diff --git a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
index 3ebc5bb2a..39debc14f 100644
--- a/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
+++ b/library/DFHackAPI.cpp
@@ -372,9 +372,10 @@ bool API::ReadStoneMatgloss(vector<t_matgloss> & stones)
     int matgloss_colors = minfo->getOffset("matgloss_stone_color");
     DfVector p_matgloss = d->dm->readVector(matgloss_address + matgloss_offset, 4);
 
-    stones.clear();
-
-    for (uint32_t i = 0; i< p_matgloss.getSize();i++)
+    int size = p_matgloss.getSize();
+    stones.resize(0);
+    stones.reserve(size);
+    for (uint32_t i = 0; i< size;i++)
     {
         uint32_t temp;
         // read the matgloss pointer from the vector into temp
diff --git a/library/DFProcess.cpp b/library/DFProcess.cpp
index 9d4bbfe52..82ac00365 100644
--- a/library/DFProcess.cpp
+++ b/library/DFProcess.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ void Process::setMemFile(const string & memf)
  */
 
 
+/*
 //TODO: rewrite this. really. It's ugly as hell.
 bool isStopped(pid_t pid)
 {
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ bool isStopped(pid_t pid)
     cerr << "couldn't open file " << filename << "assuming process stopped" << endl;
     return true;
 }
-
+*/
 bool Process::attach()
 {
     int status;
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ bool Process::attach()
     {
         return false;
     }
+    /*
     if(!isStopped(my_handle))
     {
         // kill (SIGSTOP)
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ bool Process::attach()
             //cout << "wait step" << endl;
         }
     }
+    */
     //usleep(10000);
     //cout << "Attach: after conditional stop" << endl;
     // can we attach?
@@ -138,7 +141,6 @@ bool Process::attach()
     }
     //usleep(10000);
     //cout << "Attach: after ptrace" << endl;
-    /*
     while(true)
     {
         // we wait on the pid
@@ -156,8 +158,8 @@ bool Process::attach()
         {
             break;
         }
-    }*/
-  //  cout << "Managed to attach to pid " << my_handle << endl;
+    }
+    //  cout << "Managed to attach to pid " << my_handle << endl;
     
     int proc_pid_mem = open(memFile.c_str(),O_RDONLY);
     if(proc_pid_mem == -1)
@@ -209,8 +211,8 @@ bool Process::detach()
             g_pProcess = NULL;
             g_ProcessHandle = 0;
             // continue, wait for it to recover
-            kill(my_handle,SIGCONT);
-            while (isStopped(my_handle));
+    //        kill(my_handle,SIGCONT);
+      //      while (isStopped(my_handle));
             //usleep(10000);
             // we finish
             return true;
diff --git a/library/DFTypes.h b/library/DFTypes.h
index 4ccc28688..300595787 100644
--- a/library/DFTypes.h
+++ b/library/DFTypes.h
@@ -384,6 +384,19 @@ struct t_labor
 {
     string name;
     uint8_t value;
+    t_labor() { 
+        value =0;
+    }
+    t_labor(const t_labor & b){
+        name=b.name;
+        value=b.value;
+    }
+    t_labor & operator=(const t_labor &b){
+        name=b.name;
+        value=b.value;
+        return *this;
+    }
+
 };
 struct t_skill
 {
@@ -391,6 +404,25 @@ struct t_skill
     uint16_t id;
     uint32_t experience;
     uint16_t rating;
+    t_skill(){
+        id=rating=0;
+        experience=0;
+    }
+    t_skill(const t_skill & b)
+    {
+        name=b.name;
+        id=b.id;
+        experience=b.experience;
+        rating=b.rating;
+    }
+    t_skill & operator=(const t_skill &b)
+    {
+        name=b.name;
+        id=b.id;
+        experience=b.experience;
+        rating=b.rating;
+        return *this;
+    }
 };
 
 struct t_trait
@@ -398,6 +430,22 @@ struct t_trait
 	uint16_t value;
 	string displayTxt;
 	string name;
+    t_trait(){
+        value=0;
+    }
+    t_trait(const t_trait &b)
+    {
+        name=b.name;
+        displayTxt=b.displayTxt;
+        value=b.value;
+    }
+    t_trait & operator=(const t_trait &b)
+    {
+        name=b.name;
+        displayTxt=b.displayTxt;
+        value=b.value;
+        return *this;
+    }
 };
 
 struct t_creature
@@ -410,7 +458,7 @@ struct t_creature
     t_creaturflags2 flags2;
     string first_name;
     string nick_name;
-    string last_name;
+    //string last_name;
     string trans_name;
     string generic_name;
     string generic_squad_name;
@@ -429,6 +477,72 @@ struct t_creature
     vector <t_skill> skills;
     vector <t_trait> traits;
     vector <t_labor> labors;
+    t_creature() { 
+        x=y=z=0;
+        type=happiness=id=agility=strength=toughness=money=0;
+        squad_leader_id = -1;
+        sex=0;
+        }
+    t_creature(const t_creature & b)
+    {
+        x = b.x;
+        y = b.y;
+        z = b.z;
+        type = b.type;
+        flags1 = b.flags1;
+        flags2 = b.flags2;
+        first_name = b.first_name;
+        nick_name = b.nick_name;
+        //string last_name;
+        trans_name = b.trans_name;
+        generic_name = b.generic_name;
+        generic_squad_name = b.generic_squad_name;
+        trans_squad_name = b.trans_squad_name;
+        profession = b.profession;
+        custom_profession = b.custom_profession;
+        current_job = b.current_job;
+        happiness = b.happiness;
+        id = b.id;
+        agility = b.agility;
+        strength = b.strength;
+        toughness = b.toughness;
+        money = b.money;
+        squad_leader_id = b.squad_leader_id;
+        sex = b.sex;
+        skills = b.skills;
+        traits = b.traits;
+        labors = b.labors;
+    }
+    t_creature & operator=(const t_creature &b)
+    {
+        x = b.x;
+        y = b.y;
+        z = b.z;
+        type = b.type;
+        flags1 = b.flags1;
+        flags2 = b.flags2;
+        first_name = b.first_name;
+        nick_name = b.nick_name;
+        //string last_name;
+        trans_name = b.trans_name;
+        generic_name = b.generic_name;
+        generic_squad_name = b.generic_squad_name;
+        trans_squad_name = b.trans_squad_name;
+        profession = b.profession;
+        custom_profession = b.custom_profession;
+        current_job = b.current_job;
+        happiness = b.happiness;
+        id = b.id;
+        agility = b.agility;
+        strength = b.strength;
+        toughness = b.toughness;
+        money = b.money;
+        squad_leader_id = b.squad_leader_id;
+        sex = b.sex;
+        skills = b.skills;
+        traits = b.traits;
+        return *this;
+    }
 };
 
 // TODO: research this further? consult DF hacker wizards?