diff --git a/firmware/user/src/btn.c b/firmware/user/src/btn.c
index e29ca35..3eb7f77 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/btn.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/btn.c
@@ -17,7 +17,13 @@ struct Btn btn[BTN_COUNT] = {0};
 
 void btn_init()
 {
+    uint8_t i;
+
     touch_init();
+
+    for (i = 0; i < BTN_COUNT; i++) {
+        btn[i]._mask = BTN_RELEASE;
+    }
 }
 
 void btn_poll()
@@ -29,16 +35,16 @@ void btn_poll()
         ignore = btn[i]._mask & BTN_IGNORE;
 
         if (touch_read_pushed(i)) {
-            // is pushed
-            if (btn[i]._count < BTN_DEBOUNCE) continue;
-
             // hold counter
             if (btn[i]._count < 0xffff) btn[i]._count++;
 
+            // pushed long enough?
+            if (btn[i]._count < BTN_DEBOUNCE) continue;
+
             // first push?
-            if (!btn[i]._mask & BTN_PUSH) {
-                btn[i]._mask = BTN_PUSH;
-                if (btn[i].cb_push) {
+            if (!(btn[i]._mask & BTN_PUSH)) {
+                btn[i]._mask = BTN_PUSH | ignore;
+                if (btn[i].cb_push && !ignore) {
                     btn[i].cb_push(i);
                     btn[i]._mask |= (BTN_PUSH << 4);
                 }
@@ -46,7 +52,7 @@ void btn_poll()
                 // held to count limit
 
                 // if button is not repeatable, do not retrigger
-                if ((btn[i]._mask && BTN_HOLD) && !btn[i].repeat) continue;
+                if ((btn[i]._mask & BTN_HOLD) && !btn[i].repeat) continue;
 
                 btn[i]._mask |= BTN_HOLD;
                 // call callback only if not in ignore state
@@ -56,11 +62,14 @@ void btn_poll()
                 }
 
                 // apply repeat rate to count
-                btn[i]._count -= btn[i].repeat;
+                if (btn[i].repeat > btn[i]._count) {
+                    btn[i]._count = 0;
+                } else btn[i]._count -= btn[i].repeat;
             }
         } else {
             // is not pushed
-            if (!btn[i]._mask & BTN_RELEASE) {
+            if (!(btn[i]._mask & BTN_RELEASE)) {
+                // note: release will remove ignore status
                 btn[i]._mask = BTN_RELEASE;
                 btn[i]._count = 0;
                 // call callback only if not in ignore state
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/config.c b/firmware/user/src/config.c
index 472468c..b66d48d 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/config.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/config.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  *      Author: true
  */
 
+#include <string.h>
 #include <ch32v20x.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
@@ -42,11 +43,13 @@ uint32_t chip_get_flash_size()
     }
 }
 
-static uint32_t * calc_address()
+static uint32_t calc_address()
 {
-    return (uint32_t *)(FLASH_BASE + chip_get_flash_size()) - (CONF_FLASH_PAGE_SIZE * CONF_FLASH_PAGES);
+    uint32_t calc = (FLASH_BASE + chip_get_flash_size()) - (CONF_FLASH_PAGE_SIZE * CONF_FLASH_PAGES);
+    return calc;
 }
 
+/*
 static void read_page_from_flash(uint8_t page, uint32_t *data, uint16_t len)
 {
     uint32_t *addr = calc_address();
@@ -60,25 +63,26 @@ static void read_page_from_flash(uint8_t page, uint32_t *data, uint16_t len)
     // read the data
     flash_read(addr, data, len);
 }
+*/
 
 static void write_page_to_flash(uint8_t page, uint32_t *data, uint16_t len)
 {
     len = (uint16_t)len;
 
-    uint32_t *addr = calc_address() + (page * CONF_FLASH_PAGE_SIZE);
+    uint32_t addr = calc_address() + (page * CONF_FLASH_PAGE_SIZE);
 
     // write the data
     // note we don't pass any length. we'll just read whatever garbage
     // is in RAM after our config and write it to flash. lol
-    flash_write256(addr, data);
+    flash_write256((uint32_t *)addr, data);
 }
 
-static uint16_t checksum()
+static uint16_t checksum(struct UserConf *conf)
 {
     uint16_t i;
     uint16_t sum = 0;
 
-    uint8_t *uc = (uint8_t *)&userconf;
+    uint8_t *uc = (uint8_t *)conf;
 
     // calculate checksum
     for (i = 0; i < sizeof(userconf) - 6; i++) {
@@ -90,30 +94,39 @@ static uint16_t checksum()
 
 void userconf_load()
 {
-    uint8_t valid = 0;
+    uint8_t i;
+
+    uint32_t ver_highest = 0;
 
     uint8_t page = CONF_FLASH_PAGES;
+    uint32_t addr;
+    struct UserConf *flash;
 
-    // read pages backward until we get non-empty flash
-    while (page) {
-        read_page_from_flash(--page, (uint32_t *)&userconf, sizeof(userconf)/4);
-        if (userconf.checkval == CHECKVAL) {
-            if (userconf.checksum == checksum()) {
-                // data appears to be valid... use it
-                active_page = page;
-                valid = 1;
+    // read pages and see if we can find our data
+    while (page--) {
+        addr = calc_address() + (page * CONF_FLASH_PAGE_SIZE);
+        flash = (struct UserConf *)addr;
+        if (flash->checkval == CHECKVAL) {
+            if (flash->checksum == checksum(flash)) {
+                if (ver_highest < flash->version) {
+                    ver_highest = flash->version;
+                    active_page = page;
+                }
             }
         }
     }
 
-    if (!valid) {
+    if (!ver_highest) {
         // config is invalid; reset to default
         userconf.version = 0;
 
-        userconf.checksum = checksum();
-        userconf.checkval = CHECKVAL;
-
-        // default program connfigs
+        // default program configs
+        for (i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+            userconf.pep_conf[i][0] = 0;
+            userconf.pep_conf[i][1] = 0;
+            userconf.pep_conf[i][2] = 0;
+            userconf.pep_conf[i][3] = 0;
+        }
 
         // program 0: flashing
         userconf.pep_conf[0][0] = 0x80;     // brightness
@@ -122,19 +135,25 @@ void userconf_load()
         // program 2: loops
         userconf.pep_conf[2][0] = 0xc0;     // brightness
         userconf.pep_conf[2][1] = 0;        // looping rate
-        userconf.pep_conf[2][3] = 3;        // decay rate
+        userconf.pep_conf[2][3] = 1;        // decay rate
 
         // program 4: alternating
         userconf.pep_conf[4][0] = 0x80;     // brightness
-        userconf.pep_conf[4][1] = 8;        // flash rate
+        userconf.pep_conf[4][1] = 12;        // flash rate
         userconf.pep_conf[4][3] = 0x0b;     // lower brightness on alternate
+
+        userconf.checksum = checksum(&userconf);
+        userconf.checkval = CHECKVAL;
+    } else {
+        memcpy(&userconf, (uint8_t *)(calc_address() + (active_page * 256)), sizeof(userconf));
     }
 }
 
 void userconf_save()
 {
+    // we can only save ~4 billion times
     userconf.version++;
-    userconf.checksum = checksum();
+    userconf.checksum = checksum(&userconf);
     userconf.checkval = CHECKVAL;
 
     // determine page to write
@@ -145,6 +164,5 @@ void userconf_save()
     // nothing is mentioned in the datasheet nor reference manual
     // about repeated writes. so to be safe, each page gets
     // written to once per erase.
-
     write_page_to_flash(active_page, (uint32_t *)&userconf, sizeof(userconf)/4);
 }
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/led.c b/firmware/user/src/led.c
index 4167c47..e40025b 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/led.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/led.c
@@ -67,6 +67,15 @@ void led_init()
     TIM_TimeBaseInitTypeDef timer ={0};
     TIM_OCInitTypeDef pwm = {0};
 
+    uint8_t i;
+
+
+    // reset LED values
+    for (i = 0; i < FL3729_SW_COUNT * FL3729_CS_COUNT; i++) {
+        led.all[i] = 0;
+    }
+    rgb[0] = rgb[1] = rgb[2] = 0;
+
 
     // configure matrix
     is31fl3729_init(FL3729_ADDR,
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_pep.c b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_pep.c
index 8e1fc04..b9988c1 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_pep.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_pep.c
@@ -195,17 +195,53 @@ static void pep_2_loops(uint8_t tick)
  * segment, upper and lower, turns on
  * after both segments are on the separator goes off
  */
+static uint8_t flicker_count[2];
+static uint8_t flicker_delay[2];
+static uint8_t flicker_timer[2];
+
 static void pep_3_neon_sign(uint8_t tick)
 {
     uint8_t i;
 
+    uint16_t rnd;
+    uint8_t target;
+
+    if (tick & 4) {
+        rnd = prng_get8();
+        if (rnd >= 0xfc) {
+            // do a flicker
+            target = rnd & 1;
+
+            flicker_count[target] = prng_scale16(1, 4) << 1;
+            flicker_delay[target] = prng_scale16(12, 240);
+
+            if (rnd & 2) {
+                flicker_count[target ^ 1] = flicker_count[target];
+                flicker_delay[target ^ 1] = flicker_delay[target];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+
+
     // todo: implement flickering on/off
     // like a flourescent tube warming up or failing
+    for (i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        if (flicker_count[i]) {
+            if (flicker_timer[i]) {
+                flicker_timer[i]--;
+            } else {
+                flicker_count[i]--;
+                flicker_timer[i] = flicker_delay[i];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     for (i = 0; i < LED_PEP_COUNT; i++) {
-        led.section.pep[i] = (tick & 2) ? 0x40 : 16;
+        led.section.pep[i] = flicker_count[0] & 1 ? 0 : 0x80;
     }
     for (i = 0; i < LED_HAT_COUNT; i++) {
-        led.section.hat[i] = (tick & 2) ? 0x80 : 24;
+        led.section.hat[i] = flicker_count[1] & 1 ? 0 : 0x60;
     }
 
     led_matrix_is_updated();
@@ -257,9 +293,10 @@ static const uint8_t nom_map[5][2] = {
     {14, 21},
     {12, 23},
     { 9, 24},
-    { 5, 27},
-    { 2, 29}
+    { 7, 27},
+    { 3, 28}
 };
+uint16_t nom_timeout = 0;
 
 static void pep_5_nom(uint8_t tick)
 {
@@ -269,13 +306,21 @@ static void pep_5_nom(uint8_t tick)
     switch (pep_work[0]) {
         case 0:
         case 2: {   // wait a while
-            if (!pep_work[2]) {
+            if (!nom_timeout) {
                 // just got here; set a new random timeout
-                pep_work[2] = 0xff - (prng_get8() >> 2);
+                nom_timeout = 0x3ff - prng_get8();
+                // also set the pepper to be on
+                for (i = LED_PEP_NOTOP; i < LED_PEP_COUNT; i++) {
+                    led.section.pep[i] = 0x80;
+                }
+                for (i = 0; i < LED_HAT_COUNT; i++) {
+                    led.section.hat[i] = 0x60;
+                }
+                led_matrix_is_updated();
             } else {
                 // wait around for a little while
-                pep_work[2]--;
-                if (!pep_work[2]) {
+                nom_timeout--;
+                if (!nom_timeout) {
                     // done here
                     pep_work[1] = 0;
                     pep_work[0]++;
@@ -286,9 +331,28 @@ static void pep_5_nom(uint8_t tick)
             break;
         }
 
-        case 1: {   // eat the pepper
+        case 1: {   // regen the pepper
+            if (led.section.pep[pep_work[1]] >= (0x80 - 4)) {
+                // next segment
+                pep_work[1]++;
+                if (pep_work[1] > (LED_PEP_NOTOP - pep_work[1])) {
+                    // we're done regenerating
+                    pep_work[0]++;
+                }
+            } else {
+                led.section.pep[pep_work[1]] += 4;
+                if (pep_work[1]) {
+                    led.section.pep[LED_PEP_NOTOP - pep_work[1]] = led.section.pep[pep_work[1]];
+                }
+                led_matrix_is_updated();
+            }
+
+            break;
+        }
+
+        case 3: {   // eat the pepper
             // eat at about one bite per second
-            if ((tick & 0x3f) != 0) break;
+            if ((tick & 0x7f) != 0) break;
 
             start = 0;
 
@@ -321,26 +385,7 @@ static void pep_5_nom(uint8_t tick)
 
             pep_work[1]++;
 
-            if (pep_work[1] > 6) pep_work[0]++;
-
-            break;
-        }
-
-        case 3: {   // regen the pepper
-            if (led.section.pep[pep_work[1]] >= (0x80 - 4)) {
-                // next segment
-                pep_work[1]++;
-                if (pep_work[1] > (LED_PEP_NOTOP - pep_work[1])) {
-                    // we're done regenerating
-                    pep_work[0] = 0;
-                }
-            } else {
-                led.section.pep[pep_work[1]] += 4;
-                if (pep_work[1]) {
-                    led.section.pep[LED_PEP_NOTOP - pep_work[1]] = led.section.pep[pep_work[1]];
-                }
-                led_matrix_is_updated();
-            }
+            if (pep_work[1] > 6) pep_work[0] = 0;
 
             break;
         }
@@ -413,6 +458,7 @@ void ledprog_pep_init()
     }
 
     // per-program initialization
+    nom_timeout = 0;
 
     // there is none on this badge
 }
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.c b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.c
index f98aa62..6456188 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.c
@@ -15,11 +15,18 @@ static uint16_t rgb_work[4];
 
 
 
+/*
+ *
+ */
+static void rgb_0_nothing(uint8_t tick)
+{
+    rgb[0] = rgb[1] = rgb[2] = 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * rainbow puke
  */
-
-static void rgb_0_rainbow(uint8_t tick)
+static void rgb_1_rainbow(uint8_t tick)
 {
 
 }
@@ -27,7 +34,7 @@ static void rgb_0_rainbow(uint8_t tick)
 /*
  * static color with bright flickers
  */
-static void rgb_1_flicker(uint8_t tick)
+static void rgb_2_candle(uint8_t tick)
 {
 
 }
@@ -35,17 +42,18 @@ static void rgb_1_flicker(uint8_t tick)
 /*
  * alternate between two colors
  */
-static void rgb_2_alternate(uint8_t tick)
+static void rgb_3_alternate(uint8_t tick)
 {
 
 }
 
 
 
-const void (*ledprog_rgb[4])(uint8_t) = {
-    (const void (*)(uint8_t))rgb_0_rainbow,
-    (const void (*)(uint8_t))rgb_1_flicker,
-    (const void (*)(uint8_t))rgb_2_alternate
+void (*ledprog_rgb[4])(uint8_t) = {
+    rgb_0_nothing,
+    rgb_1_rainbow,
+    rgb_2_candle,
+    rgb_3_alternate
 };
 
 
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.h b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.h
index 3792391..24f2c0c 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.h
+++ b/firmware/user/src/ledprog_rgb.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 
 
-extern void (*ledprog_rgb[8])(uint8_t, uint8_t);
+extern void (*ledprog_rgb[8])(uint8_t);
 
 
 
diff --git a/firmware/user/src/ui.c b/firmware/user/src/ui.c
index e17b5f6..026012a 100644
--- a/firmware/user/src/ui.c
+++ b/firmware/user/src/ui.c
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include "ui.h"
+
 #include "adc.h"
 #include "btn.h"
+#include "config.h"
 #include "led.h"
 #include "ledprog_pep.h"
 #include "ledprog_rgb.h"
@@ -16,11 +19,13 @@
 #define MODE_PROGRAM            1
 #define MODE_PARAMETER          2
 
-#define UI_CONF_SAVE_TIMEOUT    160
+#define UI_CONF_SAVE_TIMEOUT    512
 
 #define UI_PROG_RUNTIME_MIN     (128*15)    // 15 seconds
 #define UI_PROG_RUNTIME_MAX     (128*120)   // 120 seconds
 
+#define PROG_REPEAT             0x80
+
 
 
 static const uint8_t led_gc_map[] = {
@@ -35,6 +40,8 @@ static const uint8_t led_gc_map[] = {
 static uint8_t mode = MODE_RUN;
 static uint8_t tick = 0;
 
+static uint16_t save_delay = 0;
+
 
 
 void ui_btn_push_cb(uint8_t idx)
@@ -44,33 +51,61 @@ void ui_btn_push_cb(uint8_t idx)
 
 void ui_btn_hold_cb(uint8_t idx)
 {
-
+    switch (idx) {
+        case 0: {   // left pepper hat
+            userconf.pep_prog_ena_map ^= PROG_REPEAT;
+            break;
+        }
+        case 1: {   // right pepper hat
+            userconf.rgb_prog_ena_map ^= PROG_REPEAT;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 void ui_btn_release_cb(uint8_t idx)
 {
+    uint8_t update;
 
+    switch (idx) {
+        case 0: {   // left pepper hat
+            update = userconf.pep_prog_ena_map & ~(PROG_REPEAT);
+            update++;
+            if (update > 5) update = 0;
+            userconf.pep_prog_ena_map = update | (userconf.pep_prog_ena_map & PROG_REPEAT);
+            ledprog_pep_init();
+            break;
+        }
+        case 1: {   // right pepper hat
+            update = userconf.rgb_prog_ena_map & ~(PROG_REPEAT);
+            update++;
+            if (update > 3) update = 0;
+            userconf.rgb_prog_ena_map = update | (userconf.rgb_prog_ena_map & PROG_REPEAT);
+            ledprog_rgb_init();
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    save_delay = UI_CONF_SAVE_TIMEOUT;
 }
 
 
 
 void ui_init()
 {
-    btn[0].hold = 330 >> 1;
+    btn[0].hold = 1200 >> 1;
     btn[0].repeat = 0; // (1000 / 20) >> 1;
     btn[0].cb_push = ui_btn_push_cb;
     btn[0].cb_hold = ui_btn_hold_cb;
     btn[0].cb_release = ui_btn_release_cb;
 
-    btn[1].hold = 330 >> 1;
+    btn[1].hold = 1200 >> 1;
     btn[1].repeat = 0;
     btn[1].cb_push = ui_btn_push_cb;
     btn[1].cb_hold = ui_btn_hold_cb;
     btn[1].cb_release = ui_btn_release_cb;
 }
 
-uint8_t tmp;
-volatile uint8_t prog_run = 5;
 
 void ui_render()
 {
@@ -78,8 +113,27 @@ void ui_render()
 
     tick++;
 
+    uint8_t prog_pep_idx = userconf.pep_prog_ena_map & ~(PROG_REPEAT);
+    uint8_t prog_rgb_idx = userconf.rgb_prog_ena_map & ~(PROG_REPEAT);
+
     switch (mode) {
         case MODE_RUN: {
+            // run programs
+            if (ledprog_pep[prog_pep_idx]) {
+                ledprog_pep[prog_pep_idx](tick);
+            }
+            if (ledprog_rgb[prog_rgb_idx]) {
+                ledprog_rgb[prog_rgb_idx](tick);
+            }
+
+            // check flash save
+            if (save_delay) {
+                save_delay--;
+                if (!save_delay) {
+                    userconf_save();
+                }
+            }
+
             break;
         }
 
@@ -107,7 +161,7 @@ void ui_render()
 
     // temporary: testing
 
-    ledprog_pep[prog_run](tick);
+    // ledprog_pep[prog_run](tick);
     /*
     if ((tick & 3) == 3) {