diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3093957..e67ef81 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -26,4 +26,4 @@ tests-config-pkg:
 tests-docbuf-pkg:
   stage: test
   script:
-    - go test ./internal/docbuf
+    - go test ./pkg/docbuf
diff --git a/internal/activity/activity.go b/internal/activity/activity.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..488de9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/activity/activity.go
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package activity
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/config"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/state"
+)
+
+/* Activity module
+ * This module sits and processes incoming
+ */
+
+const (
+	ActivityModuleStartFail = "failed to start activity module"
+)
+
+var currentUserActivity = make(map[string][]state.UserActiveEvent)
+var userActivityLock sync.RWMutex
+
+func Start() error {
+	ch, err := state.UserActive.Subscribe()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(
+			errors.New(ActivityModuleStartFail),
+			err,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// process incoming events loop
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			ev := <- ch
+			emap := ev.Data()
+			user := emap[state.UserEventUserKey]
+			etime := ev.Time()
+			delta := time.Since(etime).Hours() / float64(24)
+			logging.Debug(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"processing UserActive event for %s", user,
+			))
+	
+
+			if delta <= float64(config.Get().UserEventLifespanDays) {
+				new := []state.UserActiveEvent{ev.(state.UserActiveEvent)}
+				userActivityLock.Lock()
+				current, found := currentUserActivity[user]
+				if found {
+					new = append(new, current...)
+				}
+				currentUserActivity[user] = new
+				userActivityLock.Unlock()
+			} else {
+				logging.Warn("recieved expired useractive event")
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// process expired events loop
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			delta := time.Hour * 24
+			delta *= time.Duration(config.Get().UserEventLifespanDays)
+			tcur := time.Now().Add(delta)
+
+			// get next soonest expiration
+			userActivityLock.RLock()
+			for _, evs := range currentUserActivity {
+				for _, ev := range evs {
+					hrs := time.Duration(24 * config.Get().UserEventLifespanDays)
+					t := ev.Time().Add(time.Hour * hrs)
+					if t.Before(tcur) {
+						tcur = t
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			userActivityLock.RUnlock()
+			time.Sleep(tcur.Sub(time.Now()))
+
+			userActivityLock.Lock()
+			for k, v := range currentUserActivity {
+				new := []state.UserActiveEvent{}
+				for _, ev := range v {
+					if !ev.Disposable() {
+						new = append(new, ev)
+					}
+				}
+				currentUserActivity[k] = new
+			}
+			userActivityLock.Unlock()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func GetActivitySnapshot() map[string][]state.UserActiveEvent {
+	userActivityLock.RLock()
+	defer userActivityLock.RUnlock()
+
+	snapshot := make(map[string][]state.UserActiveEvent)
+	for k, v := range currentUserActivity {
+		newSl := make([]state.UserActiveEvent, len(v))
+		copy(newSl, v)
+		snapshot[k] = newSl
+	}
+
+	return snapshot
+}
diff --git a/internal/confession/confession.go b/internal/confession/confession.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d76aa38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/confession/confession.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package confession
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/bwmarrin/discordgo"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/state"
+)
+
+/* Activity module
+ * This module posts anonymous confessions according to a linked channel map
+ */
+
+const (
+	ActivityModuleStartFail = "failed to start activity module"
+)
+
+var (
+	// guild ID to channel ID
+	linkLock               sync.RWMutex
+	confessionChannelLinks = make(map[string]state.ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent)
+)
+
+func Start() error {
+	ch, err := state.ConfessionsChannelLink.Subscribe()
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(
+			errors.New(ActivityModuleStartFail),
+			err,
+		)
+	}
+
+	// process incoming events loop
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			ev := <- ch
+			logging.Debug("recieved new confessional channel link")
+			e := ev.(state.ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent)
+			linkLock.Lock()
+			confessionChannelLinks[e.GuildID] = e
+			linkLock.Unlock()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func MakeConfession(s *discordgo.Session, guildID string, content string) {
+	linkLock.RLock()
+	link, ok := confessionChannelLinks[guildID]
+	linkLock.RUnlock()
+	if !ok {
+		logging.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to send confession in guild %s: no link exists in map", guildID))
+		return
+	}
+	s.ChannelMessageSend(link.ChannelID, content)
+}
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index eee917d..f32ae9a 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -17,30 +17,34 @@ type AppConfig struct {
 	LogCompression bool   `yaml:"log_compression"`
 	LogAddSource   bool   `yaml:"log_add_source"`
 
-	/*
-		how long (in seconds) a user needs to be in vc in order to generate a
-		UserActive event
-	*/
+	/* how long (in seconds) a user needs to be in vc in order to generate a
+	 * UserActive event
+	 */
 	VoiceActivityThresholdSeconds int `yaml:"voice_activity_threshold_seconds"`
 
-	/*
-		how long (in milliseconds) a voice activity timer sleeps at a time between
-		context cancellation checks.
-
-		a higher value means the function sleeps longer which could be
-		useful for some reason in the future
-
-		a higher value also means that the timer could take longer to cancel.
-
-		current recommended value is 1000ms.
-	*/
+	/* how long (in milliseconds) a voice activity timer sleeps at a time between
+	 * context cancellation checks.
+	 * a higher value means the function sleeps longer which could be
+	 * useful for some reason in the future
+	 * a higher value also means that the timer could take longer to cancel.
+	 * current recommended value is 1000ms.
+	 */
 	VoiceActivityTimerSleepIntervalMillis int `yaml:"voice_activity_timer_sleep_interval_millis"`
 
 	/* persistent state file store */
 	PersistentCacheStore string `yaml:"persistent_cache_store"`
 
 	/* number of internal state events to cache in memory */
-	InMemoryEventCacheSize int `yaml:"InMemoryEventCacheSize"`
+	InMemoryEventCacheSize int `yaml:"in_memory_event_cache_size"`
+	
+	/* number of days a useractive event is valid for
+	 * increasing this will have a bell curve effect on
+	 * voting weights
+	 */
+	UserEventLifespanDays int `yaml:"user_event_lifespan_days"`
+
+	/* listen address for local http Server */
+	LocalWebEndpointListen string `yaml:"local_web_endpoint_listen"`
 }
 
 var config *AppConfig
@@ -110,4 +114,6 @@ func setDefaults() {
 	viper.SetDefault("VoiceActivityTimerSleepIntervalMillis", 1000)
 	viper.SetDefault("PersistentCacheStore", "/tmp/bingobot")
 	viper.SetDefault("InMemoryEventCacheSize", 512)
+	viper.SetDefault("UserEventLifespanDays", 10)
+	viper.SetDefault("LocalWebEndpointListen", ":8080")
 }
diff --git a/internal/discord/activity.go b/internal/discord/activity.go
index afa6c8d..002f3b4 100644
--- a/internal/discord/activity.go
+++ b/internal/discord/activity.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func NewActivityTimer(uid string) *UserActivityTimer {
 Start() initializes the timer and calls run()
 */
 func (t *UserActivityTimer) Start(ctx context.Context) {
-	logging.Info("starting voiceActivityTimer", "uid", t.UID)
+	logging.Debug("starting voiceActivityTimer", "uid", t.UID)
 
 	t.sleepDuration = time.Millisecond * time.Duration(config.Get().VoiceActivityTimerSleepIntervalMillis)
 	activityTimerDuration := time.Second * time.Duration(config.Get().VoiceActivityThresholdSeconds)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (t *UserActivityTimer) run() {
 	}
 
 	// the timer's context has been cancelled or deadline expired.
-	logging.Info("voiceActivityTimer stopping", "uid", t.UID, "reason", context.Cause(t.ctx))
+	logging.Debug("voiceActivityTimer stopping", "uid", t.UID, "reason", context.Cause(t.ctx))
 
 	if context.Cause(t.ctx) == ErrTimerExpired {
 		/*
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func stopActivityTimer(uid string) {
 	timerMutex.Lock()
 	defer timerMutex.Unlock()
 
-	if _, ok := activityTimers[uid]; !ok {
+	if _, ok := activityTimers[uid]; ok {
 		activityTimers[uid].Cancel()
 		delete(activityTimers, uid)
 	}
@@ -147,5 +147,5 @@ func emitUserActiveEvent(uid string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	logging.Info("published UserActiveEvent", "uid", uid)
+	logging.Debug("published UserActiveEvent", "uid", uid)
 }
diff --git a/internal/discord/commands.go b/internal/discord/commands.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c774dc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/discord/commands.go
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+package discord
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/bwmarrin/discordgo"
+
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/confession"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/state"
+)
+
+var (
+	// map of guildID to registeredCommands
+	registeredCommands = make(map[string][]*discordgo.ApplicationCommand)
+
+	// all commands
+	commandList = []*discordgo.ApplicationCommand{
+		// TODO: Limit usage somehow?
+		// maybe delete this and use the vote module instead
+		&discordgo.ApplicationCommand{
+			Name: "confessional",
+			Description: "mark a channel as a designated confessional for a guild",
+		},
+
+		&discordgo.ApplicationCommand{
+			Name: "confess",
+			Description: "anonymously post a confession in configured channel",
+			Options: []*discordgo.ApplicationCommandOption{
+				&discordgo.ApplicationCommandOption{
+					Type: discordgo.ApplicationCommandOptionString,
+					Name: "confession",
+					Description: "A confession to be posted anonymously",
+					Required: true,
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	commandHandlers = map[string]func(
+		s *discordgo.Session, 
+		i *discordgo.InteractionCreate,
+	) {
+		"confessional": func(s *discordgo.Session, i *discordgo.InteractionCreate) {
+			if err := state.PublishEvent(state.ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent{
+				GuildID: i.GuildID,
+				ChannelID: i.ChannelID,
+				Created: time.Now(),
+			}); err != nil {
+				logging.Error(fmt.Sprintf(
+					"failed to publish confession channel link: %s",
+					err.Error(),
+				))
+			} else {
+				logging.Info("published confession channel link")
+			}
+		},
+
+		// handle a confession
+		"confess": func(s *discordgo.Session, i *discordgo.InteractionCreate) {
+			for _, v := range i.ApplicationCommandData().Options {
+				if v.Name == "confession" {
+					confession.MakeConfession(s, i.GuildID, v.StringValue())
+				}
+			}
+		},
+	}
+)
+
+func handleCommand(s *discordgo.Session, e *discordgo.InteractionCreate) {
+	name := e.ApplicationCommandData().Name
+	// TODO: audit log
+	if h, ok := commandHandlers[name]; ok {
+		h(s, e)
+	} else {
+		logging.Debug("no handler for command: %s", name)
+	}
+
+	s.InteractionRespond(e.Interaction, &discordgo.InteractionResponse{
+		Type: discordgo.InteractionResponseChannelMessageWithSource,
+		Data: &discordgo.InteractionResponseData{
+			Flags: discordgo.MessageFlagsEphemeral,
+			Content: "Your cauldron bubbles...",
+		},
+	})
+}
+
+func registerCommands(s *discordgo.Session) {
+	for _, guild := range s.State.Guilds {
+		cmds, err := s.ApplicationCommandBulkOverwrite(
+			s.State.Application.ID,
+			guild.ID,
+			commandList,
+		)
+
+		if err != nil {
+			logging.Error(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"Failed to register commands for guild %s: %s",
+				guild.ID, err.Error(),
+			))
+		} else {
+			logging.Info(fmt.Sprintf("Registered commands for guild %s", guild.ID))
+			registeredCommands[guild.ID] = cmds
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func deregisterCommands(s *discordgo.Session) {
+	for guild, commands := range registeredCommands {
+		for _, cmd := range commands {
+			if err := s.ApplicationCommandDelete(
+				s.State.Application.ID,
+				guild,
+				cmd.ID,
+			); err != nil {
+				logging.Error(fmt.Sprintf(
+					"Failed to delete %s command (id: %s) from guild %s",
+					cmd.Name, cmd.ID, guild,
+				))
+			} else {
+				logging.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
+					"Deregistered command %s (id: %s) from guild %s",
+					cmd.Name, cmd.ID, guild,
+				))
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/discord/discord.go b/internal/discord/discord.go
index 896ba1a..6c81929 100644
--- a/internal/discord/discord.go
+++ b/internal/discord/discord.go
@@ -36,10 +36,13 @@ func Connect(token string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to open discord session: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	registerCommands(session.s)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 func Close() {
+	deregisterCommands(session.s)
 	err := session.s.Close()
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/discord/handlers.go b/internal/discord/handlers.go
index c01d441..03b5434 100644
--- a/internal/discord/handlers.go
+++ b/internal/discord/handlers.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ func addHandlers() {
 	session.s.AddHandler(handleConnect)
 	session.s.AddHandler(handleDisconnect)
 	session.s.AddHandler(handleVoiceStateUpdate)
+	session.s.AddHandler(handleCommand) // handles InteractionCreate
 }
 
 func handleConnect(s *discordgo.Session, e *discordgo.Connect) {
diff --git a/internal/state/events.go b/internal/state/events.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44ad0f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/state/events.go
@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
+package state
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/config"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+)
+
+type VoteEvent map[string]string
+
+const (
+	VoteMissingKeyError = "vote data not found: "
+	VoteCreatedKey      = "created"
+	VoteRequesterKey    = "requester"
+	VoteActionKey       = "action"
+
+	VoteResultKey          = "result"
+	VoteResultPass         = "pass"
+	VoteResultFail         = "fail"
+	VoteResultTie          = "tie"
+	VoteResultTimeout      = "timeout"
+	VoteBadResultError     = "vote has invalid result: "
+	VoteNotFinishedError   = "vote has result but isnt finished"
+	VoteMissingResultError = "vote finished but missing result"
+
+	VoteStatusKey        = "status"
+	VoteStatusInProgress = "in_progress"
+	VoteStatusFinalized  = "finalized"
+	VoteStatusTimeout    = "timed_out"
+	VoteBadStatusError   = "vote has invalid status: "
+
+	VeryOldVote = "1990-01-01T00:00:00Z"
+)
+
+func (ve VoteEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return Vote
+}
+
+func (ve VoteEvent) Time() time.Time {
+	t, e := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, ve[VoteCreatedKey])
+	if e != nil {
+		// we have a corrupted event
+		// return old time so that this event gets
+		// pruned from cache
+		logging.Warn(
+			"pruning corrupted vote event",
+			"event",
+			fmt.Sprintf("%+v", ve),
+		)
+		tooOld, _ := time.Parse(
+			time.RFC3339,
+			VeryOldVote,
+		)
+		return tooOld
+	}
+	return t
+}
+
+func (ve VoteEvent) Data() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string(ve)
+}
+
+func (ve VoteEvent) Validate() error {
+	// make sure action, requester, and created are set
+	for _, key := range []string{
+		VoteActionKey,
+		VoteRequesterKey,
+		VoteCreatedKey,
+		VoteStatusKey,
+	} {
+		if _, found := ve[key]; !found {
+			return errors.New(VoteMissingKeyError + key)
+		}
+	}
+
+	status := ve[VoteStatusKey]
+	if status != VoteStatusTimeout &&
+		status != VoteStatusInProgress &&
+		status != VoteStatusFinalized {
+		return errors.New(VoteBadStatusError + status)
+	}
+
+	result, hasResult := ve[VoteResultKey]
+	if hasResult && status == VoteStatusInProgress {
+		return errors.New(VoteNotFinishedError)
+	}
+	if status != VoteStatusInProgress && !hasResult {
+		return errors.New(VoteMissingResultError)
+	}
+
+	if hasResult &&
+		(result != VoteResultPass &&
+			result != VoteResultFail &&
+			result != VoteResultTie &&
+			result != VoteResultTimeout) {
+
+		return errors.New(VoteBadResultError + result)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ve VoteEvent) Disposable() bool {
+	// will be implemented with democracy module
+	logging.Warn("unimplemented: VoteEvent::Disposable")
+	return false
+}
+
+type UserEvent struct {
+	uid     string
+	created time.Time
+}
+
+const (
+	UserEventUserKey      = "user"
+	UserEventCreatedKey   = "created"
+	UserEventBadUserError = "event has bad user"
+)
+
+func (ue UserEvent) Time() time.Time {
+	return ue.created
+}
+
+func (ue UserEvent) Data() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{
+		UserEventUserKey:    ue.uid,
+		UserEventCreatedKey: ue.created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+}
+
+func (ue UserEvent) Validate() error {
+	// empty for now, we may do some validation later.
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ue UserEvent) Disposable() bool {
+	// when I make a module for challenges, restorations, and UserActives
+	// then I should implement this 
+	logging.Warn("unimplemented: UserEvent::Disposable")
+	return false
+}
+
+type ChallengeEvent struct {
+	UserEvent
+}
+
+func (ce ChallengeEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return Challenge
+}
+
+func NewChallengeEvent(user string) ChallengeEvent {
+	return ChallengeEvent{UserEvent{
+		uid:     user,
+		created: time.Now(),
+	}}
+}
+
+type RestorationEvent struct {
+	UserEvent
+}
+
+func (re RestorationEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return Restoration
+}
+
+func NewRestorationEvent(user string) RestorationEvent {
+	return RestorationEvent{UserEvent{
+		uid:     user,
+		created: time.Now(),
+	}}
+}
+
+type UserActiveEvent struct {
+	UserEvent
+}
+
+func (ua UserActiveEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return UserActive
+}
+
+func (ua UserActiveEvent) Disposable() bool {
+	return (time.Since(ua.created).Hours() / 24) >= float64(config.Get().UserEventLifespanDays)
+}
+
+func NewUserActiveEvent(user string) UserActiveEvent {
+	return UserActiveEvent{UserEvent{
+		uid:     user,
+		created: time.Now(),
+	}}
+}
+
+const (
+	TestEventDisposeKey = "dispose"
+	TestEventIDKey      = "id"
+)
+
+type TestEvent struct {
+	Dispose bool
+	ID      int
+}
+
+func (te TestEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return Test
+}
+
+func (te TestEvent) Time() time.Time {
+	return time.Now()
+}
+
+func (te TestEvent) Data() map[string]string {
+	m := map[string]string{}
+	if te.Dispose {
+		m[TestEventDisposeKey] = "t"
+	}
+	m[TestEventIDKey] = fmt.Sprintf("%d", te.ID)
+	return m
+}
+
+func (te TestEvent) Validate() error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (te TestEvent) Disposable() bool {
+	return te.Dispose
+}
+
+const (
+	ConfessionsLinkEventGuildKey    = "guild_id"
+	ConfessionsLinkEventChannelKey  = "channel_id"
+	ConfessionsLinkEventCreatedKey  = "created"
+	ConfessionsLinkEventObsoleteKey = "obsolete"
+
+	BadConfessionsLinkEventError    = "link event doesnt have required fields"
+)
+
+type ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent struct {
+	GuildID    string
+	ChannelID  string
+	Created    time.Time
+}
+
+func (e ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent) Type() EventType {
+	return ConfessionsChannelLink
+}
+
+func (e ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent) Time() time.Time {
+	return e.Time()
+}
+
+func (e ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent) Data() map[string]string {
+	return map[string]string{
+		ConfessionsLinkEventGuildKey:   e.GuildID,
+		ConfessionsLinkEventChannelKey: e.ChannelID,
+		ConfessionsLinkEventCreatedKey: e.Created.Format(time.RFC3339),
+	}
+}
+
+func (e ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent) Validate() error {
+	if len(e.ChannelID) <= 1 || len(e.GuildID) <= 1 {
+		return errors.New(BadConfessionsLinkEventError)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (e ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent) Disposable() bool {
+	// TODO
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/internal/state/state.go b/internal/state/state.go
index 1325546..cc439f5 100644
--- a/internal/state/state.go
+++ b/internal/state/state.go
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 package state
 
-/* STATE
+/* State module
  * This package encapsulates various state information
  * state is represented in various global singletons
  * Additionally, this package offers a pub/sub interface
@@ -8,15 +8,15 @@ package state
  */
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
-	"os"
-	"errors"
-	"encoding/json"
 
-	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/docbuf"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/pkg/docbuf"
 )
 
 /* Event interface is meant to encapsulate a general interface
@@ -36,14 +36,17 @@ const (
 	BadChallengeEvent          = "failed to make Challenge Event"
 	BadRestorationEvent        = "failed to make Restoration Event"
 	BadUserActiveEvent         = "failed to make UserActive Event"
+	BadTestEvent               = "failed to make Test Event"
 	BadEventObjMarshal         = "error marshalling event"
 	BadEventObjUnmarshal       = "failed to unmarshal event map"
 	BadEventUnmarshal          = "failed to unmarshal event"
 	BadEventMissingTypeKey     = "event map missing type key"
-)
+	StartBeforeInitError       = "state machine not initialized"
+	ReopenStoreFileError       = "failed to reopen store file"
 
-const (
 	EventTypeMapKey            = "type"
+
+	TmpDocBufBackingFile       = "bingobot_events_processing"
 )
 
 var eventMutex sync.RWMutex
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ func Init(eventMemCacheSize int, eventStoreFileName string) error {
 	}
 
 	if eventStream, err = docbuf.NewDocumentBuffer(
-		eventMemCacheSize,
+		0, // temporary nil-cache buffer to replay events from
 		file,
 	); err != nil {
 		return errors.Join(errors.New(BadEventStreamInit), err)
@@ -71,8 +74,92 @@ func Init(eventMemCacheSize int, eventStoreFileName string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// replay events and begin state machine
+func Start() error {
+	if eventStream == nil {
+		return errors.New(StartBeforeInitError)
+	}
+
+	tmpBackFile, err := os.CreateTemp("", TmpDocBufBackingFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	tmpBuf, err := docbuf.NewDocumentBuffer(0, tmpBackFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		tmpBackFile.Close()
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// filter out disposable events into a reverse ordered on disk stack
+	var doc string
+	for err == nil || err.Error() != docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError {
+		doc, err = eventStream.Pop()
+		if err != nil && err.Error() != docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if doc == "" || 
+		   (err != nil && err.Error() == docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		ev, err := EventFromString(doc)
+		if err != nil {
+			logging.Warn("Discarding the following event for not unmarshaling: %s", doc)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if !ev.Disposable() {
+			tmpBuf.Push(doc)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := os.Truncate(eventStorageFileName, 0); err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errors.New(ReopenStoreFileError), err)
+	}
+
+	file, err := os.OpenFile(eventStorageFileName, os.O_CREATE|os.O_RDWR, 0644)
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Join(errors.New(BadEventStoreFilename), err)
+	}
+
+	eventStream, err = docbuf.NewDocumentBuffer(maxEventsInMemory, file)
+	if err != nil {
+		// return error here will panic without truncating or writing to the file
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// unravel tmp stack into properly ordered properly allocated buffer
+	for err == nil || err.Error() != docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError {
+		doc, err := tmpBuf.Pop()
+		if err != nil && err.Error() != docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError {
+			logging.Warn("Could not handle the following error: %s", err.Error())
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if doc == "" || 
+		   (err != nil && err.Error() == docbuf.PopFromEmptyBufferError) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		ev, err := EventFromString(doc)
+		if err != nil {
+			logging.Warn("Could not handle the following error: %s", err.Error())
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if err := PublishEvent(ev); err != nil {
+			logging.Warn("Could not handle the following error: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // return no error. we are handling SIGINT
 func Teardown() {
+	logging.Warn("Tearing down state engine")
 	// riskily ignore all locking....
 	// we are handling a termination signal after all
 	i, e := eventStream.Close()
@@ -81,6 +168,7 @@ func Teardown() {
 		logging.Warn("will attempt to truncate event store anyways")
 	}
 
+	logging.Warn("teardown: events flushed")
 	e = os.Truncate(eventStorageFileName, i)
 	if e != nil {
 		logging.Error("FAILED TO TRUNCATE EVENT STORE!!")
@@ -96,6 +184,8 @@ const (
 	Challenge
 	Restoration
 	UserActive
+	Test
+	ConfessionsChannelLink
 	// ...
 
 	// leave this last
@@ -113,6 +203,10 @@ func EventTypeFromString(doc string) EventType {
 		return Restoration
 	case "UserActive":
 		return UserActive
+	case "Test":
+		return Test
+	case "ConfessionsChannelLink":
+		return ConfessionsChannelLink
 	default:
 		// error case
 		return NumEventTypes
@@ -125,6 +219,8 @@ func (et EventType) String() string {
 		"Challenge",
 		"Restoration",
 		"UserActive",
+		"Test",
+		"ConfessionsChannelLink",
 	}
 
 	if et < 0 || et >= NumEventTypes {
@@ -176,24 +272,71 @@ func (et EventType) MakeEvent(data map[string]string) (Event, error) {
 	switch et {
 	case Vote:
 		return VoteEvent(data), nil
+
 	case Challenge:
 		e, err := MakeUserEvent(data)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Join(errors.New(BadChallengeEvent), err)
 		}
 		return ChallengeEvent{*e}, nil
+
 	case Restoration:
 		e, err := MakeUserEvent(data)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Join(errors.New(BadRestorationEvent), err)
 		}
 		return RestorationEvent{*e}, nil
+
 	case UserActive:
 		e, err := MakeUserEvent(data)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, errors.Join(errors.New(BadUserActiveEvent), err)
 		}
 		return UserActiveEvent{*e}, nil
+
+	case Test:
+		disp := false
+		if v, ok := data[TestEventDisposeKey]; ok && v == "t" {
+			disp = true
+		}
+		id := -1
+		if v, ok := data[TestEventIDKey]; ok {
+			var err error
+			if id, err = strconv.Atoi(v); err != nil {
+				return nil, errors.Join(errors.New(BadTestEvent), err)
+			}
+		}
+		return TestEvent{
+			Dispose: disp,
+			ID:      id,
+		}, nil
+
+	case ConfessionsChannelLink:
+		gid, ok := data[ConfessionsLinkEventGuildKey]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, errors.New(BadConfessionsLinkEventError)
+		}
+
+		cid, ok := data[ConfessionsLinkEventChannelKey]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, errors.New(BadConfessionsLinkEventError)
+		}
+
+		ti, ok := data[ConfessionsLinkEventCreatedKey]
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, errors.New(BadConfessionsLinkEventError)
+		}
+		t, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, ti)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Join(errors.New(BadConfessionsLinkEventError), err)
+		}
+
+		return ConfessionsChannelLinkEvent{
+			GuildID: gid,
+			ChannelID: cid,
+			Created: t,
+		}, nil
+
 	default:
 		return nil, errors.New(BadEventTypeError)
 	}
@@ -232,6 +375,9 @@ type Event interface {
 
 	// validates state of internal metadata per EventType
 	Validate() error
+
+	// returns true if event can be discarded
+	Disposable() bool
 }
 
 func EventToString(e Event) (string, error) {
@@ -283,7 +429,7 @@ func PublishEvent(e Event) error {
 	blocking := false
 
 	for _, c := range eventSubscriptionCache[e.Type()] {
-		if float32(len(c)) > (float32(maxEventsInMemory) * 0.25) {
+		if float32(len(c)) > (float32(maxEventsInMemory) * 0.75) {
 			if len(c) == maxEventsInMemory {
 				logging.Warn(
 					"PublishEvent() blocking -- event channel full",
@@ -373,8 +519,6 @@ func GetMatchingEvents(
 	}
 
 	filter := func(e Event) bool {
-		ev, er := EventToString(e)
-		fmt.Printf("Checking: %s (%e)\n", ev, er)
 		if e.Type() != t {
 			return true
 		}
@@ -385,7 +529,6 @@ func GetMatchingEvents(
 			}
 		}
 
-		fmt.Println("Found Match")
 		matches = append(matches, e)
 		return true
 	}
@@ -394,168 +537,3 @@ func GetMatchingEvents(
 	return matches, err
 }
 
-type VoteEvent map[string]string
-
-const (
-	VoteMissingKeyError = "vote data not found: "
-	VoteCreatedKey      = "created"
-	VoteRequesterKey    = "requester"
-	VoteActionKey       = "action"
-
-	VoteResultKey          = "result"
-	VoteResultPass         = "pass"
-	VoteResultFail         = "fail"
-	VoteResultTie          = "tie"
-	VoteResultTimeout      = "timeout"
-	VoteBadResultError     = "vote has invalid result: "
-	VoteNotFinishedError   = "vote has result but isnt finished"
-	VoteMissingResultError = "vote finished but missing result"
-
-	VoteStatusKey        = "status"
-	VoteStatusInProgress = "in_progress"
-	VoteStatusFinalized  = "finalized"
-	VoteStatusTimeout    = "timed_out"
-	VoteBadStatusError   = "vote has invalid status: "
-
-	VeryOldVote = "1990-01-01T00:00:00Z"
-)
-
-func (ve VoteEvent) Type() EventType {
-	return Vote
-}
-
-func (ve VoteEvent) Time() time.Time {
-	t, e := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, ve[VoteCreatedKey])
-	if e != nil {
-		// we have a corrupted event
-		// return old time so that this event gets
-		// pruned from cache
-		logging.Warn(
-			"pruning corrupted vote event",
-			"event",
-			fmt.Sprintf("%+v", ve),
-		)
-		tooOld, _ := time.Parse(
-			time.RFC3339,
-			VeryOldVote,
-		)
-		return tooOld
-	}
-	return t
-}
-
-func (ve VoteEvent) Data() map[string]string {
-	return map[string]string(ve)
-}
-
-func (ve VoteEvent) Validate() error {
-	// make sure action, requester, and created are set
-	for _, key := range []string{
-		VoteActionKey,
-		VoteRequesterKey,
-		VoteCreatedKey,
-		VoteStatusKey,
-	} {
-		if _, found := ve[key]; !found {
-			return errors.New(VoteMissingKeyError + key)
-		}
-	}
-
-	status := ve[VoteStatusKey]
-	if status != VoteStatusTimeout &&
-		status != VoteStatusInProgress &&
-		status != VoteStatusFinalized {
-		return errors.New(VoteBadStatusError + status)
-	}
-
-	result, hasResult := ve[VoteResultKey]
-	if hasResult && status == VoteStatusInProgress {
-		return errors.New(VoteNotFinishedError)
-	}
-	if status != VoteStatusInProgress && !hasResult {
-		return errors.New(VoteMissingResultError)
-	}
-
-	if hasResult &&
-		(result != VoteResultPass &&
-			result != VoteResultFail &&
-			result != VoteResultTie &&
-			result != VoteResultTimeout) {
-
-		return errors.New(VoteBadResultError + result)
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-type UserEvent struct {
-	uid     string
-	created time.Time
-}
-
-const (
-	UserEventUserKey      = "user"
-	UserEventCreatedKey   = "created"
-	UserEventBadUserError = "event has bad user"
-)
-
-func (ue UserEvent) Time() time.Time {
-	return ue.created
-}
-
-func (ue UserEvent) Data() map[string]string {
-	return map[string]string{
-		UserEventUserKey:    ue.uid,
-		UserEventCreatedKey: ue.created.Format(time.RFC3339),
-	}
-}
-
-func (ue UserEvent) Validate() error {
-	// empty for now, we may do some validation later.
-	return nil
-}
-
-type ChallengeEvent struct {
-	UserEvent
-}
-
-func (ce ChallengeEvent) Type() EventType {
-	return Challenge
-}
-
-func NewChallengeEvent(user string) ChallengeEvent {
-	return ChallengeEvent{UserEvent{
-		uid:     user,
-		created: time.Now(),
-	}}
-}
-
-type RestorationEvent struct {
-	UserEvent
-}
-
-func (re RestorationEvent) Type() EventType {
-	return Restoration
-}
-
-func NewRestorationEvent(user string) RestorationEvent {
-	return RestorationEvent{UserEvent{
-		uid:     user,
-		created: time.Now(),
-	}}
-}
-
-type UserActiveEvent struct {
-	UserEvent
-}
-
-func (ua UserActiveEvent) Type() EventType {
-	return UserActive
-}
-
-func NewUserActiveEvent(user string) UserActiveEvent {
-	return UserActiveEvent{UserEvent{
-		uid:     user,
-		created: time.Now(),
-	}}
-}
diff --git a/internal/state/state_test.go b/internal/state/state_test.go
index e6d4073..877b724 100644
--- a/internal/state/state_test.go
+++ b/internal/state/state_test.go
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@ package state
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/docbuf"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/pkg/docbuf"
 )
 
 /* WARNING:
@@ -54,15 +55,11 @@ func TestEventMarshalUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error marshalling challenge: %e, %s", err, cstr)
 	}
 
-	t.Logf("cstr: %s\n", cstr)
-
 	vstr, err := EventToString(vev);
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error marshalling vote: %e, %s", err, vstr)
 	}
 
-	t.Logf("vstr: %s\n", vstr)
-
 	if ev, err := EventFromString(cstr); err != nil ||
 	   ev.Data()[UserEventUserKey] != cev.Data()[UserEventUserKey] ||
 	   ev.Data()[UserEventCreatedKey] != cev.Data()[UserEventCreatedKey] {
@@ -270,3 +267,81 @@ func TestVoteEventValidations(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected or no error: %e", err)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestEventReplay(t *testing.T) {
+	tmpTestFile, err := os.CreateTemp("", "TestEventReplayBackingStore")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed setting up tempfile: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := tmpTestFile.Close(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to close initial handle to tempfile: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := Init(2, tmpTestFile.Name()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed initializing state machine: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := PublishEvent(TestEvent{
+		ID: 1,
+		Dispose: true,
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to publish event 1: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := PublishEvent(TestEvent{
+		ID: 2,
+		Dispose: false,
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to publish event 2: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := PublishEvent(TestEvent{
+		ID: 3,
+		Dispose: true,
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to publish event 3: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	if err := PublishEvent(TestEvent{
+		ID: 4,
+		Dispose: false,
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to publish event 4: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	sub, err := Test.Subscribe()
+	if err := Start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start state machine: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case ev1 := <- sub:
+		if ev1.Type() != Test {
+			t.Fatalf("wrong kind of event somehow: %+v", ev1)
+		}
+		if ev1.(TestEvent).ID != 2 {
+			t.Fatalf("misordered event: %+v", ev1)
+		}
+	default:
+		t.Fatal("no events available from replay")
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case ev2 := <- sub:
+		if ev2.Type() != Test {
+			t.Fatalf("wrong kind of event somehow: %+v", ev2)
+		}
+		if ev2.(TestEvent).ID != 4 {
+			t.Fatalf("misordered event: %+v", ev2)
+		}
+	default:
+		t.Fatal("only one event made it out")
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case <- sub:
+		t.Fatalf("superfluous events left in subscription")
+	default:
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/web/web.go b/internal/web/web.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbe65eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/web/web.go
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package web
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/activity"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/config"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
+)
+
+func Start() error {
+	frag := config.Get().LocalWebEndpointListen
+	http.HandleFunc("/", HandleHttpRequest)
+	go logging.Error(http.ListenAndServe(frag, nil).Error())
+
+	logging.Debug("Web handlers started")
+	return nil
+}
+
+func HandleHttpRequest(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "<html>")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "<h1> User Activity Metrics </h1>")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "<p> number of the last %d days a user has been active </p>",
+		config.Get().UserEventLifespanDays)
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "<table>")
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "<tr><th>User</th><th>Days</th></tr>")
+	for k, v := range activity.GetActivitySnapshot() {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "<tr><td>%s</td><td>%d</td></tr>",
+			k, len(v))
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "</table>")
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "</html>")
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 21111e9..96e2e36 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -3,11 +3,16 @@ package main
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"log"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
 
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/activity"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/confession"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/config"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/discord"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/logging"
 	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/state"
+	"gitlab.com/whom/bingobot/internal/web"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -26,30 +31,51 @@ func main() {
 	logging.Init()
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	logging.Info("startup: initializing state engine")
 	if err := state.Init(
 		config.Get().InMemoryEventCacheSize,
 		config.Get().PersistentCacheStore,
 	); err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("couldn't initialize state engine: %s", err.Error())
 	}
-	defer state.Teardown()
 
-	err = startBot()
+	logging.Info("startup: starting activity module")
+	if err := activity.Start(); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("failed to start activity module: %s", err.Error())
+	}
 
-	if err != nil {
+	logging.Info("startup: starting confession module")
+	if err := confession.Start(); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("failed to start confession module: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	logging.Info("startup: starting web module")
+	go func() {
+		if err := web.Start(); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to start local web server: %s", err.Error())
+		}
+	}()
+
+	// start this LAST
+	logging.Info("startup: starting state engine")
+	if err := state.Start(); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("failed to start state machine: %s", err.Error())
+	}
+
+	c := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(c, os.Interrupt)
+	go func(){
+		for _ = range c {
+			state.Teardown()
+			discord.Close()
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	logging.Info("startup: connecting to discord")
+	if err := discord.Connect(*token); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
-}
-
-func startBot() error {
-	err := discord.Connect(*token)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	logging.Info("shutting down gracefully", "type", "shutdown")
-	discord.Close()
-
-	return nil
+
+	for {}
 }
diff --git a/internal/docbuf/docbuf.go b/pkg/docbuf/docbuf.go
similarity index 98%
rename from internal/docbuf/docbuf.go
rename to pkg/docbuf/docbuf.go
index cc0610e..cd3f633 100644
--- a/internal/docbuf/docbuf.go
+++ b/pkg/docbuf/docbuf.go
@@ -263,6 +263,11 @@ func NewDocumentBuffer(
  * If cache is full oldest document is written to backing writer.
  */
 func (b *DocBuf) Push(doc string) error {
+	if b.cacheSize == 0 {
+		b.writeToBackingStore(doc)
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if len(b.cache) >= b.cacheSize {
 		if err := b.demote(); err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -280,6 +285,14 @@ func (b *DocBuf) Push(doc string) error {
  * out of the backing ReaderWriter.
  */
 func (b *DocBuf) Pop() (string, error) {
+	if b.cacheSize == 0 {
+		d, e := b.readDocumentsFromDisk(1, true, false)
+		if len(d) > 0 {
+			return d[0], e
+		}
+		return "", e
+	}
+
 	if len(b.cache) < 1 {
 		if err := b.promote(true); err != nil {
 			return "", err
diff --git a/internal/docbuf/docbuf_test.go b/pkg/docbuf/docbuf_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/docbuf/docbuf_test.go
rename to pkg/docbuf/docbuf_test.go
diff --git a/internal/docbuf/read_write_seek_string.go b/pkg/docbuf/read_write_seek_string.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/docbuf/read_write_seek_string.go
rename to pkg/docbuf/read_write_seek_string.go
diff --git a/internal/docbuf/read_write_seek_string_test.go b/pkg/docbuf/read_write_seek_string_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from internal/docbuf/read_write_seek_string_test.go
rename to pkg/docbuf/read_write_seek_string_test.go