diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
index 5ac200677..e786c6ef6 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
   static SerialMenuListener serialMenuListener;
   static SerialMonitor serialMonitor;
   
-  static Editor activeEditor;
-
   EditorHeader header;
   EditorStatus status;
   EditorConsole console;
@@ -162,8 +160,6 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
     // When bringing a window to front, let the Base know
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
         public void windowActivated(WindowEvent e) {
-          activeEditor = Editor.this;
-        
           base.handleActivated(Editor.this);
 
           // re-add the sub-menus that are shared by all windows
@@ -856,7 +852,7 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
       //System.out.println(item.getLabel());
       Preferences.set("serial.port", name);
       //System.out.println("set to " + get("serial.port"));
-      activeEditor.handleSerial(false);
+      handleSerial(false);
     }
 
     /*
@@ -2215,17 +2211,10 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
   
   
   public void handleSerial(boolean showSerialMonitor) {
-    statusEmpty();
-  
     if (!showSerialMonitor && !serialMonitor.isVisible()) return;
   
-    try {
-      serialMonitor.openSerialPort(Preferences.get("serial.port"));
-      serialMonitor.setVisible(true);
-    } catch (SerialException e) {
-      statusError(e.getMessage());
-      serialMonitor.setVisible(false);
-    }
+    serialMonitor.setVisible(true);
+    serialMonitor.openSerialPort(Preferences.get("serial.port"));
   }
 
 
diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/SerialMonitor.java b/app/src/processing/app/SerialMonitor.java
index 94882b85c..10313add4 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/SerialMonitor.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/SerialMonitor.java
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public class SerialMonitor extends JFrame implements MessageConsumer {
   private JTextField textField;
   private JButton sendButton;
   private JComboBox serialRates;
+  private JLabel statusLabel;
 
   public SerialMonitor() {
     addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter() {
@@ -73,7 +74,12 @@ public class SerialMonitor extends JFrame implements MessageConsumer {
     
     getContentPane().add(pane, BorderLayout.NORTH);
     
-    pane = new JPanel(new FlowLayout(FlowLayout.TRAILING, 4, 4));
+    pane = new JPanel(new BorderLayout(4, 0));
+    pane.setBorder(new EmptyBorder(4, 4, 4, 4));
+    
+    statusLabel = new JLabel();
+    
+    pane.add(statusLabel, BorderLayout.CENTER);
   
     String[] serialRateStrings = {
       "300","1200","2400","4800","9600","14400",
@@ -91,11 +97,12 @@ public class SerialMonitor extends JFrame implements MessageConsumer {
         String rateString = wholeString.substring(0, wholeString.indexOf(' '));
         int rate = Integer.parseInt(rateString);
         Preferences.set("serial.debug_rate", rateString);
+        String port = SerialMonitor.this.port;
         closeSerialPort();
-        Editor.activeEditor.handleSerial(true);
+        openSerialPort(port);
       }});
     
-    pane.add(serialRates);
+    pane.add(serialRates, BorderLayout.EAST);
     
     getContentPane().add(pane, BorderLayout.SOUTH);
 
@@ -107,25 +114,32 @@ public class SerialMonitor extends JFrame implements MessageConsumer {
       serial.write(s);
   }
   
-  public void openSerialPort(String port) throws SerialException {
+  public void openSerialPort(String port) {
     if (port.equals(this.port))
       return;
     
     closeSerialPort();
     
-    serial = new Serial(port);
-    serial.addListener(this);
-    setTitle(port);
-    this.port = port;
+    try {
+      statusLabel.setText("opening...");
+      serial = new Serial(port);
+      serial.addListener(this);
+      setTitle(port);
+      this.port = port;
+      statusLabel.setText("");
+    } catch (SerialException e) {
+      statusLabel.setText(e.getMessage());
+    }
   }
   
   public void closeSerialPort() {
     if (serial != null) {
-      setTitle("closing...");
+      statusLabel.setText("closing...");
       textArea.setText("");
       serial.dispose();
       serial = null;
       port = null;
+      statusLabel.setText("");
     }
   }
   
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index 4424c1a39..8cbcae271 100644
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -3,22 +3,20 @@
 
 PROCESSING 5503 SYNC
 
-Modify the compilation process according the descriptions below.
+Serial monitor errors should appear in serial monitor.
 
-Test compilation when the avr-gcc or whatever isn't found.
-
-Add the Serial monitor.
+Don't require save before upload.
 
 Add library keyword highlighting.
 
+Get rid of unused preferences in the preferences dialog.
+
 Don't allow in-place modification of user-installed library examples.
 
 Test the FTDI drivers in the arduino.dmg.
 
 Test bootloader burning w/ an AVRISP and a parallel programmer.
 
-Change the colors.
-
 Revise the icon.
 
 Check that I'm not requiring the JDK (as opposed to JRE) unnecessarily.  
@@ -38,8 +36,6 @@ Test the upload.using parameter to upload with a programmer.
 Re-enable (and fix) the Commander.
 
 Compiler.java
- - Collect the target object files (.o) into a static library (.a) and link the other object files (from the sketch and libraries) against it.
- - Build each library separately, with its own include path and destination (for .o files) so they don't collide with each other.
  - Eliminate the need to pass a Target into the compiler by having the Compiler determine the current target (by checking the preferences directly)?
  - Delete the unneeded static functions (for classpath translation, etc.) from the bottom of the file. 
 
@@ -54,7 +50,6 @@ PreProcessor.java
 
 Base.java
  - add keywords from libraries to the syntax coloring
- - remove "examples" folder from the examples and toolbar menus for the libraries.
 
 Editor.java
  - allow the Board and Serial port to differ across editor windows.  This will require creating a separate instance of the menu for each window, and passing the selections into the sketch when compiling or uploading.