firstchild) switch(node["@type"]) {
 	case "get":
-	    break;
 	case "set":
-	    break;
 	case "result":
-	    break;
 	case "error":
 	    break;
-	}
+    default:
+	    P1(("%O got invalid iq %O\n", ME, node))
 	return;
     }
     helper = firstchild;
@@ -732,7 +729,14 @@ iq(XMLNode node) {
 	    break;
 	case "set":
 	    helper = helper["/item"];
-	    if (helper && helper["@subscription"] == "remove") {
+	    if (!mappingp(helper)) {
+		P1(("no item in iq set %O from %O in %O\n",
+		    node, previous_object(), ME))
+		// FIXME: what is the correct behaviour
+		// in this case?
+		return;
+	    }
+	    if (helper["@subscription"] == "remove") {
 		string buddy = jid2ppl(helper["@jid"]);
 #ifndef _flag_disable_module_friendship
 		P2(("remove %O from roster\n", helper["@jid"]))
@@ -1009,6 +1013,7 @@ iq(XMLNode node) {
 	break;
 #endif
     default:
+	P1(("%O got IQ with unknown namespace: %O\n", ME, node))
 	switch(node["@type"]) {
 	case "get":
 	    if (node["@to"]) {
diff --git a/world/net/person.c b/world/net/person.c
index 475c091..9647889 100644
--- a/world/net/person.c
+++ b/world/net/person.c
@@ -476,10 +476,15 @@ qLocation(string service) {
 	return v("locations")[service];
 }
 
-// returns 0 if that was just an update
-// 1 on success
+// returns 0 if that was just an update. 1 on success.
+// this was originally used by sip/udp only, then slowly
+// integrated into existing code
 sLocation(string service, mixed data) {
 	ASSERT("sLocation", v("locations"), v("locations"))
+	// should this function also call register_location ?
+	// yes because a delivery error should remove clients
+	// from the location table, too.. not just proper
+	// unlink requests  FIXME
 	if (v("locations")[service] == data) return 0;
 	unless (data) {
 		string retval = v("locations")[service];
@@ -489,7 +494,6 @@ sLocation(string service, mixed data) {
 	return v("locations")[service] = data;
 }
 
-#ifdef NEW_LINK
 static linkSet(service, location, source) {
 	P1(("linkSet(%O, %O, %O) called in %O: linking.\n",
 	    service, location, source, ME));
@@ -524,9 +528,8 @@ static linkSet(service, location, source) {
 		// for simple clients on link when a place is set
 	}
 }
-#endif
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
-static linkDel(service, source) {
+static linkDel(service, source, variant) {
+	string mc = "_notice_unlink";
 	string candidate = v("locations")[service];
 	unless (candidate) {
 		P3(("linkDel(%O, %O) called in %O: no such candidate!\n",
@@ -536,18 +539,31 @@ static linkDel(service, source) {
 	P1(("linkDel(%O, %O) called in %O: unlinking %O.\n",
 	    service, source, ME, candidate));
 	unless (source) source = candidate;
+	// sLocation?
 	register_location(candidate, 0);
+	// maybe actual deletion would need to be delayed after
+	// letting locations know. they might still be sending
+	// stuff to us, right?
 	m_delete(v("locations"), service || 0);
-	if (service) sendmsg(source, "_notice_unlink_service", 0,
+	if (variant) mc += variant;
+	if (service) sendmsg(source, mc, 0,
 				    ([ "_service" : service,
 			      "_location_service" : candidate,
 				"_identification" : v("_source") ]));
-	else sendmsg(source, "_notice_unlink", 0,
+	else sendmsg(source, mc, 0,
 				   ([ "_location" : candidate,
 				"_identification" : v("_source") ]));
 	return candidate;
 }
-#endif
+static linkCleanUp(variant) {
+	mixed type, loc;
+
+	foreach (type, loc : v("locations")) {
+		P2(("linkCleanUp(%O) to %O's ex-%O-client %O\n",
+		    variant, ME, type, loc))
+		linkDel(type, 0, variant);
+	}
+}
 
 // extend sName() from name.c
 sName2(a) {
@@ -615,7 +631,9 @@ sName2(a) {
 	availability = v("availability");
 #endif // _flag_disable_module_presence
 
-	unless (v("locations")) vSet("locations", ([ ]));
+	if (v("locations")) linkCleanUp("_crash");
+	else vSet("locations", ([ ]));
+
 	// protection against file read errors
 	if (IS_NEWBIE) {
 		if (boss(a)) {
@@ -630,7 +648,7 @@ sName2(a) {
 			destruct(ME);
 			return 0;
 		}
-#ifndef RELAY
+#ifdef _flag_enable_administrator_by_nick
 		else if (strstr(lower_case(a), "admin") != -1) {
 			this_player()->w("_failure_object_create_admin",
 "This nickname is available to administrators only.");
@@ -647,20 +665,6 @@ sName2(a) {
 
 	// maybe use v("identification") here?
 	vSet("_source", psyc_name(ME));
-
-	// TODO: needs to be foreached for all types of locations?
-	if (e = v("locations")[0]) {
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
-		linkDel(0);
-#else
-		P2(("sending _status_unlinked to ex-client %O\n", e))
-		// no clue if the UNL is still out there..
-		// lets send a ping so it can reconnect
-		// but first we have to delete it from our structures!
-		m_delete(v("locations"), 0);
-		sendmsg(e, "_status_unlinked", 0, ([]));
-#endif
-	}
 	return MYNICK; // means new name accepted
 }
 
@@ -874,41 +878,6 @@ msg(mixed source, mc, data, mapping vars, showingLog) {
 	if (showingLog) return display;	// logView() in action
 	// btw, when reviewing log, all users are displayed equal size
 
-#if 0
-	// hack that permits us to use same mapping across
-	// all user objects in a room. really should be using
-	// copies of the mapping for each user - or forbid to
-	// write into the mapping. this statement in particular
-	// also protects us from "intruder" _display settings,
-	// so it's useful anyway.
-	//
-	m_delete(vars, "_display");
-#endif
-#if 0 //ndef NEW_UNLINK
-	if (abbrev("_request_link_", mc)) {
-	    vars["_service"] = mc[14..];
-	    mc = "_set_password"; 
-	} else if (abbrev("_request_unlink_", mc)) {
-	    vars["_service"] = mc[16..];
-	    mc = "_request_unlink";
-	} else if (abbrev("_request_location_", mc)) {
-	    vars["_service"] = mc[18..];
-	    mc = "_request_location";
-	// diese kette an abbrevs ist schrecklich ineffizient und zudem
-	// nicht für jede nachricht nötig.. unlink und diese failure können
-	// doch nur von eigenen locations kommen, also tiefergelegt werden
-	// in einen if (itsme) block hinein..!? im switch ist es nicht so
-	// tragisch, wenn methoden für bestimmte fälle gar nicht eintreten
-	// können, aber abbrevs die jedes mal durchgelaufen werden müssen,
-	// die geben mir zu denken ob das überhaupt eine gute idee war
-	// zusatzinformation hinten an die methode dranzuhängen. vielleicht
-	// ist das ja der eigentliche fehler und man sollte _method und
-	// _service lieber gutheissen und pflegen.. whatchathink? TODO
-//	} else if (abbrev("_failure_unsuccessful_delivery_", mc)) {
-//	    vars["_method"] = mc[31..];
-//	    mc = "_failure_unsuccessful_delivery";
-	}
-#endif
 #ifdef RELAY
 	remotesource = 0;
 #endif
@@ -1045,21 +1014,8 @@ case "_set_password":
 				    // oh. we let it suggest a *different* location?
 				    // interesting. why don't we also do this for clients?
 				    // and who is using this code anyway?
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 				    linkDel(vars["_service"]);
-#endif
-#ifdef NEW_LINK
 				    linkSet(vars["_service"], vars["_location"], source);
-#else
-				    if (vars["_location"]) {
-					v("locations")[vars["_service"]] = vars["_location"];
-				    } else v("locations")[vars["_service"]] = source;
-				    sendmsg(source, "_notice_link_"+ vars["_service"], 
-					"You have been linked to [_service].", ([
-					     "_service" : vars["_service"],
-				    ]));
-				    register_location(source, ME);
-#endif
 				    return 0;
 				}
 #if 0
@@ -1098,11 +1054,7 @@ case "_set_password":
 					}
 					// we are a legitimate new client.
 					// lets inform the old one
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 					linkDel(0, t);
-#else
-					sendmsg(t, "_notice_unlink");
-#endif
 					// now we leave the old client circuit
 					// to die off.. let's hope that's safe
 				}
@@ -1143,11 +1095,7 @@ case "_set_password":
 				    object o;
 				    save();
 				    if (interactive(ME)) {
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 					    linkDel();
-#else
-					    ME->w("_notice_unlink");
-#endif
 					    remove_interactive(ME);
 				    }
 				    o = named_clone(PSYC_PATH "user", MYNICK);
@@ -1159,10 +1107,6 @@ case "_set_password":
 				    o->msg(source, mc, data, vars);
 				    return destruct(ME); 
 				}
-#endif
-#ifndef NEW_LINK
-				v("locations")[0] = source;
-				register_location(source, ME);
 #endif
 				// used by _request_authentication
 				if (u = parse_uniform(source)) vSet("ip", u[UHost]);
@@ -1213,22 +1157,7 @@ case "_set_password":
 #endif
 				// yeah right..
 				//unless (interactive()) vSet("host", source);
-#ifdef NEW_LINK
 				linkSet(0, vars["_location"], source);
-#else
-				sendmsg(source, "_notice_link", 0, ([
-				     "_tag_reply": vars["_tag"],
-				     "_nick" : MYNICK ]));
-				// PSYCion users dont have queries.
-				// until there are more clients this will 
-				// be enough TODO
-				vDel("query");
-				// <lynX> clients either use _request_input
-				// and thus support current place and query,
-				// or otherwise _message to places and people
-				// and never use _request_input, therefore
-				// not get into trouble with query & place....?
-#endif
 				// moved logon after _notice_linked
 				// which is more appropriate for most clients
 				// lets see if theres any problem with that
@@ -1300,16 +1229,11 @@ case "_set_password":
 			:)); // dont display, dont log, it is handled async
 #endif
 			return 0;
+// _request_do_exit currently logs out clients anyway
+// don't use this:
 case "_request_exit":
 			if (itsme && source == v("locations")[0]) {
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 				linkDel(0, source);
-#else
-				sendmsg(source, "_notice_unlink_exit",
-					0, ([]));
-				register_location(source);
-				m_delete(v("locations"), 0);
-#endif
 				quit();
 				return 0;
 			} else {
@@ -1324,15 +1248,7 @@ case "_request_unlink":
 			    member(v("locations"), vars["_service"])) {
 				if (source == v("locations")[vars["_service"]]
 				    || checkPassword(vars["_password"])) {
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 					linkDel(vars["_service"]);
-#else
-					m_delete(v("locations"), vars["_service"]);
-					sendmsg(source, "_notice_unlink_"+
-					    vars["_service"],
-					    "You have been unlinked from [_service].",
-					     ([ "_service" : vars["_service"] ]));
-#endif
 					return 0;
 				} else {
 					// report?
@@ -1341,14 +1257,7 @@ case "_request_unlink":
 				}
 			} else if (member(v("locations"), 0)
 				    && source == v("locations")[0]) {
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
 				linkDel(0);
-#else
-				m_delete(v("locations"), 0);
-				register_location(source, 0);
-				sendmsg(source, "_notice_unlink",
-					0, ([]));
-#endif
 				if (mc == "_request_unlink_disconnect" && !ONLINE) {
 					// manually calling disconnected() .. hmmm
 					disconnected();
@@ -1729,8 +1638,12 @@ case "_notice_invitation":
 case "_message_private_question":
 case "_message_private":
 		// same filtering code as couple lines above
-		if (( IS_NEWBIE || !itsme && FILTERED(source)) &&
-		    (!profile || profile[PPL_NOTIFY] <= PPL_NOTIFY_PENDING)) {
+		if ((
+#ifndef _flag_enable_unauthenticated_message_private
+		      IS_NEWBIE ||
+#endif
+		      (!itsme && FILTERED(source)) &&
+		    (!profile || profile[PPL_NOTIFY] <= PPL_NOTIFY_PENDING))) {
 PT(("_failure_filter_strangers to %O from %O\n", source, ME))
 			sendmsg(source, "_failure_filter_strangers", 0,
 				([ "_nick" : MYNICK ]) );
@@ -2606,6 +2519,10 @@ reboot(reason, restart, pass) {
 	//unless (clonep(ME)) return;
 	if (blueprint(ME) == ME) return;
 	P2(("%O shutting down\n", ME))
+
+	// temporary, please remove after 2009-04
+	if (!v("locations")) vSet("locations", ([]));
+
 #if !defined(SLAVE) && !defined(_flag_disable_info_session)
 	if (ONLINE) {
 	    // same in net/psyc/circuit.c
@@ -2640,9 +2557,12 @@ quit(immediate, variant) {
 	int rc;
 
 	P3(("person:QUIT(%O,%O) in %O\n", immediate,variant, ME))
-#ifdef NEW_UNLINK
-	linkDel(0);
-#endif
+	// keeping services running while logging out should be possible.. but
+	//linkDel(0);
+	if (sizeof(v("locations"))) {
+		// the if should only trigger at first pass
+		linkCleanUp();
+	}
 	if (immediate == 1 || (immediate && find_call_out(#'quit) != -1)) {
 		rc = save();
 		if (sizeof(places)) {
@@ -2658,8 +2578,13 @@ quit(immediate, variant) {
 		P1(("intercepted recursive QUIT %O\n", ME || MYNICK ))
 		return 0;
 	}
+	P4(("** QUITTING %O: av %O, sc %O\n", ME, availability, v("scheme")))
 #ifndef	_flag_disable_module_presence
 	switch(v("scheme")) {
+	case 0:
+		// scheme is 0 when a user entity has never been logged
+		// in, like friends in a roster that get incarnated
+		break;
 	// jabber/user:quit() is called on @type 'unavailable'
 	// so it relies on quit() to announce offline status
 	//case "jabber":
@@ -2679,19 +2604,28 @@ quit(immediate, variant) {
 	// value would be nice. and we should have a delayed unavailability
 	// automation feature here to avoid frequent relogin announcements.
 	case "psyc":
-		if (variant != "_disconnect") break;
+		if (variant != "_disconnect") {
+			P3(("++SKIP psyc client %O %O. announce yourself!\n",
+			    variant, ME))
+			break;
+		}
 		// fall thru in case of _disconnect
 		// which indicates, we died an irregular death
 	default:
-# ifdef CACHE_PRESENCE
-		//announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE, 0, ask4upd8s == 0);
+# ifdef ALPHA
+		if (availability > AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE) {
+#  if 0 //def CACHE_PRESENCE
+			announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE, 0, ask4upd8s == 0);
+#  else
+			announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE);
+#  endif
+		}
 # else
-		//announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE);
-# endif
 		if (availability) {
 			announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE);
 			availability = 0;
 		}
+# endif
 	}
 #endif // _flag_disable_module_presence
 	// TODO: here we need to leave all our friends cslaves
@@ -2792,8 +2726,21 @@ announce(level, manual, verbose, text) {
 		text = text ? (MYNICK +" "+ text +".") : "";
 		    // fun: "Reclaim your chat. Use PSYC. PSYC delivers.";
 	}
-	// can this "optimization" cause async presence effects..?
-	if (!changed && availability == level) return 0;
+	if (!changed && availability == level) {
+		// this check ensures that we do not send "fake" announces
+		// for user entities which are being deallocated but
+		// were never actually logged in (absent friends of users)
+		// ... maybe this stops now that i added 'case 0:'
+		//
+		// we also get here when user objects are force quitted
+		// by keepUserObject() even if they were created just now
+		// ... see irc/server.. it's a FIXME
+		//
+		// unfortunately it seems to also affect other scenarios
+		P3(("++SKIP %O announce %O(%O,%O) %O changed: %d, av: %O\n",
+		    ME, level, manual, verbose, text, changed, availability))
+		return 0;
+	}
 	if (level) vSet("availability", availability = level);
 	else level = availability;	// sending EXPIRED not permitted here
 	P2(("%O announce %O(%O,%O) %O changed: %d, mood: %O\n", ME,
diff --git a/world/net/place/archetype.gen b/world/net/place/archetype.gen
index ee3b50e..2194cf2 100644
--- a/world/net/place/archetype.gen
+++ b/world/net/place/archetype.gen
@@ -935,6 +935,14 @@ private leaveMsg(ni, isError, source, mc, data, vars) {
 	// optimize away the echo isn't really pragmatic.. TODO.
 	// we may also simplify the context specification then, huh?
 	//
+#ifdef EXPERIMENTAL
+	// first send tagged echo to the person leaving
+	unless(isError) sendmsg(source, mc, data, vars+ ([ "_source_relay" : source ]));
+	// remove her from the context
+	remove_member(source, vars["_INTERNAL_origin"]);
+	// let everybody else know about the loss
+	unless(isError || v("_filter_presence")) castmsg(source, mc, data, vars);
+#else
 	unless(isError) {
 		if (v("_filter_presence")) {
 			// arent you a little heavy on the relays here? i dont get it
@@ -943,6 +951,7 @@ private leaveMsg(ni, isError, source, mc, data, vars) {
 		else castmsg(source, mc, data, vars);
 	}
 	remove_member(source, vars["_INTERNAL_origin"]);
+#endif
 	// it's probably safer to call this hook _after_ removing
 	// the candidate to avoid risking loops
 	leave(source, mc, data, vars);  // hook here.. hardly ever used
@@ -1521,21 +1530,13 @@ reboot(reason, restart) {
 			 // not so sure about this mc  ;)
 			 "_warning_unavailable_temporary_shutdown",
 #else
-#ifndef ECHOES
 			 "_notice_place_leave_temporary_shutdown",
-#else /* ECHOES */
-			 "_echo_place_leave_temporary_shutdown",
-#endif /* ECHOES */
 #endif
 			// used to output _source here, but when a UNI relays
 			// the message to a UNL, the UNI is shown instead of ME
 		      "Server for [_nick_place] is being restarted: [_reason]", 
 			([ "_reason": reason ]) );
-#ifndef ECHOES
 		else castmsg(ME, "_notice_place_leave_shutdown", // _permanent ?
-#else /* ECHOES */
-		else castmsg(ME, "_echo_place_leave_shutdown", // _permanent ?
-#endif /* ECHOES */
 		      "Server for [_nick_place] is shutting down: [_reason]",
 			([ "_reason": reason ]) );
 #ifndef PERSISTENT_MASTERS
@@ -1552,11 +1553,7 @@ reboot(reason, restart) {
 quit() {
 	save();
 #ifndef PERSISTENT_MASTERS
-#ifndef ECHOES
 	castmsg(ME, "_notice_place_leave_temporary",
-#else /* ECHOES */
-	castmsg(ME, "_echo_place_leave_temporary",
-#endif /* ECHOES */
 	    "[_nick_place] is temporarily being shut down for reload.",
 	     ([ "_nick_place" : MYNICK ]) );
 #endif
diff --git a/world/net/psyc/user.c b/world/net/psyc/user.c
index 6ff48dc..e0b3005 100644
--- a/world/net/psyc/user.c
+++ b/world/net/psyc/user.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ qHasCurrentPlace() { return 0; }
 
 logon() {
 #ifdef NO_EXTERNAL_LOGINS
-       return destruct(ME);
+	return destruct(ME);
 #endif
 	// psyc users dont have their own socket, so the driver 
 	// does not call disconnected() for them - this enables the
diff --git a/world/net/user.c b/world/net/user.c
index e95d7fb..f18fce2 100644
--- a/world/net/user.c
+++ b/world/net/user.c
@@ -598,6 +598,7 @@ msg(source, mc, data, mapping vars, showingLog) {
 		P3(("%O time %O data %O from %O\n", ME, t, data, vars))
 	}
 	PSYC_TRY(mc) {
+#ifndef ALPHA
 case "_jabber_iq_error": // DONT reply
 		P2(("%O got %O", ME, mc))
 		break;
@@ -610,6 +611,7 @@ case "_jabber_iq_set":
 		sendmsg(source, "_error_unsupported_method", 0,
 			([ "_tag_reply" : vars["_tag"] ]));
 		break;
+#endif
 case "_jabber":
 		P1(("%O got %O", ME, mc))
 		break;
@@ -896,19 +898,27 @@ case "_status_presence":
 case "_notice_person_absent_netburp":
 		if (vars["_context"] != place) return 1;
 		break;
-#if 1
 case "_failure_unsuccessful_delivery":
 case "_failure_network_connect_invalid_port":
 // is this the right place to do this? i have seen a recursion where
 // person.c was never asked for opinion, so i'm putting this into user.c
+#ifdef ALPHA
+		string loc;
+		foreach (t, loc : v("locations"))
+		    if (vars["_source_relay"] == loc) {
+			P1(("%O in %O talking to its %O location at %O.",
+			    mc, ME, t, loc))
+			sLocation(t, 0);
+		}
+#else
 		// TODO: walk thru entire locations mapping!
 		if (vars["_source_relay"] == v("locations")[0]) {
-		    P0(("%O got %O, deleting 0 from %O\n", ME,
-			mc, v("locations")))
-		    m_delete(v("locations"), 0);
+			P0(("%O got %O, deleting 0 from %O\n", ME,
+			    mc, v("locations")))
+			m_delete(v("locations"), 0);
                 }
-		// fall thru - not strictly necessary but adds a feature
 #endif
+		// fall thru - not strictly necessary but adds a feature
 case "_failure_redirect_permanent":
 		// we currently have no implementation for permanent changes
 case "_failure_redirect_temporary":
@@ -1271,7 +1281,8 @@ w(string mc, string data, mapping vars, mixed source, int showingLog) {
 		if (!loc) {
 			// oh.. happens on beta?
 			P1(("%O late deletion of a %O zero location - should never happen\n", ME, type))
-			m_delete(v("locations"), type);
+			//m_delete(v("locations"), type);
+			sLocation(type, 0);
 			continue;
 		}
 #endif
diff --git a/world/net/usercmd.i b/world/net/usercmd.i
index 6249eec..fd5e22a 100644
--- a/world/net/usercmd.i
+++ b/world/net/usercmd.i
@@ -1771,6 +1771,9 @@ case "_unlink":
                 unlink(vars["_service"]);
                 return 1;
 case "_exit":
+		// so this is some kind of ugly hack not to be used.. huh?
+		announce(AVAILABILITY_OFFLINE);
+		// fall thru
 case "_quit":
                 // bye(vars["_reason"]);
                 quit();