diff --git a/kiln/Adafruit_alphanumeric.py b/kiln/Adafruit_alphanumeric.py
index 2b3a4df..c9a1118 100644
--- a/kiln/Adafruit_alphanumeric.py
+++ b/kiln/Adafruit_alphanumeric.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class Alphanumeric(object):
         "Sets a single decimal or hexademical value (0..9 and A..F)"
         if (charNumber > 4):
             return
-        if value in special:
+        if value in self.special:
             value = self.special[value]
         else:
             value = self.lut[ord(value)]
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class Alphanumeric(object):
         self.disp.setBufferRow(charNumber, value | (dot << 14))
 
 
-class AlphaScoller(threading.Thread):
+class AlphaScroller(threading.Thread):
     def __init__(self, address=0x70, interval=.25):
         self.interval = interval
         self.disp = Alphanumeric(address)
@@ -191,5 +191,5 @@ class AlphaScoller(threading.Thread):
             for i in range(4):
                 char = self.value[(self.counter+i) % len(self.value)]
                 self.disp.writeChar(i, char)
-            time.sleep(interval)
+            time.sleep(self.interval)
             self.counter += 1
diff --git a/kiln/thermo.py b/kiln/thermo.py
index 4dd664c..82c961b 100644
--- a/kiln/thermo.py
+++ b/kiln/thermo.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import time
+import re
 import threading
 import datetime
 from collections import deque
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ class Monitor(threading.Thread):
         from Adafruit_alphanumeric import AlphaScroller
         self.display = AlphaScroller(interval=.4)
         self.display.start()
+        super(Monitor, self).__init__()
+        self.daemon = True
 
     def _read_temp(self):
         with open(self.device, 'r') as f:
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ class Monitor(threading.Thread):
         while True:
             temp = self._read_temp()
             fahr = temp * 9. / 5. + 32.
-            now = datetime.datetime()
+            now = datetime.datetime.now()
             self.history.append((now, temp))
             
             text = list('%0.0f'%temp) + ['degree'] + list('C  %0.0f'%fahr)+['degree'] + list("F")
@@ -53,3 +56,8 @@ class Monitor(threading.Thread):
                 text += [' ', ' ', 'cone']+list("%0.1f"%temp_to_cone(temp))
             text += '    '
             self.display.text = text
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    mon = Monitor()
+    mon.start()
+    mon.join()