diff --git a/widget/alsa.lua b/widget/alsa.lua
index 202dc981..a4ac57ad 100644
--- a/widget/alsa.lua
+++ b/widget/alsa.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     args           = args or {}
     local alsa     = { widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox() }
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 5
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     alsa.cmd           = args.cmd or "amixer"
     alsa.channel       = args.channel or "Master"
@@ -38,10 +38,9 @@ local function factory(args)
             local l,s = string.match(mixer, "([%d]+)%%.*%[([%l]*)")
             l = tonumber(l)
             if alsa.last.level ~= l or alsa.last.status ~= s then
-                volume_now = { level = l, status = s }
-                widget = alsa.widget
-                settings()
-                alsa.last = volume_now
+                alsa.now = { level = l, status = s }
+                settings(alsa.widget, alsa.now)
+                alsa.last = alsa.now
             end
         end)
     end
diff --git a/widget/alsabar.lua b/widget/alsabar.lua
index 8e8cd3a8..26a8af17 100644
--- a/widget/alsabar.lua
+++ b/widget/alsabar.lua
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     args             = args or {}
 
     local timeout    = args.timeout or 5
-    local settings   = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings   = args.settings or function(_, _) end
     local width      = args.width or 63
     local height     = args.height or 1
     local margins    = args.margins or 1
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ local function factory(args)
                     alsabar.bar.color = alsabar.colors.unmute
                 end
 
-                volume_now = {
+                alsabar.now = {
                     level  = alsabar._current_level,
                     status = alsabar._playback
                 }
 
-                settings()
+                settings(alsabar.bar, alsabar.now)
 
                 if type(callback) == "function" then callback() end
             end
diff --git a/widget/contrib/moc.lua b/widget/contrib/moc.lua
index ad6452e2..50975f96 100644
--- a/widget/contrib/moc.lua
+++ b/widget/contrib/moc.lua
@@ -27,15 +27,15 @@ local function factory(args)
     local cover_size    = args.cover_size or 100
     local default_art   = args.default_art or ""
     local followtag     = args.followtag or false
-    local settings      = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings      = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
-    moc_notification_preset = { title = "Now playing", timeout = 6 }
+    local moc_notification_preset = { title = "Now playing", timeout = 6 }
 
     helpers.set_map("current moc track", nil)
 
     function moc.update()
         helpers.async("mocp -i", function(f)
-            moc_now = {
+            moc.now = {
                 state   = "N/A",
                 file    = "N/A",
                 artist  = "N/A",
@@ -47,25 +47,24 @@ local function factory(args)
 
             for line in string.gmatch(f, "[^\n]+") do
                 for k, v in string.gmatch(line, "([%w]+):[%s](.*)$") do
-                    if     k == "State"       then moc_now.state   = v
-                    elseif k == "File"        then moc_now.file    = v
-                    elseif k == "Artist"      then moc_now.artist  = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "SongTitle"   then moc_now.title   = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Album"       then moc_now.album   = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "CurrentTime" then moc_now.elapsed = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "TotalTime"   then moc_now.total   = escape_f(v)
+                    if     k == "State"       then moc.now.state   = v
+                    elseif k == "File"        then moc.now.file    = v
+                    elseif k == "Artist"      then moc.now.artist  = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "SongTitle"   then moc.now.title   = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Album"       then moc.now.album   = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "CurrentTime" then moc.now.elapsed = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "TotalTime"   then moc.now.total   = escape_f(v)
                     end
                 end
             end
 
-            moc_notification_preset.text = string.format("%s (%s) - %s\n%s", moc_now.artist,
-                                           moc_now.album, moc_now.total, moc_now.title)
-            widget = moc.widget
-            settings()
+            moc_notification_preset.text = string.format("%s (%s) - %s\n%s", moc.now.artist,
+                                           moc.now.album, moc.now.total, moc.now.title)
+            settings(moc.widget, moc.now)
 
-            if moc_now.state == "PLAY" then
-                if moc_now.title ~= helpers.get_map("current moc track") then
-                    helpers.set_map("current moc track", moc_now.title)
+            if moc.now.state == "PLAY" then
+                if moc.now.title ~= helpers.get_map("current moc track") then
+                    helpers.set_map("current moc track", moc.now.title)
 
                     if followtag then moc_notification_preset.screen = focused() end
 
@@ -76,14 +75,14 @@ local function factory(args)
                         replaces_id = moc.id,
                     }
 
-                    local path   = string.format("%s/%s", music_dir, string.match(moc_now.file, ".*/"))
+                    local path   = string.format("%s/%s", music_dir, string.match(moc.now.file, ".*/"))
                     local cover  = string.format("find '%s' -maxdepth 1 -type f | egrep -i -m1 '%s'", path, cover_pattern)
                     helpers.async({ shell, "-c", cover }, function(current_icon)
                         common.icon = current_icon:gsub("\n", "")
                         moc.id = naughty.notify(common).id
                     end)
                 end
-            elseif  moc_now.state ~= "PAUSE" then
+            elseif  moc.now.state ~= "PAUSE" then
                 helpers.set_map("current moc track", nil)
             end
         end)
diff --git a/widget/cpu.lua b/widget/cpu.lua
index 6c511158..4a2b854a 100644
--- a/widget/cpu.lua
+++ b/widget/cpu.lua
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ local function factory(args)
 
     local cpu      = { core = {}, widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox() }
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 2
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     function cpu.update()
         -- Read the amount of time the CPUs have spent performing
@@ -60,11 +60,9 @@ local function factory(args)
             end
         end
 
-        cpu_now = cpu.core
-        cpu_now.usage = cpu_now[0].usage
-        widget = cpu.widget
-
-        settings()
+        cpu.now = cpu.core
+        cpu.now.usage = cpu.now[0].usage
+        settings(cpu.widget, cpu.now)
     end
 
     helpers.newtimer("cpu", timeout, cpu.update)
diff --git a/widget/fs.lua b/widget/fs.lua
index b3a2dada..ae316e02 100644
--- a/widget/fs.lua
+++ b/widget/fs.lua
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     local partition = args.partition
     local threshold = args.threshold or 99
     local showpopup = args.showpopup or "on"
-    local settings  = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings  = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     fs.followtag           = args.followtag or false
     fs.notification_preset = args.notification_preset
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ local function factory(args)
 
     local function update_synced()
         local pathlen = 10
-        fs_now = {}
+        fs.now = {}
 
         local notifypaths = {}
         for _, mount in ipairs(Gio.unix_mounts_get()) do
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ local function factory(args)
                 if size > 0 then
                     local units = math.floor(math.log(size)/math.log(1024))
 
-                    fs_now[path] = {
+                    fs.now[path] = {
                         units      = fs.units[units],
                         percentage = math.floor(100 * used / size), -- used percentage
                         size       = size / math.pow(1024, units),
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ local function factory(args)
                         free       = free / math.pow(1024, units)
                     }
 
-                    if fs_now[path].percentage > 0 then -- don't notify unused file systems
+                    if fs.now[path].percentage > 0 then -- don't notify unused file systems
                         notifypaths[#notifypaths+1] = path
 
                         if #path > pathlen then
@@ -108,15 +108,14 @@ local function factory(args)
             end
         end
 
-        widget = fs.widget
-        settings()
+        settings(fs.widget, fs.now)
 
-        if partition and fs_now[partition] and fs_now[partition].percentage >= threshold then
+        if partition and fs.now[partition] and fs.now[partition].percentage >= threshold then
             if not helpers.get_map(partition) then
                 naughty.notify {
                     preset = naughty.config.presets.critical,
                     title  = "Warning",
-                    text   = string.format("%s is above %d%% (%d%%)", partition, threshold, fs_now[partition].percentage)
+                    text   = string.format("%s is above %d%% (%d%%)", partition, threshold, fs.now[partition].percentage)
                 }
                 helpers.set_map(partition, true)
             else
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ local function factory(args)
         local notifytable = { [1] = string.format(fmt, "path", "used", "free", "size") }
         fmt = "\n%-" .. tostring(pathlen) .. "s %3s%%\t%6.2f\t%6.2f %s"
         for _, path in ipairs(notifypaths) do
-            notifytable[#notifytable+1] = string.format(fmt, path, fs_now[path].percentage, fs_now[path].free, fs_now[path].size, fs_now[path].units)
+            notifytable[#notifytable+1] = string.format(fmt, path, fs.now[path].percentage, fs.now[path].free, fs.now[path].size, fs.now[path].units)
         end
 
         fs.notification_preset.text = tconcat(notifytable)
diff --git a/widget/imap.lua b/widget/imap.lua
index e3f7baaa..98b8f13b 100644
--- a/widget/imap.lua
+++ b/widget/imap.lua
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ local function factory(args)
     local is_plain   = args.is_plain or false
     local followtag  = args.followtag or false
     local notify     = args.notify or "on"
-    local settings   = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings   = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     local head_command = "curl --connect-timeout 3 -fsm 3"
     local request = "-X 'STATUS INBOX (MESSAGES RECENT UNSEEN)'"
 
     if not server or not mail or not password then return end
 
-    mail_notification_preset = {
+    local mail_notification_preset = {
         icon     = helpers.icons_dir .. "mail.png",
         position = "top_left"
     }
@@ -65,14 +65,13 @@ local function factory(args)
                      head_command, server, port, mail, password, request)
 
         helpers.async(curl, function(f)
-            imap_now = { ["MESSAGES"] = 0, ["RECENT"] = 0, ["UNSEEN"] = 0 }
+            imap.now = { ["MESSAGES"] = 0, ["RECENT"] = 0, ["UNSEEN"] = 0 }
 
-            for s,d in f:gmatch("(%w+)%s+(%d+)") do imap_now[s] = tonumber(d) end
-            mailcount = imap_now["UNSEEN"] -- backwards compatibility
-            widget = imap.widget
+            for s,d in f:gmatch("(%w+)%s+(%d+)") do imap.now[s] = tonumber(d) end
 
-            settings()
+            settings(imap.widget, imap.now)
 
+            local mailcount = imap.now["UNSEEN"]
             if notify == "on" and mailcount and mailcount >= 1 and mailcount > helpers.get_map(mail) then
                 if followtag then mail_notification_preset.screen = awful.screen.focused() end
                 naughty.notify {
@@ -81,7 +80,7 @@ local function factory(args)
                 }
             end
 
-            helpers.set_map(mail, imap_now["UNSEEN"])
+            helpers.set_map(mail, imap.now["UNSEEN"])
         end)
 
     end
diff --git a/widget/mem.lua b/widget/mem.lua
index 03184941..d7cce8dd 100644
--- a/widget/mem.lua
+++ b/widget/mem.lua
@@ -18,29 +18,28 @@ local function factory(args)
 
     local mem      = { widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox() }
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 2
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     function mem.update()
-        mem_now = {}
+        mem.now = {}
         for line in lines("/proc/meminfo") do
             for k, v in gmatch(line, "([%a]+):[%s]+([%d]+).+") do
-                if     k == "MemTotal"     then mem_now.total = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "MemFree"      then mem_now.free  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "Buffers"      then mem_now.buf   = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "Cached"       then mem_now.cache = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "SwapTotal"    then mem_now.swap  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "SwapFree"     then mem_now.swapf = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
-                elseif k == "SReclaimable" then mem_now.srec  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                if     k == "MemTotal"     then mem.now.total = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "MemFree"      then mem.now.free  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "Buffers"      then mem.now.buf   = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "Cached"       then mem.now.cache = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "SwapTotal"    then mem.now.swap  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "SwapFree"     then mem.now.swapf = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
+                elseif k == "SReclaimable" then mem.now.srec  = floor(v / 1024 + 0.5)
                 end
             end
         end
 
-        mem_now.used = mem_now.total - mem_now.free - mem_now.buf - mem_now.cache - mem_now.srec
-        mem_now.swapused = mem_now.swap - mem_now.swapf
-        mem_now.perc = math.floor(mem_now.used / mem_now.total * 100)
+        mem.now.used = mem.now.total - mem.now.free - mem.now.buf - mem.now.cache - mem.now.srec
+        mem.now.swapused = mem.now.swap - mem.now.swapf
+        mem.now.perc = math.floor(mem.now.used / mem.now.total * 100)
 
-        widget = mem.widget
-        settings()
+        settings(mem.widget, mem.now)
     end
 
     helpers.newtimer("mem", timeout, mem.update)
diff --git a/widget/mpd.lua b/widget/mpd.lua
index 55d3649b..c5fb7d41 100644
--- a/widget/mpd.lua
+++ b/widget/mpd.lua
@@ -32,19 +32,19 @@ local function factory(args)
     local default_art   = args.default_art
     local notify        = args.notify or "on"
     local followtag     = args.followtag or false
-    local settings      = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings      = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     local mpdh = string.format("telnet://%s:%s", host, port)
     local echo = string.format("printf \"%sstatus\\ncurrentsong\\nclose\\n\"", password)
     local cmd  = string.format("%s | curl --connect-timeout 1 -fsm 3 %s", echo, mpdh)
 
-    mpd_notification_preset = { title = "Now playing", timeout = 6 }
+    local mpd_notification_preset = { title = "Now playing", timeout = 6 }
 
     helpers.set_map("current mpd track", nil)
 
     function mpd.update()
         helpers.async({ shell, "-c", cmd }, function(f)
-            mpd_now = {
+            mpd.now = {
                 random_mode  = false,
                 single_mode  = false,
                 repeat_mode  = false,
@@ -67,36 +67,35 @@ local function factory(args)
 
             for line in string.gmatch(f, "[^\n]+") do
                 for k, v in string.gmatch(line, "([%w]+):[%s](.*)$") do
-                    if     k == "state"          then mpd_now.state        = v
-                    elseif k == "file"           then mpd_now.file         = v
-                    elseif k == "Name"           then mpd_now.name         = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Artist"         then mpd_now.artist       = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Title"          then mpd_now.title        = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Album"          then mpd_now.album        = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Genre"          then mpd_now.genre        = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Track"          then mpd_now.track        = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Date"           then mpd_now.date         = escape_f(v)
-                    elseif k == "Time"           then mpd_now.time         = v
-                    elseif k == "elapsed"        then mpd_now.elapsed      = string.match(v, "%d+")
-                    elseif k == "song"           then mpd_now.pls_pos      = v
-                    elseif k == "playlistlength" then mpd_now.pls_len      = v
-                    elseif k == "repeat"         then mpd_now.repeat_mode  = v ~= "0"
-                    elseif k == "single"         then mpd_now.single_mode  = v ~= "0"
-                    elseif k == "random"         then mpd_now.random_mode  = v ~= "0"
-                    elseif k == "consume"        then mpd_now.consume_mode = v ~= "0"
-                    elseif k == "volume"         then mpd_now.volume       = v
+                    if     k == "state"          then mpd.now.state        = v
+                    elseif k == "file"           then mpd.now.file         = v
+                    elseif k == "Name"           then mpd.now.name         = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Artist"         then mpd.now.artist       = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Title"          then mpd.now.title        = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Album"          then mpd.now.album        = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Genre"          then mpd.now.genre        = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Track"          then mpd.now.track        = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Date"           then mpd.now.date         = escape_f(v)
+                    elseif k == "Time"           then mpd.now.time         = v
+                    elseif k == "elapsed"        then mpd.now.elapsed      = string.match(v, "%d+")
+                    elseif k == "song"           then mpd.now.pls_pos      = v
+                    elseif k == "playlistlength" then mpd.now.pls_len      = v
+                    elseif k == "repeat"         then mpd.now.repeat_mode  = v ~= "0"
+                    elseif k == "single"         then mpd.now.single_mode  = v ~= "0"
+                    elseif k == "random"         then mpd.now.random_mode  = v ~= "0"
+                    elseif k == "consume"        then mpd.now.consume_mode = v ~= "0"
+                    elseif k == "volume"         then mpd.now.volume       = v
                     end
                 end
             end
 
-            mpd_notification_preset.text = string.format("%s (%s) - %s\n%s", mpd_now.artist,
-                                           mpd_now.album, mpd_now.date, mpd_now.title)
-            widget = mpd.widget
-            settings()
+            mpd_notification_preset.text = string.format("%s (%s) - %s\n%s", mpd.now.artist,
+                                           mpd.now.album, mpd.now.date, mpd.now.title)
+            settings(mpd.widget, mpd.now)
 
-            if mpd_now.state == "play" then
-                if notify == "on" and mpd_now.title ~= helpers.get_map("current mpd track") then
-                    helpers.set_map("current mpd track", mpd_now.title)
+            if mpd.now.state == "play" then
+                if notify == "on" and mpd.now.title ~= helpers.get_map("current mpd track") then
+                    helpers.set_map("current mpd track", mpd.now.title)
 
                     if followtag then mpd_notification_preset.screen = focused() end
 
@@ -107,8 +106,8 @@ local function factory(args)
                         replaces_id = mpd.id
                     }
 
-                    if not string.match(mpd_now.file, "http.*://") then -- local file instead of http stream
-                        local path   = string.format("%s/%s", music_dir, string.match(mpd_now.file, ".*/"))
+                    if not string.match(mpd.now.file, "http.*://") then -- local file instead of http stream
+                        local path   = string.format("%s/%s", music_dir, string.match(mpd.now.file, ".*/"))
                         local cover  = string.format("find '%s' -maxdepth 1 -type f | egrep -i -m1 '%s'",
                                        path:gsub("'", "'\\''"), cover_pattern)
                         helpers.async({ shell, "-c", cover }, function(current_icon)
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ local function factory(args)
                     end
 
                 end
-            elseif mpd_now.state ~= "pause" then
+            elseif mpd.now.state ~= "pause" then
                 helpers.set_map("current mpd track", nil)
             end
         end)
diff --git a/widget/net.lua b/widget/net.lua
index 9b7b165f..cea7af23 100644
--- a/widget/net.lua
+++ b/widget/net.lua
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     local eth_state  = args.eth_state or "off"
     local screen     = args.screen or 1
     local format     = args.format or "%.1f"
-    local settings   = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings   = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     -- Compatibility with old API where iface was a string corresponding to 1 interface
     net.iface = (args.iface and (type(args.iface) == "string" and {args.iface}) or
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ local function factory(args)
 
     function net.update()
         -- These are the totals over all specified interfaces
-        net_now = {
+        net.now = {
             devices  = {},
             -- Bytes since last iteration
             sent     = 0,
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ local function factory(args)
             dev_now.sent     = (now_t - dev_before.last_t) / timeout / units
             dev_now.received = (now_r - dev_before.last_r) / timeout / units
 
-            net_now.sent     = net_now.sent + dev_now.sent
-            net_now.received = net_now.received + dev_now.received
+            net.now.sent     = net.now.sent + dev_now.sent
+            net.now.received = net.now.received + dev_now.received
 
             dev_now.sent     = string.format(format, dev_now.sent)
             dev_now.received = string.format(format, dev_now.received)
@@ -100,18 +100,17 @@ local function factory(args)
                 helpers.set_map(dev, true)
             end
 
-            net_now.carrier = dev_now.carrier
-            net_now.state = dev_now.state
-            net_now.devices[dev] = dev_now
-            -- net_now.sent and net_now.received will be
+            net.now.carrier = dev_now.carrier
+            net.now.state = dev_now.state
+            net.now.devices[dev] = dev_now
+            -- net.now.sent and net.now.received will be
             -- the totals across all specified devices
         end
 
-        net_now.sent = string.format(format, net_now.sent)
-        net_now.received = string.format(format, net_now.received)
+        net.now.sent_string = string.format(format, net.now.sent)
+        net.now.received_string = string.format(format, net.now.received)
 
-        widget = net.widget
-        settings()
+        settings(net.widget, net.now)
     end
 
     helpers.newtimer("network", timeout, net.update)
diff --git a/widget/pulse.lua b/widget/pulse.lua
index 69f4d706..59e87de2 100644
--- a/widget/pulse.lua
+++ b/widget/pulse.lua
@@ -19,34 +19,33 @@ local function factory(args)
 
     local pulse    = { widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox(), device = "N/A" }
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 5
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     pulse.devicetype = args.devicetype or "sink"
-    pulse.cmd = args.cmd or "pacmd list-" .. pulse.devicetype .. "s | sed -n -e '/*/,$!d' -e '/index/p' -e '/base volume/d' -e '/volume:/p' -e '/muted:/p' -e '/device\\.string/p'"
+    pulse.cmd = args.cmd or string.format("pacmd list-%ss | sed -n -e '/*/,$!d' -e '/index/p' -e '/base volume/d' -e '/volume:/p' -e '/muted:/p' -e '/device\\.string/p'", pulse.devicetype)
 
     function pulse.update()
         helpers.async({ shell, "-c", type(pulse.cmd) == "string" and pulse.cmd or pulse.cmd() },
         function(s)
-            volume_now = {
+            pulse.now = {
                 index  = string.match(s, "index: (%S+)") or "N/A",
                 device = string.match(s, "device.string = \"(%S+)\"") or "N/A",
                 muted  = string.match(s, "muted: (%S+)") or "N/A"
             }
 
-            pulse.device = volume_now.index
+            pulse.device = pulse.now.index
 
             local ch = 1
-            volume_now.channel = {}
+            pulse.now.channel = {}
             for v in string.gmatch(s, ":.-(%d+)%%") do
-                volume_now.channel[ch] = v
+                pulse.now.channel[ch] = v
                 ch = ch + 1
             end
 
-            volume_now.left  = volume_now.channel[1] or "N/A"
-            volume_now.right = volume_now.channel[2] or "N/A"
+            pulse.now.left  = pulse.now.channel[1] or "N/A"
+            pulse.now.right = pulse.now.channel[2] or "N/A"
 
-            widget = pulse.widget
-            settings()
+            settings(pulse.widget, pulse.now)
         end)
     end
 
diff --git a/widget/pulsebar.lua b/widget/pulsebar.lua
index 19e73b96..58d01154 100644
--- a/widget/pulsebar.lua
+++ b/widget/pulsebar.lua
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     args             = args or {}
 
     local timeout    = args.timeout or 5
-    local settings   = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings   = args.settings or function(_, _) end
     local width      = args.width or 63
     local height     = args.height or 1
     local margins    = args.margins or 1
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ local function factory(args)
     pulsebar.followtag           = args.followtag or false
     pulsebar.notification_preset = args.notification_preset
     pulsebar.devicetype          = args.devicetype or "sink"
-    pulsebar.cmd                 = args.cmd or "pacmd list-" .. pulsebar.devicetype .. "s | sed -n -e '/*/,$!d' -e '/index/p' -e '/base volume/d' -e '/volume:/p' -e '/muted:/p' -e '/device\\.string/p'"
+    pulsebar.cmd                 = args.cmd or string.format("pacmd list-%ss | sed -n -e '/*/,$!d' -e '/index/p' -e '/base volume/d' -e '/volume:/p' -e '/muted:/p' -e '/device\\.string/p'", pulsebar.devicetype)
 
     if not pulsebar.notification_preset then
         pulsebar.notification_preset = {
@@ -76,26 +76,26 @@ local function factory(args)
     function pulsebar.update(callback)
         helpers.async({ awful.util.shell, "-c", type(pulsebar.cmd) == "string" and pulsebar.cmd or pulsebar.cmd() },
         function(s)
-            volume_now = {
+            pulsebar.now = {
                 index  = string.match(s, "index: (%S+)") or "N/A",
                 device = string.match(s, "device.string = \"(%S+)\"") or "N/A",
                 muted  = string.match(s, "muted: (%S+)") or "N/A"
             }
 
-            pulsebar.device = volume_now.index
+            pulsebar.device = pulsebar.now.index
 
             local ch = 1
-            volume_now.channel = {}
+            pulsebar.now.channel = {}
             for v in string.gmatch(s, ":.-(%d+)%%") do
-              volume_now.channel[ch] = v
+              pulsebar.now.channel[ch] = v
               ch = ch + 1
             end
 
-            volume_now.left  = volume_now.channel[1] or "N/A"
-            volume_now.right = volume_now.channel[2] or "N/A"
+            pulsebar.now.left  = pulsebar.now.channel[1] or "N/A"
+            pulsebar.now.right = pulsebar.now.channel[2] or "N/A"
 
-            local volu = volume_now.left
-            local mute = volume_now.muted
+            local volu = pulsebar.now.left
+            local mute = pulsebar.now.muted
 
             if volu:match("N/A") or mute:match("N/A") then return end
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ local function factory(args)
                     pulsebar.bar.background_color = pulsebar.colors.background
                 end
 
-                settings()
+                settings(pulsebar.bar, pulsebar.now)
 
                 if type(callback) == "function" then callback() end
             end
diff --git a/widget/sysload.lua b/widget/sysload.lua
index 72605249..f36b8614 100644
--- a/widget/sysload.lua
+++ b/widget/sysload.lua
@@ -16,19 +16,18 @@ local open, match = io.open, string.match
 local function factory(args)
     args           = args or {}
 
-    local sysload  = { widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox() }
+    local sysload  = { widget = args.widget or wibox.widget.textbox(), now = {} }
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 2
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     function sysload.update()
         local f = open("/proc/loadavg")
         local ret = f:read("*all")
         f:close()
 
-        load_1, load_5, load_15 = match(ret, "([^%s]+) ([^%s]+) ([^%s]+)")
+        sysload.now[1], sysload.now[5], sysload.now[15] = match(ret, "([^%s]+) ([^%s]+) ([^%s]+)")
 
-        widget = sysload.widget
-        settings()
+        settings(sysload.widget, sysload.now)
     end
 
     helpers.newtimer("sysload", timeout, sysload.update)
diff --git a/widget/temp.lua b/widget/temp.lua
index 99f87007..fb5ef56e 100644
--- a/widget/temp.lua
+++ b/widget/temp.lua
@@ -19,26 +19,25 @@ local function factory(args)
     local timeout  = args.timeout or 30
     local tempfile = args.tempfile or "/sys/devices/virtual/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp"
     local format   = args.format or "%.1f"
-    local settings = args.settings or function() end
+    local settings = args.settings or function(_, _) end
 
     function temp.update()
         helpers.async({"find", "/sys/devices", "-type", "f", "-name", "*temp*"}, function(f)
-            temp_now = {}
+            temp.now = {}
             local temp_fl, temp_value
             for t in f:gmatch("[^\n]+") do
                 temp_fl = helpers.first_line(t)
                 if temp_fl then
                     temp_value = tonumber(temp_fl)
-                    temp_now[t] = temp_value and temp_value/1e3 or temp_fl
+                    temp.now[t] = temp_value and temp_value/1e3 or temp_fl
                 end
             end
-            if temp_now[tempfile] then
-                coretemp_now = string.format(format, temp_now[tempfile])
+            if temp.now[tempfile] then
+                temp.now.coretemp = string.format(format, temp.now[tempfile])
             else
-                coretemp_now = "N/A"
+                temp.now.coretemp = "N/A"
             end
-            widget = temp.widget
-            settings()
+            settings(temp.widget, temp.now)
         end)
     end