diff --git a/r2/r2/config/databases.py b/r2/r2/config/databases.py
index 729e26ecf..48f53b87a 100644
--- a/r2/r2/config/databases.py
+++ b/r2/r2/config/databases.py
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ email_engine = db_manager.get_engine(g.email_db_name,
                                       pool_size = 2,
                                       max_overflow = 2)
 
+query_queue_engine = db_manager.get_engine(g.query_queue_db_name,
+                                           db_host = g.query_queue_db_host,
+                                           db_user = g.query_queue_db_user,
+                                           db_pass = g.query_queue_db_pass,
+                                           pool_size = 2,
+                                           max_overflow = 2)
+
 dbm.type_db = main_engine
 dbm.relation_type_db = main_engine
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/config/routing.py b/r2/r2/config/routing.py
index 53de7e890..93c79bc1b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/config/routing.py
+++ b/r2/r2/config/routing.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def make_map(global_conf={}, app_conf={}):
 
     mc('/', controller='hot', action='listing')
     
-    listing_controllers = "hot|saved|toplinks|new|recommended|normalized|randomrising"
+    listing_controllers = "hot|saved|toplinks|new|recommended|randomrising"
 
     mc('/:controller', action='listing',
        requirements=dict(controller=listing_controllers))
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ def make_map(global_conf={}, app_conf={}):
     
     mc('/captcha/:iden', controller='captcha', action='captchaimg')
 
+    mc('/doquery', controller='query', action='doquery')
+
     mc('/store', controller='redirect', action='redirect',
        dest='http://store.reddit.com/index.html')
     
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ def make_map(global_conf={}, app_conf={}):
     
     mc('/mobile', controller='redirect', action='redirect',
        dest='http://m.reddit.com/')
+
     
     # This route handles displaying the error page and 
     # graphics used in the 404/500
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/__init__.py b/r2/r2/controllers/__init__.py
index 8ae9b83eb..2cf4e9dc8 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/__init__.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/__init__.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 ################################################################################
 from listingcontroller import ListingController
 from listingcontroller import HotController
-from listingcontroller import NormalizedController
 from listingcontroller import SavedController
 from listingcontroller import ToplinksController
 from listingcontroller import NewController
@@ -43,6 +42,8 @@ from post import PostController
 from toolbar import ToolbarController
 from i18n import I18nController
 
+from querycontroller import QueryController
+
 try:
     from r2admin.controllers.adminapi import ApiController
 except ImportError:
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
index 843d1f989..0611f195f 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/api.py
@@ -36,10 +36,11 @@ from r2.lib.pages import FriendList, ContributorList, ModList, \
 
 from r2.lib.menus import CommentSortMenu
 from r2.lib.translation import Translator
-from r2.lib.normalized_hot import expire_hot, is_top_link
+from r2.lib.normalized_hot import expire_hot
 from r2.lib.captcha import get_iden
 from r2.lib import emailer
 from r2.lib.strings import strings
+from r2.lib.db import queries
 from r2.config import cache
 
 from simplejson import dumps
@@ -281,6 +282,10 @@ class ApiController(RedditController):
         if should_ratelimit:
             VRatelimit.ratelimit(rate_user=True, rate_ip = True)
 
+        #update the queries
+        if g.write_query_queue:
+            queries.new_link(l)
+
         #update the modified flags
         set_last_modified(c.user, 'overview')
         set_last_modified(c.user, 'submitted')
@@ -698,15 +703,21 @@ class ApiController(RedditController):
                    else False if dir < 0
                    else None)
             organic = vote_type == 'organic'
-            Vote.vote(user, thing, dir, ip, spam, organic)
+            v = Vote.vote(user, thing, dir, ip, spam, organic)
 
             #update last modified
             set_last_modified(c.user, 'liked')
             set_last_modified(c.user, 'disliked')
 
+            #update the queries
+            if g.write_query_queue:
+                queries.new_vote(v)
+
             # flag search indexer that something has changed
             tc.changed(thing)
 
+
+
     @Json
     @validate(VUser(),
               VModhash(),
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/errors.py b/r2/r2/controllers/errors.py
index 53b8d28ba..45ef33a78 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/errors.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/errors.py
@@ -102,3 +102,5 @@ class ErrorSet(object):
     def remove(self, error_name):
         if self.errors.has_key(error_name):
             del self.errors[error_name]
+
+class UserRequiredException(Exception): pass
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
index c468190cb..0c2a15d49 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/listingcontroller.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ from pylons.i18n import _
 
 import random
 
-
 class ListingController(RedditController):
     """Generalized controller for pages with lists of links."""
 
@@ -54,15 +53,13 @@ class ListingController(RedditController):
     # any text that should be shown on the top of the page
     infotext = None
 
-    # builder class to use to generate the listing
-    builder_cls = QueryBuilder
+    # builder class to use to generate the listing. if none, we'll try
+    # to figure it out based on the query type
+    builder_cls = None
 
     # page title
     title_text = ''
 
-    # toggles the stat collector for keeping track of what queries are being run
-    collect_stats = False
-
     # login box, subreddit box, submit box, etc, visible
     show_sidebar = True
 
@@ -86,10 +83,6 @@ class ListingController(RedditController):
         self.reverse = reverse
 
         self.query_obj = self.query()
-
-        if self.collect_stats and g.REDDIT_MAIN:
-            self.query_obj._stats_collector = g.stats_collector
-
         self.builder_obj = self.builder()
         self.listing_obj = self.listing()
         content = self.content()
@@ -111,14 +104,21 @@ class ListingController(RedditController):
 
     def builder(self):
         #store the query itself so it can be used elsewhere
-        b = self.builder_cls(self.query_obj,
-                             num = self.num,
-                             skip = self.skip,
-                             after = self.after,
-                             count = self.count,
-                             reverse = self.reverse,
-                             prewrap_fn = self.prewrap_fn,
-                             wrap = self.builder_wrapper)
+        if self.builder_cls:
+            builder_cls = self.builder_cls
+        elif isinstance(self.query_obj, Query):
+            builder_cls = QueryBuilder
+        elif isinstance(self.query_obj, list):
+            builder_cls = IDBuilder
+
+        b = builder_cls(self.query_obj,
+                        num = self.num,
+                        skip = self.skip,
+                        after = self.after,
+                        count = self.count,
+                        reverse = self.reverse,
+                        prewrap_fn = self.prewrap_fn,
+                        wrap = self.builder_wrapper)
         return b
 
     def listing(self):
@@ -192,24 +192,24 @@ class HotController(FixListing, ListingController):
 
 
     def query(self):
+        #no need to worry when working from the cache
+        if g.use_query_cache or c.site == Default:
+            fix_listing = False
+
         if c.site == Default:
-            self.fix_listing = False
-            self.builder_cls = IDBuilder
             user = c.user if c.user_is_loggedin else None
             sr_ids = Subreddit.user_subreddits(user)
             links = normalized_hot(sr_ids)
             return links
-        elif (not isinstance(c.site, FakeSubreddit)
+        #if not using the query_cache we still want cached front pages
+        elif (not g.use_query_cache
+              and not isinstance(c.site, FakeSubreddit)
               and self.after is None
               and self.count == 0):
-            self.builder_cls = IDBuilder
             links = [l._fullname for l in get_hot(c.site)]
             return links
         else:
-            q = Link._query(sort = desc('_hot'), *c.site.query_rules())
-            q._read_cache = True
-            self.collect_stats = True
-            return q
+            return c.site.get_links('hot', 'all')
 
     def content(self):
         # only send an organic listing for HTML rendering
@@ -228,21 +228,6 @@ class HotController(FixListing, ListingController):
         self.infotext = request.get.get('deleted') and strings.user_deleted
         return ListingController.GET_listing(self, **env)
 
-class NormalizedController(ListingController):
-    where = 'normalized'
-    builder_cls = IDBuilder
-
-    def query(self):
-        user = c.user if c.user_is_loggedin else None
-        srs = Subreddit._byID(Subreddit.user_subreddits(user),
-                              data = True,
-                              return_dict = False)
-        links = normalized_hot(srs)
-        return links
-
-    def title(self):
-        return c.site.title
-
 class SavedController(ListingController):
     prewrap_fn = lambda self, x: x._thing2
     where = 'saved'
@@ -283,23 +268,15 @@ class NewController(ListingController):
         return [NewMenu(default = self.sort)]
 
     def query(self):
-        sort = NewMenu.operator(self.sort)
-
-        if not sort: # rising
-            names = get_rising(c.site)
-            return names
+        if self.sort == 'rising':
+            return get_rising(c.site)
         else:
-            q = Link._query(sort = sort, read_cache = True,
-                            *c.site.query_rules() )
-            self.collect_stats = True
-            return q
+            return c.site.get_links('new', 'all')
         
     @validate(VSrMask('srs'),
               sort = VMenu('controller', NewMenu))
     def GET_listing(self, sort, **env):
         self.sort = sort
-        if self.sort == 'rising':
-            self.builder_cls = IDBuilder
         return ListingController.GET_listing(self, **env)
 
 class BrowseController(ListingController):
@@ -310,17 +287,7 @@ class BrowseController(ListingController):
         return [ControversyTimeMenu(default = self.time)]
     
     def query(self):
-        q = Link._query(sort = SortMenu.operator(self.sort),
-                        read_cache = True,
-                        *c.site.query_rules())
-
-        if g.REDDIT_MAIN:
-            q._stats_collector = g.stats_collector
-
-        t = TimeMenu.operator(self.time)
-        if t: q._filter(t)
-
-        return q
+        return c.site.get_links(self.sort, self.time)
 
     # TODO: this is a hack with sort.
     @validate(VSrMask('srs'),
@@ -338,7 +305,6 @@ class BrowseController(ListingController):
 
 class RandomrisingController(ListingController):
     where = 'randomrising'
-    builder_cls = IDBuilder
     title_text = _('you\'re really bored now, eh?')
 
     def query(self):
@@ -347,10 +313,10 @@ class RandomrisingController(ListingController):
         if not links:
             # just pull from the new page if the rising page isn't
             # populated for some reason
-            q = Link._query(limit = 200,
-                            data  = True,
-                            sort  = desc('_date'))
-            links = [ x._fullname for x in q ]
+            links = c.site.get_links('new', 'all')
+            if isinstance(links, Query):
+                links._limit = 200
+                links = [x._fullname for x in links]
         
         random.shuffle(links)
 
@@ -358,7 +324,6 @@ class RandomrisingController(ListingController):
 
 class RecommendedController(ListingController):
     where = 'recommended'
-    builder_cls = IDBuilder
     title_text = _('recommended for you')
     
     @property
@@ -437,9 +402,7 @@ class MessageController(ListingController):
                                  message = message,
                                  success = success)
         return MessagePage(content = content).render()
-
     
-
 class RedditsController(ListingController):
     render_cls = SubredditsPage
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aff0bcb8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/querycontroller.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from reddit_base import RedditController
+from validator import *
+from r2.lib.db.queries import CachedResults
+
+import cPickle as pickle
+from urllib import unquote
+
+class QueryController(RedditController):
+    @validate(query = nop('query'))
+    def POST_doquery(self, query):
+        if g.enable_doquery:
+            cr = pickle.loads(query)
+            cr.update()
+        else:
+            abort(403, 'forbidden')
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
index 291f45e9e..ba8faa7c4 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from r2.lib.jsonresponse import json_respond
 
 from r2.models import *
 
-from r2.controllers.errors import errors
+from r2.controllers.errors import errors, UserRequiredException
 
 from copy import copy
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
@@ -66,14 +66,24 @@ class Validator(object):
 def validate(*simple_vals, **param_vals):
     def val(fn):
         def newfn(self, *a, **env):
-            for validator in simple_vals:
-                validator(env)
+            try:
+                for validator in simple_vals:
+                    validator(env)
+                
+                kw = self.build_arg_list(fn, env)
+                for var, validator in param_vals.iteritems():
+                    kw[var] = validator(env)
+                
+                return fn(self, *a, **kw)
 
-            kw = self.build_arg_list(fn, env)
-            for var, validator in param_vals.iteritems():
-                kw[var] = validator(env)
+            except UserRequiredException:
+                d = dict(dest=reddit_link(request.path, url = True)
+                         + utils.query_string(request.GET))
+                path = "/login"
+                if request.environ.get('extension'):
+                    path += ".%s" % request.environ['extension']
+                return redirect_to(path + utils.query_string(d))
 
-            return fn(self, *a, **kw)
         return newfn
     return val
 
@@ -303,12 +313,8 @@ class VCaptcha(Validator):
 class VUser(Validator):
     def run(self, password = None):
         if not c.user_is_loggedin:
-            #TODO return a real error page
-            d = dict(dest=reddit_link(request.path, url = True) + utils.query_string(request.GET))
-            path = "/login"
-            if request.environ.get('extension'):
-                path += ".%s" % request.environ['extension']
-            return redirect_to(path + utils.query_string(d))
+            raise UserRequiredException
+
         if (password is not None) and not valid_password(c.user, password):
             c.errors.add(errors.WRONG_PASSWORD)
             
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py b/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
index 1e2a2e254..30f57b78a 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/app_globals.py
@@ -41,18 +41,23 @@ class Globals(object):
                  'num_comments',
                  'max_comments',
                  'num_side_reddits',
+                 'num_precompute_workers',
                  ]
     
     bool_props = ['debug', 'translator', 
                   'template_debug',
-                  'uncompressedJS']
+                  'uncompressedJS',
+                  'enable_doquery',
+                  'use_query_cache',
+                  'write_query_queue']
 
     tuple_props = ['memcaches',
                    'rec_cache',
                    'admins',
                    'monitored_servers',
                    'default_srs',
-                   'agents']
+                   'agents',
+                   'query_caches']
 
     def __init__(self, global_conf, app_conf, paths, **extra):
         """
@@ -103,6 +108,7 @@ class Globals(object):
         self.cache = CacheChain((LocalCache(), mc))
 
         self.rec_cache = Memcache(self.rec_cache)
+        self.query_cache = Memcache(self.query_caches)
         
         # set default time zone if one is not set
         self.tz = pytz.timezone(global_conf.get('timezone'))
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/base.py b/r2/r2/lib/base.py
index f4fd44eb5..6f940c5d3 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/base.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/base.py
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ class BaseController(WSGIController):
         else:
             request.ip = environ['REMOTE_ADDR']
 
+        #if x-dont-decode is set, pylons won't unicode all the paramters
+        if environ.get('HTTP_X_DONT_DECODE'):
+            request.charset = None
+
         request.get = storify(request.GET)
         request.post = storify(request.POST)
         request.referer = environ.get('HTTP_REFERER')
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/queries.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/queries.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..948158d27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/queries.py
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+from r2.models import Account, Link, Comment, Vote, SaveHide
+from r2.models import Message, Inbox, Subreddit
+from r2.lib.db.thing import Thing
+from r2.lib.db.operators import asc, desc, timeago
+from r2.lib.db import query_queue
+from r2.lib.db.sorts import epoch_seconds
+from r2.lib.utils import fetch_things2, worker
+
+from datetime import datetime
+
+from pylons import g
+query_cache = g.query_cache
+
+precompute_limit = 1000
+db_sorts = dict(hot = desc('_hot'),
+                new = desc('_date'),
+                top = desc('_score'),
+                controversial = desc('_controversy'),
+                old = asc('_date'))
+
+db_times = dict(all = None,
+                hour = Thing.c._date >= timeago('1 hour'),
+                day = Thing.c._date >= timeago('1 day'),
+                week = Thing.c._date >= timeago('1 week'),
+                month = Thing.c._date >= timeago('1 month'),
+                year = Thing.c._date >= timeago('1 year'))
+
+#we need to define the filter functions here so cachedresults can be pickled
+def filter_identity(x):
+    return x
+
+def filter_thing2(x):
+    """A filter to apply to the results of a relationship query returns
+    the object of the relationship."""
+    return x._thing2
+
+class CachedResults(object):
+    """Given a query returns a list-like object that will lazily look up
+    the query from the persistent cache. """
+    def __init__(self, query, filter = filter_identity):
+        self.query = query
+        self.query._limit = precompute_limit
+        self.filter = filter
+        self.iden = self.query._iden()
+        self.data = []
+        self._fetched = False
+
+    def fetch(self):
+        """Loads the query from the cache."""
+        if not self._fetched:
+            self._fetched = True
+            self.data = query_cache.get(self.iden) or []
+        return list(self)
+
+    def update(self):
+        """Runs the query and stores the result in the cache. It also stores
+        the columns relevant to the sort to make merging with other
+        results faster."""
+        self.data = []
+        sort_cols = [s.col for s in self.query._sort]
+        for i in self.query:
+            item = self.filter(i)
+            l = [item._fullname]
+            for col in sort_cols:
+                attr = getattr(item, col)
+                #convert dates to epochs to take less space
+                if isinstance(attr, datetime):
+                    attr = epoch_seconds(attr)
+                l.append(attr)
+
+            self.data.append(tuple(l))
+        
+        self._fetched = True
+        query_cache.set(self.iden, self.data)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return '<CachedResults %s %s>' % (self.query._rules, self.query._sort)
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        if not self._fetched:
+            self.fetch()
+
+        for x in self.data:
+            yield x[0]
+
+def merge_results(*results):
+    """Given two CachedResults, mergers their lists based on the sorts of
+    their queries."""
+    if len(results) == 1:
+        return results[0]
+
+    #make sure the sorts match
+    sort = results[0].query._sort
+    assert(all(r.query._sort == sort for r in results[1:]))
+
+    def thing_cmp(t1, t2):
+        for i, s in enumerate(sort):
+            #t1 and t2 are tuples of (fullname, *sort_cols), so we can
+            #get the value to compare right out of the tuple
+            v1, v2 = t1[i + 1], t2[i + 1]
+            if v1 != v2:
+                return cmp(v1, v2) if isinstance(s, asc) else cmp(v2, v1)
+        #they're equal
+        return 0
+
+    all_items = []
+    for r in results:
+        r.fetch()
+        all_items.extend(r.data)
+
+    #all_items = Thing._by_fullname(all_items, return_dict = False)
+    return [i[0] for i in sorted(all_items, cmp = thing_cmp)]
+
+def get_links(sr, sort, time):
+    """General link query for a subreddit."""
+    q = Link._query(Link.c.sr_id == sr._id,
+                    sort = db_sorts[sort])
+    if time != 'all':
+        q._filter(db_times[time])
+    return CachedResults(q)
+
+def user_query(kind, user, sort, time):
+    """General profile-page query."""
+    q = kind._query(kind.c.author_id == user._id,
+                    kind.c._spam == (True, False),
+                    sort = db_sorts[sort])
+    if time != 'all':
+        q._filter(db_times[time])
+    return CachedResults(q)
+
+def get_comments(user, sort, time):
+    return user_query(Comment, user, sort, time)
+
+def get_submitted(user, sort, time):
+    return user_query(Link, user, sort, time)
+
+def get_overview(user, sort, time):
+    return merge_results(get_comments(user, sort, time),
+                         get_submitted(user, sort, time))
+
+def user_rel_query(rel, user, name):
+    """General user relationship query."""
+    q = rel._query(rel.c._thing1_id == user._id,
+                   rel.c._t2_deleted == False,
+                   rel.c._name == name,
+                   sort = desc('_date'),
+                   eager_load = True)
+       
+    return CachedResults(q, filter_thing2)
+
+vote_rel = Vote.rel(Account, Link)
+
+def get_liked(user):
+    return user_rel_query(vote_rel, user, '1')
+
+def get_disliked(user):
+    return user_rel_query(vote_rel, user, '-1')
+
+def get_hidden(user):
+    return user_rel_query(SaveHide, user, 'hide')
+
+def get_saved(user):
+    return user_rel_query(SaveHide, user, 'save')
+
+inbox_message_rel = Inbox.rel(Account, Message)
+def get_inbox_messages(user):
+    return user_rel_query(inbox_message_rel, user, 'inbox')
+
+inbox_comment_rel = Inbox.rel(Account, Comment)
+def get_inbox_comments(user):
+    return user_rel_query(inbox_comment_rel, user, 'inbox')
+
+def get_inbox(user):
+    return merge_results(get_inbox_comments(user),
+                         get_inbox_messages(user))
+
+def get_sent(user):
+    q = Message._query(Message.c.author_id == user._id,
+                       Message.c._spam == (True, False),
+                       sort = desc('_date'))
+    return CachedResults(q)
+
+#can be rewritten to be more efficient
+def all_queries(fn, obj, *param_lists):
+    """Given a fn and a first argument 'obj', calls the fn(obj, *params)
+    for every permutation of the parameters in param_lists"""
+    results = []
+    params = [[obj]]
+    for pl in param_lists:
+        new_params = []
+        for p in pl:
+            for c in params:
+                new_param = list(c)
+                new_param.append(p)
+                new_params.append(new_param)
+        params = new_params
+
+    results = [fn(*p) for p in params]
+    return results
+
+def display_jobs(jobs):
+    for r in jobs:
+        print r
+    print len(jobs)
+
+def add_queries(queries):
+    """Adds multiple queries to the query queue"""
+    def _add_queries():
+        for q in queries:
+            query_queue.add_query(q)
+    worker.do(_add_queries)
+
+## The following functions should be called after their respective
+## actions to update the correct listings.
+def new_link(link):
+    sr = Subreddit._byID(link.sr_id)
+    #author = Account._byID(link.author_id)
+
+    results = all_queries(get_links, sr, ('hot', 'new', 'old'), ['all'])
+    results.extend(all_queries(get_links, sr, ('top', 'controversial'), db_times.keys()))
+    #results.extend(all_queries(get_submitted, author,
+    #                           db_sorts.keys(),
+    #                           db_times.keys()))
+
+    add_queries(results)
+
+def new_comment(comment):
+    author = Account._byID(comment.author_id)
+    results = all_queries(get_comments, author, db_sorts.keys(), db_times.keys())
+
+    if hasattr(comment, 'parent_id'):
+        parent = Comment._byID(comment.parent_id, data = True)
+        parent_author = Account._byID(parent.author_id)
+        results.append(get_inbox_comments(parent_author))
+
+    add_queries(results)
+    
+def new_vote(vote):
+    user = vote._thing1
+    item = vote._thing2
+
+    if not isinstance(item, Link):
+        return
+
+    sr = item.subreddit_slow
+    results = all_queries(get_links, sr, ('hot', 'new', 'old'), ['all'])
+    results.extend(all_queries(get_links, sr, ('top', 'controversial'), db_times.keys()))
+    
+    #must update both because we don't know if it's a changed vote
+    #results.append(get_liked(user))
+    #results.append(get_disliked(user))
+
+    add_queries(results)
+    
+def new_message(message):
+    from_user = Account._byID(message.author_id)
+    to_user = Account._byID(message.to_id)
+
+    results = [get_sent(from_user)]
+    results.append(get_inbox_messages(to_user))
+
+    add_queries(results)
+
+def new_savehide(savehide):
+    user = savehide._thing1
+    if savehide._name == 'save':
+        results = [get_saved(user)]
+    else:
+        results = [get_hidden(user)]
+        
+    add_queries(results)
+
+def add_all_srs():
+    """Adds every listing query for every subreddit to the queue."""
+    q = Subreddit._query(sort = asc('_date'))
+    for sr in fetch_things2(q):
+        add_queries(all_queries(get_links, sr, ('hot', 'new', 'old'), ['all']))
+        add_queries(all_queries(get_links, sr, ('top', 'controversial'), db_times.keys()))
+
+def add_all_users():
+    """Adds every profile-page query for every user to the queue"""
+    q = Account._query(sort = asc('_date'))
+    for user in fetch_things2(q):
+        queries = []
+        queries.extend(all_queries(get_submitted, user, db_sorts.keys(), db_times.keys()))
+        queries.extend(all_queries(get_comments, user, db_sorts.keys(), db_times.keys()))
+        queries.append(get_inbox_messages(user))
+        queries.append(get_inbox_comments(user))
+        queries.append(get_saved(user))
+        queries.append(get_hidden(user))
+        queries.append(get_liked(user))
+        queries.append(get_disliked(user))
+        add_queries(queries)
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/query_queue.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/query_queue.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d53b7d2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/query_queue.py
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+from __future__ import with_statement
+from r2.lib.workqueue import WorkQueue
+from r2.config.databases import query_queue_engine, tz
+from r2.lib.db.tdb_sql import make_metadata, settings, create_table, index_str
+
+import cPickle as pickle
+from datetime import datetime
+from urllib2 import Request, urlopen
+from urllib import urlencode
+from threading import Lock
+import time
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy.exceptions import SQLError
+
+from pylons import g
+
+#the current 
+running = set()
+running_lock = Lock()
+
+def make_query_queue_table():
+    metadata = make_metadata(query_queue_engine)
+    table =  sa.Table(settings.DB_APP_NAME + '_query_queue', metadata,
+                      sa.Column('iden', sa.String, primary_key = True),
+                      sa.Column('query', sa.Binary),
+                      sa.Column('date', sa.DateTime(timezone = True)))
+    date_idx = index_str(table, 'date', 'date')
+    create_table(table, [date_idx])
+    return table
+
+query_queue_table = make_query_queue_table()
+
+def add_query(cached_results):
+    """Adds a CachedResults instance to the queue db, ignoring duplicates"""
+    d = dict(iden = cached_results.query._iden(),
+             query = pickle.dumps(cached_results, -1),
+             date = datetime.now(tz))
+    try:
+        query_queue_table.insert().execute(d)
+    except SQLError, e:
+        #don't worry about inserting duplicates
+        if not 'IntegrityError' in e.message:
+            raise
+
+def remove_query(iden):
+    """Removes a row identified with iden from the query queue. To be
+    called after a CachedResults is updated."""
+    table = query_queue_table
+    d = table.delete(table.c.iden == iden)
+    d.execute()
+
+def get_query():
+    """Gets the next query off the queue, ignoring the currently running
+    queries."""
+    table = query_queue_table
+
+    s = table.select(order_by = sa.asc(table.c.date), limit = 1)
+    s.append_whereclause(sa.and_(*[table.c.iden != i for i in running]))
+    r = s.execute().fetchone()
+
+    if r:
+        return r.iden, r.query
+    else:
+        return None, None
+
+def make_query_job(iden, pickled_cr):
+    """Creates a job to send to the query worker. Updates a cached result
+    then removes the query from both the queue and the running set. If
+    sending the job fails, the query is only remove from the running
+    set."""
+    precompute_worker = g.query_queue_worker
+    def job():
+        try:
+            finished = False
+            r = Request(url = precompute_worker + '/doquery',
+                        data = urlencode([('query', pickled_cr)]),
+                        #this header prevents pylons from turning the
+                        #parameter into unicode, which breaks pickling
+                        headers = {'x-dont-decode':'true'})
+            urlopen(r)
+            finished = True
+        finally:
+            with running_lock:
+                running.remove(iden)
+                #if finished is false, we'll leave the query in the db
+                #so we can try again later (e.g. in the event the
+                #worker is down)
+                if finished:
+                    remove_query(iden)
+    return job
+
+def run():
+    """Pull jobs from the queue, creates a job, and sends them to a
+    WorkQueue for processing."""
+    num_workers = g.num_query_queue_workers
+    wq = WorkQueue(num_workers = num_workers)
+    wq.start()
+
+    while True:
+        job = None
+        #limit the total number of jobs in the WorkQueue. we don't
+        #need to load the entire db queue right away (the db queue can
+        #get quite large).
+        if wq.jobs.qsize() < 2 * num_workers:
+            with running_lock:
+                iden, pickled_cr = get_query()
+                if pickled_cr is not None:
+                    if not iden in running:
+                        running.add(iden)
+                        job = make_query_job(iden, pickled_cr)
+                        wq.add(job)
+
+        #if we didn't find a job, sleep before trying again
+        if not job:
+            time.sleep(1)
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
index 89b29037a..3c8a96245 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
@@ -60,47 +60,47 @@ def create_table(table, index_commands=None):
                 for i in index_commands:
                     t.engine.execute(i)
 
-def index_commands(table, type):
-    def index_str(name, on, where = None):
-        index_str = 'create index idx_%s_' % name
-        index_str += table.name
-        index_str += ' on '+ table.name + ' (%s)' % on
-        if where:
-            index_str += ' where %s' % where
-        return index_str
-    
+def index_str(table, name, on, where = None):
+    index_str = 'create index idx_%s_' % name
+    index_str += table.name
+    index_str += ' on '+ table.name + ' (%s)' % on
+    if where:
+        index_str += ' where %s' % where
+    return index_str
 
+
+def index_commands(table, type):
     commands = []
 
     if type == 'thing':
-        commands.append(index_str('id', 'thing_id'))
-        commands.append(index_str('date', 'date'))
-        commands.append(index_str('deleted_spam', 'deleted, spam'))
-        commands.append(index_str('hot', 'hot(ups, downs, date), date'))
-        commands.append(index_str('score', 'score(ups, downs), date'))
-        commands.append(index_str('controversy', 'controversy(ups, downs), date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'id', 'thing_id'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'date', 'date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'deleted_spam', 'deleted, spam'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'hot', 'hot(ups, downs, date), date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'score', 'score(ups, downs), date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'controversy', 'controversy(ups, downs), date'))
     elif type == 'data':
-        commands.append(index_str('id', 'thing_id'))
-        commands.append(index_str('thing_id', 'thing_id'))
-        commands.append(index_str('key_value', 'key, substring(value, 1, %s)' \
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'id', 'thing_id'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'thing_id', 'thing_id'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'key_value', 'key, substring(value, 1, %s)' \
                                   % max_val_len))
                                   
         #lower name
-        commands.append(index_str('lower_key_value', 'key, lower(value)',
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'lower_key_value', 'key, lower(value)',
                                   where = "key = 'name'"))
         #ip
-        commands.append(index_str('ip_network', 'ip_network(value)',
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'ip_network', 'ip_network(value)',
                                   where = "key = 'ip'"))
         #base_url
-        commands.append(index_str('base_url', 'base_url(lower(value))',
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'base_url', 'base_url(lower(value))',
                                   where = "key = 'url'"))
     elif type == 'rel':
-        commands.append(index_str('thing1_name_date', 'thing1_id, name, date'))
-        commands.append(index_str('thing2_name_date', 'thing2_id, name, date'))
-        commands.append(index_str('thing1_id', 'thing1_id'))
-        commands.append(index_str('thing2_id', 'thing2_id'))
-        commands.append(index_str('name', 'name'))
-        commands.append(index_str('date', 'date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'thing1_name_date', 'thing1_id, name, date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'thing2_name_date', 'thing2_id, name, date'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'thing1_id', 'thing1_id'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'thing2_id', 'thing2_id'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'name', 'name'))
+        commands.append(index_str(table, 'date', 'date'))
     return commands
 
 def get_type_table(metadata):
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/thing.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/thing.py
index d93f61174..e35007c41 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/db/thing.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/thing.py
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ class Query(object):
         lst = None
         if self._read_cache:
             names = cache.get(self._iden())
-            if names:
+            if names is not None:
                 lst = Thing._by_fullname(names, data = self._data, return_dict = False)
 
         if lst is None:
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/media.py b/r2/r2/lib/media.py
index 29c77268d..297bdea12 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/media.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/media.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def process_new_links(period = media_period, force = False):
         jobs.append(make_link_info_job(results, link, g.useragent))
 
     #send links to a queue
-    wq = WorkQueue(jobs, num_workers = 20)
+    wq = WorkQueue(jobs, num_workers = 20, timeout = 30)
     wq.start()
     wq.jobs.join()
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/normalized_hot.py b/r2/r2/lib/normalized_hot.py
index 460e78872..bf419bfb0 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/normalized_hot.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/normalized_hot.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from r2.lib.db.operators import desc, timeago
 from r2.lib import utils 
 from r2.config import cache
 from r2.lib.memoize import memoize
+from r2.lib.db.thing import Query
 
 from pylons import g
 
@@ -43,18 +44,19 @@ def top_key(sr):
     return sr.name + '_top'
 
 def expire_hot(sr):
+    """Called when a subreddit should be recomputed: after a vote (hence,
+    submit) or deletion."""
     cache.set(expire_key(sr), True)
 
-def is_top_link(sr, link):
-    return cache.get(top_key(sr)) == link._fullname
+#def is_top_link(sr, link):
+#    return cache.get(top_key(sr)) == link._fullname
 
-def get_hot(sr):
-    q = Link._query(Link.c.sr_id == sr._id,
-                    sort = desc('_hot'),
-                    write_cache = True,
-                    limit = 150)
-
-    iden = q._iden()
+def cached_query(query, sr):
+    """Returns the results from running query. The results are cached and
+    only recomputed after 'expire_delta'"""
+    query._limit = 150
+    query._write_cache = True
+    iden = query._iden()
 
     read_cache = True
     #if query is in the cache, the expire flag is true, and the access
@@ -70,25 +72,38 @@ def get_hot(sr):
     else:
         read_cache = False
 
+    #set access time to the last time the query was actually run (now)
     if not read_cache:
         cache.set(access_key(sr), datetime.now())
-    
-    q._read_cache = read_cache
-    res = list(q)
+
+    query._read_cache = read_cache
+    res = list(query)
     
     #set the #1 link so we can ignore it later. expire after TOP_CACHE
     #just in case something happens and that sr doesn't update
-    if res:
-        cache.set(top_key(sr), res[0]._fullname, TOP_CACHE)
+    #if res:
+    #    cache.set(top_key(sr), res[0]._fullname, TOP_CACHE)
 
     return res
 
+def get_hot(sr):
+    """Get the hottest links for a subreddit. If g.use_query_cache is
+    True, it'll use the query cache, otherwise it'll use cached_query()
+    from above."""
+    q = sr.get_links('hot', 'all')
+    if isinstance(q, Query):
+        return cached_query(q, sr)
+    else:
+        return Link._by_fullname(q[:150], return_dict = False)
+
 def only_recent(items):
     return filter(lambda l: l._date > utils.timeago('%d day' % g.HOT_PAGE_AGE),
                   items)
 
 @memoize('normalize_hot', time = g.page_cache_time)
 def normalized_hot_cached(sr_ids):
+    """Fetches the hot lists for each subreddit, normalizes the scores,
+    and interleaves the results."""
     results = []
     srs = Subreddit._byID(sr_ids, data = True, return_dict = False)
     for sr in srs:
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/organic.py b/r2/r2/lib/organic.py
index ccf4a96ed..079040431 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/organic.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/organic.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 ################################################################################
 from r2.models import *
 from r2.lib.memoize import memoize
-from r2.lib.normalized_hot import is_top_link, get_hot, only_recent
+from r2.lib.normalized_hot import get_hot, only_recent
 from r2.lib import count
 
 import random
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/workqueue.py b/r2/r2/lib/workqueue.py
index 62716889a..3c46a932d 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/workqueue.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/workqueue.py
@@ -32,39 +32,40 @@ class WorkQueue(object):
     """A WorkQueue is a queue that takes a number of functions and runs
     them in parallel"""
 
-    def __init__(self, jobs, num_workers = 5, timeout = 30):
+    def __init__(self, jobs = [], num_workers = 5, timeout = None):
         """Creates a WorkQueue that will process jobs with num_workers
         threads. If a job takes longer than timeout seconds to run, WorkQueue
         won't wait for it to finish before claiming to be finished."""
         self.jobs = Queue()
         self.work_count = Queue(num_workers)
         self.workers = {}
-        self.timeout = timedelta(seconds = timeout)
+        if timeout:
+            self.timeout = timedelta(seconds = timeout)
+        else:
+            self.timeout = None
 
         for j in jobs:
             self.jobs.put(j)
 
     def monitor(self):
-        done = False
-        while not done:
-            if self.jobs.empty() and not self.workers:
-                done = True
-
+        """The monitoring thread. Every second it checks for finished, dead,
+        or timed-out jobs and removes them from the queue."""
+        while True:
             for worker, start_time in self.workers.items():
                 if (not worker.isAlive() or
-                    datetime.now() - start_time > self.timeout): 
+                    self.timeout
+                    and datetime.now() - start_time > self.timeout): 
+
                     self.work_count.get_nowait()
                     self.jobs.task_done()
                     del self.workers[worker]
 
             time.sleep(1)
 
-    def start(self):
-        monitor_thread = Thread(target = self.monitor)
-        monitor_thread.setDaemon(True)
-        monitor_thread.start()
-
-        while not self.jobs.empty():
+    def run(self):
+        """The main thread for the queue. Pull a job off the job queue and
+        create a thread for it."""
+        while True:
             job = self.jobs.get()
 
             work_thread = Thread(target = job)
@@ -73,18 +74,47 @@ class WorkQueue(object):
             self.workers[work_thread] = datetime.now()
             work_thread.start()
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
+    def start(self):
+        """Spawn a monitoring thread and the main thread for this queue. """
+        monitor_thread = Thread(target = self.monitor)
+        monitor_thread.setDaemon(True)
+        monitor_thread.start()
+
+        main_thread = Thread(target = self.run)
+        main_thread.setDaemon(True)
+        main_thread.start()
+
+    def add(self, job):
+        """Put a new job on the queue."""
+        self.jobs.put(job)
+
+    def wait(self):
+        """Blocks until every job that has been added to the queue is
+        finished."""
+        self.jobs.join()
+
+def test():
     def make_job(n):
         import random, time
         def job():
             print 'starting %s' % n
+            blah
             time.sleep(random.randint(1, 10))
             print 'ending %s' % n
         return job
 
     jobs = [make_job(n) for n in xrange(10)]
-    wq = WorkQueue(jobs, timeout = 2)
+    wq = WorkQueue(jobs, timeout = 5)
     wq.start()
-    wq.jobs.join()
+    wq.wait()
+
+    #wq = WorkQueue()
+    #wq.start()
+    #wq.add(make_job(10))
+    #print 'added job'
+    #wq.add(make_job(3))
+    #print 'added another'
+    #q.wait()
+
     print 'DONE'
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/subreddit.py b/r2/r2/models/subreddit.py
index c2f329325..faebbaafd 100644
--- a/r2/r2/models/subreddit.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/subreddit.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from r2.lib.db.operators import lower, or_, and_, desc
 from r2.lib.memoize import memoize, clear_memo
 from r2.lib.utils import tup
 from r2.lib.strings import strings, Score
+
 import os.path
 
 class Subreddit(Thing, Printable):
@@ -199,6 +200,14 @@ class Subreddit(Thing, Printable):
         #really we mean Link.c.sr_id, but rules are type agnostic
         return (self.c.sr_id == self._id,)
 
+    def get_links(self, sort, time):
+        from r2.lib.db import queries
+        q = queries.get_links(self, sort, time)
+        if g.use_query_cache:
+            return q.fetch()
+        else:
+            return q.query
+
     @classmethod
     def add_props(cls, user, wrapped):
         names = ('subscriber', 'moderator', 'contributor')
@@ -345,6 +354,20 @@ class FriendsSR(FakeSubreddit):
         else:
             return (self.c.sr_id == self.default_srs(c.content_langs, ids = True),)
 
+    def get_links(self, sort, time):
+        from r2.lib.db import queries
+        from r2.models import Link
+        from r2.controllers.errors import UserRequiredException
+
+        if not c.user_is_loggedin:
+            raise UserRequiredException
+
+        q = Link._query(self.c.author_id == c.user.friends,
+                        sort = queries.db_sorts[sort])
+        if time != 'all':
+            q._filter(queries.db_times[time])
+        return q
+            
 class AllSR(FakeSubreddit):
     name = 'all'
     title = 'all'
@@ -355,6 +378,15 @@ class AllSR(FakeSubreddit):
         else:
             return ()
 
+    def get_links(self, sort, time):
+        from r2.models import Link
+        from r2.lib.db import queries
+        q = Link._query(sort = queries.db_sorts[sort])
+        if time != 'all':
+            q._filter(queries.db_times[time])
+        return q
+
+
 class DefaultSR(FakeSubreddit):
     #notice the space before reddit.com
     name = ' reddit.com'
@@ -366,6 +398,26 @@ class DefaultSR(FakeSubreddit):
         subreddits = Subreddit.user_subreddits(user)
         return (self.c.sr_id == subreddits,)
 
+    def get_links_srs(self, srs, sort, time):
+        from r2.lib.db import queries
+        from r2.models import Link
+        if g.use_query_cache:
+            results = []
+            for sr in srs:
+                results.append(queries.get_links(sr, sort, time))
+
+            return queries.merge_results(*results)
+        else:
+            q = Link._query(sort = queries.db_sorts[sort])
+            if time != 'all':
+                q._filter(queries.db_times[time])
+            return q
+
+    def get_links(self, sort, time):
+        user = c.user if c.user_is_loggedin else None
+        srs = Subreddit._byID(Subreddit.user_subreddits(user), return_dict = False)
+        return self.get_links_srs(srs, sort, time)
+
     @property
     def title(self):
         return _("reddit.com: what's new online!")
@@ -394,6 +446,13 @@ class MaskedSR(DefaultSR):
         subreddits.extend(self.show_sr)
         return (self.c.sr_id == subreddits,)
 
+    def get_links(self, sort, time):
+        user = c.user if c.user_is_loggedin else None
+        subreddits = Subreddit.user_subreddits(user)
+        subreddits = [s for s in subreddits if s not in self.hide_sr]
+        subreddits.extend(self.show_sr)
+        return self.get_links_srs(subreddits, sort, time)
+
 
 class SubSR(FakeSubreddit):
     stylesheet = 'subreddit.css'
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/vote.py b/r2/r2/models/vote.py
index 1d9233f38..5b7360f69 100644
--- a/r2/r2/models/vote.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/vote.py
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ class Vote(MultiRelation('vote',
         if kind == 'link' and v.valid_thing:
             expire_hot(sr)
 
+        return v
+
     #TODO make this generic and put on multirelation?
     @classmethod
     def likes(cls, sub, obj):