diff --git a/lib/Arsse.php b/lib/Arsse.php
index 7d53a42..0cd7d6c 100644
--- a/lib/Arsse.php
+++ b/lib/Arsse.php
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
 namespace JKingWeb\Arsse;
 
 class Arsse {
-    public const VERSION = "0.8.5";
+    public const VERSION = "0.9.0";
 
+    /** @var Factory */
+    public static $obj;
     /** @var Lang */
     public static $lang;
     /** @var Conf  */
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ class Arsse {
     public static $user;
 
     public static function load(Conf $conf): void {
+        static::$obj = static::$obj ?? new Factory;
         static::$lang = static::$lang ?? new Lang;
         static::$conf = $conf;
         static::$lang->set($conf->lang);
diff --git a/lib/CLI.php b/lib/CLI.php
index c9a5967..bc96f46 100644
--- a/lib/CLI.php
+++ b/lib/CLI.php
@@ -182,26 +182,26 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
                     echo Arsse::VERSION.\PHP_EOL;
                     return 0;
                 case "daemon":
-                    $this->getInstance(Service::class)->watch(true);
+                    Arsse::$obj->get(Service::class)->watch(true);
                     return 0;
                 case "feed refresh":
                     return (int) !Arsse::$db->feedUpdate((int) $args['<n>'], true);
                 case "feed refresh-all":
-                    $this->getInstance(Service::class)->watch(false);
+                    Arsse::$obj->get(Service::class)->watch(false);
                     return 0;
                 case "conf save-defaults":
                     $file = $this->resolveFile($args['<file>'], "w");
-                    return (int) !$this->getInstance(Conf::class)->exportFile($file, true);
+                    return (int) !Arsse::$obj->get(Conf::class)->exportFile($file, true);
                 case "user":
                     return $this->userManage($args);
                 case "export":
                     $u = $args['<username>'];
                     $file = $this->resolveFile($args['<file>'], "w");
-                    return (int) !$this->getInstance(OPML::class)->exportFile($file, $u, ($args['--flat'] || $args['-f']));
+                    return (int) !Arsse::$obj->get(OPML::class)->exportFile($file, $u, ($args['--flat'] || $args['-f']));
                 case "import":
                     $u = $args['<username>'];
                     $file = $this->resolveFile($args['<file>'], "r");
-                    return (int) !$this->getInstance(OPML::class)->importFile($file, $u, ($args['--flat'] || $args['-f']), ($args['--replace'] || $args['-r']));
+                    return (int) !Arsse::$obj->get(OPML::class)->importFile($file, $u, ($args['--flat'] || $args['-f']), ($args['--replace'] || $args['-r']));
             }
         } catch (AbstractException $e) {
             $this->logError($e->getMessage());
@@ -214,11 +214,6 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
         fwrite(STDERR, $msg.\PHP_EOL);
     }
 
-    /** @codeCoverageIgnore */
-    protected function getInstance(string $class) {
-        return new $class;
-    }
-
     protected function userManage($args): int {
         $cmd = $this->command(["add", "remove", "set-pass", "unset-pass", "list", "auth"], $args);
         switch ($cmd) {
@@ -226,7 +221,7 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
                 return $this->userAddOrSetPassword("add", $args["<username>"], $args["<password>"]);
             case "set-pass":
                 if ($args['--fever']) {
-                    $passwd = $this->getInstance(Fever::class)->register($args["<username>"], $args["<password>"]);
+                    $passwd = Arsse::$obj->get(Fever::class)->register($args["<username>"], $args["<password>"]);
                     if (is_null($args["<password>"])) {
                         echo $passwd.\PHP_EOL;
                     }
@@ -237,7 +232,7 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
                 // no break
             case "unset-pass":
                 if ($args['--fever']) {
-                    $this->getInstance(Fever::class)->unregister($args["<username>"]);
+                    Arsse::$obj->get(Fever::class)->unregister($args["<username>"]);
                 } else {
                     Arsse::$user->passwordUnset($args["<username>"], $args["--oldpass"]);
                 }
@@ -271,7 +266,7 @@ USAGE_TEXT;
     }
 
     protected function userAuthenticate(string $user, string $password, bool $fever = false): int {
-        $result = $fever ? $this->getInstance(Fever::class)->authenticate($user, $password) : Arsse::$user->auth($user, $password);
+        $result = $fever ? Arsse::$obj->get(Fever::class)->authenticate($user, $password) : Arsse::$user->auth($user, $password);
         if ($result) {
             echo Arsse::$lang->msg("CLI.Auth.Success").\PHP_EOL;
             return 0;
diff --git a/lib/Factory.php b/lib/Factory.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9698902
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Factory.php
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<?php
+/** @license MIT
+ * Copyright 2017 J. King, Dustin Wilson et al.
+ * See LICENSE and AUTHORS files for details */
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+namespace JKingWeb\Arsse;
+
+class Factory {
+    public function get(string $class) {
+        return new $class;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/REST.php b/lib/REST.php
index eea6274..1552277 100644
--- a/lib/REST.php
+++ b/lib/REST.php
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class REST {
             // modify the request to have an uppercase method and a stripped target
             $req = $req->withMethod(strtoupper($req->getMethod()))->withRequestTarget($target);
             // fetch the correct handler
-            $drv = $this->getHandler($class);
+            $drv = Arsse::$obj->get($class);
             // generate a response
             if ($req->getMethod() === "HEAD") {
                 // if the request is a HEAD request, we act exactly as if it were a GET request, and simply remove the response body later
@@ -105,11 +105,6 @@ class REST {
         return $this->normalizeResponse($res, $req);
     }
 
-    public function getHandler(string $className): REST\Handler {
-        // instantiate the API handler
-        return new $className();
-    }
-
     public function apiMatch(string $url): array {
         $map = $this->apis;
         // sort the API list so the longest URL prefixes come first
diff --git a/lib/REST/AbstractHandler.php b/lib/REST/AbstractHandler.php
index f0e39e7..7103c34 100644
--- a/lib/REST/AbstractHandler.php
+++ b/lib/REST/AbstractHandler.php
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ abstract class AbstractHandler implements Handler {
     abstract public function __construct();
     abstract public function dispatch(ServerRequestInterface $req): ResponseInterface;
 
-    /** @codeCoverageIgnore */
     protected function now(): \DateTimeImmutable {
-        return Date::normalize("now");
+        return Arsse::$obj->get(\DateTimeImmutable::class)->setTimezone(new \DateTimeZone("UTC"));
     }
 
     protected function isAdmin(): bool {
diff --git a/lib/REST/Miniflux/V1.php b/lib/REST/Miniflux/V1.php
index 00c58f0..e82d590 100644
--- a/lib/REST/Miniflux/V1.php
+++ b/lib/REST/Miniflux/V1.php
@@ -214,11 +214,6 @@ class V1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\REST\AbstractHandler {
     public function __construct() {
     }
 
-    /** @codeCoverageIgnore */
-    protected function getInstance(string $class) {
-        return new $class;
-    }
-
     protected function authenticate(ServerRequestInterface $req): bool {
         // first check any tokens; this is what Miniflux does
         if ($req->hasHeader("X-Auth-Token")) {
@@ -1183,7 +1178,7 @@ class V1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\REST\AbstractHandler {
 
     protected function opmlImport(string $data): ResponseInterface {
         try {
-            $this->getInstance(OPML::class)->import(Arsse::$user->id, $data);
+            Arsse::$obj->get(OPML::class)->import(Arsse::$user->id, $data);
         } catch (ImportException $e) {
             switch ($e->getCode()) {
                 case 10611:
@@ -1204,7 +1199,7 @@ class V1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\REST\AbstractHandler {
     }
 
     protected function opmlExport(): ResponseInterface {
-        return new GenericResponse($this->getInstance(OPML::class)->export(Arsse::$user->id), 200, ['Content-Type' => "application/xml"]);
+        return new GenericResponse(Arsse::$obj->get(OPML::class)->export(Arsse::$user->id), 200, ['Content-Type' => "application/xml"]);
     }
 
     public static function tokenGenerate(string $user, string $label): string {
diff --git a/tests/cases/CLI/TestCLI.php b/tests/cases/CLI/TestCLI.php
index 3d0d6f1..3023775 100644
--- a/tests/cases/CLI/TestCLI.php
+++ b/tests/cases/CLI/TestCLI.php
@@ -60,22 +60,20 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
 
     public function testStartTheDaemon(): void {
         $srv = \Phake::mock(Service::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(Service::class)->thenReturn($srv);
         \Phake::when($srv)->watch->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable);
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(Service::class)->thenReturn($srv);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, "arsse.php daemon", 0);
         \Phake::verify($this->cli)->loadConf;
         \Phake::verify($srv)->watch(true);
-        \Phake::verify($this->cli)->getInstance(Service::class);
     }
 
     public function testRefreshAllFeeds(): void {
         $srv = \Phake::mock(Service::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(Service::class)->thenReturn($srv);
         \Phake::when($srv)->watch->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable);
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(Service::class)->thenReturn($srv);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, "arsse.php feed refresh-all", 0);
         \Phake::verify($this->cli)->loadConf;
         \Phake::verify($srv)->watch(false);
-        \Phake::verify($this->cli)->getInstance(Service::class);
     }
 
     /** @dataProvider provideFeedUpdates */
@@ -98,10 +96,10 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
     /** @dataProvider provideDefaultConfigurationSaves */
     public function testSaveTheDefaultConfiguration(string $cmd, int $exitStatus, string $file): void {
         $conf = \Phake::mock(Conf::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(Conf::class)->thenReturn($conf);
         \Phake::when($conf)->exportFile("php://output", true)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($conf)->exportFile("good.conf", true)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($conf)->exportFile("bad.conf", true)->thenThrow(new \JKingWeb\Arsse\Conf\Exception("fileUnwritable"));
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(Conf::class)->thenReturn($conf);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus);
         \Phake::verify($this->cli, \Phake::times(0))->loadConf;
         \Phake::verify($conf)->exportFile($file, true);
@@ -169,10 +167,10 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
             ;
         }));
         $fever = \Phake::mock(FeverUser::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         \Phake::when($fever)->authenticate->thenReturn(false);
         \Phake::when($fever)->authenticate("john.doe@example.com", "ashalla")->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($fever)->authenticate("jane.doe@example.com", "thx1138")->thenReturn(true);
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus, $output);
     }
 
@@ -226,8 +224,8 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
         Arsse::$user = $this->createMock(User::class);
         Arsse::$user->method("passwordSet")->will($this->returnCallback($passwordChange));
         $fever = \Phake::mock(FeverUser::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         \Phake::when($fever)->register->thenReturnCallback($passwordChange);
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus, $output);
     }
 
@@ -256,8 +254,8 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
         Arsse::$user = $this->createMock(User::class);
         Arsse::$user->method("passwordUnset")->will($this->returnCallback($passwordClear));
         $fever = \Phake::mock(FeverUser::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         \Phake::when($fever)->unregister->thenReturnCallback($passwordClear);
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(FeverUser::class)->thenReturn($fever);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus, $output);
     }
 
@@ -273,10 +271,10 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
     /** @dataProvider provideOpmlExports */
     public function testExportToOpml(string $cmd, int $exitStatus, string $file, string $user, bool $flat): void {
         $opml = \Phake::mock(OPML::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(OPML::class)->thenReturn($opml);
         \Phake::when($opml)->exportFile("php://output", $user, $flat)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($opml)->exportFile("good.opml", $user, $flat)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($opml)->exportFile("bad.opml", $user, $flat)->thenThrow(new \JKingWeb\Arsse\ImportExport\Exception("fileUnwritable"));
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(OPML::class)->thenReturn($opml);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus);
         \Phake::verify($this->cli)->loadConf;
         \Phake::verify($opml)->exportFile($file, $user, $flat);
@@ -314,10 +312,10 @@ class TestCLI extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
     /** @dataProvider provideOpmlImports */
     public function testImportFromOpml(string $cmd, int $exitStatus, string $file, string $user, bool $flat, bool $replace): void {
         $opml = \Phake::mock(OPML::class);
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(OPML::class)->thenReturn($opml);
         \Phake::when($opml)->importFile("php://input", $user, $flat, $replace)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($opml)->importFile("good.opml", $user, $flat, $replace)->thenReturn(true);
         \Phake::when($opml)->importFile("bad.opml", $user, $flat, $replace)->thenThrow(new \JKingWeb\Arsse\ImportExport\Exception("fileUnreadable"));
-        \Phake::when($this->cli)->getInstance(OPML::class)->thenReturn($opml);
         $this->assertConsole($this->cli, $cmd, $exitStatus);
         \Phake::verify($this->cli)->loadConf;
         \Phake::verify($opml)->importFile($file, $user, $flat, $replace);
diff --git a/tests/cases/Misc/TestFactory.php b/tests/cases/Misc/TestFactory.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e400c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/cases/Misc/TestFactory.php
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?php
+/** @license MIT
+ * Copyright 2017 J. King, Dustin Wilson et al.
+ * See LICENSE and AUTHORS files for details */
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+namespace JKingWeb\Arsse\TestCase\Misc;
+
+use JKingWeb\Arsse\Factory;
+
+/** @covers \JKingWeb\Arsse\Factory */
+class TestFactory extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
+    public function testInstantiateAClass(): void {
+        $f = new Factory;
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(\stdClass::class, $f->get(\stdClass::class));
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/cases/REST/Miniflux/TestV1.php b/tests/cases/REST/Miniflux/TestV1.php
index 22a53db..fc08dea 100644
--- a/tests/cases/REST/Miniflux/TestV1.php
+++ b/tests/cases/REST/Miniflux/TestV1.php
@@ -211,8 +211,7 @@ class TestV1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
                 throw $u[2];
             }
         });
-        $this->h = $this->createPartialMock(V1::class, ["now"]);
-        $this->h->method("now")->willReturn(Date::normalize(self::NOW));
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(\DateTimeImmutable::class)->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable(self::NOW));
         $this->assertMessage($exp, $this->req("GET", $route, "", [], $user));
     }
 
@@ -240,8 +239,7 @@ class TestV1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
 
     /** @dataProvider provideUserModifications */
     public function testModifyAUser(bool $admin, string $url, array $body, $in1, $out1, $in2, $out2, $in3, $out3, ResponseInterface $exp): void {
-        $this->h = $this->createPartialMock(V1::class, ["now"]);
-        $this->h->method("now")->willReturn(Date::normalize(self::NOW));
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(\DateTimeImmutable::class)->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable(self::NOW));
         Arsse::$user = $this->createMock(User::class);
         Arsse::$user->method("begin")->willReturn($this->transaction);
         Arsse::$user->method("propertiesGet")->willReturnCallback(function(string $u, bool $includeLarge) use ($admin) {
@@ -321,8 +319,7 @@ class TestV1 extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
 
     /** @dataProvider provideUserAdditions */
     public function testAddAUser(array $body, $in1, $out1, $in2, $out2, ResponseInterface $exp): void {
-        $this->h = $this->createPartialMock(V1::class, ["now"]);
-        $this->h->method("now")->willReturn(Date::normalize(self::NOW));
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(\DateTimeImmutable::class)->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable(self::NOW));
         Arsse::$user = $this->createMock(User::class);
         Arsse::$user->method("begin")->willReturn($this->transaction);
         Arsse::$user->method("propertiesGet")->willReturnCallback(function(string $u, bool $includeLarge) {
diff --git a/tests/cases/REST/TestREST.php b/tests/cases/REST/TestREST.php
index da45893..1864215 100644
--- a/tests/cases/REST/TestREST.php
+++ b/tests/cases/REST/TestREST.php
@@ -286,14 +286,6 @@ class TestREST extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
         ];
     }
 
-    public function testCreateHandlers(): void {
-        $r = new REST();
-        foreach (REST::API_LIST as $api) {
-            $class = $api['class'];
-            $this->assertInstanceOf(Handler::class, $r->getHandler($class));
-        }
-    }
-
     /** @dataProvider provideMockRequests */
     public function testDispatchRequests(ServerRequest $req, string $method, bool $called, string $class = "", string $target = ""): void {
         $r = \Phake::partialMock(REST::class);
@@ -305,7 +297,7 @@ class TestREST extends \JKingWeb\Arsse\Test\AbstractTest {
         });
         if ($called) {
             $h = \Phake::mock($class);
-            \Phake::when($r)->getHandler($class)->thenReturn($h);
+            \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get($class)->thenReturn($h);
             \Phake::when($h)->dispatch->thenReturn(new EmptyResponse(204));
         }
         $out = $r->dispatch($req);
diff --git a/tests/cases/REST/TinyTinyRSS/TestAPI.php b/tests/cases/REST/TinyTinyRSS/TestAPI.php
index 6191d84..874a103 100644
--- a/tests/cases/REST/TinyTinyRSS/TestAPI.php
+++ b/tests/cases/REST/TinyTinyRSS/TestAPI.php
@@ -1700,8 +1700,7 @@ LONG_STRING;
     public function testRetrieveHeadlines(bool $full, array $in, $out, Context $c, array $fields, array $order, ResponseInterface $exp): void {
         $base = ['op' => $full ? "getHeadlines" : "getCompactHeadlines", 'sid' => "PriestsOfSyrinx"];
         $in = array_merge($base, $in);
-        $this->h = \Phake::partialMock(API::class);
-        \Phake::when($this->h)->now->thenReturn(Date::normalize(self::NOW));
+        \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get(\DateTimeImmutable::class)->thenReturn(new \DateTimeImmutable(self::NOW));
         \Phake::when(Arsse::$db)->labelList->thenReturn(new Result($this->v($this->labels)));
         \Phake::when(Arsse::$db)->labelList($this->anything(), false)->thenReturn(new Result($this->v($this->usedLabels)));
         \Phake::when(Arsse::$db)->articleLabelsGet->thenReturn([]);
diff --git a/tests/lib/AbstractTest.php b/tests/lib/AbstractTest.php
index 54cde18..e096ca1 100644
--- a/tests/lib/AbstractTest.php
+++ b/tests/lib/AbstractTest.php
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use JKingWeb\Arsse\Arsse;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Conf;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Driver;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Db\Result;
+use JKingWeb\Arsse\Factory;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Misc\Date;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Misc\ValueInfo;
 use JKingWeb\Arsse\Misc\URL;
@@ -45,6 +46,11 @@ abstract class AbstractTest extends \PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase {
         }
         if ($loadLang) {
             Arsse::$lang = new \JKingWeb\Arsse\Lang();
+            // also create the object factory as a mock
+            Arsse::$obj = \Phake::mock(Factory::class);
+            \Phake::when(Arsse::$obj)->get->thenReturnCallback(function(string $class) {
+                return new $class;
+            });
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/phpunit.dist.xml b/tests/phpunit.dist.xml
index 0875bf5..3d57606 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit.dist.xml
+++ b/tests/phpunit.dist.xml
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
         <file>cases/Conf/TestConf.php</file>
     </testsuite>
     <testsuite name="Sundry">
+        <file>cases/Misc/TestFactory.php</file>
         <file>cases/Misc/TestValueInfo.php</file>
         <file>cases/Misc/TestDate.php</file>
         <file>cases/Misc/TestQuery.php</file>