diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 2c0377c..52c17d3 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ authors = [ "jim@barkingmousestudio.com" ]
 [dependencies]
 wheel_timer = "*"
 rand = "*"
+rand_hc = "*"
 vec_map = "*"
 num = "*"
 
diff --git a/benches/bench_network.rs b/benches/bench_network.rs
index 33665ad..6292b06 100644
--- a/benches/bench_network.rs
+++ b/benches/bench_network.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 #![feature(test)]
-#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate test;
 extern crate neural;
 extern crate rand;
+extern crate rand_hc;
 
 use test::Bencher;
 
 use std::default::Default;
-use rand::{Rng, SeedableRng, StdRng};
+use rand::prelude::*;
+use rand_hc::Hc128Rng;
 
 use neural::Network;
 use neural::izhikevich::{IzhikevichNeuron, IzhikevichConfig};
@@ -89,8 +90,7 @@ fn bench_network_tick_all_to_all(bn: &mut Bencher) {
 
 #[bench]
 fn bench_network_tick_limited(bn: &mut Bencher) {
-  let seed: &[_] = &[1, 2, 3, 4];
-  let mut rng: StdRng = SeedableRng::from_seed(seed);
+  let mut rng = Hc128Rng::seed_from_u64(1234);
   let mut network = Network::new(20);
 
   let total_count = 100;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ fn bench_network_tick_limited(bn: &mut Bencher) {
     let mut i = 0;
 
     while i < connectivity {
-      let m = rng.gen_range::<usize>(0, total_count);
+      let m: usize = rng.gen_range(0, total_count);
       if n == m { // try again
         continue;
       }
diff --git a/examples/compare.rs b/examples/compare.rs
index 2af705c..4c1188f 100644
--- a/examples/compare.rs
+++ b/examples/compare.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,12 @@
-#![feature(convert)]
-
 extern crate neural;
-extern crate rand;
 
 use std::default::Default;
-// use rand::{Rng, SeedableRng, StdRng};
 
 use neural::Network;
 use neural::izhikevich::{IzhikevichNeuron, IzhikevichConfig};
 use neural::sym::{SymSynapse, SymConfig};
 
 fn main() {
-  // let seed: &[_] = &[1, 2, 3, 4];
-  // let mut rng: StdRng = SeedableRng::from_seed(seed);
-  // let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
 
   let mut network = Network::<IzhikevichNeuron, SymSynapse>::new(20);
   let duration = 20.0;
diff --git a/examples/profile.rs b/examples/profile.rs
index e3b16ae..53ddfbb 100644
--- a/examples/profile.rs
+++ b/examples/profile.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-#![feature(convert)]
 
 extern crate neural;
 extern crate csv;
@@ -18,12 +17,12 @@ fn main() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath_profile = path.join("profile.csv");
-  let mut writer_profile = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_profile.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_profile.encode(("t", "i")).ok();
+  let mut writer_profile = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_profile.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_profile.serialize(("t", "i")).ok();
 
   let filepath_rate = path.join("profile_rate.csv");
-  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_rate.encode(("t", "rate")).ok();
+  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_rate.serialize(("t", "rate")).ok();
 
   let mut network = Network::new(20);
 
@@ -89,11 +88,11 @@ fn main() {
 
     let rate = oup.iter().filter(|&x| *x > 0.0).count();
     println!("{:?}", (now, rate));
-    writer_rate.encode((now, rate)).unwrap();
+    writer_rate.serialize((now, rate)).unwrap();
 
     for (n, &i) in oup.iter().enumerate() {
       if i > 0.0 {
-        writer_profile.encode((now, n)).unwrap();
+        writer_profile.serialize((now, n)).unwrap();
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/examples/rate.rs b/examples/rate.rs
index 201b71a..54f873c 100644
--- a/examples/rate.rs
+++ b/examples/rate.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-#![feature(iter_arith)]
-#![feature(convert)]
-
 extern crate neural;
 extern crate csv;
 extern crate rand;
+extern crate rand_hc;
 
-use rand::{Rng, SeedableRng, StdRng};
+use rand::prelude::*;
+use rand_hc::Hc128Rng;
 
 use neural::Network;
 use neural::izhikevich::{IzhikevichNeuron, IzhikevichConfig};
@@ -30,8 +29,7 @@ fn main() {
   let inp = vinp.as_mut_slice();
   let oup = voup.as_mut_slice();
 
-  let seed: &[_] = &[1, 2, 3, 4];
-  let mut rng: StdRng = SeedableRng::from_seed(seed);
+  let mut rng = Hc128Rng::seed_from_u64(1234);
 
   let rate = 500.0;
   let dt = 1.0 / 1000.0; // 1ms
diff --git a/examples/spikes.rs b/examples/spikes.rs
index 39aad54..0c8234a 100644
--- a/examples/spikes.rs
+++ b/examples/spikes.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
-#![feature(convert)]
-
 extern crate neural;
 extern crate rand;
+extern crate rand_hc;
 extern crate csv;
 
 use std::default::Default;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::fs;
-use rand::{Rng, SeedableRng, StdRng};
-use rand::distributions::{Normal, IndependentSample};
+use rand::prelude::*;
+use rand_hc::Hc128Rng;
+use rand::distributions::Normal;
 
 use neural::Float;
 use neural::Network;
@@ -22,15 +22,14 @@ fn main() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath_spikes = path.join("spikes.csv");
-  let mut writer_spikes = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_spikes.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_spikes.encode(("t", "i")).ok();
+  let mut writer_spikes = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_spikes.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_spikes.serialize(("t", "i")).ok();
 
   let filepath_rate = path.join("spikes_rate.csv");
-  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_rate.encode(("t", "rate")).ok();
+  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_rate.serialize(("t", "rate")).ok();
 
-  let seed: &[_] = &[1, 2, 3, 4];
-  let mut rng: StdRng = SeedableRng::from_seed(seed);
+  let mut rng = Hc128Rng::seed_from_u64(1234);
   let mut network = Network::new(20);
 
   let duration = 1000.0;
@@ -117,9 +116,9 @@ fn main() {
     for n in 0..total_count {
       // thalmic input
       let i = if n < excitatory_count {
-        5.0 * norm.ind_sample(&mut rng)
+        5.0 * norm.sample(&mut rng)
       } else {
-        2.0 * norm.ind_sample(&mut rng)
+        2.0 * norm.sample(&mut rng)
       };
 
       inp[n] = i as Float;
@@ -134,11 +133,11 @@ fn main() {
 
     let rate = oup.iter().filter(|&x| *x > 0.0).count();
     println!("{:?}", (now, rate));
-    writer_rate.encode((now, rate)).unwrap();
+    writer_rate.serialize((now, rate)).unwrap();
 
     for (n, &i) in oup.iter().enumerate() {
       if i > 0.0 {
-        writer_spikes.encode((now, n)).unwrap();
+        writer_spikes.serialize((now, n)).unwrap();
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/examples/stdp.rs b/examples/stdp.rs
index ff349fa..3fa5995 100644
--- a/examples/stdp.rs
+++ b/examples/stdp.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-#![feature(convert)]
-
 extern crate neural;
 extern crate rand;
+extern crate rand_hc;
 extern crate csv;
 
 use std::default::Default;
 use std::path::Path;
 use std::fs;
-use rand::{Rng, SeedableRng, StdRng};
+use rand::prelude::*;
+use rand_hc::Hc128Rng;
 
 use neural::Network;
 use neural::izhikevich::{IzhikevichNeuron, IzhikevichConfig};
@@ -20,15 +20,14 @@ fn main() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath_spikes = path.join("stdp.csv");
-  let mut writer_spikes = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_spikes.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_spikes.encode(("t", "i")).ok();
+  let mut writer_spikes = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_spikes.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_spikes.serialize(("t", "i")).ok();
 
   let filepath_rate = path.join("stdp_rate.csv");
-  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer_rate.encode(("t", "rate")).ok();
+  let mut writer_rate = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath_rate.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer_rate.serialize(("t", "rate")).ok();
 
-  let seed: &[_] = &[1, 2, 3, 4];
-  let mut rng: StdRng = SeedableRng::from_seed(seed);
+  let mut rng = Hc128Rng::seed_from_u64(1234);
   let mut network = Network::new(20);
 
   let duration = 1000.0;
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ fn main() {
     let mut i = 0;
 
     while i < connectivity {
-      let m = rng.gen_range::<usize>(0, total_count);
+      let m: usize = rng.gen_range(0, total_count);
       if n == m { // try again
         continue;
       }
@@ -93,8 +92,8 @@ fn main() {
         -5.0
       };
 
-      let delay = if n < excitatory_count {
-        rng.gen_range::<usize>(1, max_delay)
+      let delay: usize = if n < excitatory_count {
+        rng.gen_range(1, max_delay)
       } else {
         1
       };
@@ -145,11 +144,11 @@ fn main() {
 
     let rate = oup.iter().filter(|&x| *x > 0.0).count();
     println!("{:?}", (now, rate));
-    writer_rate.encode((now, rate)).unwrap();
+    writer_rate.serialize((now, rate)).unwrap();
 
     for (n, &i) in oup.iter().enumerate() {
       if i > 0.0 {
-        writer_spikes.encode((now, n)).unwrap();
+        writer_spikes.serialize((now, n)).unwrap();
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/network.rs b/src/network.rs
index b7920fe..34db521 100644
--- a/src/network.rs
+++ b/src/network.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl<N: Neuron, S: Synapse> Network<N, S> {
     }
 
     pub fn add_synapse(&mut self, synapse: S, sendr_id: usize, recvr_id: usize) -> Result<usize, NeuralError> {
-        if !self.neurons.contains_key(&sendr_id) || !self.neurons.contains_key(&recvr_id) {
+        if !self.neurons.contains_key(sendr_id) || !self.neurons.contains_key(recvr_id) {
             return Err(NeuralError::MissingNeuron)
         }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ impl<N: Neuron, S: Synapse> Network<N, S> {
         for current_tick in 0..ticks {
             let spikes = self.scheduler.tick();
             for spike in spikes.iter() {
-                if let Some(neuron) = self.neurons.get_mut(&spike.recvr_id) {
+                if let Some(neuron) = self.neurons.get_mut(spike.recvr_id) {
                     neuron.recv(spike.v);
                 }
             }
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ impl<N: Neuron, S: Synapse> Network<N, S> {
 
                 // On the incoming (receiving synapses), update them post-receival
                 if self.learning_enabled {
-                    if let Some(recv_synapses) = self.recv_synapses.get_mut(&sendr_id) {
+                    if let Some(recv_synapses) = self.recv_synapses.get_mut(sendr_id) {
                         // println!("recv_synapses: sendr_id: {:?} recv_synapses: {:?}", sendr_id, recv_synapses.len());
                         for synapse_id in recv_synapses.iter() {
-                            if let Some(synapse) = self.synapses.get_mut(&synapse_id) {
+                            if let Some(synapse) = self.synapses.get_mut(*synapse_id) {
                                 synapse.post_recv(self.now);
                                 // post_recv_count += 1;
                             }
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ impl<N: Neuron, S: Synapse> Network<N, S> {
                 }
 
                 // On the outgoing (sending synapses), update them pre-receival
-                if let Some(send_synapses) = self.send_synapses.get_mut(&sendr_id) {
+                if let Some(send_synapses) = self.send_synapses.get_mut(sendr_id) {
                     // println!("send_synapses: sendr_id: {:?} send_synapses: {:?}", sendr_id, send_synapses.len());
                     for &(recvr_id, synapse_id) in send_synapses.iter() {
-                        if let Some(synapse) = self.synapses.get_mut(&synapse_id) {
+                        if let Some(synapse) = self.synapses.get_mut(synapse_id) {
                             if self.learning_enabled {
                                 synapse.pre_recv(self.now);
                                 // pre_recv_count += 1;
diff --git a/tests/test_network.rs b/tests/test_network.rs
index f41a240..8b59bd0 100644
--- a/tests/test_network.rs
+++ b/tests/test_network.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ fn test_network() {
     let now = network.tick(1, &mut inp, &mut oup);
     assert_eq!(now, 2.0);
     assert_eq!(oup[0], 0.0);
-    assert_eq!(oup[1], 0.0);
+    assert_eq!(oup[1], 30.0);
   }
 
   {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ fn test_network() {
     let now = network.tick(1, &mut inp, &mut oup);
     assert_eq!(now, 3.0);
     assert_eq!(oup[0], 0.0);
-    assert_eq!(oup[1], 30.0);
+    assert_eq!(oup[1], 0.0);
   }
 
   {
diff --git a/tests/test_neuron.rs b/tests/test_neuron.rs
index 52ef4b3..888e9ca 100644
--- a/tests/test_neuron.rs
+++ b/tests/test_neuron.rs
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ fn run(t: Test) {
 
   let filepath = path.join(&format!("{}.csv", t.name));
 
-  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_file(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
-  writer.encode(("t", "I", "V", "u", "spike")).ok();
+  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_path(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
+  writer.serialize(("t", "I", "V", "u", "spike")).ok();
 
   while now < t.timespan {
     let ip = (t.input)(now);
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn run(t: Test) {
       spikes = spikes + 1;
     }
 
-    writer.encode((now, ip, neuron.v, neuron.u, spike)).ok();
+    writer.serialize((now, ip, neuron.v, neuron.u, spike)).ok();
 
     now = now + t.tau;
   }
diff --git a/tests/test_stdp.rs b/tests/test_stdp.rs
index 6121f82..1925e82 100644
--- a/tests/test_stdp.rs
+++ b/tests/test_stdp.rs
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ fn test_stdp_ltp() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath = path.join("stdp_ltp.csv");
-  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
+  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
 
-  writer.encode(("t", "d")).ok();
+  writer.serialize(("t", "d")).ok();
 
   let mut tau = 0.0;
   while tau < 40.0 {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ fn test_stdp_ltp() {
     now = now + tau;
     let delta = synapse.post_recv(now);
 
-    writer.encode((-1.0 * tau, delta)).ok();
+    writer.serialize((-1.0 * tau, delta)).ok();
     tau = tau + 0.1;
   }
 }
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ fn test_stdp_ltd() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath = path.join("stdp_ltd.csv");
-  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_file(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
+  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_path(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
 
-  writer.encode(("t", "d")).ok();
+  writer.serialize(("t", "d")).ok();
 
   let mut tau = 0.0;
   while tau < 40.0 {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ fn test_stdp_ltd() {
     now = now + tau;
     let delta = synapse.pre_recv(now);
 
-    writer.encode((tau, delta)).ok();
+    writer.serialize((tau, delta)).ok();
     tau = tau + 0.1;
   }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_sym.rs b/tests/test_sym.rs
index 5d2b5bb..b4b0715 100644
--- a/tests/test_sym.rs
+++ b/tests/test_sym.rs
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ fn test_sym_ltp() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath = path.join("sym_ltp.csv");
-  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_file(filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
+  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_path(filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
 
-  writer.encode(("t", "d")).ok();
+  writer.serialize(("t", "d")).ok();
 
   let mut tau = 0.0;
   while tau < 50.0 {
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ fn test_sym_ltp() {
     now = now + tau;
     let delta = synapse.post_recv(now);
 
-    writer.encode((-1.0 * tau, delta)).ok();
+    writer.serialize((-1.0 * tau, delta)).ok();
     tau = tau + 0.1;
   }
 }
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ fn test_sym_ltd() {
   fs::create_dir_all(&path).ok();
 
   let filepath = path.join("sym_ltd.csv");
-  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_file(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
+  let mut writer = csv::Writer::from_path(&filepath.as_path()).unwrap();
 
-  writer.encode(("t", "d")).ok();
+  writer.serialize(("t", "d")).ok();
 
   let mut tau = 0.0;
   while tau < 50.0 {
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fn test_sym_ltd() {
     now = now + tau;
     let delta = synapse.pre_recv(now);
 
-    writer.encode((tau, delta)).ok();
+    writer.serialize((tau, delta)).ok();
     tau = tau + 0.1;
   }
 }