diff --git a/scripts/core/sxmo_appmenu.sh b/scripts/core/sxmo_appmenu.sh
index cc12f14..5e5bc0a 100755
--- a/scripts/core/sxmo_appmenu.sh
+++ b/scripts/core/sxmo_appmenu.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 trap gracefulexit INT TERM
-WIN=$(xdotool getwindowfocus)
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
 
-DIR=$(dirname "$0")
-# shellcheck source=./sxmo_icons.sh
-. "$DIR/sxmo_icons.sh"
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
+
+WIN=$(xdotool getwindowfocus)
 
 gracefulexit() {
 	echo "Gracefully exiting $0">&2
diff --git a/scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh b/scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
index 33be11b..9db71ce 100644
--- a/scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+++ b/scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
@@ -1,303 +1,206 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 
+# This script is meant to be sourced by various sxmo scripts
+# and defines some common settings
+
+# we disable shellcheck SC2034 (variable not used)
+# for all the variables we define here
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+CACHEDIR="$XDG_CACHE_HOME"/sxmo
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
+
 # This script ensures all sxmo scripts are using the busybox version of
-# coreutils rather than any other version that may be installed on the
+# certain coreutils rather than any other version that may be installed on the
 # user's computer
 
-
-alias acpid="busybox acpid"
-alias add-shell="busybox shell"
-alias addgroup="busybox addgroup"
-alias adduser="busybox adduser"
-alias adjtimex="busybox adjtimex"
-alias arch="busybox arch"
-alias arp="busybox arp"
-alias arping="busybox arping"
-alias ash="busybox ash"
-alias awk="busybox awk"
-alias base64="busybox base64"
-alias basename="busybox basename"
-alias bbconfig="busybox bbconfig"
-alias bc="busybox bc"
-alias beep="busybox beep"
-alias blkdiscard="busybox blkdiscard"
-alias blkid="busybox blkid"
-alias blockdev="busybox blockdev"
-alias brctl="busybox brctl"
-alias bunzip2="busybox bunzip2"
-alias bzcat="busybox bzcat"
-alias bzip2="busybox bzip2"
-alias cal="busybox cal"
-alias cat="busybox cat"
-alias chgrp="busybox chgrp"
-alias chmod="busybox chmod"
-alias chown="busybox chown"
-alias chpasswd="busybox chpasswd"
-alias chroot="busybox chroot"
-alias chvt="busybox chvt"
-alias cksum="busybox cksum"
-alias clear="busybox clear"
-alias cmp="busybox cmp"
-alias comm="busybox comm"
-alias cp="busybox cp"
-alias cpio="busybox cpio"
-alias crond="busybox crond"
-alias crontab="busybox crontab"
-alias cryptpw="busybox cryptpw"
-alias cut="busybox cut"
-alias date="busybox date"
-alias dc="busybox dc"
-alias dd="busybox dd"
-alias deallocvt="busybox deallocvt"
-alias delgroup="busybox delgroup"
-alias deluser="busybox deluser"
-alias depmod="busybox depmod"
-alias df="busybox df"
-alias diff="busybox diff"
-alias dirname="busybox dirname"
-alias dmesg="busybox dmesg"
-alias dnsdomainname="busybox dnsdomainname"
-alias dos2unix="busybox dos2unix"
-alias du="busybox du"
-alias dumpkmap="busybox dumpkmap"
-alias echo="busybox echo"
-alias ed="busybox ed"
-alias egrep="busybox egrep"
-alias eject="busybox eject"
-alias env="busybox env"
-alias ether-wake="busybox wake"
-alias expand="busybox expand"
-alias expr="busybox expr"
-alias factor="busybox factor"
-alias fallocate="busybox fallocate"
-alias false="busybox false"
-alias fatattr="busybox fatattr"
-alias fbset="busybox fbset"
-alias fbsplash="busybox fbsplash"
-alias fdflush="busybox fdflush"
-alias fdisk="busybox fdisk"
-alias fgrep="busybox fgrep"
 alias find="busybox find"
-alias findfs="busybox findfs"
-alias flock="busybox flock"
-alias fold="busybox fold"
-alias free="busybox free"
-alias fsck="busybox fsck"
-alias fstrim="busybox fstrim"
-alias fsync="busybox fsync"
-alias fuser="busybox fuser"
-alias getopt="busybox getopt"
-alias getty="busybox getty"
-alias grep="busybox grep"
-alias groups="busybox groups"
-alias gunzip="busybox gunzip"
-alias gzip="busybox gzip"
-alias halt="busybox halt"
-alias hd="busybox hd"
-alias head="busybox head"
-alias hexdump="busybox hexdump"
-alias hostid="busybox hostid"
-alias hostname="busybox hostname"
-alias hwclock="busybox hwclock"
-alias id="busybox id"
-alias ifconfig="busybox ifconfig"
-alias ifdown="busybox ifdown"
-alias ifenslave="busybox ifenslave"
-alias ifup="busybox ifup"
-alias init="busybox init"
-alias inotifyd="busybox inotifyd"
-alias insmod="busybox insmod"
-alias install="busybox install"
-alias ionice="busybox ionice"
-alias iostat="busybox iostat"
-alias ip="busybox ip"
-alias ipaddr="busybox ipaddr"
-alias ipcalc="busybox ipcalc"
-alias ipcrm="busybox ipcrm"
-alias ipcs="busybox ipcs"
-alias iplink="busybox iplink"
-alias ipneigh="busybox ipneigh"
-alias iproute="busybox iproute"
-alias iprule="busybox iprule"
-alias iptunnel="busybox iptunnel"
-alias kbd_mode="busybox mode"
-alias kill="busybox kill"
-alias killall, killall5="busybox killall5"
-alias klogd="busybox klogd"
-alias less="busybox less"
-alias link="busybox link"
-alias linux32="busybox linux32"
-alias linux64="busybox linux64"
-alias ln="busybox ln"
-alias loadfont="busybox loadfont"
-alias loadkmap="busybox loadkmap"
-alias logger="busybox logger"
-alias login="busybox login"
-alias logread="busybox logread"
-alias losetup="busybox losetup"
-alias ls="busybox ls"
-alias lsmod="busybox lsmod"
-alias lsof="busybox lsof"
-alias lsusb="busybox lsusb"
-alias lzcat="busybox lzcat"
-alias lzma="busybox lzma"
-alias lzop="busybox lzop"
-alias lzopcat="busybox lzopcat"
-alias makemime="busybox makemime"
-alias md5sum="busybox md5sum"
-alias mdev="busybox mdev"
-alias mesg="busybox mesg"
-alias microcom="busybox microcom"
-alias mkdir="busybox mkdir"
-alias mkdosfs="busybox mkdosfs"
-alias mkfifo="busybox mkfifo"
-alias mkfs.vfat="busybox mkfs.vfat"
-alias mknod="busybox mknod"
-alias mkpasswd="busybox mkpasswd"
-alias mkswap="busybox mkswap"
-alias mktemp="busybox mktemp"
-alias modinfo="busybox modinfo"
-alias modprobe="busybox modprobe"
-alias more="busybox more"
-alias mount="busybox mount"
-alias mountpoint="busybox mountpoint"
-alias mpstat="busybox mpstat"
-alias mv="busybox mv"
-alias nameif="busybox nameif"
-alias nanddump="busybox nanddump"
-alias nandwrite="busybox nandwrite"
-alias nbd-client="busybox nbd"
-alias nc="busybox nc"
-alias netstat="busybox netstat"
-alias nice="busybox nice"
-alias nl="busybox nl"
-alias nmeter="busybox nmeter"
-alias nohup="busybox nohup"
-alias nologin="busybox nologin"
-alias nproc="busybox nproc"
-alias nsenter="busybox nsenter"
-alias nslookup="busybox nslookup"
-alias ntpd="busybox ntpd"
-alias od="busybox od"
-alias openvt="busybox openvt"
-alias partprobe="busybox partprobe"
-alias passwd="busybox passwd"
-alias paste="busybox paste"
-alias pgrep="busybox pgrep"
-alias pidof="busybox pidof"
-alias ping="busybox ping"
-alias ping6="busybox ping6"
-alias pipe_progress="busybox pipe"
-alias pivot_root="busybox pivot"
 alias pkill="busybox pkill"
-alias pmap="busybox pmap"
-alias poweroff="busybox poweroff"
-alias printenv="busybox printenv"
-alias printf="busybox printf"
-alias ps="busybox ps"
-alias pscan="busybox pscan"
-alias pstree="busybox pstree"
-alias pwd="busybox pwd"
-alias pwdx="busybox pwdx"
-alias raidautorun="busybox raidautorun"
-alias rdate="busybox rdate"
-alias rdev="busybox rdev"
-alias readahead="busybox readahead"
-alias readlink="busybox readlink"
-alias realpath="busybox realpath"
-alias reboot="busybox reboot"
-alias reformime="busybox reformime"
-alias remove-shell="busybox remove-shell"
-alias renice="busybox renice"
-alias reset="busybox reset"
-alias resize="busybox resize"
-alias rev="busybox rev"
-alias rfkill="busybox rfkill"
-alias rm="busybox rm"
-alias rmdir="busybox rmdir"
-alias rmmod="busybox rmmod"
-alias route="busybox route"
-alias run-parts="busybox run"
-alias sed="busybox sed"
-alias sendmail="busybox sendmail"
-alias seq="busybox seq"
-alias setconsole="busybox setconsole"
-alias setfont="busybox setfont"
-alias setkeycodes="busybox setkeycodes"
-alias setlogcons="busybox setlogcons"
-alias setpriv="busybox setpriv"
-alias setserial="busybox setserial"
-alias setsid="busybox setsid"
-alias sh="busybox sh"
-alias sha1sum="busybox sha1sum"
-alias sha256sum="busybox sha256sum"
-alias sha3sum="busybox sha3sum"
-alias sha512sum="busybox sha512sum"
-alias showkey="busybox showkey"
-alias shred="busybox shred"
-alias shuf="busybox shuf"
-alias slattach="busybox slattach"
-alias sleep="busybox sleep"
-alias sort="busybox sort"
-alias split="busybox split"
-alias stat="busybox stat"
-alias strings="busybox strings"
-alias stty="busybox stty"
-alias su="busybox su"
-alias sum="busybox sum"
-alias swapoff="busybox swapoff"
-alias swapon="busybox swapon"
-alias switch_root="busybox switch"
-alias sync="busybox sync"
-alias sysctl="busybox sysctl"
-alias syslogd="busybox syslogd"
-alias tac="busybox tac"
-alias tail="busybox tail"
-alias tar="busybox tar"
-alias tee="busybox tee"
-alias test="busybox test"
-alias time="busybox time"
-alias timeout="busybox timeout"
-alias top="busybox top"
-alias touch="busybox touch"
-alias tr="busybox tr"
-alias traceroute="busybox traceroute"
-alias traceroute6="busybox traceroute6"
-alias true="busybox true"
-alias truncate="busybox truncate"
-alias tty="busybox tty"
-alias ttysize="busybox ttysize"
-alias tunctl="busybox tunctl"
-alias udhcpc="busybox udhcpc"
-alias udhcpc6="busybox udhcpc6"
-alias umount="busybox umount"
-alias uname="busybox uname"
-alias unexpand="busybox unexpand"
-alias uniq="busybox uniq"
-alias unix2dos="busybox unix2dos"
-alias unlink="busybox unlink"
-alias unlzma="busybox unlzma"
-alias unlzop="busybox unlzop"
-alias unshare="busybox unshare"
-alias unxz="busybox unxz"
-alias unzip="busybox unzip"
-alias uptime="busybox uptime"
-alias usleep="busybox usleep"
-alias uudecode="busybox uudecode"
-alias uuencode="busybox uuencode"
-alias vconfig="busybox vconfig"
-alias vi="busybox vi"
-alias vlock="busybox vlock"
-alias volname="busybox volname"
-alias watch="busybox watch"
-alias watchdog="busybox watchdog"
-alias wc="busybox wc"
-alias wget="busybox wget"
-alias which="busybox which"
-alias whoami="busybox whoami"
-alias whois="busybox whois"
-alias xargs="busybox xargs"
-alias xxd="busybox xxd"
-alias xzcat="busybox xzcat"
-alias yes="busybox yes"
-alias zca="busybox zca"
+alias pgrep="busybox pgrep"
+
+#this script is meant to be sourced
+#the glyphs are often in the private use area and
+#therefore require a font like those in https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/ for proper display
+
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_itm="" #item (default)
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_trm='' #terminal
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_vim=''
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_tgm='' #telegram
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_gps='' #gps
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_msg="" #text
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_pwr="⏻" #power
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_cfg="" #configuration cog
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_cls="" #close
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_phn="" #phone
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_dir="" #directory folder
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_fil="" #file
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_grd=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mnu=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_cam=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_net=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_bel=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mic=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mmc=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mus=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mut="" #mute
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_spk="" #speaker
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_img=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_usr=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_tmr="" #timer
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_arl=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_arr=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_aru=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ard=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ac1=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ac2=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ac3=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ac4=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mov=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_shr="" #shrink
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_exp="" #expand
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_zmi=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_zmo=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_hom=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_rld=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_hdp="" #headphones
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_lck=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_rss=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_lnk=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_cpy=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_pst=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_fnd="" #search/find
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_win="" #window
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_tab=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_flt="" #filter/pipe
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_glb="" #globe
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_phl="'" #phonelog
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_inf="" #info
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_fll="" #flashlight
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_clk=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_rol="" #rotate left
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ror="" #rotate right
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_upc="" #up in circle
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_zzz="" #sleep/suspend/crust
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_out="" #logout
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ytb="" #youtube
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_wtr="" #weather
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_red="" #reddit
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_vid="" #video
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_mvi="" #movie
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_clc="" #calculator
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_eml="" #email
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_edt="" #editor
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ffx="" #firefox
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ffw="'" #fast forward
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_fbw=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_pau=""
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_a2y="⇅"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_a2x="⇄"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_sav="" #save
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_ret="" #return
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_nxt="" #next
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_prv="" #previous
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_stp="" #stop
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_sfl="" #shuffle, random
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_lst="" #list
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_kbd="" #keyboard
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_del="﫧" #delete
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_grp="" #group
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_snd="" #send
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_phx="" #hangup
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034
+icon_wn2=""
+
+#allow the user to override icons
+if [ -x "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxmo/hooks/icons" ]; then
+	"$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxmo/hooks/icons"
+fi
diff --git a/scripts/core/sxmo_icons.sh b/scripts/core/sxmo_icons.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 8b8b699..0000000
--- a/scripts/core/sxmo_icons.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
-#this script is meant to be sourced
-#the glyphs are often in the private use area and
-#therefore require a font like those in https://github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/ for proper display
-if [ -z "$SXMO_NO_ICONS" ] || [ "$SXMO_NO_ICONS" -eq 0 ]; then
-    icon_itm="" #item (default)
-    icon_trm='' #terminal
-    icon_vim=''
-    icon_tgm='' #telegram
-    icon_gps='' #gps
-    icon_msg="" #text
-    icon_pwr="⏻" #power
-    icon_cfg="" #configuration cog
-    icon_cls="" #close
-    icon_phn="" #phone
-    icon_dir="" #directory folder
-    icon_fil="" #file
-    icon_grd=""
-    icon_mnu=""
-    icon_cam=""
-    icon_net=""
-    icon_bel=""
-    icon_mic=""
-    icon_mmc=""
-    icon_mus=""
-    icon_mut="" #mute
-    icon_spk="" #speaker
-    icon_img=""
-    icon_usr=""
-    icon_tmr="" #timer
-    icon_arl=""
-    icon_arr=""
-    icon_aru=""
-    icon_ard=""
-    icon_ac1=""
-    icon_ac2=""
-    icon_ac3=""
-    icon_ac4=""
-    icon_mov=""
-    icon_shr="" #shrink
-    icon_exp="" #expand
-    icon_zmi=""
-    icon_zmo=""
-    icon_hom=""
-    icon_rld=""
-    icon_hdp="" #headphones
-    icon_lck=""
-    icon_rss=""
-    icon_lnk=""
-    icon_cpy=""
-    icon_pst=""
-    icon_fnd="" #search/find
-    icon_win="" #window
-    icon_tab=""
-    icon_flt="" #filter/pipe
-    icon_glb="" #globe
-    icon_phl="'" #phonelog
-    icon_inf="" #info
-    icon_fll="" #flashlight
-    icon_clk=""
-    icon_rol="" #rotate left
-    icon_ror="" #rotate right
-    icon_upc="" #up in circle
-    icon_zzz="" #sleep/suspend/crust
-    icon_out="" #logout
-    icon_ytb="" #youtube
-    icon_wtr="" #weather
-    icon_red="" #reddit
-    icon_vid="" #video
-    icon_mvi="" #movie
-    icon_clc="" #calculator
-    icon_eml="" #email
-    icon_edt="" #editor
-    icon_ffx="" #firefox
-    icon_ffw="'" #fast forward
-    icon_fbw=""
-    icon_pau=""
-    icon_a2y="⇅"
-    icon_a2x="⇄"
-    icon_sav="" #save
-    icon_ret="" #return
-    icon_nxt="" #next
-    icon_prv="" #previous
-    icon_stp="" #stop
-    icon_sfl="" #shuffle, random
-    icon_lst="" #list
-    icon_kbd="" #keyboard
-    icon_del="﫧" #delete
-    icon_grp="" #group
-    icon_snd="" #send
-    icon_phx="" #hangup
-    icon_wn2=""
-fi
-#allow the user to override icons
-if [ -x "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxmo/hooks/icons" ]; then
-	"$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxmo/hooks/icons"
-fi
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemcall.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemcall.sh
index f4e35ce..41de0bd 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemcall.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemcall.sh
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
 ALSASTATEFILE="$XDG_CACHE_HOME"/precall.alsa.state
-CACHEDIR="$XDG_CACHE_HOME"/sxmo
 trap "gracefulexit" INT TERM
 
-DIR=$(dirname "$0")
-# shellcheck source=./sxmo_icons.sh
-. "$DIR/sxmo_icons.sh"
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
 
 modem_n() {
 	MODEMS="$(mmcli -L)"
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemlog.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemlog.sh
index 8205939..0143964 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemlog.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemlog.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
+
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
+
 st -f "Terminus-14" -e tail -n9999 -f "$LOGDIR"/modemlog.tsv
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitor.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitor.sh
index 5be5174..65d4b69 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitor.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitor.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
-CACHEDIR="$XDG_CACHE_HOME"/sxmo
 trap "gracefulexit" INT TERM
 
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
+
 err() {
 	echo "sxmo_modemmonitor: Error: $1">&2
 	notify-send "$1"
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitortoggle.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitortoggle.sh
index 56b8253..7c76055 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitortoggle.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemmonitortoggle.sh
@@ -4,13 +4,16 @@
 # It optionally takes a parameter "on" or "off"
 # forcing it to toggle only to that desired state if applicable.
 
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
+
 if [ "$1" != "on" ] && pgrep -f sxmo_modemmonitor.sh; then
 	pgrep -f sxmo_modemmonitor.sh | grep -Ev "^${$}$" | xargs -IP kill -TERM P
 elif [ "$1" != "off" ]; then
 	setsid -f sxmo_modemmonitor.sh &
 fi
 
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_CONFIG_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
 rm "$NOTIFDIR"/incomingcall*
 
 # E.g. wait until process killed or started -- maybe there's a better way..
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemsendsms.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemsendsms.sh
index 68e9625..90d3285 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemsendsms.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemsendsms.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
+
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
 
 info() {
 	echo "$1" > /dev/stderr
diff --git a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemtext.sh b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemtext.sh
index 4d8f1b3..e9c981a 100755
--- a/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemtext.sh
+++ b/scripts/modem/sxmo_modemtext.sh
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-LOGDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/modem
+
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
+
 TERMMODE=$([ -n "$SSH_CLIENT" ] || [ -n "$SSH_TTY" ] && echo "true")
 DRAFT_DIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME/sxmo/modem/draft"
 
-DIR=$(dirname "$0")
-# shellcheck source=./sxmo_icons.sh
-. "$DIR/sxmo_icons.sh"
-
 menu() {
 	if [ "$TERMMODE" != "true" ]; then
 		"$@"
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ menu() {
 
 err() {
 	echo "$1">&2
-	echo "$1" | menu dmenu -fn Terminus-20 -c -l 10
+	echo "$1" | menu dmenu -c -l 10
 	kill $$
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationmonitor.sh b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationmonitor.sh
index af4d00e..53dbed1 100755
--- a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationmonitor.sh
+++ b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationmonitor.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 trap gracefulexit INT TERM
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
+
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
 
 gracefulexit() {
 	echo "Gracefully exiting $0"
diff --git a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationsmenu.sh b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationsmenu.sh
index edd7630..0ee8283 100755
--- a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationsmenu.sh
+++ b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationsmenu.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
 
-DIR=$(dirname "$0")
-# shellcheck source=./sxmo_icons.sh
-. "$DIR/sxmo_icons.sh"
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
 
 notificationmenu() {
 	CHOICES="$icon_cls Close Menu\n$icon_del Clear Notifications"
diff --git a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationwrite.sh b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationwrite.sh
index 62f05f9..782a491 100755
--- a/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationwrite.sh
+++ b/scripts/notifications/sxmo_notificationwrite.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
-NOTIFDIR="$XDG_DATA_HOME"/sxmo/notifications
+
+# include common definitions
+# shellcheck source=scripts/core/sxmo_common.sh
+. "$(dirname "$0")/sxmo_common.sh"
 
 # Takes 4 args:
 # (1) the filepath of the notification to write (or random to generate a random id)