diff --git a/patchodon.py b/patchodon.py
index 8fdf95f..9086666 100755
--- a/patchodon.py
+++ b/patchodon.py
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ import time
 
 VERSION = "0.1.0"
 
-DPASTE_URL = "https://dpaste.com"
+DPASTE_URL = "https://dpaste.com" # TODO any good way to parametrize this?
 
-STATUS_LENGTH_LIMIT = 400
+STATUS_LENGTH_LIMIT = 400 # TODO obtain from instance
 
 
 def trace(x):
@@ -45,17 +45,19 @@ def do_post_status(args, body, parent=None, optional=None):
         if optional
         else ""
     )
-    data = {status: st, visibility: "unlisted"}
+    data = {"status": st, "visibility": "direct"}  # TODO parametrize direct
     if parent:
         data["in_reply_to_id"] = parent
 
     r = requests.post(
         args.instance_url + "/api/v1/statuses", data=data, headers=headers
     )
+
     if r.status_code != 200:
         raise ("mastodon status posting failed ({r.status_code})")
 
-    return r.json.id
+    rj = r.json()
+    return (rj["id"], rj["url"])
 
 
 def do_pastebin_file(file):
@@ -66,16 +68,16 @@ def do_pastebin_file(file):
     r = requests.post(
         DPASTE_URL + "/api/v2/",
         data={
-            "contents": open(file, "r").read(),
+            "content": open(file, "r").read(),
             "syntax": "diff",
             "title": os.path.basename(file),
-            "expiry_days": 30,
+            "expiry_days": 1,  # TODO remove after testing
         },
         headers={"User-agent": f"patchodon v{VERSION}"},
     )
     if r.status_code != 201:
         raise (f"dpaste POST failed for `{file}'")
-    sleep(1.1)
+    time.sleep(1.1)
     return r.headers["location"] + ".txt"
 
 
@@ -83,21 +85,34 @@ def split_off_diff(s):
     return s.split("\ndiff --git ")[0]
 
 
+def mapl(f, xs):
+    return list(map(f, xs))
+
+
+def mayline(s):
+    if s:
+        return s + "\n"
+    else:
+        return ""
+
+
 def do_post(args):
     files = args.patchfile
     if not files:
         trace("reading patchfile series from stdin")
-        files = sys.stdin.readlines().map(lambda x: x.rstrip(chars="\n"))
+        files = mapl(lambda x: x.rstrip(chars="\n"), sys.stdin.readlines())
     n_patches = len(files)
-    hashes = files.map(lambda x: hashlib.sha1(open(x, "r").read()).hexdigest())
-    short_hashes = hashes.map(lambda x: x[0:8])
-    full_hash = hashlib.sha1(hashes.join(" ")).hexdigest()
-    paste_raw_urls = map(do_pastebin_file, files)
+    hashes = mapl(
+        lambda x: hashlib.sha1(open(x, "r").read().encode()).hexdigest(), files
+    )
+    short_hashes = mapl(lambda x: x[0:8], hashes)
+    full_hash = hashlib.sha1(" ".join(hashes).encode()).hexdigest()
+    paste_raw_urls = mapl(do_pastebin_file, files)
     trace("posting the header...")
     parent_post_id, url = do_post_status(
         args,
-        args.subject
-        + f"\n[patchodon hash {full_hash} shorts {short_hashes.join(' ')}]",
+        f"{mayline(args.recipient)} {mayline(args.subject)}\n"
+        f"[patchodon hash {full_hash} / {' '.join(short_hashes)}]",
     )
     for fn, pst, hsh, series in zip(
         files, paste_raw_urls, hashes, range(n_patches)
@@ -105,7 +120,9 @@ def do_post(args):
         trace(f"posting patch {series+1}/{n_patches}...")
         parent_post_id, _ = do_post_status(
             args,
-            f"[patchodon {series+1}/{n_patches} {hsh}\n{pst}\n",
+            f"{mayline(args.recipient)}"
+            f"[patchodon {series+1}/{n_patches} {hsh}]\n"
+            f"{pst}\n",
             parent=parent_post_id,
             optional=split_off_diff(open(fn, "r").read()),
         )
@@ -132,8 +149,8 @@ def main():
             group.add_argument(
                 "--debug-api-token",
                 help=(
-                    "specify the API token (not very secure, good for debugging"
-                    " only)"
+                    "specify the API token on command line (not very secure,"
+                    " good for debugging only)"
                 ),
             )
             group.add_argument(
@@ -144,15 +161,29 @@ def main():
             )
 
         post.add_argument(
-            "-i", "--instance-url", help="mastodon instance URL to post to"
+            "-i",
+            "--instance-url",
+            help=(
+                "mastodon instance URL to post to, such as"
+                " `https://mastodon.example/'"
+            ),
+        )
+        post.add_argument(
+            "-r",
+            "--recipient",
+            default=None,
+            help=(
+                "user tag to prepend to all posted statuses (required esp. for"
+                " direct sending of statuses))"
+            ),
         )
         post.add_argument(
             "-s",
             "--subject",
-            default="",
+            default=None,
             help=(
-                "start of the initial post (e.g. to @tag someone and name the"
-                " project and topic)"
+                "start text of the initial post (e.g. to @tag someone and name"
+                " the project and topic)"
             ),
         )
         post.add_argument(