diff --git a/orc.cabal b/orc.cabal
--- a/orc.cabal
+++ b/orc.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:               orc
-version:            1.1
+version:            1.1.1.0
 synopsis:           Orchestration-style co-ordination EDSL
 description:        Provides an EDSL with Orc primitives.
 category:           Web
diff --git a/src/Examples/test.hs b/src/Examples/test.hs
--- a/src/Examples/test.hs
+++ b/src/Examples/test.hs
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
       "4" -> printOrc parvalueVal
       "5" -> printOrc $ count queens
       "6" -> printOrc numbers 
-      "7" -> printOrc (scan (flip (++)) [] (first 10 queens)) 
+      "7" -> printOrc (scan (flip (++)) [] (takeOrc 10 queens)) 
       "8" -> printOrc $ count (chans [1 .. 12])
-      "9" -> printOrc $ first 100 $ zipper (recursive 1) (recursive 1000)
+      "9" -> printOrc $ takeOrc 100 $ zipOrc (recursive 1) (recursive 1000)
       _   -> putStrLn "Unknown"
     putStrLn "----------------------------"
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 
 firstmetro :: Orc String
 firstmetro =  return "Respond to 2 prompt within 15 seconds, then check all prompts are dead"
-          <|> (delay 1 >> first 2 (metronome >> prompt "Hello"))
+          <|> (delay 1 >> takeOrc 2 (metronome >> prompt "Hello"))
           <|> (delay 15 >> return "15 seconds...")
 
 metronome = signal <|> (delay 2 >> metronome)
diff --git a/src/Orc/Combinators.hs b/src/Orc/Combinators.hs
--- a/src/Orc/Combinators.hs
+++ b/src/Orc/Combinators.hs
@@ -104,10 +104,8 @@
 scan f s p = do
   accum <- newTVar s
   x <- p
-  v <- readTVar accum
-  let w = f x v
-  writeTVar accum w
-  return w
+  (w,w') <- modifyTVar accum (f x)
+  return w'
 
 (<?>) :: Orc a -> Orc a -> Orc a
 p <?> q = do
@@ -138,8 +136,18 @@
      <+>
        readTVar accum
 
-ignore :: Int -> Orc a -> Orc a
-ignore n p = do
+
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- | List-like functions
+
+takeOrc :: Int -> Orc a -> Orc a
+takeOrc n p = do
+    vals <- newEmptyMVar
+    end  <- newEmptyMVar
+    echo n vals end <|> silent (sandbox p vals end)
+
+dropOrc :: Int -> Orc a -> Orc a
+dropOrc n p = do
     countdown <- newTVar n
     x <- p
     join $ atomically $ do 
@@ -149,33 +157,30 @@
           writeTVarSTM countdown (w-1)
           return stop
 
-first :: Int -> Orc a -> Orc a
-first n p = do
-    vals <- newEmptyMVar
-    end  <- newEmptyMVar
-    echo n vals end <|> silent (sandbox p vals end)
-  where
-  echo 0  _   end = silent (putMVar end ())
-  echo j vals end = do
-    mx <- takeMVar vals
-    case mx of
-      Nothing -> silent (putMVar end ())
-      Just x  -> return x <|> echo (j-1) vals end
-
-sandbox :: Orc a -> MVar (Maybe a) -> MVar () -> Orc ()
-sandbox p vals end
-  = ((p >>= (putMVar vals . Just)) <+> putMVar vals Nothing)
-    `onlyUntil` takeMVar end 
-
-
-zipper :: Orc a -> Orc b -> Orc (a,b)
-zipper p q = do
+zipOrc :: Orc a -> Orc b -> Orc (a,b)
+zipOrc p q = do
     pvals <- newEmptyMVar
     qvals <- newEmptyMVar
     end   <- newEmptyMVar
     zipp pvals qvals end
       <|> silent (sandbox p pvals end)
       <|> silent (sandbox q qvals end)
+
+--------------
+-- Auxilliary definitions
+
+sandbox :: Orc a -> MVar (Maybe a) -> MVar () -> Orc ()
+sandbox p vals end
+  = ((p >>= (putMVar vals . Just)) <+> putMVar vals Nothing)
+    `onlyUntil` takeMVar end 
+
+echo :: Int -> MVar (Maybe a) -> MVar () -> Orc a
+echo 0  _   end = silent (putMVar end ())
+echo j vals end = do
+    mx <- takeMVar vals
+    case mx of
+      Nothing -> silent (putMVar end ())
+      Just x  -> return x <|> echo (j-1) vals end
 
 zipp :: MVar (Maybe a) -> MVar (Maybe b) -> MVar () -> Orc (a,b)
 zipp pvals qvals end = do