diff --git a/basic_machines/forceload.lua b/basic_machines/forceload.lua
index 91aefb9..e36771a 100644
--- a/basic_machines/forceload.lua
+++ b/basic_machines/forceload.lua
@@ -61,21 +61,24 @@ local function postload_area(pos)
 end
 	
 local function add_pos(pos, player)
-	local lPos = minetest.deserialize(player:get_attribute("techage_forceload_blocks")) or {}
+	local meta = player:get_meta()
+	local lPos = minetest.deserialize(meta:get_string("techage_forceload_blocks")) or {}
 	if not in_list(lPos, pos) and (#lPos < techage.max_num_forceload_blocks or
 				creative and creative.is_enabled_for and 
 				creative.is_enabled_for(player:get_player_name())) then
 		lPos[#lPos+1] = pos
-		player:set_attribute("techage_forceload_blocks", minetest.serialize(lPos))
+		local meta = player:get_meta()
+		meta:set_string("techage_forceload_blocks", minetest.serialize(lPos))
 		return true
 	end
 	return false
 end
 	
 local function del_pos(pos, player)
-	local lPos = minetest.deserialize(player:get_attribute("techage_forceload_blocks")) or {}
+	local meta = player:get_meta()
+	local lPos = minetest.deserialize(meta:get_string("techage_forceload_blocks")) or {}
 	lPos = remove_list_elem(lPos, pos)
-	player:set_attribute("techage_forceload_blocks", minetest.serialize(lPos))
+	player:set_string("techage_forceload_blocks", minetest.serialize(lPos))
 end
 
 local function get_pos_list(player)
@@ -100,7 +103,8 @@ end
 
 local function get_data(pos, player)
 	local pos1, pos2 = calc_area(pos)
-	local num = #minetest.deserialize(player:get_attribute("techage_forceload_blocks")) or 0
+	local meta = player:get_meta()
+	local num = #minetest.deserialize(meta:get_string("techage_forceload_blocks")) or 0
 	local max = techage.max_num_forceload_blocks
 	return pos1, pos2, num, max
 end
diff --git a/basic_machines/quarry.lua b/basic_machines/quarry.lua
index ee938e3..22ebfa1 100644
--- a/basic_machines/quarry.lua
+++ b/basic_machines/quarry.lua
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ local tubing = {
 	end,
 	on_push_item = function(pos, in_dir, stack)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-		if meta:get_int("push_dir") == in_dir  or in_dir == 5 then
+		if meta:get_int("push_dir") == in_dir or in_dir == 5 then
 			local inv = M(pos):get_inventory()
 			--CRD(pos).State:start_if_standby(pos) -- would need power!
 			return techage.put_items(inv, "main", stack)
diff --git a/basis/mark2.lua b/basis/mark2.lua
index 99ac668..7ea7e12 100644
--- a/basis/mark2.lua
+++ b/basis/mark2.lua
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ minetest.register_entity(":techage:position_cube", {
 			"techage_cube_mark.png",
 			"techage_cube_mark.png",
 		},
-		--use_texture_alpha = true,
+		use_texture_alpha = true,
 		physical = false,
 		visual_size = {x = 1.1, y = 1.1},
 		collisionbox = {-0.55,-0.55,-0.55, 0.55,0.55,0.55},
diff --git a/basis/node_states.lua b/basis/node_states.lua
index e44c4fb..30b87fa 100644
--- a/basis/node_states.lua
+++ b/basis/node_states.lua
@@ -408,6 +408,7 @@ function NodeStates:keep_running(pos, nvm, val)
 		self:start(pos, nvm)
 	end
 	nvm.techage_countdown = val or 4
+	nvm.last_active = minetest.get_gametime()
 end
 
 -- Start/stop node based on button events.
@@ -450,6 +451,11 @@ function NodeStates:on_receive_message(pos, topic, payload)
 		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 		if node.name == "ignore" then  -- unloaded node?
 			return "unloaded"
+		elseif nvm.techage_state == RUNNING then
+			local ttl = (nvm.last_active or 0) + 2 * (self.cycle_time or 0)
+			if ttl < minetest.get_gametime() then
+				return "inactive"
+			end
 		end
 		return techage.get_state_string(techage.get_nvm(pos))
 	elseif topic == "fuel" then
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 0e9e3e4..1f14a6e 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ elseif minetest.global_exists("safer_lua") and safer_lua.version < 1.0 then
 end
 
 -- Test MT 5.4 new string mode
-techage.CLIP = minetest.features.use_texture_alpha_string_modes and "clip" or true
+techage.CLIP  = minetest.features.use_texture_alpha_string_modes and "clip" or false
+techage.BLEND = minetest.features.use_texture_alpha_string_modes and "blend" or true
 
 techage.NodeDef = {}		-- node registration info
 
diff --git a/iron_age/coalburner.lua b/iron_age/coalburner.lua
index 25ba0b0..bd2db0d 100644
--- a/iron_age/coalburner.lua
+++ b/iron_age/coalburner.lua
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ for idx,ratio in ipairs(lRatio) do
 		end,
 		
 		drawtype = "glasslike",
-		use_texture_alpha = true,
+		use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 		inventory_image = "techage_flame.png",
 		paramtype = "light",
 		light_source = 13,
diff --git a/iron_age/recipes.lua b/iron_age/recipes.lua
index 1b411e7..af1e1ec 100644
--- a/iron_age/recipes.lua
+++ b/iron_age/recipes.lua
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ techage.ironage_register_recipe({
 minetest.register_craftitem("techage:iron_ingot", {
 	description = S("TA1 Iron Ingot"),
 	inventory_image = "techage_iron_ingot.png",
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.CLIP,
 })
 
 local function check_protection(pos, name, text)
diff --git a/items/basalt.lua b/items/basalt.lua
index 319d5ed..e65d9a7 100644
--- a/items/basalt.lua
+++ b/items/basalt.lua
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass", {
 	description = S("Basalt Glass"),
 	drawtype = "glasslike_framed_optional",
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "glasslikeliquidlevel",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass2", {
 	description = S("Basalt Glass 2"),
 	drawtype = "glasslike_framed_optional",
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass2.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "glasslikeliquidlevel",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass_thin", {
 		},
 	},
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "facedir",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass_thin2", {
 		},
 	},
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass2.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "facedir",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass_thin_xl", {
 		},
 	},
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "facedir",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ minetest.register_node("techage:basalt_glass_thin_xl2", {
 		},
 	},
 	tiles = {"techage_basalt_glass2.png"},
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 	paramtype = "light",
 	paramtype2 = "facedir",
 	sunlight_propagates = true,
diff --git a/logic/doorblock.lua b/logic/doorblock.lua
index 3f7bd15..c29bea1 100644
--- a/logic/doorblock.lua
+++ b/logic/doorblock.lua
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ for idx,pgn in ipairs(tPgns) do
 
 		paramtype = "light",
 		paramtype2 = "facedir",
-		use_texture_alpha = true,
+		use_texture_alpha = techage.CLIP,
 		sunlight_propagates = true,
 		sounds = default.node_sound_stone_defaults(),
 		groups = {cracky=2, choppy=2, crumbly=2, techage_door = 1, 
diff --git a/logic/gateblock.lua b/logic/gateblock.lua
index 93a7bec..ba1e7a4 100644
--- a/logic/gateblock.lua
+++ b/logic/gateblock.lua
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ for idx,pgn in ipairs(tPgns) do
 
 		paramtype = "light",
 		paramtype2 = "facedir",
-		use_texture_alpha = true,
+		use_texture_alpha = techage.CLIP,
 		sunlight_propagates = true,
 		sounds = default.node_sound_stone_defaults(),
 		groups = {cracky=2, choppy=2, crumbly=2, techage_door = 1, 
diff --git a/oil/gasflare.lua b/oil/gasflare.lua
index 7df4fad..b8e0b0b 100644
--- a/oil/gasflare.lua
+++ b/oil/gasflare.lua
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ for idx,ratio in ipairs(lRatio) do
 			end
 		end,
 		
-		use_texture_alpha = true,
+		use_texture_alpha = techage.BLEND,
 		inventory_image = "techage_flame.png",
 		paramtype = "light",
 		light_source = 13,
diff --git a/tools/trowel.lua b/tools/trowel.lua
index a44e590..6e895fe 100644
--- a/tools/trowel.lua
+++ b/tools/trowel.lua
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ minetest.register_tool("techage:trowel", {
 	description = S("TechAge Trowel"),
 	inventory_image = "techage_trowel.png",
 	wield_image = "techage_trowel.png",
-	use_texture_alpha = true,
+	use_texture_alpha = techage.CLIP,
 	groups = {cracky=1},
 	on_use = replace_node,
 	on_place = replace_node,