diff --git a/moo/Makefile.in b/moo/Makefile.in
index 93aa608..7412225 100644
--- a/moo/Makefile.in
+++ b/moo/Makefile.in
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ pdfdir = @pdfdir@
 prefix = @prefix@
 program_transform_name = @program_transform_name@
 psdir = @psdir@
+runstatedir = @runstatedir@
 sbindir = @sbindir@
 sharedstatedir = @sharedstatedir@
 srcdir = @srcdir@
@@ -595,7 +596,7 @@ distdir: $(DISTFILES)
 	  ! -type d ! -perm -444 -exec $(install_sh) -c -m a+r {} {} \; \
 	|| chmod -R a+r "$(distdir)"
 dist-gzip: distdir
-	tardir=$(distdir) && $(am__tar) | eval GZIP= gzip $(GZIP_ENV) -c >$(distdir).tar.gz
+	tardir=$(distdir) && $(am__tar) | GZIP=$(GZIP_ENV) gzip -c >$(distdir).tar.gz
 	$(am__post_remove_distdir)
 
 dist-bzip2: distdir
@@ -621,7 +622,7 @@ dist-shar: distdir
 	@echo WARNING: "Support for shar distribution archives is" \
 	               "deprecated." >&2
 	@echo WARNING: "It will be removed altogether in Automake 2.0" >&2
-	shar $(distdir) | eval GZIP= gzip $(GZIP_ENV) -c >$(distdir).shar.gz
+	shar $(distdir) | GZIP=$(GZIP_ENV) gzip -c >$(distdir).shar.gz
 	$(am__post_remove_distdir)
 
 dist-zip: distdir
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@ dist dist-all:
 distcheck: dist
 	case '$(DIST_ARCHIVES)' in \
 	*.tar.gz*) \
-	  eval GZIP= gzip $(GZIP_ENV) -dc $(distdir).tar.gz | $(am__untar) ;;\
+	  GZIP=$(GZIP_ENV) gzip -dc $(distdir).tar.gz | $(am__untar) ;;\
 	*.tar.bz2*) \
 	  bzip2 -dc $(distdir).tar.bz2 | $(am__untar) ;;\
 	*.tar.lz*) \
@@ -649,7 +650,7 @@ distcheck: dist
 	*.tar.Z*) \
 	  uncompress -c $(distdir).tar.Z | $(am__untar) ;;\
 	*.shar.gz*) \
-	  eval GZIP= gzip $(GZIP_ENV) -dc $(distdir).shar.gz | unshar ;;\
+	  GZIP=$(GZIP_ENV) gzip -dc $(distdir).shar.gz | unshar ;;\
 	*.zip*) \
 	  unzip $(distdir).zip ;;\
 	esac
diff --git a/moo/configure b/moo/configure
index 6f91175..9209478 100755
--- a/moo/configure
+++ b/moo/configure
@@ -803,6 +803,7 @@ infodir
 docdir
 oldincludedir
 includedir
+runstatedir
 localstatedir
 sharedstatedir
 sysconfdir
@@ -900,6 +901,7 @@ datadir='${datarootdir}'
 sysconfdir='${prefix}/etc'
 sharedstatedir='${prefix}/com'
 localstatedir='${prefix}/var'
+runstatedir='${localstatedir}/run'
 includedir='${prefix}/include'
 oldincludedir='/usr/include'
 docdir='${datarootdir}/doc/${PACKAGE_TARNAME}'
@@ -1152,6 +1154,15 @@ do
   | -silent | --silent | --silen | --sile | --sil)
     silent=yes ;;
 
+  -runstatedir | --runstatedir | --runstatedi | --runstated \
+  | --runstate | --runstat | --runsta | --runst | --runs \
+  | --run | --ru | --r)
+    ac_prev=runstatedir ;;
+  -runstatedir=* | --runstatedir=* | --runstatedi=* | --runstated=* \
+  | --runstate=* | --runstat=* | --runsta=* | --runst=* | --runs=* \
+  | --run=* | --ru=* | --r=*)
+    runstatedir=$ac_optarg ;;
+
   -sbindir | --sbindir | --sbindi | --sbind | --sbin | --sbi | --sb)
     ac_prev=sbindir ;;
   -sbindir=* | --sbindir=* | --sbindi=* | --sbind=* | --sbin=* \
@@ -1289,7 +1300,7 @@ fi
 for ac_var in	exec_prefix prefix bindir sbindir libexecdir datarootdir \
 		datadir sysconfdir sharedstatedir localstatedir includedir \
 		oldincludedir docdir infodir htmldir dvidir pdfdir psdir \
-		libdir localedir mandir
+		libdir localedir mandir runstatedir
 do
   eval ac_val=\$$ac_var
   # Remove trailing slashes.
@@ -1442,6 +1453,7 @@ Fine tuning of the installation directories:
   --sysconfdir=DIR        read-only single-machine data [PREFIX/etc]
   --sharedstatedir=DIR    modifiable architecture-independent data [PREFIX/com]
   --localstatedir=DIR     modifiable single-machine data [PREFIX/var]
+  --runstatedir=DIR       modifiable per-process data [LOCALSTATEDIR/run]
   --libdir=DIR            object code libraries [EPREFIX/lib]
   --includedir=DIR        C header files [PREFIX/include]
   --oldincludedir=DIR     C header files for non-gcc [/usr/include]
diff --git a/moo/kernel/Process.moo b/moo/kernel/Process.moo
index d8fdc54..135e1bc 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/Process.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/Process.moo
@@ -52,9 +52,11 @@ class Semaphore(Object)
 {
 	var waiting_head  := nil,
 	    waiting_tail  := nil,
-	    count         :=   0,
-	    heapIndex     :=  -1,
-	    fireTimeSec   :=   0,
+	    count         :=   0.
+
+	var(#get,#set) heapIndex := -1.
+
+	var fireTimeSec   :=   0,
 	    fireTimeNsec  :=   0,
 	    ioIndex       :=  -1,
 	    ioHandle      := nil,
@@ -81,16 +83,6 @@ class Semaphore(Object)
 
 	## ==================================================================
 
-	method heapIndex
-	{
-		^heapIndex
-	}
-
-	method heapIndex: anIndex
-	{
-		heapIndex := anIndex
-	}
-
 	method fireTime
 	{
 		^fireTimeSec
@@ -221,6 +213,13 @@ method(#class,#abstract) xxx. => method(#class) xxx { self subclassResponsibilit
 	method(#primitive) _removeSemaphore: sem.
 	method(#primitive) _wait.
 
+	method addSemaphore: sem
+	{
+		| x |
+		x := self _addSemaphore: sem.
+		if (x isError) { thisProcess primError dump. Exception signal: ('Cannot add a semaphore - ' & thisProcess primError) }.
+		^x
+	}
 	method wait
 	{
 		| r |
diff --git a/moo/kernel/Socket.moo b/moo/kernel/Socket.moo
index 4ffaee3..3da1933 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/Socket.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/Socket.moo
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ class Socket(Object) from 'sck'
 	var handle := -1.
 
 	method(#primitive) _open(domain, type, proto).
-	method(#primitive) _connect(a,b,c).
 	method(#primitive) _close.
+
+	method(#primitive) _connect(a,b,c).
 }
 
 (* TODO: generate these domain and type from the C header *)
@@ -22,27 +23,113 @@ pooldic Socket.Type
 
 extend Socket
 {
-	method(#class) domain: domain type: type
+	method(#class) new { self messageProhibited: #new }
+	method(#class) new: size { self messageProhibited: #new: }
+
+	method(#class) _domain: domain _type: type
 	{
 		^super new _open(domain, type, 0).
 	}
 
-	method beginConnect
+	method(#class) domain: domain type: type
 	{
-		(*
-		| s1 s1 |
-		s1 = Semaphore new.
-		s2 = Semaphore new.
+		| s |
+		s := super new _open(domain, type, 0).
+		if (s isError) { Exception signal: 'Cannot open socket' }.
+		^s.
+	}
 
-		s1 signalHandler: [xxxxx].
-		s2 signalHandler: [xxxxxx].
+	method close
+	{
+		if (self.handle >= 0)
+		{
+			## this primitive method may return failure. 
+			## but ignore it in this normal method.
+			self _close.
+			self.handle := -1.
+		}
+	}
 
-		fcntl (nonblock);
+	method asyncConnect: connectBlock
+	{
+		| s1 s2 sg |
+		s1 := Semaphore new.
+		s2 := Semaphore new.
+
+		s1 signalAction: [:sem | Processor unsignal: s1. connectBlock value: true].
+		s2 signalAction: [:sem | Processor unsignal: s2. connectBlock value: false].
 
 		Processor signal: s1 onOutput: self.handle.
-		Processor signal: s2 after: timeout.
+		Processor signal: s2 after: 10.
 
-		connect ();
-		*)
+		sg := SemaphoreGroup new.
+		sg addSemaphore: s1.
+		sg addSemaphore: s2.
+sg addSemaphore: s1.
+sg addSemaphore: 10.
+sg addSemaphore: s1.
+
+		if (self _connect(1, 2, 3) isError)
+		{
+			Exception signal: 'Cannot connect to 1,2,3'.
+		}.
+
+		sg wait.
+	}
+
+	method asyncRead: readBlock
+	{
+		| s1 s2 | 
+		s1 := Semaphore new.
+		s2 := Semaphore new.
+
+		s1 signalAction: [:sem | readBlock value: true].
+		s2 signalAction: [:sem | readBlock value: false].
+
+		Processor signal: s1 onInput: self.handle.
+		Processor signal: s2 after: 10.
+	}
+
+(*
+	method asyncWrite: 
+	{
+		| s1 s2 | 
+		s1 := Semaphore new.
+		s2 := Semaphore new.
+
+		s1 signalAction: [:sem | writeBlock value: true].
+		s2 signalAction: [:sem | writeBlock value: false].
+
+		Processor signal: s1 onOutput: self.handle.
+		Processor signal: s2 after: 10.
+	}
+*)
+
+}
+
+
+(****
+class MyObject(Object)
+{
+	
+	method(#class) main
+	{
+		| s |
+		[
+			s := Socket domain: Socket.Domain.INET type: Socket.Type.STREAM.
+			s dump.
+
+			s asyncConnect: [:result | 
+				##s endConnect: result.
+				##s beginRead: xxx.
+				'CONNECTED NOW.............' dump.
+			].
+
+			s close dump.
+		] on: Exception do: [:ex | ('Exception - '  & ex messageText) dump ].
+
+		'----- END OF MAIN ------' dump.
 	}
 }
+*****)
+
diff --git a/moo/kernel/generr.moo b/moo/kernel/generr.moo
index 7486e14..e2738b0 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/generr.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/generr.moo
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class MyObject(Object)
 			'interrupted'
 			'pipe error'
 			'resource temporarily unavailable'
+			'bad system handle'
 
 			'data too large'
 			'message receiver error'
diff --git a/moo/kernel/test-002.moo b/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
index 2b2ef8f..85c3af5 100644
--- a/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
+++ b/moo/kernel/test-002.moo
@@ -132,12 +132,27 @@ class MyObject(Object)
 s1 := TcpSocket new.
 
 s1 onEvent: #connected do: [
-	s1 write: C'GET / HTTP/1.0\n\r'.
+	s1 waitToRead.
+	##s1 beginWrite: C'GET / HTTP/1.0\n\r'.
 ] 
 s1 onEvent: #written do: [
-]
+].
 
-s1 on: #read do:
-s1 connectTo: '1.2.3.4:45'.
+s1 onEvent: #readyToRead do: [
+	
+].
 
+s1 beginConnect: '1.2.3.4:45' onConnected: [ :result | xxxx].
+
+
+####
+s1 beginConnect: destination onConnected: 
+s1 endConnect --> return what?
+s1 endReceive
+s1 beginReceive: buffer callback: [xxxx].
+s1 beginSend: data onEnd: [do this].
+s1 endSend
+
+s1 beginAccept: [callback]
+s1 endAccept -> returns the actual socket
 *)
diff --git a/moo/lib/Makefile.in b/moo/lib/Makefile.in
index 2ad657f..b68939e 100644
--- a/moo/lib/Makefile.in
+++ b/moo/lib/Makefile.in
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ pdfdir = @pdfdir@
 prefix = @prefix@
 program_transform_name = @program_transform_name@
 psdir = @psdir@
+runstatedir = @runstatedir@
 sbindir = @sbindir@
 sharedstatedir = @sharedstatedir@
 srcdir = @srcdir@
diff --git a/moo/lib/err.c b/moo/lib/err.c
index 4481f1b..385f1c2 100644
--- a/moo/lib/err.c
+++ b/moo/lib/err.c
@@ -48,26 +48,28 @@ static moo_ooch_t errstr_14[] = {'n','o','t',' ','a',' ','d','i','r','e','c','t'
 static moo_ooch_t errstr_15[] = {'i','n','t','e','r','r','u','p','t','e','d','\0'};
 static moo_ooch_t errstr_16[] = {'p','i','p','e',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
 static moo_ooch_t errstr_17[] = {'r','e','s','o','u','r','c','e',' ','t','e','m','p','o','r','a','r','i','l','y',' ','u','n','a','v','a','i','l','a','b','l','e','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_18[] = {'d','a','t','a',' ','t','o','o',' ','l','a','r','g','e','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_19[] = {'m','e','s','s','a','g','e',' ','r','e','c','e','i','v','e','r',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_20[] = {'m','e','s','s','a','g','e',' ','s','e','n','d','i','n','g',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_21[] = {'w','r','o','n','g',' ','n','u','m','b','e','r',' ','o','f',' ','a','r','g','u','m','e','n','t','s','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_22[] = {'r','a','n','g','e',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_23[] = {'b','y','t','e','-','c','o','d','e',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_24[] = {'d','i','c','t','i','o','n','a','r','y',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_25[] = {'p','r','o','c','e','s','s','o','r',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_26[] = {'s','e','m','a','p','h','o','r','e',' ','h','e','a','p',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_27[] = {'s','e','m','a','p','h','o','r','e',' ','l','i','s','t',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_28[] = {'d','i','v','i','d','e',' ','b','y',' ','z','e','r','o','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_29[] = {'I','/','O',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_30[] = {'e','n','c','o','d','i','n','g',' ','c','o','n','v','e','r','s','i','o','n',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
-static moo_ooch_t errstr_31[] = {'b','u','f','f','e','r',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_18[] = {'b','a','d',' ','s','y','s','t','e','m',' ','h','a','n','d','l','e','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_19[] = {'d','a','t','a',' ','t','o','o',' ','l','a','r','g','e','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_20[] = {'m','e','s','s','a','g','e',' ','r','e','c','e','i','v','e','r',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_21[] = {'m','e','s','s','a','g','e',' ','s','e','n','d','i','n','g',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_22[] = {'w','r','o','n','g',' ','n','u','m','b','e','r',' ','o','f',' ','a','r','g','u','m','e','n','t','s','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_23[] = {'r','a','n','g','e',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_24[] = {'b','y','t','e','-','c','o','d','e',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_25[] = {'d','i','c','t','i','o','n','a','r','y',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_26[] = {'p','r','o','c','e','s','s','o','r',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_27[] = {'s','e','m','a','p','h','o','r','e',' ','h','e','a','p',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_28[] = {'s','e','m','a','p','h','o','r','e',' ','l','i','s','t',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_29[] = {'d','i','v','i','d','e',' ','b','y',' ','z','e','r','o','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_30[] = {'I','/','O',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_31[] = {'e','n','c','o','d','i','n','g',' ','c','o','n','v','e','r','s','i','o','n',' ','e','r','r','o','r','\0'};
+static moo_ooch_t errstr_32[] = {'b','u','f','f','e','r',' ','f','u','l','l','\0'};
 static moo_ooch_t* errstr[] =
 {
 	errstr_0, errstr_1, errstr_2, errstr_3, errstr_4, errstr_5, errstr_6, errstr_7,
 	errstr_8, errstr_9, errstr_10, errstr_11, errstr_12, errstr_13, errstr_14, errstr_15,
 	errstr_16, errstr_17, errstr_18, errstr_19, errstr_20, errstr_21, errstr_22, errstr_23,
-	errstr_24, errstr_25, errstr_26, errstr_27, errstr_28, errstr_29, errstr_30, errstr_31
+	errstr_24, errstr_25, errstr_26, errstr_27, errstr_28, errstr_29, errstr_30, errstr_31,
+	errstr_32 
 };
 
 #if defined(MOO_INCLUDE_COMPILER)
@@ -242,6 +244,7 @@ moo_errnum_t moo_syserr_to_errnum (int e)
 	{
 		case ENOMEM: return MOO_ESYSMEM;
 		case EINVAL: return MOO_EINVAL;
+
 	#if defined(EBUSY)
 		case EBUSY: return MOO_EBUSY;
 	#endif
@@ -272,6 +275,15 @@ moo_errnum_t moo_syserr_to_errnum (int e)
 	#elif defined(EWOULDBLOCK)
 		case EWOULDBLOCK: return MOO_EAGAIN;
 	#endif
+
+	#if defined(EBADF)
+		case EBADF: return MOO_EBADHND;
+	#endif
+
+	#if defined(EIO)
+		case EIO: return MOO_EIOERR;
+	#endif
+
 		default: return MOO_ESYSERR;
 	}
 #endif
diff --git a/moo/lib/moo.h b/moo/lib/moo.h
index 5d26f5b..035d6fe 100644
--- a/moo/lib/moo.h
+++ b/moo/lib/moo.h
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ enum moo_errnum_t
 	MOO_EINTR,
 	MOO_EPIPE,
 	MOO_EAGAIN,
+	MOO_EBADHND,
 
 	MOO_ENOAVAIL, /**< data not available*/
 	MOO_EMSGRCV,  /**< mesasge receiver error */
diff --git a/moo/mod/Makefile.in b/moo/mod/Makefile.in
index b18b14b..9303c86 100644
--- a/moo/mod/Makefile.in
+++ b/moo/mod/Makefile.in
@@ -424,6 +424,7 @@ pdfdir = @pdfdir@
 prefix = @prefix@
 program_transform_name = @program_transform_name@
 psdir = @psdir@
+runstatedir = @runstatedir@
 sbindir = @sbindir@
 sharedstatedir = @sharedstatedir@
 srcdir = @srcdir@
diff --git a/moo/mod/sck.c b/moo/mod/sck.c
index 0d3489d..c21abad 100644
--- a/moo/mod/sck.c
+++ b/moo/mod/sck.c
@@ -98,15 +98,18 @@ static moo_pfrc_t pf_close_socket (moo_t* moo, moo_ooi_t nargs)
 		if (close(MOO_OOP_TO_SMOOI(sck->handle)) == -1)
 		{
 			MOO_STACK_SETRETTOERROR (moo, nargs, moo_syserr_to_errnum(errno));
-			return MOO_PF_SUCCESS;
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			sck->handle = MOO_SMOOI_TO_OOP(-1);
+			MOO_STACK_SETRETTORCV (moo, nargs);
 		}
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		MOO_STACK_SETRETTOERROR (moo, nargs, MOO_EBADHND);
+	}
 
-	MOO_STACK_SETRETTORCV (moo, nargs);
 	return MOO_PF_SUCCESS;
 }