diff --git a/boot.php b/boot.php
index 56279f4ec..6f036d846 100644
--- a/boot.php
+++ b/boot.php
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ require_once('include/cache.php');
 require_once('library/Mobile_Detect/Mobile_Detect.php');
 require_once('include/features.php');
 require_once('include/identity.php');
-require_once('include/pidfile.php');
 require_once('update.php');
 require_once('include/dbstructure.php');
 
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ define ( 'FRIENDICA_PLATFORM',     'Friendica');
 define ( 'FRIENDICA_CODENAME',     'Asparagus');
 define ( 'FRIENDICA_VERSION',      '3.5.2-dev' );
 define ( 'DFRN_PROTOCOL_VERSION',  '2.23'    );
-define ( 'DB_UPDATE_VERSION',      1215      );
+define ( 'DB_UPDATE_VERSION',      1216      );
 
 /**
  * @brief Constant with a HTML line break.
@@ -442,10 +441,17 @@ define('SR_SCOPE_ALL',  'all');
 define('SR_SCOPE_TAGS', 'tags');
 /* @}*/
 
-// Normally this constant is defined - but not if "pcntl" isn't installed
-if (!defined("SIGTERM"))
-	define("SIGTERM", 15);
+/**
+ * Lowest possible date time value
+ */
 
+define ('NULL_DATE', '0001-01-01 00:00:00');
+
+
+// Normally this constant is defined - but not if "pcntl" isn't installed
+if (!defined("SIGTERM")) {
+	define("SIGTERM", 15);
+}
 /**
  *
  * Reverse the effect of magic_quotes_gpc if it is enabled.
@@ -1346,60 +1352,25 @@ class App {
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	/**
-	 * @brief Checks if the process is already running
-	 *
-	 * @param string $taskname The name of the task that will be used for the name of the lockfile
-	 * @param string $task The path and name of the php script
-	 * @param int $timeout The timeout after which a task should be killed
-	 *
-	 * @return bool Is the process running?
-	 */
-	function is_already_running($taskname, $task = "", $timeout = 540) {
-
-		$lockpath = get_lockpath();
-		if ($lockpath != '') {
-			$pidfile = new pidfile($lockpath, $taskname);
-			if ($pidfile->is_already_running()) {
-				logger("Already running");
-				if ($pidfile->running_time() > $timeout) {
-					$pidfile->kill();
-					logger("killed stale process");
-					// Calling a new instance
-					if ($task != "")
-						proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, $task);
-				}
-				return true;
-			}
-		}
-		return false;
-	}
-
 	function proc_run($args) {
 
 		if (!function_exists("proc_open")) {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		// Add the php path if it is a php call
-		if (count($args) && ($args[0] === 'php' OR !is_string($args[0]))) {
-
-			// If the last worker fork was less than 10 seconds before then don't fork another one.
-			// This should prevent the forking of masses of workers.
-			if (get_config("system", "worker")) {
-				$cachekey = "app:proc_run:started";
-				$result = Cache::get($cachekey);
-				if (!is_null($result)) {
-					if ((time() - $result) < 10) {
-						return;
-					}
-				}
-				// Set the timestamp of the last proc_run
-				Cache::set($cachekey, time(), CACHE_MINUTE);
+		// If the last worker fork was less than 10 seconds before then don't fork another one.
+		// This should prevent the forking of masses of workers.
+		$cachekey = "app:proc_run:started";
+		$result = Cache::get($cachekey);
+		if (!is_null($result)) {
+			if ((time() - $result) < 10) {
+				return;
 			}
-
-			$args[0] = ((x($this->config,'php_path')) && (strlen($this->config['php_path'])) ? $this->config['php_path'] : 'php');
 		}
+		// Set the timestamp of the last proc_run
+		Cache::set($cachekey, time(), CACHE_MINUTE);
+
+		array_unshift($args, ((x($this->config,'php_path')) && (strlen($this->config['php_path'])) ? $this->config['php_path'] : 'php'));
 
 		// add baseurl to args. cli scripts can't construct it
 		$args[] = $this->get_baseurl();
@@ -1976,10 +1947,9 @@ function get_max_import_size() {
  * @brief Wrap calls to proc_close(proc_open()) and call hook
  *	so plugins can take part in process :)
  *
- * @param (string|integer|array) $cmd program to run, priority or parameter array
+ * @param (integer|array) priority or parameter array, $cmd atrings are deprecated and are ignored
  *
  * next args are passed as $cmd command line
- * e.g.: proc_run("ls","-la","/tmp");
  * or: proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH, "include/notifier.php", "drop", $drop_id);
  * or: proc_run(array('priority' => PRIORITY_HIGH, 'dont_fork' => true), "include/create_shadowentry.php", $post_id);
  *
@@ -2024,11 +1994,6 @@ function proc_run($cmd){
 	if (!$arr['run_cmd'] OR !count($args))
 		return;
 
-	if (!get_config("system", "worker") OR (is_string($run_parameter) AND ($run_parameter != 'php'))) {
-		$a->proc_run($args);
-		return;
-	}
-
 	$priority = PRIORITY_MEDIUM;
 	$dont_fork = get_config("system", "worker_dont_fork");
 
@@ -2063,7 +2028,7 @@ function proc_run($cmd){
 	}
 
 	// Checking number of workers
-	$workers = q("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `workers` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00'");
+	$workers = q("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `workers` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` > '%s'", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 
 	// Get number of allowed number of worker threads
 	$queues = intval(get_config("system", "worker_queues"));
@@ -2076,7 +2041,7 @@ function proc_run($cmd){
 		return;
 
 	// Now call the poller to execute the jobs that we just added to the queue
-	$args = array("php", "include/poller.php", "no_cron");
+	$args = array("include/poller.php", "no_cron");
 
 	$a->proc_run($args);
 }
@@ -2410,38 +2375,6 @@ function get_itemcachepath() {
 	return "";
 }
 
-function get_lockpath() {
-	$lockpath = get_config('system','lockpath');
-	if (($lockpath != "") AND App::directory_usable($lockpath)) {
-		// We have a lock path and it is usable
-		return $lockpath;
-	}
-
-	// We don't have a working preconfigured lock path, so we take the temp path.
-	$temppath = get_temppath();
-
-	if ($temppath != "") {
-		// To avoid any interferences with other systems we create our own directory
-		$lockpath = $temppath."/lock";
-		if (!is_dir($lockpath)) {
-			mkdir($lockpath);
-		}
-
-		if (App::directory_usable($lockpath)) {
-			// The new path is usable, we are happy
-			set_config("system", "lockpath", $lockpath);
-			return $lockpath;
-		} else {
-			// We can't create a subdirectory, strange.
-			// But the directory seems to work, so we use it but don't store it.
-			return $temppath;
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Reaching this point means that the operating system is configured badly.
-	return "";
-}
-
 /**
  * @brief Returns the path where spool files are stored
  *
diff --git a/database.sql b/database.sql
index b133489e4..7ed19f439 100644
--- a/database.sql
+++ b/database.sql
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- ------------------------------------------
--- Friendica 3.5.1-rc (Asparagus)
+-- Friendica 3.5.2-dev (Asparagus)
 -- DB_UPDATE_VERSION 1215
 -- ------------------------------------------
 
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `attach` (
 	`filetype` varchar(64) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`filesize` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`data` longblob NOT NULL,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`allow_cid` mediumtext,
 	`allow_gid` mediumtext,
 	`deny_cid` mediumtext,
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `cache` (
 	`k` varbinary(255) NOT NULL,
 	`v` mediumtext,
 	`expire_mode` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`k`),
 	 INDEX `expire_mode_updated` (`expire_mode`,`updated`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `config` (
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `contact` (
 	`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
 	`uid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`self` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`remote_self` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`rel` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
@@ -145,14 +145,14 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `contact` (
 	`usehub` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`subhub` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`hub-verify` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`last-update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`success_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`failure_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`name-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`uri-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`avatar-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`term-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last-item` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`last-update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`success_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`failure_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`name-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`uri-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`avatar-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`term-date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last-item` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`priority` tinyint(3) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`blocked` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
 	`readonly` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
@@ -197,25 +197,13 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `conv` (
 	`recips` text,
 	`uid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`creator` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`subject` text,
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 INDEX `uid` (`uid`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
 
---
--- TABLE deliverq
---
-CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `deliverq` (
-	`id` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
-	`cmd` varbinary(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`item` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`contact` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
-	 UNIQUE INDEX `cmd_item_contact` (`cmd`,`item`,`contact`)
-) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
-
 --
 -- TABLE event
 --
@@ -225,10 +213,10 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `event` (
 	`uid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`cid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`uri` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`start` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`finish` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`start` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`finish` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`summary` text,
 	`desc` text,
 	`location` text,
@@ -264,7 +252,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `fcontact` (
 	`network` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`alias` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`pubkey` text,
-	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 INDEX `addr` (`addr`(32)),
 	 INDEX `url` (`url`)
@@ -305,7 +293,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `fsuggest` (
 	`request` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`photo` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`note` text,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
 
@@ -332,10 +320,10 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `gcontact` (
 	`nurl` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`photo` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`connect` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`updated` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last_contact` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last_failure` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`updated` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last_contact` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last_failure` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`location` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`about` text,
 	`keywords` text,
@@ -369,7 +357,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `glink` (
 	`uid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`gcid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`zcid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`updated` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 UNIQUE INDEX `cid_uid_gcid_zcid` (`cid`,`uid`,`gcid`,`zcid`),
 	 INDEX `gcid` (`gcid`)
@@ -417,10 +405,10 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `gserver` (
 	`noscrape` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`network` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`platform` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last_poco_query` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last_contact` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last_failure` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last_poco_query` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last_contact` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last_failure` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 INDEX `nurl` (`nurl`(32))
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -450,7 +438,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `intro` (
 	`duplex` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`note` text,
 	`hash` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`datetime` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`datetime` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`blocked` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
 	`ignore` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
@@ -473,11 +461,11 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `item` (
 	`parent-uri` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`extid` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`thr-parent` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`owner-id` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`owner-name` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`owner-link` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -576,7 +564,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `locks` (
 	`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
 	`name` varchar(128) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`locked` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`created` datetime DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
 
@@ -600,7 +588,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `mail` (
 	`unknown` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`uri` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`parent-uri` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 INDEX `uid_seen` (`uid`,`seen`),
 	 INDEX `convid` (`convid`),
@@ -624,7 +612,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `mailacct` (
 	`action` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`movetofolder` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`pubmail` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`last_check` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`last_check` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
 
@@ -649,7 +637,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `notify` (
 	`name` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`url` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`photo` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`msg` mediumtext,
 	`uid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`link` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -685,7 +673,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `notify-threads` (
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `oembed` (
 	`url` varbinary(255) NOT NULL,
 	`content` mediumtext,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`url`),
 	 INDEX `created` (`created`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -698,7 +686,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `parsed_url` (
 	`guessing` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`oembed` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`content` mediumtext,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`url`,`guessing`,`oembed`),
 	 INDEX `created` (`created`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -725,8 +713,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `photo` (
 	`contact-id` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`guid` varchar(64) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`resource-id` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`title` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`desc` text,
 	`album` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -788,7 +776,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `poll_result` (
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `process` (
 	`pid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL,
 	`command` varbinary(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`pid`),
 	 INDEX `command` (`command`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -814,7 +802,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `profile` (
 	`gender` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`marital` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`with` text,
-	`howlong` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`howlong` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`sexual` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`politic` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`religion` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -866,7 +854,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `push_subscriber` (
 	`topic` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`nickname` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`push` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`last_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`last_update` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`secret` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
@@ -878,8 +866,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `queue` (
 	`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
 	`cid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`network` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`last` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`last` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`content` mediumtext,
 	`batch` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
@@ -896,7 +884,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `queue` (
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `register` (
 	`id` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
 	`hash` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`uid` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`password` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`language` varchar(16) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -950,7 +938,7 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `spam` (
 	`spam` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`ham` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`term` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`),
 	 INDEX `uid` (`uid`),
 	 INDEX `spam` (`spam`),
@@ -969,8 +957,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `term` (
 	`term` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`url` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`guid` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`global` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`aid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`uid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
@@ -991,11 +979,11 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `thread` (
 	`gcontact-id` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`owner-id` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`author-id` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`wall` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`private` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`pubmail` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
@@ -1047,8 +1035,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `user` (
 	`openid` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`timezone` varchar(128) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`language` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'en',
-	`register_date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`login_date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`register_date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`login_date` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`default-location` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`allow_location` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`theme` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -1072,8 +1060,8 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `user` (
 	`expire` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`account_removed` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`account_expired` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`account_expires_on` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`expire_notification_sent` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`account_expires_on` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`expire_notification_sent` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`service_class` varchar(32) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
 	`def_gid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
 	`allow_cid` mediumtext,
@@ -1102,9 +1090,9 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `workerqueue` (
 	`id` int(11) NOT NULL auto_increment,
 	`parameter` text,
 	`priority` tinyint(3) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`pid` int(11) NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-	`executed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`executed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	 PRIMARY KEY(`id`)
 ) DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8mb4;
 
diff --git a/include/Contact.php b/include/Contact.php
index 9fd61f8d5..fc9f660f1 100644
--- a/include/Contact.php
+++ b/include/Contact.php
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ function mark_for_death($contact) {
 	if($contact['archive'])
 		return;
 
-	if($contact['term-date'] == '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+	if ($contact['term-date'] <= NULL_DATE) {
 		q("UPDATE `contact` SET `term-date` = '%s' WHERE `id` = %d",
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 				intval($contact['id'])
@@ -185,13 +185,13 @@ function unmark_for_death($contact) {
 
 	// It's a miracle. Our dead contact has inexplicably come back to life.
 	q("UPDATE `contact` SET `term-date` = '%s' WHERE `id` = %d",
-		dbesc('0000-00-00 00:00:00'),
+		dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 		intval($contact['id'])
 	);
 
 	if ($contact['url'] != '') {
 		q("UPDATE `contact` SET `term-date` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
-			dbesc('0000-00-00 00:00:00'),
+			dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 			dbesc(normalise_link($contact['url']))
 		);
 	}
diff --git a/include/create_shadowentry.php b/include/create_shadowentry.php
index 005295c97..98db23f9e 100644
--- a/include/create_shadowentry.php
+++ b/include/create_shadowentry.php
@@ -6,26 +6,9 @@
  * This script is started from mod/item.php to save some time when doing a post.
  */
 
-use \Friendica\Core\Config;
-
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/threads.php");
 
 function create_shadowentry_run($argv, $argc) {
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if (is_null($a))
-		$a = new App;
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	Config::load();
-
 	if ($argc != 2) {
 		return;
 	}
@@ -34,9 +17,4 @@ function create_shadowentry_run($argv, $argc) {
 
 	add_shadow_entry($message_id);
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  create_shadowentry_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
 ?>
diff --git a/include/cron.php b/include/cron.php
index 2fc8de51c..ca9b5dff2 100644
--- a/include/cron.php
+++ b/include/cron.php
@@ -1,35 +1,11 @@
 <?php
-if (!file_exists("boot.php") AND (sizeof($_SERVER["argv"]) != 0)) {
-	$directory = dirname($_SERVER["argv"][0]);
-
-	if (substr($directory, 0, 1) != "/")
-		$directory = $_SERVER["PWD"]."/".$directory;
-
-	$directory = realpath($directory."/..");
-
-	chdir($directory);
-}
-
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-require_once("include/photos.php");
-require_once("include/user.php");
-
+require_once('include/photos.php');
+require_once('include/user.php');
 
 function cron_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
+	global $a;
 
 	require_once('include/session.php');
 	require_once('include/datetime.php');
@@ -40,16 +16,6 @@ function cron_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	require_once('mod/nodeinfo.php');
 	require_once('include/post_update.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run") {
-		if ($a->maxload_reached())
-			return;
-		if (App::is_already_running('cron', 'include/cron.php', 540))
-			return;
-	}
-
 	$last = get_config('system','last_cron');
 
 	$poll_interval = intval(get_config('system','cron_interval'));
@@ -64,10 +30,6 @@ function cron_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		}
 	}
 
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
-
 	logger('cron: start');
 
 	// run queue delivery process in the background
@@ -85,34 +47,17 @@ function cron_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	// Expire and remove user entries
 	cron_expire_and_remove_users();
 
-	// If the worker is active, split the jobs in several sub processes
-	if (get_config("system", "worker")) {
-		// Check OStatus conversations
-		proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, "include/cronjobs.php", "ostatus_mentions");
+	// Check OStatus conversations
+	proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, "include/cronjobs.php", "ostatus_mentions");
 
-		// Check every conversation
-		proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, "include/cronjobs.php", "ostatus_conversations");
+	// Check every conversation
+	proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, "include/cronjobs.php", "ostatus_conversations");
 
-		// Call possible post update functions
-		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/cronjobs.php", "post_update");
+	// Call possible post update functions
+	proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/cronjobs.php", "post_update");
 
-		// update nodeinfo data
-		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/cronjobs.php", "nodeinfo");
-	} else {
-		// Check OStatus conversations
-		// Check only conversations with mentions (for a longer time)
-		ostatus::check_conversations(true);
-
-		// Check every conversation
-		ostatus::check_conversations(false);
-
-		// Call possible post update functions
-		// see include/post_update.php for more details
-		post_update();
-
-		// update nodeinfo data
-		nodeinfo_cron();
-	}
+	// update nodeinfo data
+	proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/cronjobs.php", "nodeinfo");
 
 	// once daily run birthday_updates and then expire in background
 
@@ -123,6 +68,8 @@ function cron_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 		update_contact_birthdays();
 
+		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/discover_poco.php", "update_server");
+
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/discover_poco.php", "suggestions");
 
 		set_config('system','last_expire_day',$d2);
@@ -173,8 +120,8 @@ function cron_update_photo_albums() {
 function cron_expire_and_remove_users() {
 	// expire any expired accounts
 	q("UPDATE user SET `account_expired` = 1 where `account_expired` = 0
-		AND `account_expires_on` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00'
-		AND `account_expires_on` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() ");
+		AND `account_expires_on` > '%s'
+		AND `account_expires_on` < UTC_TIMESTAMP()", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 
 	// delete user and contact records for recently removed accounts
 	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `user` WHERE `account_removed` AND `account_expires_on` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 3 DAY");
@@ -213,14 +160,6 @@ function cron_poll_contacts($argc, $argv) {
 		$force     = true;
 	}
 
-	$interval = intval(get_config('system','poll_interval'));
-	if (!$interval)
-		$interval = ((get_config('system','delivery_interval') === false) ? 3 : intval(get_config('system','delivery_interval')));
-
-	// If we are using the worker we don't need a delivery interval
-	if (get_config("system", "worker"))
-		$interval = false;
-
 	$sql_extra = (($manual_id) ? " AND `id` = $manual_id " : "");
 
 	reload_plugins();
@@ -275,13 +214,15 @@ function cron_poll_contacts($argc, $argv) {
 
 			$xml = false;
 
-			if($manual_id)
-				$contact['last-update'] = '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
+			if ($manual_id) {
+				$contact['last-update'] = NULL_DATE;
+			}
 
-			if(in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_ZOT, NETWORK_OSTATUS)))
+			if (in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_ZOT, NETWORK_OSTATUS))) {
 				$contact['priority'] = 2;
+			}
 
-			if($contact['subhub'] AND in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_ZOT, NETWORK_OSTATUS))) {
+			if ($contact['subhub'] AND in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_ZOT, NETWORK_OSTATUS))) {
 				// We should be getting everything via a hub. But just to be sure, let's check once a day.
 				// (You can make this more or less frequent if desired by setting 'pushpoll_frequency' appropriately)
 				// This also lets us update our subscription to the hub, and add or replace hubs in case it
@@ -335,9 +276,6 @@ function cron_poll_contacts($argc, $argv) {
 			} else {
 				proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, 'include/onepoll.php', $contact['id']);
 			}
-
-			if($interval)
-				@time_sleep_until(microtime(true) + (float) $interval);
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -488,8 +426,3 @@ function cron_repair_database() {
 	/// - remove children when parent got lost
 	/// - set contact-id in item when not present
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	cron_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/cronhooks.php b/include/cronhooks.php
index 72b86be42..bea0f6a19 100644
--- a/include/cronhooks.php
+++ b/include/cronhooks.php
@@ -2,37 +2,11 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 function cronhooks_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
 	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run") {
-		if ($a->maxload_reached())
-			return;
-		if (App::is_already_running('cronhooks', 'include/cronhooks.php', 1140))
-			return;
-	}
-
-	load_hooks();
-
 	if (($argc == 2) AND is_array($a->hooks) AND array_key_exists("cron", $a->hooks)) {
                 foreach ($a->hooks["cron"] as $hook)
 			if ($hook[1] == $argv[1]) {
@@ -42,7 +16,7 @@ function cronhooks_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		return;
 	}
 
-	$last = get_config('system','last_cronhook');
+	$last = get_config('system', 'last_cronhook');
 
 	$poll_interval = intval(get_config('system','cronhook_interval'));
 	if(! $poll_interval)
@@ -62,22 +36,16 @@ function cronhooks_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	$d = datetime_convert();
 
-	if (get_config("system", "worker") AND is_array($a->hooks) AND array_key_exists("cron", $a->hooks)) {
+	if (is_array($a->hooks) AND array_key_exists("cron", $a->hooks)) {
                 foreach ($a->hooks["cron"] as $hook) {
 			logger("Calling cronhooks for '".$hook[1]."'", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 			proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, "include/cronhooks.php", $hook[1]);
 		}
-	} else
-		call_hooks('cron', $d);
+	}
 
 	logger('cronhooks: end');
 
-	set_config('system','last_cronhook', time());
+	set_config('system', 'last_cronhook', time());
 
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	cronhooks_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/cronjobs.php b/include/cronjobs.php
index f0a56370b..5cc2bf132 100644
--- a/include/cronjobs.php
+++ b/include/cronjobs.php
@@ -1,44 +1,14 @@
 <?php
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-if (!file_exists("boot.php") AND (sizeof($_SERVER["argv"]) != 0)) {
-	$directory = dirname($_SERVER["argv"][0]);
-
-	if (substr($directory, 0, 1) != "/")
-		$directory = $_SERVER["PWD"]."/".$directory;
-
-	$directory = realpath($directory."/..");
-
-	chdir($directory);
-}
-
-require_once("boot.php");
-
-
 function cronjobs_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
 	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 	require_once('include/ostatus.php');
 	require_once('include/post_update.php');
 	require_once('mod/nodeinfo.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
 	// No parameter set? So return
 	if ($argc <= 1)
 		return;
@@ -71,8 +41,3 @@ function cronjobs_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	cronjobs_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/datetime.php b/include/datetime.php
index 8d4961cd7..9e1d4b55c 100644
--- a/include/datetime.php
+++ b/include/datetime.php
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ function relative_date($posted_date, $format = null) {
 
 	$abs = strtotime($localtime);
 
-	if (is_null($posted_date) || $posted_date === '0000-00-00 00:00:00' || $abs === False) {
+	if (is_null($posted_date) || $posted_date <= NULL_DATE || $abs === False) {
 		 return t('never');
 	}
 
diff --git a/include/dba.php b/include/dba.php
index 4b0498ad3..62728acae 100644
--- a/include/dba.php
+++ b/include/dba.php
@@ -234,7 +234,9 @@ class dba {
 			case 'pdo':
 				$result = @$this->db->query($sql);
 				// Is used to separate between queries that returning data - or not
-				$columns = $result->columnCount();
+				if (!is_bool($result)) {
+					$columns = $result->columnCount();
+				}
 				break;
 			case 'mysqli':
 				$result = @$this->db->query($sql);
@@ -329,7 +331,7 @@ class dba {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (($result === true) || ($result === false)) {
+		if (is_bool($result)) {
 			return $result;
 		}
 		if ($onlyquery) {
diff --git a/include/dbclean.php b/include/dbclean.php
index 8408ad188..bff4ff2a2 100644
--- a/include/dbclean.php
+++ b/include/dbclean.php
@@ -5,26 +5,8 @@
  */
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
-use \Friendica\Core\PConfig;
-
-require_once("boot.php");
 
 function dbclean_run(&$argv, &$argc) {
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	Config::load();
-
 	if (!Config::get('system', 'dbclean', false)) {
 		return;
 	}
@@ -35,7 +17,7 @@ function dbclean_run(&$argv, &$argc) {
 		$stage = 0;
 	}
 
-	if (Config::get("system", "worker") AND ($stage == 0)) {
+	if ($stage == 0) {
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, 'include/dbclean.php', 1);
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, 'include/dbclean.php', 2);
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, 'include/dbclean.php', 3);
@@ -56,12 +38,8 @@ function remove_orphans($stage = 0) {
 
 	$count = 0;
 
-	// With activated worker we split the deletion in many small tasks
-	if (Config::get("system", "worker")) {
-		$limit = 1000;
-	} else {
-		$limit = 10000;
-	}
+	// We split the deletion in many small tasks
+	$limit = 1000;
 
 	if (($stage == 1) OR ($stage == 0)) {
 		logger("Deleting old global item entries from item table without user copy");
@@ -159,14 +137,9 @@ function remove_orphans($stage = 0) {
 	}
 
 	// Call it again if not all entries were purged
-	if (($stage != 0) AND ($count > 0) AND Config::get("system", "worker")) {
+	if (($stage != 0) AND ($count > 0)) {
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_MEDIUM, 'include/dbclean.php');
 	}
 
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  dbclean_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
 ?>
diff --git a/include/dbm.php b/include/dbm.php
index fedc2e4fd..d28d49d63 100644
--- a/include/dbm.php
+++ b/include/dbm.php
@@ -96,17 +96,10 @@ class dbm {
 	public static function date($date = 'now') {
 		$timestamp = strtotime($date);
 
-		// Workaround for 3.5.1
-		if ($timestamp < -62135596800) {
-			return '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
-		}
-
-		// The above will be removed in 3.5.2
-		// The following will then be enabled
 		// Don't allow lower date strings as '0001-01-01 00:00:00'
-		//if ($timestamp < -62135596800) {
-		//	$timestamp = -62135596800;
-		//}
+		if ($timestamp < -62135596800) {
+			$timestamp = -62135596800;
+		}
 
 		return date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $timestamp);
 	}
diff --git a/include/dbstructure.php b/include/dbstructure.php
index 4ad54e6ba..48cc02d2d 100644
--- a/include/dbstructure.php
+++ b/include/dbstructure.php
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 <?php
+
+use \Friendica\Core\Config;
+
 require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/text.php");
 
@@ -144,7 +147,8 @@ function update_structure($verbose, $action, $tables=null, $definition=null) {
 	global $a, $db;
 
 	if ($action) {
-		set_config('system', 'maintenance', 1);
+		Config::set('system', 'maintenance', 1);
+		Config::set('system', 'maintenance_reason', 'Database update');
 	}
 
 	if (isset($a->config["system"]["db_charset"])) {
@@ -361,8 +365,10 @@ function update_structure($verbose, $action, $tables=null, $definition=null) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if ($action)
-		set_config('system', 'maintenance', 0);
+	if ($action) {
+		Config::set('system', 'maintenance', 0);
+		Config::set('system', 'maintenance_reason', '');
+	}
 
 	return $errors;
 }
@@ -536,8 +542,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"filetype" => array("type" => "varchar(64)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"filesize" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"data" => array("type" => "longblob", "not null" => "1"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"allow_cid" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
 					"allow_gid" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
 					"deny_cid" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
@@ -564,7 +570,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"k" => array("type" => "varbinary(255)", "not null" => "1", "primary" => "1"),
 					"v" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
 					"expire_mode" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("k"),
@@ -613,7 +619,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 			"fields" => array(
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"self" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"remote_self" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"rel" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
@@ -651,14 +657,14 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"usehub" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"subhub" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"hub-verify" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"last-update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"success_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"failure_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"name-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"uri-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"avatar-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"term-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last-item" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"last-update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"success_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"failure_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"name-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"uri-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"avatar-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"term-date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last-item" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"priority" => array("type" => "tinyint(3)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"blocked" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "1"),
 					"readonly" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
@@ -703,8 +709,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"recips" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"creator" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"subject" => array("type" => "text"),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
@@ -712,18 +718,6 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"uid" => array("uid"),
 					)
 			);
-	$database["deliverq"] = array(
-			"fields" => array(
-					"id" => array("type" => "int(10) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
-					"cmd" => array("type" => "varbinary(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"item" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"contact" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					),
-			"indexes" => array(
-					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
-					"cmd_item_contact" => array("UNIQUE", "cmd", "item", "contact"),
-					)
-			);
 	$database["event"] = array(
 			"fields" => array(
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
@@ -731,10 +725,10 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"cid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"uri" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"start" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"finish" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"start" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"finish" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"summary" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"desc" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"location" => array("type" => "text"),
@@ -770,7 +764,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"network" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"alias" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"pubkey" => array("type" => "text"),
-					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -811,7 +805,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"request" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"photo" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"note" => array("type" => "text"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -838,10 +832,10 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"nurl" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"photo" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"connect" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last_contact" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last_failure" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last_contact" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last_failure" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"location" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"about" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"keywords" => array("type" => "text"),
@@ -875,7 +869,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"gcid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"zcid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"updated" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -923,10 +917,10 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"noscrape" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"network" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"platform" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last_poco_query" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last_contact" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last_failure" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last_poco_query" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last_contact" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last_failure" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -956,7 +950,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"duplex" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"note" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"hash" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"datetime" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"datetime" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"blocked" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "1"),
 					"ignore" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					),
@@ -979,11 +973,11 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"parent-uri" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"extid" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"thr-parent" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"commented" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"changed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"commented" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"changed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"owner-id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"owner-name" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"owner-link" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1082,7 +1076,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
 					"name" => array("type" => "varchar(128)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"locked" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -1106,7 +1100,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"unknown" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"uri" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"parent-uri" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -1130,7 +1124,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"action" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"movetofolder" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"pubmail" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"last_check" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"last_check" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -1155,7 +1149,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"name" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"url" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"photo" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"msg" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"link" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1191,7 +1185,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 			"fields" => array(
 					"url" => array("type" => "varbinary(255)", "not null" => "1", "primary" => "1"),
 					"content" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("url"),
@@ -1204,7 +1198,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"guessing" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0", "primary" => "1"),
 					"oembed" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0", "primary" => "1"),
 					"content" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("url", "guessing", "oembed"),
@@ -1231,8 +1225,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"contact-id" => array("type" => "int(10) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"guid" => array("type" => "varchar(64)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"resource-id" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"title" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"desc" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"album" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1294,7 +1288,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 			"fields" => array(
 					"pid" => array("type" => "int(10) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "primary" => "1"),
 					"command" => array("type" => "varbinary(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("pid"),
@@ -1320,7 +1314,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"gender" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"marital" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"with" => array("type" => "text"),
-					"howlong" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"howlong" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"sexual" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"politic" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"religion" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1372,7 +1366,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"topic" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"nickname" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"push" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"last_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"last_update" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"secret" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
@@ -1384,8 +1378,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
 					"cid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"network" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"last" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"last" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"content" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
 					"batch" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					),
@@ -1402,7 +1396,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 			"fields" => array(
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
 					"hash" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"password" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"language" => array("type" => "varchar(16)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1456,7 +1450,7 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"spam" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"ham" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"term" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
@@ -1475,8 +1469,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"term" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"url" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"guid" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"global" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"aid" => array("type" => "int(10) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"uid" => array("type" => "int(10) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
@@ -1497,11 +1491,11 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"gcontact-id" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"owner-id" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"author-id" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"commented" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"changed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"edited" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"commented" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"received" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"changed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"wall" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"private" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"pubmail" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
@@ -1553,8 +1547,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"openid" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"timezone" => array("type" => "varchar(128)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"language" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "en"),
-					"register_date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"login_date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"register_date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"login_date" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"default-location" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"allow_location" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"theme" => array("type" => "varchar(255)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
@@ -1578,8 +1572,8 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"expire" => array("type" => "int(11) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"account_removed" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"account_expired" => array("type" => "tinyint(1)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"account_expires_on" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
-					"expire_notification_sent" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"account_expires_on" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
+					"expire_notification_sent" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"service_class" => array("type" => "varchar(32)", "not null" => "1", "default" => ""),
 					"def_gid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
 					"allow_cid" => array("type" => "mediumtext"),
@@ -1608,9 +1602,9 @@ function db_definition($charset) {
 					"id" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "extra" => "auto_increment", "primary" => "1"),
 					"parameter" => array("type" => "text"),
 					"priority" => array("type" => "tinyint(3) unsigned", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"created" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					"pid" => array("type" => "int(11)", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0"),
-					"executed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => "0000-00-00 00:00:00"),
+					"executed" => array("type" => "datetime", "not null" => "1", "default" => NULL_DATE),
 					),
 			"indexes" => array(
 					"PRIMARY" => array("id"),
diff --git a/include/dbupdate.php b/include/dbupdate.php
index 14709208f..725eca737 100644
--- a/include/dbupdate.php
+++ b/include/dbupdate.php
@@ -2,32 +2,12 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 function dbupdate_run(&$argv, &$argc) {
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)){
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		        unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	Config::load();
+	global $a;
 
 	// We are deleting the latest dbupdate entry.
 	// This is done to avoid endless loops because the update was interupted.
-	Config::delete('database','dbupdate_'.DB_UPDATE_VERSION);
+	Config::delete('database', 'dbupdate_'.DB_UPDATE_VERSION);
 
 	update_db($a);
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  dbupdate_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/delivery.php b/include/delivery.php
index 8ccb19ced..faa1cad67 100644
--- a/include/delivery.php
+++ b/include/delivery.php
@@ -2,44 +2,25 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once('include/queue_fn.php');
 require_once('include/html2plain.php');
-require_once("include/Scrape.php");
+require_once('include/Scrape.php');
 require_once('include/diaspora.php');
-require_once("include/ostatus.php");
-require_once("include/dfrn.php");
+require_once('include/ostatus.php');
+require_once('include/dfrn.php');
 
 function delivery_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	require_once("include/session.php");
-	require_once("include/datetime.php");
+	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 	require_once('include/items.php');
 	require_once('include/bbcode.php');
 	require_once('include/email.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	load_hooks();
-
 	if ($argc < 3) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
 	logger('delivery: invoked: '. print_r($argv,true), LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 	$cmd        = $argv[1];
@@ -49,30 +30,6 @@ function delivery_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 		$contact_id = intval($argv[$x]);
 
-		/// @todo When switching completely to the worker we won't need this anymore
-		// Some other process may have delivered this item already.
-
-		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `deliverq` WHERE `cmd` = '%s' AND `item` = %d AND `contact` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			dbesc($cmd),
-			dbesc($item_id),
-			dbesc($contact_id)
-		);
-		if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if ($a->maxload_reached()) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		// It's ours to deliver. Remove it from the queue.
-
-		q("DELETE FROM `deliverq` WHERE `cmd` = '%s' AND `item` = %d AND `contact` = %d",
-			dbesc($cmd),
-			dbesc($item_id),
-			dbesc($contact_id)
-		);
-
 		if (!$item_id || !$contact_id) {
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -577,8 +534,3 @@ function delivery_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  delivery_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/dfrn.php b/include/dfrn.php
index 39372aef1..25f8c9358 100644
--- a/include/dfrn.php
+++ b/include/dfrn.php
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ class dfrn {
 			return 3;
 		}
 
-		if($contact['term-date'] != '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+		if ($contact['term-date'] > NULL_DATE) {
 			logger("dfrn_deliver: $url back from the dead - removing mark for death");
 			require_once('include/Contact.php');
 			unmark_for_death($contact);
diff --git a/include/directory.php b/include/directory.php
index 2ca367d36..088adbe78 100644
--- a/include/directory.php
+++ b/include/directory.php
@@ -1,36 +1,16 @@
 <?php
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
 function directory_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
+	if ($argc != 2) {
+		return;
 	}
 
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-				unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
+	$dir = get_config('system', 'directory');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	if($argc != 2)
-		return;
-
-	load_hooks();
-
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	$dir = get_config('system','directory');
-
-	if(! strlen($dir))
+	if (!strlen($dir)) {
 		return;
+	}
 
 	$dir .= "/submit";
 
@@ -39,13 +19,8 @@ function directory_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	call_hooks('globaldir_update', $arr);
 
 	logger('Updating directory: ' . $arr['url'], LOGGER_DEBUG);
-	if(strlen($arr['url']))
+	if (strlen($arr['url'])) {
 		fetch_url($dir . '?url=' . bin2hex($arr['url']));
-
+	}
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  directory_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/discover_poco.php b/include/discover_poco.php
index 10c741ae5..f0bfb646b 100644
--- a/include/discover_poco.php
+++ b/include/discover_poco.php
@@ -2,62 +2,64 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-require_once("include/socgraph.php");
+require_once('include/socgraph.php');
+require_once('include/datetime.php');
 
-function discover_poco_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+function discover_poco_run(&$argv, &$argc) {
 
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
+	/*
+	This function can be called in these ways:
+	- dirsearch <search pattern>: Searches for "search pattern" in the directory. "search pattern" is url encoded.
+	- checkcontact: Updates gcontact entries
+	- suggestions: Discover other servers for their contacts.
+	- server <poco url>: Searches for the poco server list. "poco url" is base64 encoded.
+	- update_server: Frequently check the first 250 servers for vitality.
+	*/
 
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-	    @include(".htconfig.php");
-	require_once("include/dba.php");
-	    $db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
-	require_once('include/datetime.php');
-
-	Config::load();
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run")
-		if ($a->maxload_reached())
-			return;
-
-	if(($argc > 2) && ($argv[1] == "dirsearch")) {
+	if (($argc > 2) && ($argv[1] == "dirsearch")) {
 		$search = urldecode($argv[2]);
 		$mode = 1;
-	} elseif(($argc == 2) && ($argv[1] == "checkcontact")) {
+	} elseif (($argc == 2) && ($argv[1] == "checkcontact")) {
 		$mode = 2;
-	} elseif(($argc == 2) && ($argv[1] == "suggestions")) {
+	} elseif (($argc == 2) && ($argv[1] == "suggestions")) {
 		$mode = 3;
+	} elseif (($argc == 3) && ($argv[1] == "server")) {
+		$mode = 4;
+	} elseif (($argc == 2) && ($argv[1] == "update_server")) {
+		$mode = 5;
 	} elseif ($argc == 1) {
 		$search = "";
 		$mode = 0;
-	} else
+	} else {
 		die("Unknown or missing parameter ".$argv[1]."\n");
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run")
-		if (App::is_already_running('discover_poco'.$mode.urlencode($search), 'include/discover_poco.php', 1140))
-			return;
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
+	}
 
 	logger('start '.$search);
 
-	if ($mode==3)
+	if ($mode == 5) {
+		update_server();
+	} elseif ($mode == 4) {
+		$server_url = base64_decode($argv[2]);
+		if ($server_url == "") {
+			return;
+		}
+		$server_url = filter_var($server_url, FILTER_SANITIZE_URL);
+		if (substr(normalise_link($server_url), 0, 7) != "http://") {
+			return;
+		}
+		$result = "Checking server ".$server_url." - ";
+		$ret = poco_check_server($server_url);
+		if ($ret) {
+			$result .= "success";
+		} else {
+			$result .= "failed";
+		}
+		logger($result, LOGGER_DEBUG);
+	} elseif ($mode == 3) {
 		update_suggestions();
-	elseif (($mode == 2) AND get_config('system','poco_completion'))
+	} elseif (($mode == 2) AND get_config('system','poco_completion')) {
 		discover_users();
-	elseif (($mode == 1) AND ($search != "") and get_config('system','poco_local_search')) {
+	} elseif (($mode == 1) AND ($search != "") and get_config('system','poco_local_search')) {
 		discover_directory($search);
 		gs_search_user($search);
 	} elseif (($mode == 0) AND ($search == "") and (get_config('system','poco_discovery') > 0)) {
@@ -74,6 +76,33 @@ function discover_poco_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	return;
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Updates the first 250 servers
+ *
+ */
+function update_server() {
+	$r = q("SELECT `url`, `created`, `last_failure`, `last_contact` FROM `gserver` ORDER BY rand()");
+
+	if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	$updated = 0;
+
+	foreach ($r AS $server) {
+		if (!poco_do_update($server["created"], "", $server["last_failure"], $server["last_contact"])) {
+			continue;
+		}
+		logger('Update server status for server '.$server["url"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
+
+		proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/discover_poco.php", "server", base64_encode($server["url"]));
+
+		if (++$updated > 250) {
+			return;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 function discover_users() {
 	logger("Discover users", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
@@ -84,9 +113,9 @@ function discover_users() {
 			dbesc(NETWORK_DFRN), dbesc(NETWORK_DIASPORA),
 			dbesc(NETWORK_OSTATUS), dbesc(NETWORK_FEED));
 
-	if (!$users)
+	if (!$users) {
 		return;
-
+	}
 	$checked = 0;
 
 	foreach ($users AS $user) {
@@ -111,27 +140,29 @@ function discover_users() {
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if ($user["server_url"] != "")
+		if ($user["server_url"] != "") {
 			$server_url = $user["server_url"];
-		else
+		} else {
 			$server_url = poco_detect_server($user["url"]);
-
+		}
 		if (($server_url == "") OR poco_check_server($server_url, $gcontacts[0]["network"])) {
 			logger('Check user '.$user["url"]);
 			poco_last_updated($user["url"], true);
 
-			if (++$checked > 100)
+			if (++$checked > 100) {
 				return;
-		} else
+			}
+		} else {
 			q("UPDATE `gcontact` SET `last_failure` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()), dbesc(normalise_link($user["url"])));
+		}
 	}
 }
 
 function discover_directory($search) {
 
 	$data = Cache::get("dirsearch:".$search);
-	if (!is_null($data)){
+	if (!is_null($data)) {
 		// Only search for the same item every 24 hours
 		if (time() < $data + (60 * 60 * 24)) {
 			logger("Already searched for ".$search." in the last 24 hours", LOGGER_DEBUG);
@@ -142,7 +173,7 @@ function discover_directory($search) {
 	$x = fetch_url(get_server()."/lsearch?p=1&n=500&search=".urlencode($search));
 	$j = json_decode($x);
 
-	if(count($j->results))
+	if (count($j->results)) {
 		foreach($j->results as $jj) {
 			// Check if the contact already exists
 			$exists = q("SELECT `id`, `last_contact`, `last_failure`, `updated` FROM `gcontact` WHERE `nurl` = '%s'", normalise_link($jj->url));
@@ -150,32 +181,33 @@ function discover_directory($search) {
 				logger("Profile ".$jj->url." already exists (".$search.")", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 				if (($exists[0]["last_contact"] < $exists[0]["last_failure"]) AND
-					($exists[0]["updated"] < $exists[0]["last_failure"]))
+					($exists[0]["updated"] < $exists[0]["last_failure"])) {
 					continue;
-
+				}
 				// Update the contact
 				poco_last_updated($jj->url);
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			// Harcoded paths aren't so good. But in this case it is okay.
-			// First: We only will get Friendica contacts (which always are using this url schema)
-			// Second: There will be no further problems if we are doing a mistake
-			$server_url = preg_replace("=(https?://)(.*)/profile/(.*)=ism", "$1$2", $jj->url);
-			if ($server_url != $jj->url)
+			$server_url = poco_detect_server($jj->url);
+			if ($server_url != '') {
 				if (!poco_check_server($server_url)) {
 					logger("Friendica server ".$server_url." doesn't answer.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 					continue;
 				}
-					logger("Friendica server ".$server_url." seems to be okay.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+				logger("Friendica server ".$server_url." seems to be okay.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+			}
 
-			logger("Check if profile ".$jj->url." is reachable (".$search.")", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 			$data = probe_url($jj->url);
 			if ($data["network"] == NETWORK_DFRN) {
+				logger("Profile ".$jj->url." is reachable (".$search.")", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 				logger("Add profile ".$jj->url." to local directory (".$search.")", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 				poco_check($data["url"], $data["name"], $data["network"], $data["photo"], "", "", "", $jj->tags, $data["addr"], "", 0);
+			} else {
+				logger("Profile ".$jj->url." is not responding or no Friendica contact - but network ".$data["network"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
 			}
 		}
+	}
 	Cache::set("dirsearch:".$search, time(), CACHE_DAY);
 }
 
@@ -195,14 +227,14 @@ function gs_search_user($search) {
 	$url = "http://gstools.org/api/users_search/".urlencode($search);
 
 	$result = z_fetch_url($url);
-	if (!$result["success"])
+	if (!$result["success"]) {
 		return false;
-
+	}
 	$contacts = json_decode($result["body"]);
 
-	if ($contacts->status == 'ERROR')
+	if ($contacts->status == 'ERROR') {
 		return false;
-
+	}
 	foreach($contacts->data AS $user) {
 		$contact = probe_url($user->site_address."/".$user->name);
 		if ($contact["network"] != NETWORK_PHANTOM) {
@@ -211,9 +243,3 @@ function gs_search_user($search) {
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  discover_poco_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/expire.php b/include/expire.php
index 855d7fb5e..35b109a50 100644
--- a/include/expire.php
+++ b/include/expire.php
@@ -2,32 +2,13 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 function expire_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
 	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 	require_once('include/items.php');
 	require_once('include/Contact.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-
 	// physically remove anything that has been deleted for more than two months
 
 	$r = q("delete from item where deleted = 1 and changed < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 60 DAY");
@@ -53,8 +34,3 @@ function expire_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  expire_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/gprobe.php b/include/gprobe.php
index 4407fa6d6..719cfce48 100644
--- a/include/gprobe.php
+++ b/include/gprobe.php
@@ -2,36 +2,14 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once('include/Scrape.php');
 require_once('include/socgraph.php');
+require_once('include/datetime.php');
 
 function gprobe_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
-	require_once('include/datetime.php');
-
-	Config::load();
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
-
-	if($argc != 2)
+	if ($argc != 2) {
 		return;
-
+	}
 	$url = hex2bin($argv[1]);
 
 	$r = q("SELECT `id`, `url`, `network` FROM `gcontact` WHERE `nurl` = '%s' ORDER BY `id` LIMIT 1",
@@ -74,8 +52,3 @@ function gprobe_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	logger("gprobe end for ".normalise_link($url), LOGGER_DEBUG);
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	gprobe_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/identity.php b/include/identity.php
index ab80c71ce..8138e9b04 100644
--- a/include/identity.php
+++ b/include/identity.php
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ function advanced_profile(App $a) {
 			$profile['marital']['with'] = $a->profile['with'];
 		}
 
-		if (strlen($a->profile['howlong']) && $a->profile['howlong'] !== '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+		if (strlen($a->profile['howlong']) && $a->profile['howlong'] >= NULL_DATE) {
 			$profile['howlong'] = relative_date($a->profile['howlong'], t('for %1$d %2$s'));
 		}
 
diff --git a/include/lock.php b/include/lock.php
index b3d488a35..a48b0ad34 100644
--- a/include/lock.php
+++ b/include/lock.php
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ function block_on_function_lock($fn_name, $wait_sec = 2, $timeout = 30) {
 
 if(! function_exists('unlock_function')) {
 function unlock_function($fn_name) {
-	$r = q("UPDATE `locks` SET `locked` = 0, `created` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' WHERE `name` = '%s'",
+	$r = q("UPDATE `locks` SET `locked` = 0, `created` = '%s' WHERE `name` = '%s'",
+			dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 			dbesc($fn_name)
 	     );
 
diff --git a/include/network.php b/include/network.php
index b0e71fab7..f9d35c52c 100644
--- a/include/network.php
+++ b/include/network.php
@@ -72,8 +72,9 @@ function z_fetch_url($url,$binary = false, &$redirects = 0, $opts=array()) {
 	$a = get_app();
 
 	$ch = @curl_init($url);
-	if(($redirects > 8) || (! $ch))
-		return false;
+	if(($redirects > 8) || (! $ch)) {
+		return $ret;
+	}
 
 	@curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, true);
 
diff --git a/include/notifier.php b/include/notifier.php
index 24830a11a..e3d7d10d6 100644
--- a/include/notifier.php
+++ b/include/notifier.php
@@ -2,12 +2,11 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once('include/queue_fn.php');
 require_once('include/html2plain.php');
-require_once("include/Scrape.php");
+require_once('include/Scrape.php');
 require_once('include/diaspora.php');
-require_once("include/ostatus.php");
+require_once('include/ostatus.php');
 require_once('include/salmon.php');
 
 /*
@@ -44,35 +43,17 @@ require_once('include/salmon.php');
 
 
 function notifier_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-			unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	require_once("include/session.php");
-	require_once("include/datetime.php");
+	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 	require_once('include/items.php');
 	require_once('include/bbcode.php');
 	require_once('include/email.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	load_hooks();
-
 	if ($argc < 3) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
 	logger('notifier: invoked: ' . print_r($argv,true), LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 	$cmd = $argv[1];
@@ -490,79 +471,22 @@ function notifier_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	if ($relocate) {
 		$r = $recipients_relocate;
 	} else {
-		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `id` IN (%s) AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `pending` AND NOT `archive`".$sql_extra,
+		$r = q("SELECT `id`, `url`, `network`, `self` FROM `contact`
+			WHERE `id` IN (%s) AND NOT `blocked` AND NOT `pending` AND NOT `archive`".$sql_extra,
 			dbesc($recip_str)
 		);
 	}
 
-	$interval = ((get_config('system','delivery_interval') === false) ? 2 : intval(get_config('system','delivery_interval')));
-
-	// If we are using the worker we don't need a delivery interval
-	if (get_config("system", "worker")) {
-		$interval = false;
-	}
 	// delivery loop
 
 	if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 		foreach ($r as $contact) {
-			if (!$contact['self']) {
-				if (($contact['network'] === NETWORK_DIASPORA) && ($public_message)) {
-					continue;
-				}
-				q("INSERT INTO `deliverq` (`cmd`,`item`,`contact`) VALUES ('%s', %d, %d)",
-					dbesc($cmd),
-					intval($item_id),
-					intval($contact['id'])
-				);
-			}
-		}
-
-
-		// This controls the number of deliveries to execute with each separate delivery process.
-		// By default we'll perform one delivery per process. Assuming a hostile shared hosting
-		// provider, this provides the greatest chance of deliveries if processes start getting
-		// killed. We can also space them out with the delivery_interval to also help avoid them
-		// getting whacked.
-
-		// If $deliveries_per_process > 1, we will chain this number of multiple deliveries
-		// together into a single process. This will reduce the overall number of processes
-		// spawned for each delivery, but they will run longer.
-
-		// When using the workerqueue, we don't need this functionality.
-
-		$deliveries_per_process = intval(get_config('system','delivery_batch_count'));
-		if (($deliveries_per_process <= 0) OR get_config("system", "worker")) {
-			$deliveries_per_process = 1;
-		}
-
-		$this_batch = array();
-
-		for ($x = 0; $x < count($r); $x ++) {
-			$contact = $r[$x];
-
 			if ($contact['self']) {
 				continue;
 			}
 			logger("Deliver ".$target_item["guid"]." to ".$contact['url']." via network ".$contact['network'], LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-			// potentially more than one recipient. Start a new process and space them out a bit.
-			// we will deliver single recipient types of message and email recipients here.
-
-			$this_batch[] = $contact['id'];
-
-			if (count($this_batch) >= $deliveries_per_process) {
-				proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/delivery.php',$cmd,$item_id,$this_batch);
-				$this_batch = array();
-				if ($interval) {
-					@time_sleep_until(microtime(true) + (float) $interval);
-				}
-			}
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		// be sure to pick up any stragglers
-		if (count($this_batch)) {
-			proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/delivery.php',$cmd,$item_id,$this_batch);
+			proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/delivery.php', $cmd, $item_id, $contact['id']);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -614,18 +538,6 @@ function notifier_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 			logger('pubdeliver '.$target_item["guid"].': '.print_r($r,true), LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-			// throw everything into the queue in case we get killed
-
-			foreach ($r as $rr) {
-				if ((! $mail) && (! $fsuggest) && (! $followup)) {
-					q("INSERT INTO `deliverq` (`cmd`,`item`,`contact`) VALUES ('%s', %d, %d)
-						ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE `cmd` = '%s', `item` = %d, `contact` = %d",
-						dbesc($cmd), intval($item_id), intval($rr['id']),
-						dbesc($cmd), intval($item_id), intval($rr['id'])
-					);
-				}
-			}
-
 			foreach ($r as $rr) {
 
 				// except for Diaspora batch jobs
@@ -639,9 +551,6 @@ function notifier_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 				if ((! $mail) && (! $fsuggest) && (! $followup)) {
 					logger('notifier: delivery agent: '.$rr['name'].' '.$rr['id'].' '.$rr['network'].' '.$target_item["guid"]);
 					proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/delivery.php',$cmd,$item_id,$rr['id']);
-					if ($interval) {
-						@time_sleep_until(microtime(true) + (float) $interval);
-					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -694,9 +603,3 @@ function notifier_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	return;
 }
-
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	notifier_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/onepoll.php b/include/onepoll.php
index 552fea36f..5227b61a1 100644
--- a/include/onepoll.php
+++ b/include/onepoll.php
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-require_once("include/follow.php");
+require_once('include/follow.php');
 
 function RemoveReply($subject) {
 	while (in_array(strtolower(substr($subject, 0, 3)), array("re:", "aw:")))
@@ -13,20 +12,8 @@ function RemoveReply($subject) {
 }
 
 function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/session.php');
 	require_once('include/datetime.php');
 	require_once('include/items.php');
 	require_once('include/Contact.php');
@@ -34,12 +21,6 @@ function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 	require_once('include/socgraph.php');
 	require_once('include/queue_fn.php');
 
-	Config::load();
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
-
 	logger('onepoll: start');
 
 	$manual_id  = 0;
@@ -61,13 +42,6 @@ function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run") {
-		if (App::is_already_running('onepoll'.$contact_id, '', 540)) {
-			return;
-		}
-	}
-
 	$d = datetime_convert();
 
 	// Only poll from those with suitable relationships,
@@ -159,7 +133,7 @@ function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	logger("onepoll: poll: ({$contact['id']}) IMPORTER: {$importer['name']}, CONTACT: {$contact['name']}");
 
-	$last_update = (($contact['last-update'] === '0000-00-00 00:00:00')
+	$last_update = (($contact['last-update'] <= NULL_DATE)
 		? datetime_convert('UTC','UTC','now - 7 days', ATOM_TIME)
 		: datetime_convert('UTC','UTC',$contact['last-update'], ATOM_TIME)
 	);
@@ -265,7 +239,7 @@ function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 				intval($contact['id'])
 			);
 			mark_for_death($contact);
-		} elseif ($contact['term-date'] != '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+		} elseif ($contact['term-date'] > NULL_DATE) {
 			logger("poller: $url back from the dead - removing mark for death");
 			unmark_for_death($contact);
 		}
@@ -697,8 +671,3 @@ function onepoll_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 
 	return;
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0) {
-	onepoll_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/include/poller.php b/include/poller.php
index 82befae51..5560b3340 100644
--- a/include/poller.php
+++ b/include/poller.php
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ function poller_run($argv, $argc){
 		return;
 	}
 
+	$a->set_baseurl(Config::get('system', 'url'));
+
+	load_hooks();
+
 	$a->start_process();
 
 	if (poller_max_connections_reached()) {
@@ -353,18 +357,18 @@ function poller_max_connections_reached() {
  *
  */
 function poller_kill_stale_workers() {
-	$r = q("SELECT `pid`, `executed`, `priority`, `parameter` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00'");
+	$r = q("SELECT `pid`, `executed`, `priority`, `parameter` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` > '%s'", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 
 	if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
 		// No processing here needed
 		return;
 	}
 
-	foreach($r AS $pid)
-		if (!posix_kill($pid["pid"], 0))
-			q("UPDATE `workerqueue` SET `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00', `pid` = 0 WHERE `pid` = %d",
-				intval($pid["pid"]));
-		else {
+	foreach ($r AS $pid) {
+		if (!posix_kill($pid["pid"], 0)) {
+			q("UPDATE `workerqueue` SET `executed` = '%s', `pid` = 0 WHERE `pid` = %d",
+				dbesc(NULL_DATE), intval($pid["pid"]));
+		} else {
 			// Kill long running processes
 
 			// Check if the priority is in a valid range
@@ -387,14 +391,17 @@ function poller_kill_stale_workers() {
 				// We killed the stale process.
 				// To avoid a blocking situation we reschedule the process at the beginning of the queue.
 				// Additionally we are lowering the priority.
-				q("UPDATE `workerqueue` SET `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00', `created` = '%s',
+				q("UPDATE `workerqueue` SET `executed` = '%s', `created` = '%s',
 							`priority` = %d, `pid` = 0 WHERE `pid` = %d",
+					dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 					dbesc(datetime_convert()),
 					intval(PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE),
 					intval($pid["pid"]));
-			} else
+			} else {
 				logger("Worker process ".$pid["pid"]." (".implode(" ", $argv).") now runs for ".round($duration)." of ".$max_duration." allowed minutes. That's okay.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+			}
 		}
+	}
 }
 
 /**
@@ -421,15 +428,15 @@ function poller_too_much_workers() {
 		$slope = $maxworkers / pow($maxsysload, $exponent);
 		$queues = ceil($slope * pow(max(0, $maxsysload - $load), $exponent));
 
-		$s = q("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00'");
+		$s = q("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` <= '%s'", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 		$entries = $s[0]["total"];
 
 		if (Config::get("system", "worker_fastlane", false) AND ($queues > 0) AND ($entries > 0) AND ($active >= $queues)) {
-			$s = q("SELECT `priority` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' ORDER BY `priority` LIMIT 1");
+			$s = q("SELECT `priority` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` <= '%s' ORDER BY `priority` LIMIT 1", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 			$top_priority = $s[0]["priority"];
 
-			$s = q("SELECT `id` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `priority` <= %d AND `executed` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00' LIMIT 1",
-				intval($top_priority));
+			$s = q("SELECT `id` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `priority` <= %d AND `executed` > '%s' LIMIT 1",
+				intval($top_priority), dbesc(NULL_DATE));
 			$high_running = dbm::is_result($s);
 
 			if (!$high_running AND ($top_priority > PRIORITY_UNDEFINED) AND ($top_priority < PRIORITY_NEGLIGIBLE)) {
@@ -464,7 +471,7 @@ function poller_too_much_workers() {
 		// Are there fewer workers running as possible? Then fork a new one.
 		if (!Config::get("system", "worker_dont_fork") AND ($queues > ($active + 1)) AND ($entries > 1)) {
 			logger("Active workers: ".$active."/".$queues." Fork a new worker.", LOGGER_DEBUG);
-			$args = array("php", "include/poller.php", "no_cron");
+			$args = array("include/poller.php", "no_cron");
 			$a = get_app();
 			$a->proc_run($args);
 		}
@@ -549,21 +556,25 @@ function poller_worker_process() {
 	if (poller_passing_slow($highest_priority)) {
 		// Are there waiting processes with a higher priority than the currently highest?
 		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `workerqueue`
-				WHERE `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AND `priority` < %d
-				ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1", dbesc($highest_priority));
-		if (dbm::is_result($r))
+				WHERE `executed` <= '%s' AND `priority` < %d
+				ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1",
+				dbesc(NULL_DATE),
+				intval($highest_priority));
+		if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 			return $r;
-
+		}
 		// Give slower processes some processing time
 		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `workerqueue`
-				WHERE `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AND `priority` > %d
-				ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1", dbesc($highest_priority));
+				WHERE `executed` <= '%s' AND `priority` > %d
+				ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1",
+				dbesc(NULL_DATE),
+				intval($highest_priority));
 	}
 
 	// If there is no result (or we shouldn't pass lower processes) we check without priority limit
-	if (($highest_priority == 0) OR !dbm::is_result($r))
-		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` = '0000-00-00 00:00:00' ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1");
-
+	if (($highest_priority == 0) OR !dbm::is_result($r)) {
+		$r = q("SELECT * FROM `workerqueue` WHERE `executed` <= '%s' ORDER BY `priority`, `created` LIMIT 1", dbesc(NULL_DATE));
+	}
 	return $r;
 }
 
@@ -571,7 +582,7 @@ function poller_worker_process() {
  * @brief Call the front end worker
  */
 function call_worker() {
-	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker") OR !Config::get("system", "worker")) {
+	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker")) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -583,7 +594,7 @@ function call_worker() {
  * @brief Call the front end worker if there aren't any active
  */
 function call_worker_if_idle() {
-	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker") OR !Config::get("system", "worker")) {
+	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker")) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -610,7 +621,7 @@ function call_worker_if_idle() {
 
 		logger('Call poller', LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-		$args = array("php", "include/poller.php", "no_cron");
+		$args = array("include/poller.php", "no_cron");
 		$a = get_app();
 		$a->proc_run($args);
 		return;
diff --git a/include/pubsubpublish.php b/include/pubsubpublish.php
index 428103a97..3641bbcf7 100644
--- a/include/pubsubpublish.php
+++ b/include/pubsubpublish.php
@@ -1,12 +1,31 @@
 <?php
-require_once("boot.php");
-require_once("include/ostatus.php");
-
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
-use \Friendica\Core\PConfig;
+
+require_once('include/items.php');
+require_once('include/ostatus.php');
+
+function pubsubpublish_run(&$argv, &$argc){
+
+	if ($argc > 1) {
+		$pubsubpublish_id = intval($argv[1]);
+	} else {
+		// We'll push to each subscriber that has push > 0,
+		// i.e. there has been an update (set in notifier.php).
+		$r = q("SELECT `id`, `callback_url` FROM `push_subscriber` WHERE `push` > 0");
+
+		foreach ($r as $rr) {
+			logger("Publish feed to ".$rr["callback_url"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
+			proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH, 'include/pubsubpublish.php', $rr["id"]);
+		}
+	}
+
+	handle_pubsubhubbub($pubsubpublish_id);
+
+	return;
+}
 
 function handle_pubsubhubbub($id) {
-	global $a, $db;
+	global $a;
 
 	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `push_subscriber` WHERE `id` = %d", intval($id));
 	if (!$r)
@@ -54,70 +73,3 @@ function handle_pubsubhubbub($id) {
 			intval($rr['id']));
 	}
 }
-
-
-function pubsubpublish_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)){
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)){
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once('include/items.php');
-
-	Config::load();
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run") {
-		if (App::is_already_running("pubsubpublish", "include/pubsubpublish.php", 540)) {
-			return;
-		}
-	}
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
-
-	if ($argc > 1) {
-		$pubsubpublish_id = intval($argv[1]);
-	}
-	else {
-		// We'll push to each subscriber that has push > 0,
-		// i.e. there has been an update (set in notifier.php).
-		$r = q("SELECT `id`, `callback_url` FROM `push_subscriber` WHERE `push` > 0");
-
-		// Use the delivery interval that is also used for the notifier
-		$interval = Config::get("system", "delivery_interval", 2);
-
-		// If we are using the worker we don't need a delivery interval
-		if (get_config("system", "worker")) {
-			$interval = false;
-		}
-
-		foreach ($r as $rr) {
-			logger("Publish feed to ".$rr["callback_url"], LOGGER_DEBUG);
-			proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH, 'include/pubsubpublish.php', $rr["id"]);
-
-			if($interval)
-				@time_sleep_until(microtime(true) + (float) $interval);
-		}
-	}
-
-	handle_pubsubhubbub($pubsubpublish_id);
-
-	return;
-
-}
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  pubsubpublish_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
-}
-
diff --git a/include/queue.php b/include/queue.php
index 7e2657fa5..c0c73cda6 100644
--- a/include/queue.php
+++ b/include/queue.php
@@ -2,41 +2,16 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once('include/queue_fn.php');
 require_once('include/dfrn.php');
+require_once("include/datetime.php");
+require_once('include/items.php');
+require_once('include/bbcode.php');
+require_once('include/socgraph.php');
 require_once('include/cache.php');
 
 function queue_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if (is_null($a)){
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)){
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
-
-	require_once("include/session.php");
-	require_once("include/datetime.php");
-	require_once('include/items.php');
-	require_once('include/bbcode.php');
-	require_once('include/socgraph.php');
-
-	Config::load();
-
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run")
-		if (App::is_already_running('queue', 'include/queue.php', 540))
-			return;
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
+	global $a;
 
 	if ($argc > 1) {
 		$queue_id = intval($argv[1]);
@@ -54,30 +29,13 @@ function queue_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		// Handling the pubsubhubbub requests
 		proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/pubsubpublish.php');
 
-		$interval = ((get_config('system','delivery_interval') === false) ? 2 : intval(get_config('system','delivery_interval')));
-
-		// If we are using the worker we don't need a delivery interval
-		if (get_config("system", "worker"))
-			$interval = false;
-
-		$r = q("select * from deliverq where 1");
-		if ($r) {
-			foreach ($r as $rr) {
-				logger('queue: deliverq');
-				proc_run(PRIORITY_HIGH,'include/delivery.php',$rr['cmd'],$rr['item'],$rr['contact']);
-				if ($interval) {
-					time_sleep_until(microtime(true) + (float) $interval);
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
 		$r = q("SELECT `queue`.*, `contact`.`name`, `contact`.`uid` FROM `queue`
 			INNER JOIN `contact` ON `queue`.`cid` = `contact`.`id`
 			WHERE `queue`.`created` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 3 DAY");
 		if ($r) {
 			foreach ($r as $rr) {
 				logger('Removing expired queue item for ' . $rr['name'] . ', uid=' . $rr['uid']);
-				logger('Expired queue data :' . $rr['content'], LOGGER_DATA);
+				logger('Expired queue data: ' . $rr['content'], LOGGER_DATA);
 			}
 			q("DELETE FROM `queue` WHERE `created` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 3 DAY");
 		}
@@ -86,158 +44,137 @@ function queue_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 		// After that, we'll only attempt delivery once per hour.
 
 		$r = q("SELECT `id` FROM `queue` WHERE ((`created` > UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 12 HOUR && `last` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 15 MINUTE) OR (`last` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 1 HOUR)) ORDER BY `cid`, `created`");
-	} else {
-		logger('queue: start for id '.$queue_id);
 
-		$r = q("SELECT `id` FROM `queue` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($queue_id)
-		);
-	}
+		call_hooks('queue_predeliver', $a, $r);
 
-	if (!$r){
+		if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
+			foreach ($r as $q_item) {
+				logger('Call queue for id '.$q_item['id']);
+				proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/queue.php", $q_item['id']);
+			}
+		}
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (!$queue_id)
-		call_hooks('queue_predeliver', $a, $r);
 
-
-	// delivery loop
+	// delivering
 
 	require_once('include/salmon.php');
 	require_once('include/diaspora.php');
 
-	foreach($r as $q_item) {
+	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `queue` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
+		intval($queue_id));
 
-		// queue_predeliver hooks may have changed the queue db details,
-		// so check again if this entry still needs processing
+	if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
+		return;
+	}
 
-		if ($queue_id) {
-			$qi = q("SELECT * FROM `queue` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-				intval($queue_id));
-		} elseif (get_config("system", "worker")) {
-			logger('Call queue for id '.$q_item['id']);
-			proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/queue.php", $q_item['id']);
-			continue;
-		} else
-			$qi = q("SELECT * FROM `queue` WHERE `id` = %d AND `last` < UTC_TIMESTAMP() - INTERVAL 15 MINUTE ",
-				intval($q_item['id']));
+	$q_item = $r[0];
 
-		if (!dbm::is_result($qi)) {
-			continue;
+	$c = q("SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
+		intval($q_item['cid'])
+	);
+
+	if (!dbm::is_result($c)) {
+		remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	$dead = Cache::get($cachekey_deadguy.$c[0]['notify']);
+
+	if (!is_null($dead) AND $dead) {
+		logger('queue: skipping known dead url: '.$c[0]['notify']);
+		update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	$server = poco_detect_server($c[0]['url']);
+
+	if ($server != "") {
+		$vital = Cache::get($cachekey_server.$server);
+
+		if (is_null($vital)) {
+			logger("Check server ".$server." (".$c[0]["network"].")");
+
+			$vital = poco_check_server($server, $c[0]["network"], true);
+			Cache::set($cachekey_server.$server, $vital, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 		}
 
-
-		$c = q("SELECT * FROM `contact` WHERE `id` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($qi[0]['cid'])
-		);
-		if (! dbm::is_result($c)) {
-			remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		$dead = Cache::get($cachekey_deadguy.$c[0]['notify']);
-
-		if (!is_null($dead) AND $dead) {
-			logger('queue: skipping known dead url: '.$c[0]['notify']);
+		if (!is_null($vital) AND !$vital) {
+			logger('queue: skipping dead server: '.$server);
 			update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-			continue;
+			return;
 		}
+	}
 
-		$server = poco_detect_server($c[0]['url']);
+	$u = q("SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`
+		FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
+		intval($c[0]['uid'])
+	);
+	if (!dbm::is_result($u)) {
+		remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
+		return;
+	}
 
-		if ($server != "") {
-			$vital = Cache::get($cachekey_server.$server);
+	$data      = $q_item['content'];
+	$public    = $q_item['batch'];
+	$contact   = $c[0];
+	$owner     = $u[0];
 
-			if (is_null($vital)) {
-				logger("Check server ".$server." (".$c[0]["network"].")");
+	$deliver_status = 0;
 
-				$vital = poco_check_server($server, $c[0]["network"], true);
-				Cache::set($cachekey_server.$server, $vital, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
-			}
+	switch ($contact['network']) {
+		case NETWORK_DFRN:
+			logger('queue: dfrndelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+			$deliver_status = dfrn::deliver($owner, $contact, $data);
 
-			if (!is_null($vital) AND !$vital) {
-				logger('queue: skipping dead server: '.$server);
+			if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 				update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-				continue;
+				Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+			} else {
+				remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 			}
-		}
+			break;
+		case NETWORK_OSTATUS:
+			if ($contact['notify']) {
+				logger('queue: slapdelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+				$deliver_status = slapper($owner, $contact['notify'], $data);
 
-		$u = q("SELECT `user`.*, `user`.`pubkey` AS `upubkey`, `user`.`prvkey` AS `uprvkey`
-			FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d LIMIT 1",
-			intval($c[0]['uid'])
-		);
-		if (! dbm::is_result($u)) {
-			remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		$data      = $qi[0]['content'];
-		$public    = $qi[0]['batch'];
-		$contact   = $c[0];
-		$owner     = $u[0];
-
-		$deliver_status = 0;
-
-		switch($contact['network']) {
-			case NETWORK_DFRN:
-				logger('queue: dfrndelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
-				$deliver_status = dfrn::deliver($owner,$contact,$data);
-
-				if ($deliver_status < 0) {
+				if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 					update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
 					Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
 				} else {
 					remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 				}
-				break;
-			case NETWORK_OSTATUS:
-				if ($contact['notify']) {
-					logger('queue: slapdelivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
-					$deliver_status = slapper($owner,$contact['notify'],$data);
+			}
+			break;
+		case NETWORK_DIASPORA:
+			if ($contact['notify']) {
+				logger('queue: diaspora_delivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
+				$deliver_status = Diaspora::transmit($owner, $contact, $data, $public, true);
 
-					if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
-						update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
-					} else {
-						remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
-					}
-				}
-				break;
-			case NETWORK_DIASPORA:
-				if ($contact['notify']) {
-					logger('queue: diaspora_delivery: item '.$q_item['id'].' for '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
-					$deliver_status = Diaspora::transmit($owner,$contact,$data,$public,true);
-
-					if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
-						update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
-						Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
-					} else {
-						remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
-					}
-				}
-				break;
-
-			default:
-				$params = array('owner' => $owner, 'contact' => $contact, 'queue' => $q_item, 'result' => false);
-				call_hooks('queue_deliver', $a, $params);
-
-				if ($params['result']) {
-					remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
-				} else {
+				if ($deliver_status == (-1)) {
 					update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
+					Cache::set($cachekey_deadguy.$contact['notify'], true, CACHE_QUARTER_HOUR);
+				} else {
+					remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
 				}
-				break;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		default:
+			$params = array('owner' => $owner, 'contact' => $contact, 'queue' => $q_item, 'result' => false);
+			call_hooks('queue_deliver', $a, $params);
+
+			if ($params['result']) {
+				remove_queue_item($q_item['id']);
+			} else {
+				update_queue_time($q_item['id']);
+			}
+			break;
 
-		}
-		logger('Deliver status '.(int)$deliver_status.' for item '.$q_item['id'].' to '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
 	}
+	logger('Deliver status '.(int)$deliver_status.' for item '.$q_item['id'].' to '.$contact['name'].' <'.$contact['url'].'>');
 
 	return;
-
-}
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-  queue_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-  killme();
 }
diff --git a/include/remove_contact.php b/include/remove_contact.php
index aa2062111..68bf2adfe 100644
--- a/include/remove_contact.php
+++ b/include/remove_contact.php
@@ -6,24 +6,7 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 function remove_contact_run($argv, $argc) {
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	Config::load();
-
 	if ($argc != 2) {
 		return;
 	}
@@ -46,9 +29,4 @@ function remove_contact_run($argv, $argc) {
 
 	q("DELETE FROM `queue` WHERE `cid` = %d", intval($id));
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__, get_included_files()) === 0) {
-	remove_contact_run($_SERVER["argv"], $_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
 ?>
diff --git a/include/security.php b/include/security.php
index afb37a72d..05371f71c 100644
--- a/include/security.php
+++ b/include/security.php
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function authenticate_success($user_record, $login_initial = false, $interactive
 	$a->user = $user_record;
 
 	if($interactive) {
-		if($a->user['login_date'] === '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+		if ($a->user['login_date'] <= NULL_DATE) {
 			$_SESSION['return_url'] = 'profile_photo/new';
 			$a->module = 'profile_photo';
 			info( t("Welcome ") . $a->user['username'] . EOL);
diff --git a/include/shadowupdate.php b/include/shadowupdate.php
index 83a785fe1..5b0a1b94b 100644
--- a/include/shadowupdate.php
+++ b/include/shadowupdate.php
@@ -5,20 +5,26 @@ use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/threads.php");
 
-global $a, $db;
+function shadowupdate_run(&$argv, &$argc){
+	global $a, $db;
 
-if(is_null($a))
-	$a = new App;
+	if (is_null($a)) {
+		$a = new App;
+	}
 
-if(is_null($db)) {
-	@include(".htconfig.php");
-	require_once("include/dba.php");
-	$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
+	if (is_null($db)) {
+		@include(".htconfig.php");
+		require_once("include/dba.php");
+		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
+		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
+	}
+
+	Config::load();
+
+	update_shadow_copy();
 }
 
-Config::load();
-
-update_shadow_copy();
-killme();
-?>
+if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
+	shadowupdate_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
+	killme();
+}
diff --git a/include/socgraph.php b/include/socgraph.php
index 01d2cff01..d9fd6f8be 100644
--- a/include/socgraph.php
+++ b/include/socgraph.php
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ function poco_load($cid,$uid = 0,$zcid = 0,$url = null) {
 		$connect_url = '';
 		$name = '';
 		$network = '';
-		$updated = '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
+		$updated = NULL_DATE;
 		$location = '';
 		$about = '';
 		$keywords = '';
@@ -239,12 +239,12 @@ function poco_check($profile_url, $name, $network, $profile_photo, $about, $loca
 	);
 
 	if (count($x)) {
-		if (($network == "") AND ($x[0]["network"] != NETWORK_STATUSNET))
+		if (($network == "") AND ($x[0]["network"] != NETWORK_STATUSNET)) {
 			$network = $x[0]["network"];
-
-		if ($updated == "0000-00-00 00:00:00")
+		}
+		if ($updated <= NULL_DATE) {
 			$updated = $x[0]["updated"];
-
+		}
 		$created = $x[0]["created"];
 		$server_url = $x[0]["server_url"];
 		$nick = $x[0]["nick"];
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ function poco_check($profile_url, $name, $network, $profile_photo, $about, $loca
 		$alias =  $x[0]["alias"];
 		$notify =  $x[0]["notify"];
 	} else {
-		$created = "0000-00-00 00:00:00";
+		$created = NULL_DATE;
 		$server_url = "";
 
 		$urlparts = parse_url($profile_url);
@@ -309,7 +309,18 @@ function poco_check($profile_url, $name, $network, $profile_photo, $about, $loca
 
 	logger("profile-check generation: ".$generation." Network: ".$network." URL: ".$profile_url." name: ".$name." avatar: ".$profile_photo, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-	poco_check_server($server_url, $network);
+	// We check the server url to be sure that it is a real one
+	$server_url2 = poco_detect_server($profile_url);
+
+	// We are no sure that it is a correct URL. So we use it in the future
+	if ($server_url2 != "") {
+		$server_url = $server_url2;
+	}
+
+	// The server URL doesn't seem to be valid, so we don't store it.
+	if (!poco_check_server($server_url, $network)) {
+		$server_url = "";
+	}
 
 	$gcontact = array("url" => $profile_url,
 			"addr" => $addr,
@@ -401,13 +412,47 @@ function poco_detect_server($profile) {
 
 	// Mastodon
 	if ($server_url == "") {
-		$red = preg_replace("=(https?://)(.*)/users/(.*)=ism", "$1$2", $profile);
-		if ($red != $profile) {
-			$server_url = $red;
+		$mastodon = preg_replace("=(https?://)(.*)/users/(.*)=ism", "$1$2", $profile);
+		if ($mastodon != $profile) {
+			$server_url = $mastodon;
 			$network = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Numeric OStatus variant
+	if ($server_url == "") {
+		$ostatus = preg_replace("=(https?://)(.*)/user/(.*)=ism", "$1$2", $profile);
+		if ($ostatus != $profile) {
+			$server_url = $ostatus;
+			$network = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Wild guess
+	if ($server_url == "") {
+		$base = preg_replace("=(https?://)(.*?)/(.*)=ism", "$1$2", $profile);
+		if ($base != $profile) {
+			$server_url = $base;
+			$network = NETWORK_PHANTOM;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if ($server_url == "") {
+		return "";
+	}
+
+	$r = q("SELECT `id` FROM `gserver` WHERE `nurl` = '%s' AND `last_contact` > `last_failure`",
+		dbesc(normalise_link($server_url)));
+	if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
+		return $server_url;
+	}
+
+	// Fetch the host-meta to check if this really is a server
+	$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/.well-known/host-meta");
+	if (!$serverret["success"]) {
+		return "";
+	}
+
 	return $server_url;
 }
 
@@ -420,14 +465,16 @@ function poco_last_updated($profile, $force = false) {
 	$gcontacts = q("SELECT * FROM `gcontact` WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 			dbesc(normalise_link($profile)));
 
-	if ($gcontacts[0]["created"] == "0000-00-00 00:00:00")
+	if ($gcontacts[0]["created"] <= NULL_DATE) {
 		q("UPDATE `gcontact` SET `created` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 			dbesc(datetime_convert()), dbesc(normalise_link($profile)));
-
-	if ($gcontacts[0]["server_url"] != "")
+	}
+	if ($gcontacts[0]["server_url"] != "") {
 		$server_url = $gcontacts[0]["server_url"];
-	else
+	}
+	if (($server_url == '') OR ($gcontacts[0]["server_url"] == $gcontacts[0]["nurl"])) {
 		$server_url = poco_detect_server($profile);
+	}
 
 	if (!in_array($gcontacts[0]["network"], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_DIASPORA, NETWORK_FEED, NETWORK_OSTATUS, ""))) {
 		logger("Profile ".$profile.": Network type ".$gcontacts[0]["network"]." can't be checked", LOGGER_DEBUG);
@@ -617,10 +664,11 @@ function poco_last_updated($profile, $force = false) {
 	}
 
 	// Maybe there aren't any entries. Then check if it is a valid feed
-	if ($last_updated == "")
-		if ($xpath->query('/atom:feed')->length > 0)
-			$last_updated = "0000-00-00 00:00:00";
-
+	if ($last_updated == "") {
+		if ($xpath->query('/atom:feed')->length > 0) {
+			$last_updated = NULL_DATE;
+		}
+	}
 	q("UPDATE `gcontact` SET `updated` = '%s', `last_contact` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 		dbesc(dbm::date($last_updated)), dbesc(dbm::date()), dbesc(normalise_link($profile)));
 
@@ -680,6 +728,213 @@ function poco_to_boolean($val) {
 	return ($val);
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Detect server type (Hubzilla or Friendica) via the poco data
+ *
+ * @param object $data POCO data
+ * @return array Server data
+ */
+function poco_detect_poco_data($data) {
+	$server = false;
+
+	if (!isset($data->entry)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (count($data->entry) == 0) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (!isset($data->entry[0]->urls)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (count($data->entry[0]->urls) == 0) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	foreach ($data->entry[0]->urls AS $url) {
+		if ($url->type == 'zot') {
+			$server = array();
+			$server["platform"] = 'Hubzilla';
+			$server["network"] = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+			return $server;
+		}
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Detect server type by using the nodeinfo data
+ *
+ * @param string $server_url address of the server
+ * @return array Server data
+ */
+function poco_fetch_nodeinfo($server_url) {
+	$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/.well-known/nodeinfo");
+	if (!$serverret["success"]) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$nodeinfo = json_decode($serverret['body']);
+
+	if (!is_object($nodeinfo)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	if (!is_array($nodeinfo->links)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$nodeinfo_url = '';
+
+	foreach ($nodeinfo->links AS $link) {
+		if ($link->rel == 'http://nodeinfo.diaspora.software/ns/schema/1.0') {
+			$nodeinfo_url = $link->href;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if ($nodeinfo_url == '') {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$serverret = z_fetch_url($nodeinfo_url);
+	if (!$serverret["success"]) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$nodeinfo = json_decode($serverret['body']);
+
+	if (!is_object($nodeinfo)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$server = array();
+
+	$server['register_policy'] = REGISTER_CLOSED;
+
+	if (is_bool($nodeinfo->openRegistrations) AND $nodeinfo->openRegistrations) {
+		$server['register_policy'] = REGISTER_OPEN;
+	}
+
+	if (is_object($nodeinfo->software)) {
+		if (isset($nodeinfo->software->name)) {
+			$server['platform'] = $nodeinfo->software->name;
+		}
+
+		if (isset($nodeinfo->software->version)) {
+			$server['version'] = $nodeinfo->software->version;
+			// Version numbers on Nodeinfo are presented with additional info, e.g.:
+			// 0.6.3.0-p1702cc1c, 0.6.99.0-p1b9ab160 or 3.4.3-2-1191.
+			$server['version'] = preg_replace("=(.+)-(.{4,})=ism", "$1", $server['version']);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (is_object($nodeinfo->metadata)) {
+		if (isset($nodeinfo->metadata->nodeName)) {
+			$server['site_name'] = $nodeinfo->metadata->nodeName;
+		}
+	}
+
+	$diaspora = false;
+	$friendica = false;
+	$gnusocial = false;
+
+	if (is_array($nodeinfo->protocols->inbound)) {
+		foreach ($nodeinfo->protocols->inbound AS $inbound) {
+			if ($inbound == 'diaspora') {
+				$diaspora = true;
+			}
+			if ($inbound == 'friendica') {
+				$friendica = true;
+			}
+			if ($inbound == 'gnusocial') {
+				$gnusocial = true;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if ($gnusocial) {
+		$server['network'] = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
+	}
+	if ($diaspora) {
+		$server['network'] = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+	}
+	if ($friendica) {
+		$server['network'] = NETWORK_DFRN;
+	}
+
+	if (!$server) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return $server;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @brief Detect server type (Hubzilla or Friendica) via the front page body
+ *
+ * @param string $body Front page of the server
+ * @return array Server data
+ */
+function poco_detect_server_type($body) {
+	$server = false;
+
+	$doc = new \DOMDocument();
+	@$doc->loadHTML($body);
+	$xpath = new \DomXPath($doc);
+
+	$list = $xpath->query("//meta[@name]");
+
+	foreach ($list as $node) {
+		$attr = array();
+		if ($node->attributes->length) {
+			foreach ($node->attributes as $attribute) {
+				$attr[$attribute->name] = $attribute->value;
+			}
+		}
+		if ($attr['name'] == 'generator') {
+			$version_part = explode(" ", $attr['content']);
+			if (count($version_part) == 2) {
+				if (in_array($version_part[0], array("Friendika", "Friendica"))) {
+					$server = array();
+					$server["platform"] = $version_part[0];
+					$server["version"] = $version_part[1];
+					$server["network"] = NETWORK_DFRN;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!$server) {
+		$list = $xpath->query("//meta[@property]");
+
+		foreach ($list as $node) {
+			$attr = array();
+			if ($node->attributes->length) {
+				foreach ($node->attributes as $attribute) {
+					$attr[$attribute->name] = $attribute->value;
+				}
+			}
+			if ($attr['property'] == 'generator') {
+				if (in_array($attr['content'], array("hubzilla", "BlaBlaNet"))) {
+					$server = array();
+					$server["platform"] = $attr['content'];
+					$server["version"] = "";
+					$server["network"] = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!$server) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	$server["site_name"] = $xpath->evaluate($element."//head/title/text()", $context)->item(0)->nodeValue;
+	return $server;
+}
+
 function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 
 	// Unify the server address
@@ -692,10 +947,10 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 	$servers = q("SELECT * FROM `gserver` WHERE `nurl` = '%s'", dbesc(normalise_link($server_url)));
 	if (dbm::is_result($servers)) {
 
-		if ($servers[0]["created"] == "0000-00-00 00:00:00")
+		if ($servers[0]["created"] <= NULL_DATE) {
 			q("UPDATE `gserver` SET `created` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 				dbesc(datetime_convert()), dbesc(normalise_link($server_url)));
-
+		}
 		$poco = $servers[0]["poco"];
 		$noscrape = $servers[0]["noscrape"];
 
@@ -723,13 +978,15 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 		$info = "";
 		$register_policy = -1;
 
-		$last_contact = "0000-00-00 00:00:00";
-		$last_failure = "0000-00-00 00:00:00";
+		$last_contact = NULL_DATE;
+		$last_failure = NULL_DATE;
 	}
 	logger("Server ".$server_url." is outdated or unknown. Start discovery. Force: ".$force." Created: ".$servers[0]["created"]." Failure: ".$last_failure." Contact: ".$last_contact, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 	$failure = false;
+	$possible_failure = false;
 	$orig_last_failure = $last_failure;
+	$orig_last_contact = $last_contact;
 
 	// Check if the page is accessible via SSL.
 	$orig_server_url = $server_url;
@@ -769,18 +1026,58 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 			$last_failure = datetime_convert();
 			$failure = true;
 		}
+		$possible_failure = true;
 	} elseif ($network == NETWORK_DIASPORA)
 		$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 
+	// If the server has no possible failure we reset the cached data
+	if (!$possible_failure) {
+		$version = "";
+		$platform = "";
+		$site_name = "";
+		$info = "";
+		$register_policy = -1;
+	}
+
+	// Look for poco
 	if (!$failure) {
-		// Test for Diaspora
+		$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/poco");
+		if ($serverret["success"]) {
+			$data = json_decode($serverret["body"]);
+			if (isset($data->totalResults)) {
+				$poco = $server_url."/poco";
+				$last_contact = datetime_convert();
+
+				$server = poco_detect_poco_data($data);
+				if ($server) {
+					$platform = $server['platform'];
+					$network = $server['network'];
+					$version = '';
+					$site_name = '';
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!$failure) {
+		// Test for Diaspora, Hubzilla, Mastodon or older Friendica servers
 		$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url);
 
-		if (!$serverret["success"] OR ($serverret["body"] == ""))
+		if (!$serverret["success"] OR ($serverret["body"] == "")) {
+			$last_failure = datetime_convert();
 			$failure = true;
-		else {
+		} else {
+			$server = poco_detect_server_type($serverret["body"]);
+			if ($server) {
+				$platform = $server['platform'];
+				$network = $server['network'];
+				$version = $server['version'];
+				$site_name = $server['site_name'];
+				$last_contact = datetime_convert();
+			}
+
 			$lines = explode("\n",$serverret["header"]);
-			if(count($lines))
+			if(count($lines)) {
 				foreach($lines as $line) {
 					$line = trim($line);
 					if(stristr($line,'X-Diaspora-Version:')) {
@@ -790,6 +1087,7 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 						$network = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
 						$versionparts = explode("-", $version);
 						$version = $versionparts[0];
+						$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 					}
 
 					if(stristr($line,'Server: Mastodon')) {
@@ -797,12 +1095,14 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 						$network = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
 						// Mastodon doesn't reveal version numbers
 						$version = "";
+						$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 					}
 				}
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!$failure) {
+	if (!$failure AND ($poco == "")) {
 		// Test for Statusnet
 		// Will also return data for Friendica and GNU Social - but it will be overwritten later
 		// The "not implemented" is a special treatment for really, really old Friendica versions
@@ -810,8 +1110,11 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 		if ($serverret["success"] AND ($serverret["body"] != '{"error":"not implemented"}') AND
 			($serverret["body"] != '') AND (strlen($serverret["body"]) < 30)) {
 			$platform = "StatusNet";
-			$version = trim($serverret["body"], '"');
+			// Remove junk that some GNU Social servers return
+			$version = str_replace(chr(239).chr(187).chr(191), "", $serverret["body"]);
+			$version = trim($version, '"');
 			$network = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
+			$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 		}
 
 		// Test for GNU Social
@@ -819,17 +1122,32 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 		if ($serverret["success"] AND ($serverret["body"] != '{"error":"not implemented"}') AND
 			($serverret["body"] != '') AND (strlen($serverret["body"]) < 30)) {
 			$platform = "GNU Social";
-			$version = trim($serverret["body"], '"');
+			// Remove junk that some GNU Social servers return
+			$version = str_replace(chr(239).chr(187).chr(191), "", $serverret["body"]);
+			$version = trim($version, '"');
 			$network = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
+			$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 		}
+	}
 
+	if (!$failure) {
+		// Test for Hubzilla, Redmatrix or Friendica
 		$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/api/statusnet/config.json");
 		if ($serverret["success"]) {
 			$data = json_decode($serverret["body"]);
-
 			if (isset($data->site->server)) {
 				$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 
+				if (isset($data->site->platform)) {
+					$platform = $data->site->platform->PLATFORM_NAME;
+					$version = $data->site->platform->STD_VERSION;
+					$network = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+				}
+				if (isset($data->site->BlaBlaNet)) {
+					$platform = $data->site->BlaBlaNet->PLATFORM_NAME;
+					$version = $data->site->BlaBlaNet->STD_VERSION;
+					$network = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+				}
 				if (isset($data->site->hubzilla)) {
 					$platform = $data->site->hubzilla->PLATFORM_NAME;
 					$version = $data->site->hubzilla->RED_VERSION;
@@ -866,32 +1184,66 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 		}
 	}
 
+
 	// Query statistics.json. Optional package for Diaspora, Friendica and Redmatrix
 	if (!$failure) {
 		$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/statistics.json");
 		if ($serverret["success"]) {
 			$data = json_decode($serverret["body"]);
-			if ($version == "")
+			if (isset($data->version)) {
 				$version = $data->version;
+				// Version numbers on statistics.json are presented with additional info, e.g.:
+				// 0.6.3.0-p1702cc1c, 0.6.99.0-p1b9ab160 or 3.4.3-2-1191.
+				$version = preg_replace("=(.+)-(.{4,})=ism", "$1", $version);
+			}
 
 			$site_name = $data->name;
 
-			if (isset($data->network) AND ($platform == ""))
+			if (isset($data->network)) {
 				$platform = $data->network;
+			}
 
-			if ($platform == "Diaspora")
+			if ($platform == "Diaspora") {
 				$network = NETWORK_DIASPORA;
+			}
 
-			if ($data->registrations_open)
+			if ($data->registrations_open) {
 				$register_policy = REGISTER_OPEN;
-			else
+			} else {
 				$register_policy = REGISTER_CLOSED;
+			}
 
 			if (isset($data->version))
 				$last_contact = datetime_convert();
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Query nodeinfo. Working for (at least) Diaspora and Friendica.
+	if (!$failure) {
+		$server = poco_fetch_nodeinfo($server_url);
+		if ($server) {
+			$register_policy = $server['register_policy'];
+
+			if (isset($server['platform'])) {
+				$platform = $server['platform'];
+			}
+
+			if (isset($server['network'])) {
+				$network = $server['network'];
+			}
+
+			if (isset($server['version'])) {
+				$version = $server['version'];
+			}
+
+			if (isset($server['site_name'])) {
+				$site_name = $server['site_name'];
+			}
+
+			$last_contact = datetime_convert();
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Check for noscrape
 	// Friendica servers could be detected as OStatus servers
 	if (!$failure AND in_array($network, array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_OSTATUS))) {
@@ -929,16 +1281,21 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Look for poco
-	if (!$failure) {
-		$serverret = z_fetch_url($server_url."/poco");
-		if ($serverret["success"]) {
-			$data = json_decode($serverret["body"]);
-			if (isset($data->totalResults)) {
-				$poco = $server_url."/poco";
-				$last_contact = datetime_convert();
-			}
-		}
+	if ($possible_failure AND !$failure) {
+		$last_failure = datetime_convert();
+		$failure = true;
+	}
+
+	if ($failure) {
+		$last_contact = $orig_last_contact;
+	} else {
+		$last_failure = $orig_last_failure;
+	}
+
+	if (($last_contact <= $last_failure) AND !$failure) {
+		logger("Server ".$server_url." seems to be alive, but last contact wasn't set - could be a bug", LOGGER_DEBUG);
+	} else if (($last_contact >= $last_failure) AND $failure) {
+		logger("Server ".$server_url." seems to be dead, but last failure wasn't set - could be a bug", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 	}
 
 	// Check again if the server exists
@@ -949,7 +1306,7 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 	$info = strip_tags($info);
 	$platform = strip_tags($platform);
 
-	if ($servers)
+	if ($servers) {
 		 q("UPDATE `gserver` SET `url` = '%s', `version` = '%s', `site_name` = '%s', `info` = '%s', `register_policy` = %d, `poco` = '%s', `noscrape` = '%s',
 			`network` = '%s', `platform` = '%s', `last_contact` = '%s', `last_failure` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'",
 			dbesc($server_url),
@@ -965,7 +1322,7 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 			dbesc($last_failure),
 			dbesc(normalise_link($server_url))
 		);
-	else
+	} elseif (!$failure) {
 		q("INSERT INTO `gserver` (`url`, `nurl`, `version`, `site_name`, `info`, `register_policy`, `poco`, `noscrape`, `network`, `platform`, `created`, `last_contact`, `last_failure`)
 					VALUES ('%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', %d, '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s', '%s')",
 				dbesc($server_url),
@@ -983,7 +1340,7 @@ function poco_check_server($server_url, $network = "", $force = false) {
 				dbesc($last_failure),
 				dbesc(datetime_convert())
 		);
-
+	}
 	logger("End discovery for server ".$server_url, LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 	return !$failure;
@@ -1147,7 +1504,7 @@ function suggestion_query($uid, $start = 0, $limit = 80) {
 		where uid = %d and not gcontact.nurl in ( select nurl from contact where uid = %d )
 		AND NOT `gcontact`.`name` IN (SELECT `name` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d)
 		AND NOT `gcontact`.`id` IN (SELECT `gcid` FROM `gcign` WHERE `uid` = %d)
-		AND `gcontact`.`updated` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00'
+		AND `gcontact`.`updated` >= '%s'
 		AND `gcontact`.`last_contact` >= `gcontact`.`last_failure`
 		AND `gcontact`.`network` IN (%s)
 		GROUP BY `glink`.`gcid` ORDER BY `gcontact`.`updated` DESC,`total` DESC LIMIT %d, %d",
@@ -1155,6 +1512,7 @@ function suggestion_query($uid, $start = 0, $limit = 80) {
 		intval($uid),
 		intval($uid),
 		intval($uid),
+		dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 		$sql_network,
 		intval($start),
 		intval($limit)
@@ -1173,13 +1531,14 @@ function suggestion_query($uid, $start = 0, $limit = 80) {
 		WHERE `glink`.`uid` = 0 AND `glink`.`cid` = 0 AND `glink`.`zcid` = 0 AND NOT `gcontact`.`nurl` IN (SELECT `nurl` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d)
 		AND NOT `gcontact`.`name` IN (SELECT `name` FROM `contact` WHERE `uid` = %d)
 		AND NOT `gcontact`.`id` IN (SELECT `gcid` FROM `gcign` WHERE `uid` = %d)
-		AND `gcontact`.`updated` != '0000-00-00 00:00:00'
+		AND `gcontact`.`updated` >= '%s'
 		AND `gcontact`.`last_contact` >= `gcontact`.`last_failure`
 		AND `gcontact`.`network` IN (%s)
 		ORDER BY rand() LIMIT %d, %d",
 		intval($uid),
 		intval($uid),
 		intval($uid),
+		dbesc(NULL_DATE),
 		$sql_network,
 		intval($start),
 		intval($limit)
@@ -1244,6 +1603,33 @@ function update_suggestions() {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * @brief Fetch server list from remote servers and adds them when they are new.
+ *
+ * @param string $poco URL to the POCO endpoint
+ */
+function poco_fetch_serverlist($poco) {
+	$serverret = z_fetch_url($poco."/@server");
+	if (!$serverret["success"]) {
+		return;
+	}
+	$serverlist = json_decode($serverret['body']);
+
+	if (!is_array($serverlist)) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	foreach ($serverlist AS $server) {
+		$server_url = str_replace("/index.php", "", $server->url);
+
+		$r = q("SELECT `nurl` FROM `gserver` WHERE `nurl` = '%s'", dbesc(normalise_link($server_url)));
+		if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
+			logger("Call server check for server ".$server_url, LOGGER_DEBUG);
+			proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/discover_poco.php", "server", base64_encode($server_url));
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 function poco_discover_federation() {
 	$last = get_config('poco','last_federation_discovery');
 
@@ -1259,8 +1645,9 @@ function poco_discover_federation() {
 	if ($serverdata) {
 		$servers = json_decode($serverdata);
 
-		foreach($servers->pods AS $server)
-			poco_check_server("https://".$server->host);
+		foreach ($servers->pods AS $server) {
+			proc_run(PRIORITY_LOW, "include/discover_poco.php", "server", base64_encode("https://".$server->host));
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Currently disabled, since the service isn't available anymore.
@@ -1305,6 +1692,9 @@ function poco_discover($complete = false) {
 				continue;
 			}
 
+			// Discover new servers out there
+			poco_fetch_serverlist($server["poco"]);
+
 			// Fetch all users from the other server
 			$url = $server["poco"]."/?fields=displayName,urls,photos,updated,network,aboutMe,currentLocation,tags,gender,contactType,generation";
 
@@ -1395,7 +1785,7 @@ function poco_discover_server($data, $default_generation = 0) {
 		$connect_url = '';
 		$name = '';
 		$network = '';
-		$updated = '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
+		$updated = NULL_DATE;
 		$location = '';
 		$about = '';
 		$keywords = '';
@@ -1879,4 +2269,20 @@ function gs_discover() {
 		q("UPDATE `gserver` SET `last_poco_query` = '%s' WHERE `nurl` = '%s'", dbesc(datetime_convert()), dbesc($server["nurl"]));
 	}
 }
+
+/**
+ * @brief Returns a list of all known servers
+ * @return array List of server urls
+ */
+function poco_serverlist() {
+	$r = q("SELECT `url`, `site_name` AS `displayName`, `network`, `platform`, `version` FROM `gserver`
+		WHERE `network` IN ('%s', '%s', '%s') AND `last_contact` > `last_failure`
+		ORDER BY `last_contact`
+		LIMIT 1000",
+		dbesc(NETWORK_DFRN), dbesc(NETWORK_DIASPORA), dbesc(NETWORK_OSTATUS));
+	if (!dbm::is_result($r)) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	return $r;
+}
 ?>
diff --git a/include/spool_post.php b/include/spool_post.php
index b4cce46b5..f64b39e4b 100644
--- a/include/spool_post.php
+++ b/include/spool_post.php
@@ -6,24 +6,10 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/items.php");
 
 function spool_post_run($argv, $argc) {
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if (is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if (is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	}
-
-	Config::load();
+	global $a;
 
 	$path = get_spoolpath();
 
@@ -69,9 +55,4 @@ function spool_post_run($argv, $argc) {
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__, get_included_files()) === 0) {
-	spool_post_run($_SERVER["argv"], $_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
 ?>
diff --git a/include/tagupdate.php b/include/tagupdate.php
index b4de121e9..1e97135c5 100644
--- a/include/tagupdate.php
+++ b/include/tagupdate.php
@@ -1,24 +1,6 @@
 <?php
-
-use \Friendica\Core\Config;
-
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/tags.php");
 
-global $a, $db;
-
-if(is_null($a))
-	$a = new App;
-
-if(is_null($db)) {
-	@include(".htconfig.php");
-	require_once("include/dba.php");
-	$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
+function tagupdate_run(&$argv, &$argc){
+	update_items();
 }
-
-Config::load();
-
-update_items();
-killme();
-?>
diff --git a/include/text.php b/include/text.php
index 6619dec93..4a23b7ac3 100644
--- a/include/text.php
+++ b/include/text.php
@@ -903,10 +903,10 @@ function contact_block() {
 				intval($shown)
 		);
 		if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
-			$contacts = "";
-			foreach ($r AS $contact)
+			$contacts = array();
+			foreach ($r AS $contact) {
 				$contacts[] = $contact["id"];
-
+			}
 			$r = q("SELECT `id`, `uid`, `addr`, `url`, `name`, `thumb`, `network` FROM `contact` WHERE `id` IN (%s)",
 				dbesc(implode(",", $contacts)));
 
diff --git a/include/threadupdate.php b/include/threadupdate.php
index dc528c6b8..3a4028603 100644
--- a/include/threadupdate.php
+++ b/include/threadupdate.php
@@ -1,25 +1,7 @@
 <?php
-
-use \Friendica\Core\Config;
-
-require_once("boot.php");
 require_once("include/threads.php");
 
-global $a, $db;
-
-if(is_null($a))
-	$a = new App;
-
-if(is_null($db)) {
-	@include(".htconfig.php");
-	require_once("include/dba.php");
-	$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
+function threadupdate_run(&$argv, &$argc){
+	update_threads();
+	update_threads_mention();
 }
-
-Config::load();
-
-update_threads();
-update_threads_mention();
-killme();
-?>
diff --git a/include/uimport.php b/include/uimport.php
index 0d7ce5d27..4cc5b6c04 100644
--- a/include/uimport.php
+++ b/include/uimport.php
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ function import_account(App $a, $file) {
 			}
 		}
 		if ($contact['uid'] == $olduid && $contact['self'] == '0') {
-			// set contacts 'avatar-date' to "0000-00-00 00:00:00" to let poller to update urls
-			$contact["avatar-date"] = "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ;
+			// set contacts 'avatar-date' to NULL_DATE to let poller to update urls
+			$contact["avatar-date"] = NULL_DATE;
 
 
 			switch ($contact['network']) {
diff --git a/include/update_gcontact.php b/include/update_gcontact.php
index 6aa8bcac2..08d4149a7 100644
--- a/include/update_gcontact.php
+++ b/include/update_gcontact.php
@@ -2,46 +2,23 @@
 
 use \Friendica\Core\Config;
 
-require_once("boot.php");
-
 function update_gcontact_run(&$argv, &$argc){
-	global $a, $db;
-
-	if(is_null($a)) {
-		$a = new App;
-	}
-
-	if(is_null($db)) {
-		@include(".htconfig.php");
-		require_once("include/dba.php");
-		$db = new dba($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-		unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
-	};
+	global $a;
 
 	require_once('include/Scrape.php');
-	require_once("include/socgraph.php");
-
-	Config::load();
-
-	$a->set_baseurl(get_config('system','url'));
-
-	load_hooks();
+	require_once('include/socgraph.php');
 
 	logger('update_gcontact: start');
 
-	if(($argc > 1) && (intval($argv[1])))
+	if (($argc > 1) && (intval($argv[1]))) {
 		$contact_id = intval($argv[1]);
+	}
 
-	if(!$contact_id) {
+	if (!$contact_id) {
 		logger('update_gcontact: no contact');
 		return;
 	}
 
-	// Don't check this stuff if the function is called by the poller
-	if (App::callstack() != "poller_run")
-		if (App::is_already_running('update_gcontact'.$contact_id, '', 540))
-			return;
-
 	$r = q("SELECT * FROM `gcontact` WHERE `id` = %d", intval($contact_id));
 
 	if (!$r)
@@ -98,8 +75,3 @@ function update_gcontact_run(&$argv, &$argc){
 				dbesc(normalise_link($data["url"]))
 			);
 }
-
-if (array_search(__file__,get_included_files())===0){
-	update_gcontact_run($_SERVER["argv"],$_SERVER["argc"]);
-	killme();
-}
diff --git a/library/Smarty/libs/plugins/modifier.date_format.php b/library/Smarty/libs/plugins/modifier.date_format.php
index 5ad7540b1..c5992991d 100644
--- a/library/Smarty/libs/plugins/modifier.date_format.php
+++ b/library/Smarty/libs/plugins/modifier.date_format.php
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ function smarty_modifier_date_format($string, $format = null, $default_date = ''
      * Include the {@link shared.make_timestamp.php} plugin
      */
     require_once(SMARTY_PLUGINS_DIR . 'shared.make_timestamp.php');
-    if ($string != '' && $string != '0000-00-00' && $string != '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
+    if ($string != '' && $string > '0001-01-01' && $string > NULL_DATE) {
         $timestamp = smarty_make_timestamp($string);
     } elseif ($default_date != '') {
         $timestamp = smarty_make_timestamp($default_date);
diff --git a/mod/admin.php b/mod/admin.php
index e8c071113..b1bc8de5f 100644
--- a/mod/admin.php
+++ b/mod/admin.php
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ require_once("include/text.php");
 function admin_post(App $a) {
 
 
-	if(!is_site_admin()) {
+	if (!is_site_admin()) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
 
 	// urls
 	if ($a->argc > 1) {
-		switch ($a->argv[1]){
+		switch ($a->argv[1]) {
 			case 'site':
 				admin_page_site_post($a);
 				break;
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
 				admin_page_users_post($a);
 				break;
 			case 'plugins':
-				if($a->argc > 2 &&
+				if ($a->argc > 2 &&
 					is_file("addon/".$a->argv[2]."/".$a->argv[2].".php")) {
 						@include_once("addon/".$a->argv[2]."/".$a->argv[2].".php");
-						if(function_exists($a->argv[2].'_plugin_admin_post')) {
+						if (function_exists($a->argv[2].'_plugin_admin_post')) {
 							$func = $a->argv[2].'_plugin_admin_post';
 							$func($a);
 						}
@@ -59,14 +59,16 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
 				return; // NOTREACHED
 				break;
 			case 'themes':
-				if($a->argc < 2) {
-					if(is_ajax()) return;
+				if ($a->argc < 2) {
+					if (is_ajax()) {
+						return;
+					}
 					goaway('admin/');
 					return;
 				}
 
 				$theme = $a->argv[2];
-				if(is_file("view/theme/$theme/config.php")){
+				if (is_file("view/theme/$theme/config.php")) {
 					function __call_theme_admin_post(App $a, $theme) {
 						$orig_theme = $a->theme;
 						$orig_page = $a->page;
@@ -77,8 +79,10 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
 
 
 						$init = $theme."_init";
-						if(function_exists($init)) $init($a);
-						if(function_exists("theme_admin_post")) {
+						if (function_exists($init)) {
+							$init($a);
+						}
+						if (function_exists("theme_admin_post")) {
 							$admin_form = theme_admin_post($a);
 						}
 
@@ -90,8 +94,9 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
 					__call_theme_admin_post($a, $theme);
 				}
 				info(t('Theme settings updated.'));
-				if(is_ajax()) return;
-
+				if (is_ajax()) {
+					return;
+				}
 				goaway('admin/themes/'.$theme);
 				return;
 				break;
@@ -130,7 +135,7 @@ function admin_post(App $a) {
  */
 function admin_content(App $a) {
 
-	if(!is_site_admin()) {
+	if (!is_site_admin()) {
 		return login(false);
 	}
 
@@ -168,7 +173,7 @@ function admin_content(App $a) {
 
 	$r = q("SELECT `name` FROM `addon` WHERE `plugin_admin` = 1 ORDER BY `name`");
 	$aside_tools['plugins_admin']=array();
-	foreach ($r as $h){
+	foreach ($r as $h) {
 		$plugin =$h['name'];
 		$aside_tools['plugins_admin'][] = array("admin/plugins/".$plugin, $plugin, "plugin");
 		// temp plugins with admin
@@ -199,8 +204,8 @@ function admin_content(App $a) {
 	 */
 	$o = '';
 	// urls
-	if($a->argc > 1) {
-		switch ($a->argv[1]){
+	if ($a->argc > 1) {
+		switch ($a->argv[1]) {
 			case 'site':
 				$o = admin_page_site($a);
 				break;
@@ -238,7 +243,7 @@ function admin_content(App $a) {
 		$o = admin_page_summary($a);
 	}
 
-	if(is_ajax()) {
+	if (is_ajax()) {
 		echo $o;
 		killme();
 		return '';
@@ -270,8 +275,8 @@ function admin_page_federation(App $a) {
 	// off one % two of them are needed in the query
 	// Add more platforms if you like, when one returns 0 known nodes it is not
 	// displayed on the stats page.
-	$platforms = array('Friendica', 'Diaspora', '%%red%%', 'Hubzilla', 'BlaBlaNet', 'GNU Social', 'StatusNet', 'Mastodon');
-	$colors    = array('Friendica' => '#ffc018',     // orange from the logo
+	$platforms = array('Friendi%%a', 'Diaspora', '%%red%%', 'Hubzilla', 'BlaBlaNet', 'GNU Social', 'StatusNet', 'Mastodon');
+	$colors    = array('Friendi%%a' => '#ffc018',     // orange from the logo
 			   'Diaspora'  => '#a1a1a1',     // logo is black and white, makes a gray
 			   '%%red%%'   => '#c50001',     // fire red from the logo
 			   'Hubzilla'  => '#43488a',     // blue from the logo
@@ -310,19 +315,21 @@ function admin_page_federation(App $a) {
 		// in the DB the Diaspora versions have the format x.x.x.x-xx the last
 		// part (-xx) should be removed to clean up the versions from the "head
 		// commit" information and combined into a single entry for x.x.x.x
-		if($p=='Diaspora') {
+		if ($p == 'Diaspora') {
 			$newV = array();
 			$newVv = array();
-			foreach($v as $vv) {
+			foreach ($v as $vv) {
 				$newVC = $vv['total'];
 				$newVV = $vv['version'];
 				$posDash = strpos($newVV, '-');
-				if($posDash)
+				if ($posDash) {
 					$newVV = substr($newVV, 0, $posDash);
-				if(isset($newV[$newVV]))
+				}
+				if (isset($newV[$newVV])) {
 					$newV[$newVV] += $newVC;
-				else
+				} else {
 					$newV[$newVV] = $newVC;
+				}
 			}
 			foreach ($newV as $key => $value) {
 				array_push($newVv, array('total'=>$value, 'version'=>$key));
@@ -333,7 +340,7 @@ function admin_page_federation(App $a) {
 		// early friendica versions have the format x.x.xxxx where xxxx is the
 		// DB version stamp; those should be operated out and versions be
 		// conbined
-		if($p=='Friendica') {
+		if ($p == 'Friendi%%a') {
 			$newV = array();
 			$newVv = array();
 			foreach ($v as $vv) {
@@ -341,12 +348,14 @@ function admin_page_federation(App $a) {
 				$newVV = $vv['version'];
 				$lastDot = strrpos($newVV,'.');
 				$len = strlen($newVV)-1;
-				if(($lastDot == $len-4) && (!strrpos($newVV,'-rc')==$len-3))
+				if (($lastDot == $len-4) && (!strrpos($newVV,'-rc') == $len-3)) {
 					$newVV = substr($newVV, 0, $lastDot);
-				if(isset($newV[$newVV]))
+				}
+				if (isset($newV[$newVV])) {
 					$newV[$newVV] += $newVC;
-				else
+				} else {
 					$newV[$newVV] = $newVC;
+				}
 			}
 			foreach ($newV as $key => $value) {
 				array_push($newVv, array('total'=>$value, 'version'=>$key));
@@ -455,7 +464,10 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a) {
 	);
 
 	$users=0;
-	foreach ($r as $u){ $accounts[$u['page-flags']][1] = $u['count']; $users+= $u['count']; }
+	foreach ($r as $u) {
+		$accounts[$u['page-flags']][1] = $u['count'];
+		$users+= $u['count'];
+	}
 
 	logger('accounts: '.print_r($accounts,true),LOGGER_DATA);
 
@@ -468,12 +480,8 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a) {
 	$r = qu("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `queue` WHERE 1");
 	$queue = (($r) ? $r[0]['total'] : 0);
 
-	if (get_config('system','worker')) {
-		$r = qu("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE 1");
-		$workerqueue = (($r) ? $r[0]['total'] : 0);
-	} else {
-		$workerqueue = 0;
-	}
+	$r = qu("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `workerqueue` WHERE 1");
+	$workerqueue = (($r) ? $r[0]['total'] : 0);
 
 	// We can do better, but this is a quick queue status
 
@@ -485,7 +493,6 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a) {
 		'$title' => t('Administration'),
 		'$page' => t('Summary'),
 		'$queues' => $queues,
-		'$workeractive' => get_config('system','worker'),
 		'$users' => array(t('Registered users'), $users),
 		'$accounts' => $accounts,
 		'$pending' => array(t('Pending registrations'), $pending),
@@ -506,19 +513,19 @@ function admin_page_summary(App $a) {
  * @param App $a
  */
 function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
-	if(!x($_POST,"page_site")) {
+	if (!x($_POST,"page_site")) {
 		return;
 	}
 
 	check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/site', 'admin_site');
 
 	// relocate
-	if(x($_POST,'relocate') && x($_POST,'relocate_url') && $_POST['relocate_url']!="") {
+	if (x($_POST,'relocate') && x($_POST,'relocate_url') && $_POST['relocate_url'] != "") {
 		$new_url = $_POST['relocate_url'];
 		$new_url = rtrim($new_url,"/");
 
 		$parsed = @parse_url($new_url);
-		if(!$parsed || (!x($parsed,'host') || !x($parsed,'scheme'))) {
+		if (!$parsed || (!x($parsed,'host') || !x($parsed,'scheme'))) {
 			notice(t("Can not parse base url. Must have at least <scheme>://<domain>"));
 			goaway('admin/site');
 		}
@@ -551,7 +558,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 
 			$q = sprintf("UPDATE %s SET %s;", $table_name, $upds);
 			$r = q($q);
-			if(!$r) {
+			if (!$r) {
 				notice("Failed updating '$table_name': ".$db->error);
 				goaway('admin/site');
 			}
@@ -630,8 +637,6 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	$proxyuser		=	((x($_POST,'proxyuser'))		? notags(trim($_POST['proxyuser']))		: '');
 	$proxy			=	((x($_POST,'proxy'))			? notags(trim($_POST['proxy']))			: '');
 	$timeout		=	((x($_POST,'timeout'))			? intval(trim($_POST['timeout']))		: 60);
-	$delivery_interval	=	((x($_POST,'delivery_interval'))	? intval(trim($_POST['delivery_interval']))	: 0);
-	$poll_interval		=	((x($_POST,'poll_interval'))		? intval(trim($_POST['poll_interval']))		: 0);
 	$maxloadavg		=	((x($_POST,'maxloadavg'))		? intval(trim($_POST['maxloadavg']))		: 50);
 	$maxloadavg_frontend	=	((x($_POST,'maxloadavg_frontend'))	? intval(trim($_POST['maxloadavg_frontend']))	: 50);
 	$optimize_max_tablesize	=	((x($_POST,'optimize_max_tablesize'))	? intval(trim($_POST['optimize_max_tablesize'])): 100);
@@ -655,7 +660,6 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	$itemcache		=	((x($_POST,'itemcache'))		? notags(trim($_POST['itemcache']))		: '');
 	$itemcache_duration	=	((x($_POST,'itemcache_duration'))	? intval($_POST['itemcache_duration'])		: 0);
 	$max_comments		=	((x($_POST,'max_comments'))		? intval($_POST['max_comments'])		: 0);
-	$lockpath		=	((x($_POST,'lockpath'))			? notags(trim($_POST['lockpath']))		: '');
 	$temppath		=	((x($_POST,'temppath'))			? notags(trim($_POST['temppath']))		: '');
 	$basepath		=	((x($_POST,'basepath'))			? notags(trim($_POST['basepath']))		: '');
 	$singleuser		=	((x($_POST,'singleuser'))		? notags(trim($_POST['singleuser']))		: '');
@@ -663,20 +667,19 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	$only_tag_search	=	((x($_POST,'only_tag_search'))		? True						: False);
 	$rino			=	((x($_POST,'rino'))			? intval($_POST['rino'])			: 0);
 	$embedly		=	((x($_POST,'embedly'))			? notags(trim($_POST['embedly']))		: '');
-	$worker			=	((x($_POST,'worker'))			? True						: False);
 	$worker_queues		=	((x($_POST,'worker_queues'))		? intval($_POST['worker_queues'])		: 4);
 	$worker_dont_fork	=	((x($_POST,'worker_dont_fork'))		? True						: False);
 	$worker_fastlane	=	((x($_POST,'worker_fastlane'))		? True						: False);
 	$worker_frontend	=	((x($_POST,'worker_frontend'))		? True						: False);
 
-	if($a->get_path() != "")
+	if ($a->get_path() != "") {
 		$diaspora_enabled = false;
-
-	if(!$thread_allow)
+	}
+	if (!$thread_allow) {
 		$ostatus_disabled = true;
-
-	if($ssl_policy != intval(get_config('system','ssl_policy'))) {
-		if($ssl_policy == SSL_POLICY_FULL) {
+	}
+	if ($ssl_policy != intval(get_config('system','ssl_policy'))) {
+		if ($ssl_policy == SSL_POLICY_FULL) {
 			q("UPDATE `contact` SET
 				`url`     = REPLACE(`url`    , 'http:' , 'https:'),
 				`photo`   = REPLACE(`photo`  , 'http:' , 'https:'),
@@ -694,8 +697,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 				`thumb`   = REPLACE(`thumb`  , 'http:' , 'https:')
 				WHERE 1 "
 			);
-		}
-		elseif($ssl_policy == SSL_POLICY_SELFSIGN) {
+		} elseif ($ssl_policy == SSL_POLICY_SELFSIGN) {
 			q("UPDATE `contact` SET
 				`url`     = REPLACE(`url`    , 'https:' , 'http:'),
 				`photo`   = REPLACE(`photo`  , 'https:' , 'http:'),
@@ -716,8 +718,6 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 		}
 	}
 	set_config('system','ssl_policy',$ssl_policy);
-	set_config('system','delivery_interval',$delivery_interval);
-	set_config('system','poll_interval',$poll_interval);
 	set_config('system','maxloadavg',$maxloadavg);
 	set_config('system','maxloadavg_frontend',$maxloadavg_frontend);
 	set_config('system','optimize_max_tablesize',$optimize_max_tablesize);
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	set_config('system','shortcut_icon',$shortcut_icon);
 	set_config('system','touch_icon',$touch_icon);
 
-	if($banner=="") {
+	if ($banner == "") {
 		// don't know why, but del_config doesn't work...
 		q("DELETE FROM `config` WHERE `cat` = '%s' AND `k` = '%s' LIMIT 1",
 			dbesc("system"),
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 		set_config('system','banner', $banner);
 	}
 
-	if($info=="") {
+	if ($info == "") {
 		del_config('config','info');
 	} else {
 		set_config('config','info',$info);
@@ -753,12 +753,12 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	set_config('system','language', $language);
 	set_config('system','theme', $theme);
 
-	if($theme_mobile === '---') {
+	if ($theme_mobile === '---') {
 		del_config('system','mobile-theme');
 	} else {
 		set_config('system','mobile-theme', $theme_mobile);
 		}
-		if($singleuser === '---') {
+		if ($singleuser === '---') {
 			del_config('system','singleuser');
 		} else {
 			set_config('system','singleuser', $singleuser);
@@ -806,18 +806,16 @@ function admin_page_site_post(App $a) {
 	set_config('system','itemcache', $itemcache);
 	set_config('system','itemcache_duration', $itemcache_duration);
 	set_config('system','max_comments', $max_comments);
-	set_config('system','lockpath', $lockpath);
 	set_config('system','temppath', $temppath);
 	set_config('system','basepath', $basepath);
 	set_config('system','proxy_disabled', $proxy_disabled);
 	set_config('system','only_tag_search', $only_tag_search);
-	set_config('system','worker', $worker);
 	set_config('system','worker_queues', $worker_queues);
 	set_config('system','worker_dont_fork', $worker_dont_fork);
 	set_config('system','worker_fastlane', $worker_fastlane);
 	set_config('system','frontend_worker', $worker_frontend);
 
-	if($rino==2 and !function_exists('mcrypt_create_iv')) {
+	if (($rino == 2) and !function_exists('mcrypt_create_iv')) {
 		notice(t("RINO2 needs mcrypt php extension to work."));
 	} else {
 		set_config('system','rino_encrypt', $rino);
@@ -845,7 +843,7 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 	/* Installed langs */
 	$lang_choices = get_available_languages();
 
-	if(strlen(get_config('system','directory_submit_url')) AND
+	if (strlen(get_config('system','directory_submit_url')) AND
 		!strlen(get_config('system','directory'))) {
 			set_config('system','directory', dirname(get_config('system','directory_submit_url')));
 			del_config('system','directory_submit_url');
@@ -856,12 +854,12 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 	$theme_choices_mobile = array();
 	$theme_choices_mobile["---"] = t("No special theme for mobile devices");
 	$files = glob('view/theme/*');
-	if($files) {
+	if ($files) {
 
 		$allowed_theme_list = Config::get('system', 'allowed_themes');
 
-		foreach($files as $file) {
-			if(intval(file_exists($file.'/unsupported')))
+		foreach ($files as $file) {
+			if (intval(file_exists($file.'/unsupported')))
 				continue;
 
 			$f = basename($file);
@@ -873,7 +871,7 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 
 			$theme_name = ((file_exists($file.'/experimental')) ?  sprintf("%s - \x28Experimental\x29", $f) : $f);
 
-			if(file_exists($file.'/mobile')) {
+			if (file_exists($file.'/mobile')) {
 				$theme_choices_mobile[$f] = $theme_name;
 			} else {
 				$theme_choices[$f] = $theme_name;
@@ -922,15 +920,15 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 
 	/* Banner */
 	$banner = get_config('system','banner');
-	if($banner == false)
+	if ($banner == false) {
 		$banner = '<a href="http://friendica.com"><img id="logo-img" src="images/friendica-32.png" alt="logo" /></a><span id="logo-text"><a href="http://friendica.com">Friendica</a></span>';
+	}
 	$banner = htmlspecialchars($banner);
 	$info = get_config('config','info');
 	$info = htmlspecialchars($info);
 
 	// Automatically create temporary paths
 	get_temppath();
-	get_lockpath();
 	get_itemcachepath();
 
 	//echo "<pre>"; var_dump($lang_choices); die("</pre>");
@@ -948,9 +946,9 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 		SSL_POLICY_SELFSIGN => t("Self-signed certificate, use SSL for local links only (discouraged)")
 	);
 
-	if($a->config['hostname'] == "")
+	if ($a->config['hostname'] == "") {
 		$a->config['hostname'] = $a->get_hostname();
-
+	}
 	$diaspora_able = ($a->get_path() == "");
 
 	$optimize_max_tablesize = Config::get('system','optimize_max_tablesize', 100);
@@ -1029,8 +1027,6 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 		'$proxyuser'		=> array('proxyuser', t("Proxy user"), get_config('system','proxyuser'), ""),
 		'$proxy'		=> array('proxy', t("Proxy URL"), get_config('system','proxy'), ""),
 		'$timeout'		=> array('timeout', t("Network timeout"), (x(get_config('system','curl_timeout'))?get_config('system','curl_timeout'):60), t("Value is in seconds. Set to 0 for unlimited (not recommended).")),
-		'$delivery_interval'	=> array('delivery_interval', t("Delivery interval"), (x(get_config('system','delivery_interval'))?get_config('system','delivery_interval'):2), t("Delay background delivery processes by this many seconds to reduce system load. Recommend: 4-5 for shared hosts, 2-3 for virtual private servers. 0-1 for large dedicated servers.")),
-		'$poll_interval'	=> array('poll_interval', t("Poll interval"), (x(get_config('system','poll_interval'))?get_config('system','poll_interval'):2), t("Delay background polling processes by this many seconds to reduce system load. If 0, use delivery interval.")),
 		'$maxloadavg'		=> array('maxloadavg', t("Maximum Load Average"), ((intval(get_config('system','maxloadavg')) > 0)?get_config('system','maxloadavg'):50), t("Maximum system load before delivery and poll processes are deferred - default 50.")),
 		'$maxloadavg_frontend'	=> array('maxloadavg_frontend', t("Maximum Load Average (Frontend)"), ((intval(get_config('system','maxloadavg_frontend')) > 0)?get_config('system','maxloadavg_frontend'):50), t("Maximum system load before the frontend quits service - default 50.")),
 		'$optimize_max_tablesize'=> array('optimize_max_tablesize', t("Maximum table size for optimization"), $optimize_max_tablesize, t("Maximum table size (in MB) for the automatic optimization - default 100 MB. Enter -1 to disable it.")),
@@ -1049,7 +1045,6 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 		'$itemcache'		=> array('itemcache', t("Path to item cache"), get_config('system','itemcache'), t("The item caches buffers generated bbcode and external images.")),
 		'$itemcache_duration' 	=> array('itemcache_duration', t("Cache duration in seconds"), get_config('system','itemcache_duration'), t("How long should the cache files be hold? Default value is 86400 seconds (One day). To disable the item cache, set the value to -1.")),
 		'$max_comments' 	=> array('max_comments', t("Maximum numbers of comments per post"), get_config('system','max_comments'), t("How much comments should be shown for each post? Default value is 100.")),
-		'$lockpath'		=> array('lockpath', t("Path for lock file"), get_config('system','lockpath'), t("The lock file is used to avoid multiple pollers at one time. Only define a folder here.")),
 		'$temppath'		=> array('temppath', t("Temp path"), get_config('system','temppath'), t("If you have a restricted system where the webserver can't access the system temp path, enter another path here.")),
 		'$basepath'		=> array('basepath', t("Base path to installation"), get_config('system','basepath'), t("If the system cannot detect the correct path to your installation, enter the correct path here. This setting should only be set if you are using a restricted system and symbolic links to your webroot.")),
 		'$proxy_disabled'	=> array('proxy_disabled', t("Disable picture proxy"), get_config('system','proxy_disabled'), t("The picture proxy increases performance and privacy. It shouldn't be used on systems with very low bandwith.")),
@@ -1060,7 +1055,6 @@ function admin_page_site(App $a) {
 		'$rino' 		=> array('rino', t("RINO Encryption"), intval(get_config('system','rino_encrypt')), t("Encryption layer between nodes."), array("Disabled", "RINO1 (deprecated)", "RINO2")),
 		'$embedly' 		=> array('embedly', t("Embedly API key"), get_config('system','embedly'), t("<a href='http://embed.ly'>Embedly</a> is used to fetch additional data for web pages. This is an optional parameter.")),
 
-		'$worker'		=> array('worker', t("Enable 'worker' background processing"), get_config('system','worker'), t("The worker background processing limits the number of parallel background jobs to a maximum number and respects the system load.")),
 		'$worker_queues' 	=> array('worker_queues', t("Maximum number of parallel workers"), get_config('system','worker_queues'), t("On shared hosters set this to 2. On larger systems, values of 10 are great. Default value is 4.")),
 		'$worker_dont_fork'	=> array('worker_dont_fork', t("Don't use 'proc_open' with the worker"), get_config('system','worker_dont_fork'), t("Enable this if your system doesn't allow the use of 'proc_open'. This can happen on shared hosters. If this is enabled you should increase the frequency of poller calls in your crontab.")),
 		'$worker_fastlane'	=> array('worker_fastlane', t("Enable fastlane"), get_config('system','worker_fastlane'), t("When enabed, the fastlane mechanism starts an additional worker if processes with higher priority are blocked by processes of lower priority.")),
@@ -1088,42 +1082,45 @@ function admin_page_dbsync(App $a) {
 
 	$o = '';
 
-	if($a->argc > 3 && intval($a->argv[3]) && $a->argv[2] === 'mark') {
+	if ($a->argc > 3 && intval($a->argv[3]) && $a->argv[2] === 'mark') {
 		set_config('database', 'update_'.intval($a->argv[3]), 'success');
 		$curr = get_config('system','build');
-		if(intval($curr) == intval($a->argv[3]))
+		if (intval($curr) == intval($a->argv[3])) {
 			set_config('system','build',intval($curr) + 1);
+		}
 		info(t('Update has been marked successful').EOL);
 		goaway('admin/dbsync');
 	}
 
-	if(($a->argc > 2) AND (intval($a->argv[2]) OR ($a->argv[2] === 'check'))) {
+	if (($a->argc > 2) AND (intval($a->argv[2]) OR ($a->argv[2] === 'check'))) {
 		require_once("include/dbstructure.php");
 		$retval = update_structure(false, true);
-		if(!$retval) {
+		if (!$retval) {
 			$o .= sprintf(t("Database structure update %s was successfully applied."), DB_UPDATE_VERSION)."<br />";
 			set_config('database', 'dbupdate_'.DB_UPDATE_VERSION, 'success');
-		} else
+		} else {
 			$o .= sprintf(t("Executing of database structure update %s failed with error: %s"),
 					DB_UPDATE_VERSION, $retval)."<br />";
-		if($a->argv[2] === 'check')
+		}
+		if ($a->argv[2] === 'check') {
 			return $o;
+		}
 	}
 
-	if($a->argc > 2 && intval($a->argv[2])) {
+	if ($a->argc > 2 && intval($a->argv[2])) {
 		require_once('update.php');
 		$func = 'update_'.intval($a->argv[2]);
-		if(function_exists($func)) {
+		if (function_exists($func)) {
 			$retval = $func();
-			if($retval === UPDATE_FAILED) {
+			if ($retval === UPDATE_FAILED) {
 				$o .= sprintf(t("Executing %s failed with error: %s"), $func, $retval);
 			}
-			elseif($retval === UPDATE_SUCCESS) {
+			elseif ($retval === UPDATE_SUCCESS) {
 				$o .= sprintf(t('Update %s was successfully applied.', $func));
 				set_config('database',$func, 'success');
-			}
-			else
+			} else {
 				$o .= sprintf(t('Update %s did not return a status. Unknown if it succeeded.'), $func);
+			}
 		} else {
 			$o .= sprintf(t('There was no additional update function %s that needed to be called.'), $func)."<br />";
 			set_config('database',$func, 'success');
@@ -1136,8 +1133,9 @@ function admin_page_dbsync(App $a) {
 	if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 		foreach ($r as $rr) {
 			$upd = intval(substr($rr['k'],7));
-			if($upd < 1139 || $rr['v'] === 'success')
+			if ($upd < 1139 || $rr['v'] === 'success') {
 				continue;
+			}
 			$failed[] = $upd;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1177,7 +1175,7 @@ function admin_page_users_post(App $a) {
 
 	check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/users', 'admin_users');
 
-	if (!($nu_name==="") && !($nu_email==="") && !($nu_nickname==="")) {
+	if (!($nu_name === "") && !($nu_email === "") && !($nu_nickname === "")) {
 		require_once('include/user.php');
 
 		$result = create_user(array('username'=>$nu_name, 'email'=>$nu_email,
@@ -1228,31 +1226,31 @@ function admin_page_users_post(App $a) {
 
 	}
 
-	if(x($_POST,'page_users_block')) {
-		foreach($users as $uid){
+	if (x($_POST,'page_users_block')) {
+		foreach ($users as $uid) {
 			q("UPDATE `user` SET `blocked` = 1-`blocked` WHERE `uid` = %s",
 				intval($uid)
 			);
 		}
 		notice(sprintf(tt("%s user blocked/unblocked", "%s users blocked/unblocked", count($users)), count($users)));
 	}
-	if(x($_POST,'page_users_delete')) {
+	if (x($_POST,'page_users_delete')) {
 		require_once("include/Contact.php");
-		foreach($users as $uid){
+		foreach ($users as $uid) {
 			user_remove($uid);
 		}
 		notice(sprintf(tt("%s user deleted", "%s users deleted", count($users)), count($users)));
 	}
 
-	if(x($_POST,'page_users_approve')) {
+	if (x($_POST,'page_users_approve')) {
 		require_once("mod/regmod.php");
-		foreach($pending as $hash){
+		foreach ($pending as $hash) {
 			user_allow($hash);
 		}
 	}
-	if(x($_POST,'page_users_deny')) {
+	if (x($_POST,'page_users_deny')) {
 		require_once("mod/regmod.php");
-		foreach($pending as $hash){
+		foreach ($pending as $hash) {
 			user_deny($hash);
 		}
 	}
@@ -1273,31 +1271,31 @@ function admin_page_users_post(App $a) {
  * @return string
  */
 function admin_page_users(App $a) {
-	if($a->argc>2) {
+	if ($a->argc>2) {
 		$uid = $a->argv[3];
 		$user = q("SELECT `username`, `blocked` FROM `user` WHERE `uid` = %d", intval($uid));
-		if(count($user)==0) {
+		if (count($user) == 0) {
 			notice('User not found'.EOL);
 			goaway('admin/users');
 			return ''; // NOTREACHED
 		}
-		switch($a->argv[2]){
-			case "delete":{
+		switch($a->argv[2]) {
+			case "delete":
 				check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/users', 'admin_users', 't');
 				// delete user
 				require_once("include/Contact.php");
 				user_remove($uid);
 
 				notice(sprintf(t("User '%s' deleted"), $user[0]['username']).EOL);
-			}; break;
-			case "block":{
+				break;
+			case "block":
 				check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/users', 'admin_users', 't');
 				q("UPDATE `user` SET `blocked` = %d WHERE `uid` = %s",
 					intval(1-$user[0]['blocked']),
 					intval($uid)
 				);
 				notice(sprintf(($user[0]['blocked']?t("User '%s' unblocked"):t("User '%s' blocked")) , $user[0]['username']).EOL);
-			}; break;
+				break;
 		}
 		goaway('admin/users');
 		return ''; // NOTREACHED
@@ -1313,7 +1311,7 @@ function admin_page_users(App $a) {
 
 	/* get users */
 	$total = qu("SELECT COUNT(*) AS `total` FROM `user` WHERE 1");
-	if(count($total)) {
+	if (count($total)) {
 		$a->set_pager_total($total[0]['total']);
 		$a->set_pager_itemspage(100);
 	}
@@ -1330,22 +1328,22 @@ function admin_page_users(App $a) {
 
 	$order = "contact.name";
 	$order_direction = "+";
-	if (x($_GET,'o')){
+	if (x($_GET,'o')) {
 		$new_order = $_GET['o'];
-		if ($new_order[0]==="-") {
+		if ($new_order[0] === "-") {
 			$order_direction = "-";
 			$new_order = substr($new_order,1);
 		}
 
-		if (in_array($new_order, $valid_orders)){
+		if (in_array($new_order, $valid_orders)) {
 			$order = $new_order;
 		}
-		if (x($_GET,'d')){
+		if (x($_GET,'d')) {
 			$new_direction = $_GET['d'];
 		}
 	}
 	$sql_order = "`".str_replace('.','`.`',$order)."`";
-	$sql_order_direction = ($order_direction==="+")?"ASC":"DESC";
+	$sql_order_direction = ($order_direction === "+")?"ASC":"DESC";
 
 	$users = qu("SELECT `user`.*, `contact`.`name`, `contact`.`url`, `contact`.`micro`, `user`.`account_expired`, `contact`.`last-item` AS `lastitem_date`
 				FROM `user`
@@ -1359,7 +1357,7 @@ function admin_page_users(App $a) {
 	//echo "<pre>$users"; killme();
 
 	$adminlist = explode(",", str_replace(" ", "", $a->config['admin_email']));
-	$_setup_users = function ($e) use ($adminlist){
+	$_setup_users = function ($e) use ($adminlist) {
 		$accounts = array(
 			t('Normal Account'),
 			t('Soapbox Account'),
@@ -1385,22 +1383,21 @@ function admin_page_users(App $a) {
 	$tmp_users = array();
 	$deleted = array();
 
-	while(count($users)) {
+	while (count($users)) {
 		$new_user = array();
-		foreach(array_pop($users) as $k => $v) {
+		foreach (array_pop($users) as $k => $v) {
 			$k = str_replace('-','_',$k);
 			$new_user[$k] = $v;
 		}
-		if($new_user['deleted']) {
+		if ($new_user['deleted']) {
 			array_push($deleted, $new_user);
-		}
-		else {
+		} else {
 			array_push($tmp_users, $new_user);
 		}
 	}
 	//Reversing the two array, and moving $tmp_users to $users
 	array_reverse($deleted);
-	while(count($tmp_users)) {
+	while (count($tmp_users)) {
 		array_push($users, array_pop($tmp_users));
 	}
 
@@ -1477,19 +1474,19 @@ function admin_page_plugins(App $a) {
 	/*
 	 * Single plugin
 	 */
-	if($a->argc == 3) {
+	if ($a->argc == 3) {
 		$plugin = $a->argv[2];
-		if(!is_file("addon/$plugin/$plugin.php")) {
+		if (!is_file("addon/$plugin/$plugin.php")) {
 			notice(t("Item not found."));
 			return '';
 		}
 
-		if(x($_GET,"a") && $_GET['a']=="t") {
+		if (x($_GET,"a") && $_GET['a']=="t") {
 			check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/plugins', 'admin_themes', 't');
 
 			// Toggle plugin status
 			$idx = array_search($plugin, $a->plugins);
-			if($idx !== false) {
+			if ($idx !== false) {
 				unset($a->plugins[$idx]);
 				uninstall_plugin($plugin);
 				info(sprintf(t("Plugin %s disabled."), $plugin));
@@ -1506,22 +1503,22 @@ function admin_page_plugins(App $a) {
 		// display plugin details
 		require_once('library/markdown.php');
 
-		if(in_array($plugin, $a->plugins)) {
+		if (in_array($plugin, $a->plugins)) {
 			$status="on"; $action= t("Disable");
 		} else {
 			$status="off"; $action= t("Enable");
 		}
 
 		$readme=Null;
-		if(is_file("addon/$plugin/README.md")) {
+		if (is_file("addon/$plugin/README.md")) {
 			$readme = file_get_contents("addon/$plugin/README.md");
 			$readme = Markdown($readme);
-		} elseif(is_file("addon/$plugin/README")) {
+		} elseif (is_file("addon/$plugin/README")) {
 			$readme = "<pre>". file_get_contents("addon/$plugin/README") ."</pre>";
 		}
 
 		$admin_form="";
-		if(is_array($a->plugins_admin) && in_array($plugin, $a->plugins_admin)) {
+		if (is_array($a->plugins_admin) && in_array($plugin, $a->plugins_admin)) {
 			@require_once("addon/$plugin/$plugin.php");
 			$func = $plugin.'_plugin_admin';
 			$func($a, $admin_form);
@@ -1613,8 +1610,8 @@ function admin_page_plugins(App $a) {
  */
 function toggle_theme(&$themes,$th,&$result) {
 	for($x = 0; $x < count($themes); $x ++) {
-		if($themes[$x]['name'] === $th) {
-			if($themes[$x]['allowed']) {
+		if ($themes[$x]['name'] === $th) {
+			if ($themes[$x]['allowed']) {
 				$themes[$x]['allowed'] = 0;
 				$result = 0;
 			}
@@ -1633,8 +1630,8 @@ function toggle_theme(&$themes,$th,&$result) {
  */
 function theme_status($themes,$th) {
 	for($x = 0; $x < count($themes); $x ++) {
-		if($themes[$x]['name'] === $th) {
-			if($themes[$x]['allowed']) {
+		if ($themes[$x]['name'] === $th) {
+			if ($themes[$x]['allowed']) {
 				return 1;
 			}
 			else {
@@ -1652,11 +1649,12 @@ function theme_status($themes,$th) {
  */
 function rebuild_theme_table($themes) {
 	$o = '';
-	if(count($themes)) {
-		foreach($themes as $th) {
-			if($th['allowed']) {
-				if(strlen($o))
+	if (count($themes)) {
+		foreach ($themes as $th) {
+			if ($th['allowed']) {
+				if (strlen($o)) {
 					$o .= ',';
+				}
 				$o .= $th['name'];
 			}
 		}
@@ -1686,15 +1684,18 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 	$allowed_themes_str = get_config('system','allowed_themes');
 	$allowed_themes_raw = explode(',',$allowed_themes_str);
 	$allowed_themes = array();
-	if(count($allowed_themes_raw))
-		foreach($allowed_themes_raw as $x)
-			if(strlen(trim($x)))
+	if (count($allowed_themes_raw)) {
+		foreach ($allowed_themes_raw as $x) {
+			if (strlen(trim($x))) {
 				$allowed_themes[] = trim($x);
+			}
+		}
+	}
 
 	$themes = array();
 	$files = glob('view/theme/*');
-	if($files) {
-		foreach($files as $file) {
+	if ($files) {
+		foreach ($files as $file) {
 			$f = basename($file);
 
 			// Is there a style file?
@@ -1709,12 +1710,13 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 			$is_supported = 1-(intval(file_exists($file.'/unsupported')));
 			$is_allowed = intval(in_array($f,$allowed_themes));
 
-			if($is_allowed OR $is_supported OR get_config("system", "show_unsupported_themes"))
+			if ($is_allowed OR $is_supported OR get_config("system", "show_unsupported_themes")) {
 				$themes[] = array('name' => $f, 'experimental' => $is_experimental, 'supported' => $is_supported, 'allowed' => $is_allowed);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	if(! count($themes)) {
+	if (! count($themes)) {
 		notice(t('No themes found.'));
 		return '';
 	}
@@ -1723,25 +1725,24 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 	 * Single theme
 	 */
 
-	if($a->argc == 3) {
+	if ($a->argc == 3) {
 		$theme = $a->argv[2];
-		if(! is_dir("view/theme/$theme")) {
+		if (! is_dir("view/theme/$theme")) {
 			notice(t("Item not found."));
 			return '';
 		}
 
-		if(x($_GET,"a") && $_GET['a']=="t") {
+		if (x($_GET,"a") && $_GET['a']=="t") {
 			check_form_security_token_redirectOnErr('/admin/themes', 'admin_themes', 't');
 
 			// Toggle theme status
 
 			toggle_theme($themes,$theme,$result);
 			$s = rebuild_theme_table($themes);
-			if($result) {
+			if ($result) {
 				install_theme($theme);
 				info(sprintf('Theme %s enabled.',$theme));
-			}
-			else {
+			} else {
 				uninstall_theme($theme);
 				info(sprintf('Theme %s disabled.',$theme));
 			}
@@ -1754,22 +1755,22 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 		// display theme details
 		require_once('library/markdown.php');
 
-		if(theme_status($themes,$theme)) {
+		if (theme_status($themes,$theme)) {
 			$status="on"; $action= t("Disable");
 		} else {
 			$status="off"; $action= t("Enable");
 		}
 
-		$readme=Null;
-		if(is_file("view/theme/$theme/README.md")) {
+		$readme = Null;
+		if (is_file("view/theme/$theme/README.md")) {
 			$readme = file_get_contents("view/theme/$theme/README.md");
 			$readme = Markdown($readme);
-		} elseif(is_file("view/theme/$theme/README")) {
+		} elseif (is_file("view/theme/$theme/README")) {
 			$readme = "<pre>". file_get_contents("view/theme/$theme/README") ."</pre>";
 		}
 
-		$admin_form="";
-		if(is_file("view/theme/$theme/config.php")) {
+		$admin_form = "";
+		if (is_file("view/theme/$theme/config.php")) {
 			function __get_theme_admin_form(App $a, $theme) {
 				$orig_theme = $a->theme;
 				$orig_page = $a->page;
@@ -1780,8 +1781,10 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 
 
 				$init = $theme."_init";
-				if(function_exists($init)) $init($a);
-				if(function_exists("theme_admin")) {
+				if (function_exists($init)) {
+					$init($a);
+				}
+				if (function_exists("theme_admin")) {
 					$admin_form = theme_admin($a);
 				}
 
@@ -1794,9 +1797,9 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 		}
 
 		$screenshot = array(get_theme_screenshot($theme), t('Screenshot'));
-		if(! stristr($screenshot[0],$theme))
+		if (! stristr($screenshot[0],$theme)) {
 			$screenshot = null;
-
+		}
 
 		$t = get_markup_template("admin_plugins_details.tpl");
 		return replace_macros($t, array(
@@ -1842,7 +1845,7 @@ function admin_page_themes(App $a) {
 
 	$xthemes = array();
 	if ($themes) {
-		foreach($themes as $th) {
+		foreach ($themes as $th) {
 			$xthemes[] = array($th['name'],(($th['allowed']) ? "on" : "off"), get_theme_info($th['name']));
 		}
 	}
@@ -1967,25 +1970,25 @@ function admin_page_viewlogs(App $a) {
 	$f = get_config('system','logfile');
 	$data = '';
 
-	if(!file_exists($f)) {
+	if (!file_exists($f)) {
 		$data = t("Error trying to open <strong>$f</strong> log file.\r\n<br/>Check to see if file $f exist and is readable.");
-	}
-	else {
+	} else {
 		$fp = fopen($f, 'r');
-		if(!$fp) {
+		if (!$fp) {
 			$data = t("Couldn't open <strong>$f</strong> log file.\r\n<br/>Check to see if file $f is readable.");
-		}
-		else {
+		} else {
 			$fstat = fstat($fp);
 			$size = $fstat['size'];
-			if($size != 0) {
-				if($size > 5000000 || $size < 0)
+			if ($size != 0) {
+				if ($size > 5000000 || $size < 0) {
 					$size = 5000000;
+				}
 				$seek = fseek($fp,0-$size,SEEK_END);
-				if($seek === 0) {
+				if ($seek === 0) {
 					$data = escape_tags(fread($fp,$size));
-					while(! feof($fp))
+					while (! feof($fp)) {
 						$data .= escape_tags(fread($fp,4096));
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			fclose($fp);
@@ -2013,22 +2016,24 @@ function admin_page_features_post(App $a) {
 	$arr = array();
 	$features = get_features(false);
 
-	foreach($features as $fname => $fdata) {
-		foreach(array_slice($fdata,1) as $f) {
+	foreach ($features as $fname => $fdata) {
+		foreach (array_slice($fdata,1) as $f) {
 			$feature = $f[0];
 			$feature_state = 'feature_'.$feature;
 			$featurelock = 'featurelock_'.$feature;
 
-			if(x($_POST[$feature_state]))
+			if (x($_POST[$feature_state])) {
 				$val = intval($_POST['feature_'.$feature]);
-			else
+			} else {
 				$val = 0;
+			}
 			set_config('feature',$feature,$val);
 
-			if(x($_POST[$featurelock]))
+			if (x($_POST[$featurelock])) {
 				set_config('feature_lock',$feature,$val);
-			else
+			} else {
 				del_config('feature_lock',$feature);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2052,18 +2057,19 @@ function admin_page_features_post(App $a) {
  */
 function admin_page_features(App $a) {
 
-	if((argc() > 1) && (argv(1) === 'features')) {
+	if ((argc() > 1) && (argv(1) === 'features')) {
 		$arr = array();
 		$features = get_features(false);
 
-		foreach($features as $fname => $fdata) {
+		foreach ($features as $fname => $fdata) {
 			$arr[$fname] = array();
 			$arr[$fname][0] = $fdata[0];
-			foreach(array_slice($fdata,1) as $f) {
+			foreach (array_slice($fdata,1) as $f) {
 
 				$set = get_config('feature',$f[0]);
-				if($set === false)
+				if ($set === false) {
 					$set = $f[3];
+				}
 				$arr[$fname][1][] = array(
 					array('feature_' .$f[0],$f[1],$set,$f[2],array(t('Off'),t('On'))),
 					array('featurelock_' .$f[0],sprintf(t('Lock feature %s'),$f[1]),(($f[4] !== false) ? "1" : ''),'',array(t('Off'),t('On')))
diff --git a/mod/contacts.php b/mod/contacts.php
index a2a77e2a5..f2500099c 100644
--- a/mod/contacts.php
+++ b/mod/contacts.php
@@ -534,13 +534,13 @@ function contacts_content(App $a) {
 
 		$insecure = t('Private communications are not available for this contact.');
 
-		$last_update = (($contact['last-update'] == '0000-00-00 00:00:00')
+		$last_update = (($contact['last-update'] <= NULL_DATE)
 				? t('Never')
 				: datetime_convert('UTC',date_default_timezone_get(),$contact['last-update'],'D, j M Y, g:i A'));
 
-		if($contact['last-update'] !== '0000-00-00 00:00:00')
+		if ($contact['last-update'] > NULL_DATE) {
 			$last_update .= ' ' . (($contact['last-update'] <= $contact['success_update']) ? t("\x28Update was successful\x29") : t("\x28Update was not successful\x29"));
-
+		}
 		$lblsuggest = (($contact['network'] === NETWORK_DFRN) ? t('Suggest friends') : '');
 
 		$poll_enabled = in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_DFRN, NETWORK_OSTATUS, NETWORK_FEED, NETWORK_MAIL, NETWORK_MAIL2));
@@ -558,12 +558,12 @@ function contacts_content(App $a) {
 		// tabs
 		$tab_str = contacts_tab($a, $contact_id, 2);
 
-		$lost_contact = (($contact['archive'] && $contact['term-date'] != '0000-00-00 00:00:00' && $contact['term-date'] < datetime_convert('','','now')) ? t('Communications lost with this contact!') : '');
+		$lost_contact = (($contact['archive'] && $contact['term-date'] > NULL_DATE && $contact['term-date'] < datetime_convert('','','now')) ? t('Communications lost with this contact!') : '');
 
-		if ($contact['network'] == NETWORK_FEED)
+		if ($contact['network'] == NETWORK_FEED) {
 			$fetch_further_information = array('fetch_further_information', t('Fetch further information for feeds'), $contact['fetch_further_information'], t('Fetch further information for feeds'),
 									array('0'=>t('Disabled'), '1'=>t('Fetch information'), '2'=>t('Fetch information and keywords')));
-
+		}
 		if (in_array($contact['network'], array(NETWORK_FEED, NETWORK_MAIL, NETWORK_MAIL2)))
 			$poll_interval = contact_poll_interval($contact['priority'],(! $poll_enabled));
 
diff --git a/mod/events.php b/mod/events.php
index ac0c444cb..2b84d903e 100644
--- a/mod/events.php
+++ b/mod/events.php
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ function events_post(App $a) {
 	}
 
 	if ($nofinish) {
-		$finish = '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
+		$finish = NULL_DATE;
 	}
 
 	if ($finish_text) {
diff --git a/mod/maintenance.php b/mod/maintenance.php
index dcdc44194..98155b93a 100644
--- a/mod/maintenance.php
+++ b/mod/maintenance.php
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 <?php
 
+use \Friendica\Core\Config;
+
 function maintenance_content(App $a) {
 	header('HTTP/1.1 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable');
 	header('Status: 503 Service Temporarily Unavailable');
 	header('Retry-After: 600');
 
 	return replace_macros(get_markup_template('maintenance.tpl'), array(
-		'$sysdown' => t('System down for maintenance')
+		'$sysdown' => t('System down for maintenance'),
+		'$reason' => Config::get('system', 'maintenance_reason')
 	));
 }
diff --git a/mod/poco.php b/mod/poco.php
index 4ce075301..30648acab 100644
--- a/mod/poco.php
+++ b/mod/poco.php
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 
 	$system_mode = false;
 
-	if(intval(get_config('system','block_public')) || (get_config('system','block_local_dir')))
+	if (intval(get_config('system','block_public')) || (get_config('system','block_local_dir'))) {
 		http_status_exit(401);
+	}
 
-
-	if($a->argc > 1) {
+	if ($a->argc > 1) {
 		$user = notags(trim($a->argv[1]));
 	}
-	if(! x($user)) {
+	if (! x($user)) {
 		$c = q("SELECT * FROM `pconfig` WHERE `cat` = 'system' AND `k` = 'suggestme' AND `v` = 1");
 		if (! dbm::is_result($c)) {
 			http_status_exit(401);
@@ -27,42 +27,55 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 	$justme = false;
 	$global = false;
 
-	if($a->argc > 1 && $a->argv[1] === '@global') {
+	if ($a->argc > 1 && $a->argv[1] === '@server') {
+		// List of all servers that this server knows
+		$ret = poco_serverlist();
+		header('Content-type: application/json');
+		echo json_encode($ret);
+		killme();
+	}
+	if ($a->argc > 1 && $a->argv[1] === '@global') {
+		// List of all profiles that this server recently had data from
 		$global = true;
 		$update_limit = date("Y-m-d H:i:s", time() - 30 * 86400);
 	}
-	if($a->argc > 2 && $a->argv[2] === '@me')
+	if ($a->argc > 2 && $a->argv[2] === '@me') {
 		$justme = true;
-	if($a->argc > 3 && $a->argv[3] === '@all')
+	}
+	if ($a->argc > 3 && $a->argv[3] === '@all') {
 		$justme = false;
-	if($a->argc > 3 && $a->argv[3] === '@self')
+	}
+	if ($a->argc > 3 && $a->argv[3] === '@self') {
 		$justme = true;
-	if($a->argc > 4 && intval($a->argv[4]) && $justme == false)
+	}
+	if ($a->argc > 4 && intval($a->argv[4]) && $justme == false) {
 		$cid = intval($a->argv[4]);
+	}
 
-
-	if(!$system_mode AND !$global) {
+	if (!$system_mode AND !$global) {
 		$r = q("SELECT `user`.*,`profile`.`hide-friends` from user left join profile on `user`.`uid` = `profile`.`uid`
 			where `user`.`nickname` = '%s' and `profile`.`is-default` = 1 limit 1",
 			dbesc($user)
 		);
-		if(! dbm::is_result($r) || $r[0]['hidewall'] || $r[0]['hide-friends'])
+		if (! dbm::is_result($r) || $r[0]['hidewall'] || $r[0]['hide-friends']) {
 			http_status_exit(404);
+		}
 
 		$user = $r[0];
 	}
 
-	if($justme)
+	if ($justme) {
 		$sql_extra = " AND `contact`.`self` = 1 ";
+	}
 //	else
 //		$sql_extra = " AND `contact`.`self` = 0 ";
 
-	if($cid)
+	if ($cid) {
 		$sql_extra = sprintf(" AND `contact`.`id` = %d ",intval($cid));
-
-	if(x($_GET,'updatedSince'))
+	}
+	if (x($_GET,'updatedSince')) {
 		$update_limit =  date("Y-m-d H:i:s",strtotime($_GET['updatedSince']));
-
+	}
 	if ($global) {
 		$r = q("SELECT count(*) AS `total` FROM `gcontact` WHERE `updated` >= '%s' AND `updated` >= `last_failure` AND NOT `hide` AND `network` IN ('%s', '%s', '%s')",
 			dbesc($update_limit),
@@ -70,7 +83,7 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 			dbesc(NETWORK_DIASPORA),
 			dbesc(NETWORK_OSTATUS)
 		);
-	} elseif($system_mode) {
+	} elseif ($system_mode) {
 		$r = q("SELECT count(*) AS `total` FROM `contact` WHERE `self` = 1
 			AND `uid` IN (SELECT `uid` FROM `pconfig` WHERE `cat` = 'system' AND `k` = 'suggestme' AND `v` = 1) ");
 	} else {
@@ -84,14 +97,15 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 			dbesc(NETWORK_STATUSNET)
 		);
 	}
-	if (dbm::is_result($r))
+	if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 		$totalResults = intval($r[0]['total']);
-	else
+	} else {
 		$totalResults = 0;
-
+	}
 	$startIndex = intval($_GET['startIndex']);
-	if(! $startIndex)
+	if (! $startIndex) {
 		$startIndex = 0;
+	}
 	$itemsPerPage = ((x($_GET,'count') && intval($_GET['count'])) ? intval($_GET['count']) : $totalResults);
 
 	if ($global) {
@@ -105,7 +119,7 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 			intval($startIndex),
 			intval($itemsPerPage)
 		);
-	} elseif($system_mode) {
+	} elseif ($system_mode) {
 		logger("Start system mode query", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 		$r = q("SELECT `contact`.*, `profile`.`about` AS `pabout`, `profile`.`locality` AS `plocation`, `profile`.`pub_keywords`,
 				`profile`.`gender` AS `pgender`, `profile`.`address` AS `paddress`, `profile`.`region` AS `pregion`,
@@ -134,13 +148,15 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 	logger("Query done", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
 	$ret = array();
-	if(x($_GET,'sorted'))
+	if (x($_GET,'sorted')) {
 		$ret['sorted'] = false;
-	if(x($_GET,'filtered'))
+	}
+	if (x($_GET,'filtered')) {
 		$ret['filtered'] = false;
-	if(x($_GET,'updatedSince') AND !$global)
+	}
+	if (x($_GET,'updatedSince') AND !$global) {
 		$ret['updatedSince'] = false;
-
+	}
 	$ret['startIndex']   = (int) $startIndex;
 	$ret['itemsPerPage'] = (int) $itemsPerPage;
 	$ret['totalResults'] = (int) $totalResults;
@@ -164,58 +180,61 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 		'generation' => false
 	);
 
-	if((! x($_GET,'fields')) || ($_GET['fields'] === '@all'))
-		foreach($fields_ret as $k => $v)
+	if ((! x($_GET,'fields')) || ($_GET['fields'] === '@all')) {
+		foreach ($fields_ret as $k => $v) {
 			$fields_ret[$k] = true;
-	else {
+		}
+	} else {
 		$fields_req = explode(',',$_GET['fields']);
-		foreach($fields_req as $f)
+		foreach ($fields_req as $f) {
 			$fields_ret[trim($f)] = true;
+		}
 	}
 
-	if(is_array($r)) {
+	if (is_array($r)) {
 		if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
 			foreach ($r as $rr) {
 				if (!isset($rr['generation'])) {
-					if ($global)
+					if ($global) {
 						$rr['generation'] = 3;
-					elseif ($system_mode)
+					} elseif ($system_mode) {
 						$rr['generation'] = 1;
-					else
+					} else {
 						$rr['generation'] = 2;
+					}
 				}
 
-				if (($rr['about'] == "") AND isset($rr['pabout']))
+				if (($rr['about'] == "") AND isset($rr['pabout'])) {
 					$rr['about'] = $rr['pabout'];
-
+				}
 				if ($rr['location'] == "") {
-					if (isset($rr['plocation']))
+					if (isset($rr['plocation'])) {
 						$rr['location'] = $rr['plocation'];
-
+					}
 					if (isset($rr['pregion']) AND ($rr['pregion'] != "")) {
-						if ($rr['location'] != "")
+						if ($rr['location'] != "") {
 							$rr['location'] .= ", ";
-
+						}
 						$rr['location'] .= $rr['pregion'];
 					}
 
 					if (isset($rr['pcountry']) AND ($rr['pcountry'] != "")) {
-						if ($rr['location'] != "")
+						if ($rr['location'] != "") {
 							$rr['location'] .= ", ";
-
+						}
 						$rr['location'] .= $rr['pcountry'];
 					}
 				}
 
-				if (($rr['gender'] == "") AND isset($rr['pgender']))
+				if (($rr['gender'] == "") AND isset($rr['pgender'])) {
 					$rr['gender'] = $rr['pgender'];
-
-				if (($rr['keywords'] == "") AND isset($rr['pub_keywords']))
+				}
+				if (($rr['keywords'] == "") AND isset($rr['pub_keywords'])) {
 					$rr['keywords'] = $rr['pub_keywords'];
-
-				if (isset($rr['account-type']))
+				}
+				if (isset($rr['account-type'])) {
 					$rr['contact-type'] = $rr['account-type'];
-
+				}
 				$about = Cache::get("about:".$rr['updated'].":".$rr['nurl']);
 				if (is_null($about)) {
 					$about = bbcode($rr['about'], false, false);
@@ -230,111 +249,122 @@ function poco_init(App $a) {
 				}
 
 				$entry = array();
-				if($fields_ret['id'])
+				if ($fields_ret['id']) {
 					$entry['id'] = (int)$rr['id'];
-				if($fields_ret['displayName'])
-					$entry['displayName'] = $rr['name'];
-				if($fields_ret['aboutMe'])
-					$entry['aboutMe'] = $about;
-				if($fields_ret['currentLocation'])
-					$entry['currentLocation'] = $rr['location'];
-				if($fields_ret['gender'])
-					$entry['gender'] = $rr['gender'];
-				if($fields_ret['generation'])
-					$entry['generation'] = (int)$rr['generation'];
-				if($fields_ret['urls']) {
-					$entry['urls'] = array(array('value' => $rr['url'], 'type' => 'profile'));
-					if($rr['addr'] && ($rr['network'] !== NETWORK_MAIL))
-						$entry['urls'][] = array('value' => 'acct:' . $rr['addr'], 'type' => 'webfinger');
 				}
-				if($fields_ret['preferredUsername'])
+				if ($fields_ret['displayName']) {
+					$entry['displayName'] = $rr['name'];
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['aboutMe']) {
+					$entry['aboutMe'] = $about;
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['currentLocation']) {
+					$entry['currentLocation'] = $rr['location'];
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['gender']) {
+					$entry['gender'] = $rr['gender'];
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['generation']) {
+					$entry['generation'] = (int)$rr['generation'];
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['urls']) {
+					$entry['urls'] = array(array('value' => $rr['url'], 'type' => 'profile'));
+					if ($rr['addr'] && ($rr['network'] !== NETWORK_MAIL)) {
+						$entry['urls'][] = array('value' => 'acct:' . $rr['addr'], 'type' => 'webfinger');
+					}
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['preferredUsername']) {
 					$entry['preferredUsername'] = $rr['nick'];
-				if($fields_ret['updated']) {
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['updated']) {
 					if (!$global) {
 						$entry['updated'] = $rr['success_update'];
 
-						if ($rr['name-date'] > $entry['updated'])
+						if ($rr['name-date'] > $entry['updated']) {
 							$entry['updated'] = $rr['name-date'];
-
-						if ($rr['uri-date'] > $entry['updated'])
+						}
+						if ($rr['uri-date'] > $entry['updated']) {
 							$entry['updated'] = $rr['uri-date'];
-
-						if ($rr['avatar-date'] > $entry['updated'])
+						}
+						if ($rr['avatar-date'] > $entry['updated']) {
 							$entry['updated'] = $rr['avatar-date'];
-					} else
+						}
+					} else {
 						$entry['updated'] = $rr['updated'];
-
+					}
 					$entry['updated'] = date("c", strtotime($entry['updated']));
 				}
-				if($fields_ret['photos'])
+				if ($fields_ret['photos']) {
 					$entry['photos'] = array(array('value' => $rr['photo'], 'type' => 'profile'));
-				if($fields_ret['network']) {
-					$entry['network'] = $rr['network'];
-					if ($entry['network'] == NETWORK_STATUSNET)
-						$entry['network'] = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
-					if (($entry['network'] == "") AND ($rr['self']))
-						$entry['network'] = NETWORK_DFRN;
 				}
-				if($fields_ret['tags']) {
+				if ($fields_ret['network']) {
+					$entry['network'] = $rr['network'];
+					if ($entry['network'] == NETWORK_STATUSNET) {
+						$entry['network'] = NETWORK_OSTATUS;
+					}
+					if (($entry['network'] == "") AND ($rr['self'])) {
+						$entry['network'] = NETWORK_DFRN;
+					}
+				}
+				if ($fields_ret['tags']) {
 					$tags = str_replace(","," ",$rr['keywords']);
 					$tags = explode(" ", $tags);
 
 					$cleaned = array();
 					foreach ($tags as $tag) {
 						$tag = trim(strtolower($tag));
-						if ($tag != "")
+						if ($tag != "") {
 							$cleaned[] = $tag;
+						}
 					}
 
 					$entry['tags'] = array($cleaned);
 				}
-				if($fields_ret['address']) {
+				if ($fields_ret['address']) {
 					$entry['address'] = array();
 
 					// Deactivated. It just reveals too much data. (Although its from the default profile)
 					//if (isset($rr['paddress']))
 					//	 $entry['address']['streetAddress'] = $rr['paddress'];
 
-					if (isset($rr['plocation']))
+					if (isset($rr['plocation'])) {
 						 $entry['address']['locality'] = $rr['plocation'];
-
-					if (isset($rr['pregion']))
+					}
+					if (isset($rr['pregion'])) {
 						 $entry['address']['region'] = $rr['pregion'];
-
+					}
 					// See above
 					//if (isset($rr['ppostalcode']))
 					//	 $entry['address']['postalCode'] = $rr['ppostalcode'];
 
-					if (isset($rr['pcountry']))
+					if (isset($rr['pcountry'])) {
 						 $entry['address']['country'] = $rr['pcountry'];
+					}
 				}
 
-				if($fields_ret['contactType'])
+				if ($fields_ret['contactType']) {
 					$entry['contactType'] = intval($rr['contact-type']);
-
+				}
 				$ret['entry'][] = $entry;
 			}
-		}
-		else
+		} else {
 			$ret['entry'][] = array();
-	}
-	else
+		}
+	} else {
 		http_status_exit(500);
-
+	}
 	logger("End of poco", LOGGER_DEBUG);
 
-	if($format === 'xml') {
+	if ($format === 'xml') {
 		header('Content-type: text/xml');
 		echo replace_macros(get_markup_template('poco_xml.tpl'),array_xmlify(array('$response' => $ret)));
 		killme();
 	}
-	if($format === 'json') {
+	if ($format === 'json') {
 		header('Content-type: application/json');
 		echo json_encode($ret);
 		killme();
-	}
-	else
+	} else {
 		http_status_exit(500);
-
-
+	}
 }
diff --git a/mod/profiles.php b/mod/profiles.php
index 4c6ff926b..4e82ceaac 100644
--- a/mod/profiles.php
+++ b/mod/profiles.php
@@ -233,11 +233,11 @@ function profiles_post(App $a) {
 
 		$with = ((x($_POST,'with')) ? notags(trim($_POST['with'])) : '');
 
-		if(! strlen($howlong))
-			$howlong = '0000-00-00 00:00:00';
-		else
+		if(! strlen($howlong)) {
+			$howlong = NULL_DATE;
+		} else {
 			$howlong = datetime_convert(date_default_timezone_get(),'UTC',$howlong);
-
+		}
 		// linkify the relationship target if applicable
 
 		$withchanged = false;
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ function profiles_content(App $a) {
 			'$gender' => gender_selector($r[0]['gender']),
 			'$marital' => marital_selector($r[0]['marital']),
 			'$with' => array('with', t("Who: \x28if applicable\x29"), strip_tags($r[0]['with']), t('Examples: cathy123, Cathy Williams, cathy@example.com')),
-			'$howlong' => array('howlong', t('Since [date]:'), ($r[0]['howlong'] === '0000-00-00 00:00:00' ? '' : datetime_convert('UTC',date_default_timezone_get(),$r[0]['howlong']))),
+			'$howlong' => array('howlong', t('Since [date]:'), ($r[0]['howlong'] <= NULL_DATE ? '' : datetime_convert('UTC',date_default_timezone_get(),$r[0]['howlong']))),
 			'$sexual' => sexpref_selector($r[0]['sexual']),
 			'$about' => array('about', t('Tell us about yourself...'), $r[0]['about']),
 			'$xmpp' => array('xmpp', t('XMPP (Jabber) address:'), $r[0]['xmpp'], t("The XMPP address will be propagated to your contacts so that they can follow you.")),
diff --git a/mod/settings.php b/mod/settings.php
index 32ccaf541..5c9c439e0 100644
--- a/mod/settings.php
+++ b/mod/settings.php
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ function settings_content(App $a) {
 		$mail_pubmail      = ((dbm::is_result($r)) ? $r[0]['pubmail'] : 0);
 		$mail_action       = ((dbm::is_result($r)) ? $r[0]['action'] : 0);
 		$mail_movetofolder = ((dbm::is_result($r)) ? $r[0]['movetofolder'] : '');
-		$mail_chk          = ((dbm::is_result($r)) ? $r[0]['last_check'] : '0000-00-00 00:00:00');
+		$mail_chk          = ((dbm::is_result($r)) ? $r[0]['last_check'] : NULL_DATE);
 
 
 		$tpl = get_markup_template("settings_connectors.tpl");
diff --git a/mod/worker.php b/mod/worker.php
index c202a28d6..4949b830f 100644
--- a/mod/worker.php
+++ b/mod/worker.php
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use \Friendica\Core\PConfig;
 
 function worker_init($a){
 
-	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker") OR !Config::get("system", "worker")) {
+	if (!Config::get("system", "frontend_worker")) {
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/update.php b/update.php
index 64259bbb1..3bce49268 100644
--- a/update.php
+++ b/update.php
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 
-define('UPDATE_VERSION' , 1215);
+define('UPDATE_VERSION' , 1216);
 
 /**
  *
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ function update_1000() {
 
 	q("ALTER TABLE `intro` ADD `duplex` TINYINT( 1 ) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0' AFTER `knowyou` ");
 	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` ADD `duplex` TINYINT( 1 ) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0' AFTER `rel` ");
- 	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` CHANGE `issued-pubkey` `issued-pubkey` TEXT CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci NOT NULL");
-	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` ADD `term-date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `avatar-date`");
+ 	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` CHANGE `issued-pubkey` `issued-pubkey` TEXTCHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_general_ci NOT NULL");
+	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` ADD `term-date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `avatar-date`");
 }
 
 function update_1001() {
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ function update_1022() {
 }
 
 function update_1023() {
-	q("ALTER TABLE `user` ADD `register_date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `timezone` ,
-	ADD `login_date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `register_date` ");
+	q("ALTER TABLE `user` ADD `register_date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `timezone` ,
+	ADD `login_date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `register_date` ");
 }
 
 function update_1024() {
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ function update_1034() {
 
 function update_1035() {
 
-	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` ADD `success_update` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `last-update` ");
+	q("ALTER TABLE `contact` ADD `success_update` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `last-update` ");
 
 }
 
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ function update_1049() {
 	`user` CHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL ,
 	`pass` CHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL ,
 	`reply_to` CHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL ,
-	`last_check` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00'
+	`last_check` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00'
 	) ENGINE = MYISAM ");
 }
 
@@ -454,8 +454,8 @@ function update_1050() {
 	`filetype` CHAR( 64 ) NOT NULL ,
 	`filesize` INT NOT NULL ,
 	`data` LONGBLOB NOT NULL ,
-	`created` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-	`edited` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+	`created` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+	`edited` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 	`allow_cid` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL ,
 	`allow_gid` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL ,
 	`deny_cid` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL ,
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ function update_1065() {
 }
 
 function update_1066() {
-	$r = q("ALTER TABLE `item` ADD `received` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `edited` ");
+	$r = q("ALTER TABLE `item` ADD `received` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `edited` ");
 	if($r)
 		q("ALTER TABLE `item` ADD INDEX ( `received` ) ");
 
@@ -673,7 +673,7 @@ function update_1079() {
 }
 
 function update_1080() {
-	q("ALTER TABLE `fcontact` ADD `updated` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00'");
+	q("ALTER TABLE `fcontact` ADD `updated` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00'");
 }
 
 function update_1081() {
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ function update_1086() {
 }
 
 function update_1087() {
-	q("ALTER TABLE `item` ADD `commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `edited` ");
+	q("ALTER TABLE `item` ADD `commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `edited` ");
 
 	$r = q("SELECT `id` FROM `item` WHERE `parent` = `id` ");
 	if (dbm::is_result($r)) {
@@ -747,8 +747,8 @@ function update_1087() {
 
 function update_1088() {
 	q("ALTER TABLE `user` ADD `account_expired` TINYINT( 1 ) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0' AFTER `expire` ,
-		ADD `account_expires_on` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `account_expired` ,
-		ADD `expire_notification_sent` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `account_expires_on` ");
+		ADD `account_expires_on` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `account_expired` ,
+		ADD `expire_notification_sent` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `account_expires_on` ");
 }
 
 function update_1089() {
@@ -932,8 +932,8 @@ ADD INDEX ( `hidden` ) ");
 
 function update_1109() {
 	q("ALTER TABLE `conv` ADD `creator` CHAR( 255 ) NOT NULL ,
-		ADD `created` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-		ADD `updated` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+		ADD `created` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+		ADD `updated` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 		ADD `subject` MEDIUMTEXT NOT NULL,
 		ADD INDEX ( `created` ), ADD INDEX ( `updated` ) ");
 }
@@ -1112,7 +1112,7 @@ function update_1127() {
 
 
 function update_1128() {
-	q("alter table spam add `date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00' AFTER `term` ");
+	q("alter table spam add `date` DATETIME NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00' AFTER `term` ");
 }
 
 function update_1129() {
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ function update_1144() {
 }
 
 function update_1145() {
-	$r = q("alter table profile add howlong datetime not null default '0000-00-00 00:00:00' after `with`");
+	$r = q("alter table profile add howlong datetime not null default '0001-01-01 00:00:00' after `with`");
 	if(! $r)
 		return UPDATE_FAILED ;
 	return UPDATE_SUCCESS ;
@@ -1562,11 +1562,11 @@ function update_1169() {
 		  `iid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 		  `uid` int(10) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 		  `contact-id` int(11) unsigned NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
-		  `created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-		  `edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-		  `commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-		  `received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
-		  `changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
+		  `created` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+		  `edited` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+		  `commented` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+		  `received` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
+		  `changed` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT '0001-01-01 00:00:00',
 		  `wall` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 		  `private` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
 		  `pubmail` tinyint(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT '0',
diff --git a/util/maintenance.php b/util/maintenance.php
index 28f3a503a..b313783a7 100644
--- a/util/maintenance.php
+++ b/util/maintenance.php
@@ -17,17 +17,37 @@ unset($db_host, $db_user, $db_pass, $db_data);
 Config::load();
 
 $maint_mode = 1;
-if($argc > 1)
+if ($argc > 1) {
 	$maint_mode = intval($argv[1]);
-set_config('system', 'maintenance', $maint_mode);
+}
 
-if($maint_mode)
+Config::set('system', 'maintenance', $maint_mode);
+
+if ($maint_mode AND ($argc > 2)) {
+	$reason_arr = $argv;
+	array_shift($reason_arr);
+	array_shift($reason_arr);
+
+	$reason = implode(' ', $reason_arr);
+	Config::set('system', 'maintenance_reason', $reason);
+} else {
+	Config::set('system', 'maintenance_reason', '');
+}
+
+if ($maint_mode) {
 	$mode_str = "maintenance mode";
-else
+} else {
 	$mode_str = "normal mode";
+}
+
+echo "\n\tSystem set in $mode_str\n";
+
+if ($reason != '') {
+	echo "\tMaintenance reason: $reason\n\n";
+} else {
+	echo "\n";
+}
 
-echo "\n\tSystem set in $mode_str\n\n";
 echo "Usage:\n\n";
-echo "\tphp {$argv[0]} [1]\tSet the system in maintenance mode\n";
+echo "\tphp {$argv[0]} [1] [Maintenance reason]\tSet the system in maintenance mode\n";
 echo "\tphp {$argv[0]} 0  \tSet the system in normal mode\n\n";
-
diff --git a/view/templates/admin_site.tpl b/view/templates/admin_site.tpl
index e670222d4..fdba195f1 100644
--- a/view/templates/admin_site.tpl
+++ b/view/templates/admin_site.tpl
@@ -119,16 +119,11 @@
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$proxy}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$proxyuser}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$timeout}}
-	{{if NOT $worker.2}}
-		{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$delivery_interval}}
-		{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$poll_interval}}
-	{{/if}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$maxloadavg}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$maxloadavg_frontend}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$optimize_max_tablesize}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$optimize_fragmentation}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$abandon_days}}
-	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$lockpath}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$temppath}}
 	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$basepath}}
 	{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$suppress_tags}}
@@ -154,13 +149,10 @@
 	<div class="submit"><input type="submit" name="page_site" value="{{$submit|escape:'html'}}" /></div>
 
 	<h3>{{$worker_title}}</h3>
-	{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker}}
-	{{if $worker.2}}
-		{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$worker_queues}}
-		{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_dont_fork}}
-		{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_fastlane}}
-		{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_frontend}}
-	{{/if}}
+	{{include file="field_input.tpl" field=$worker_queues}}
+	{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_dont_fork}}
+	{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_fastlane}}
+	{{include file="field_checkbox.tpl" field=$worker_frontend}}
 	<div class="submit"><input type="submit" name="page_site" value="{{$submit|escape:'html'}}" /></div>
 
 	</form>
diff --git a/view/templates/admin_summary.tpl b/view/templates/admin_summary.tpl
index c8e8af229..a8243b614 100644
--- a/view/templates/admin_summary.tpl
+++ b/view/templates/admin_summary.tpl
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 	<dl>
 		<dt>{{$queues.label}}</dt>
-		<dd>{{$queues.deliverq}} - <a href="{{$baseurl}}/admin/queue">{{$queues.queue}}</a>{{if $workeractive}} - {{$queues.workerq}}{{/if}}</dd>
+		<dd>{{$queues.deliverq}} - <a href="{{$baseurl}}/admin/queue">{{$queues.queue}}</a> - {{$queues.workerq}}</dd>
 	</dl>
 	<dl>
 		<dt>{{$pending.0}}</dt>
diff --git a/view/templates/maintenance.tpl b/view/templates/maintenance.tpl
index f43da542f..e26af299f 100644
--- a/view/templates/maintenance.tpl
+++ b/view/templates/maintenance.tpl
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 
-<div id="maintenance-message">{{$sysdown}}</div>
+<h1 id="maintenance-message">{{$sysdown}}</h1>
+<div id="maintenance-reason">{{$reason}}</div>