diff --git a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
index 4b63062..6b0a66b 100644
--- a/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
+++ b/planetstack/core/models/plcorebase.py
@@ -159,6 +159,11 @@
     updated = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True, default=timezone.now)
     enacted = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True, default=None)
     policed = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True, default=None)
+
+    # This is a scratchpad used by the Observer
+    backend_register = models.CharField(max_length=140,
+                                      default="{}", null=True)
+
     backend_status = models.CharField(max_length=140,
                                       default="0 - Provisioning in progress")
     deleted = models.BooleanField(default=False)
diff --git a/planetstack/core/views/observer.py b/planetstack/core/views/observer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67b2fde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/core/views/observer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from django.http import HttpResponse
+from monitor import driver
+from core.models import *
+import json
+import time
+
+def Observer(request):
+    t = time.time()
+    status_str = open('/tmp/observer_last_run','r').read()    
+    d = json.loads(status_str)
+    comp = d['last_run'] + d['last_duration']*2 + 300
+    if comp>t:
+        d['health'] = ':-)'
+    else:
+        d['health'] = ':-X'
+    d['time'] = t
+    d['comp'] = comp
+
+    return HttpResponse(json.dumps(d))
diff --git a/planetstack/dmdot b/planetstack/dmdot
index 9e13df2..4bcf7e1 100644
--- a/planetstack/dmdot
+++ b/planetstack/dmdot
@@ -34,40 +34,52 @@
 
 PlCoreBase = getattr(models_module,"PlCoreBase")
 
+synonyms = {
+        'user':'creator'
+}
+
 model_classes = []
 class_names = []
 lower_class_names = {}
 for classname in dir(models_module):
         c = getattr(models_module, classname, None)
-	if type(c)==type(PlCoreBase):
-		model_classes.append(c)
-		class_names.append(c.__name__)
+        if type(c)==type(PlCoreBase):
+                model_classes.append(c)
+                class_names.append(c.__name__)
                 lower_class_names[c.__name__.lower()] = c
+                try:
+                        synonym = synonyms[c.__name__.lower()]
+                        lower_class_names[synonym] = c
+                except: 
+                        pass    
+                        
 
 # django doesn't use the correct case in field.name.title() for objects that
 # have CamelCased class names. So, compare everything in lower case.
 
 if (output=='-dot'):
-	print "digraph plstack {";
-	for c in model_classes:
-		fields = c._meta.fields
-		for f in fields:
-			if type(f)==ForeignKey and f.name.lower() in lower_class_names:
+        print "digraph plstack {";
+        for c in model_classes:
+                fields = c._meta.fields
+
+                for f in fields:
+                        if type(f)==ForeignKey and f.name.lower() in lower_class_names:
                                 linked_class = lower_class_names[f.name.lower()]
-				print '\t"%s"->"%s";'%(c.__name__,linked_class.__name__)
-	print "}\n";
+                                print '\t"%s"->"%s";'%(c.__name__,linked_class.__name__)
+        print "}\n";
 elif (output=='-json'):
-	d = {}
-	for c in model_classes:
-		fields = c._meta.fields
-		for f in fields:
-			if type(f)==ForeignKey and f.name.lower() in lower_class_names:
+        d = {}
+        for c in model_classes:
+                fields = c._meta.fields
+
+                for f in fields:
+                        if type(f)==ForeignKey and f.name.lower() in lower_class_names:
                                 linked_class = lower_class_names[f.name.lower()]
-				try:
-					d[c.__name__].append(linked_class.__name__)
-				except KeyError:
-					d[c.__name__]=[linked_class.__name__]
-	d['NetworkDeployments'].append('SliceDeployments')
-	print json.dumps(d,indent=4)
-	
-	
+                                try:
+                                        d[c.__name__].append(linked_class.__name__)
+                                except KeyError:
+                                        d[c.__name__]=[linked_class.__name__]
+        #d['ControllerNetwork'].append('SliceDeployments')
+        print json.dumps(d,indent=4)
+        
+        
diff --git a/planetstack/model-deps b/planetstack/model-deps
index 6647031..4d46d31 100644
--- a/planetstack/model-deps
+++ b/planetstack/model-deps
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
     "Slice": [
         "Site", 
         "Service", 
-        "ServiceClass"
+        "ServiceClass", 
+        "User"
     ], 
     "ImageDeployments": [
         "Image", 
@@ -15,6 +16,10 @@
     "ReservedResource": [
         "Sliver"
     ], 
+    "ControllerNetwork": [
+        "Network", 
+        "Controller"
+    ], 
     "NetworkSlice": [
         "Network", 
         "Slice"
@@ -24,19 +29,22 @@
         "Slice", 
         "Invoice"
     ], 
-    "ControllerPrivilege": [
-        "User", 
+    "ControllerSite": [
+        "Site", 
+        "Controller"
+    ], 
+    "Node": [
+        "Site"
+    ], 
+    "ControllerSlice": [
         "Controller", 
-        "Role"
+        "Slice"
     ], 
-    "Sliver": [
-        "Image", 
-        "Slice", 
-        "Node", 
-        "Flavor"
+    "ControllerSitePrivilege": [
+        "Controller"
     ], 
-    "ControllerNetwork": [
-        "Network", 
+    "ControllerUser": [
+        "User", 
         "Controller"
     ], 
     "UserCredential": [
@@ -61,6 +69,15 @@
     "ServiceResource": [
         "ServiceClass"
     ], 
+    "Sliver": [
+        "Image", 
+        "User", 
+        "Slice", 
+        "Deployment", 
+        "Node", 
+        "Flavor",
+	"Network"	
+    ], 
     "Payment": [
         "Account"
     ], 
@@ -70,7 +87,12 @@
     "ServiceAttribute": [
         "Service"
     ], 
-    "ControllerSites": [
+    "ControllerSlicePrivilege": [
+        "Controller"
+    ], 
+    "SiteDeployment": [
+        "Site", 
+        "Deployment", 
         "Controller"
     ], 
     "SlicePrivilege": [
@@ -87,22 +109,17 @@
         "Site", 
         "Role"
     ], 
-    "ControllerUser": [
-        "User", 
-        "Controller"
-    ], 
     "SiteCredential": [
         "Site"
     ], 
-    "ControllerSlice": [
-        "Controller", 
-        "Slice",
-        "ControllerUser"
-    ], 
-    "SiteDeployments": [
-        "Site", 
+    "DeploymentPrivilege": [
+        "User", 
         "Deployment", 
-        "Controller"
+        "Role"
+    ], 
+    "ControllerDashboardView": [
+        "Controller", 
+        "DashboardView"
     ], 
     "PlanetStackPrivilege": [
         "User", 
@@ -112,11 +129,6 @@
     "Invoice": [
         "Account"
     ], 
-    "DeploymentPrivilege": [
-        "User", 
-        "Deployment", 
-        "Role"
-    ], 
     "SliceCredential": [
         "Slice"
     ]
diff --git a/planetstack/model_policies/__init__.py b/planetstack/model_policies/__init__.py
index cfcbe8f..8285cb2 100644
--- a/planetstack/model_policies/__init__.py
+++ b/planetstack/model_policies/__init__.py
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@
 from .model_policy_SitePrivilege import *
 from .model_policy_SlicePrivilege import *
 from .model_policy_ControllerSlice import *
+from .model_policy_ControllerSite import *
+from .model_policy_ControllerUser import *
 from .model_policy_Controller import *
 from .model_policy_Image import *
diff --git a/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSite.py b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSite.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b76080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSite.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+def handle(controller_site):
+    from core.models import ControllerSite, Site
+   
+    try:
+        my_status_code = int(controller_site.backend_status[0])
+        try:
+            his_status_code = int(controller_site.site.backend_status[0])
+        except:
+            his_status_code = 0
+ 
+        if (my_status_code not in [0,his_status_code]):
+            controller_site.site.backend_status = controller_site.backend_status
+            controller_site.site.save(update_fields = ['backend_status'])
+    except Exception,e:
+        print str(e)	
+        pass
diff --git a/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSlice.py b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSlice.py
index a7f6c9a..1861c66 100644
--- a/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSlice.py
+++ b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerSlice.py
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@
         except:
             his_status_code = 0
  
-        print "My: %d His: %d"%(my_status_code, his_status_code)
         if (my_status_code not in [0,his_status_code]):
             controller_slice.slice.backend_status = controller_slice.backend_status
+            controller_slice.slice.save(update_fields = ['backend_status'])
     except Exception,e:
         print str(e)	
         pass
diff --git a/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerUser.py b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerUser.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b69c9b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/planetstack/model_policies/model_policy_ControllerUser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+def handle(controller_user):
+    from core.models import ControllerUser, User
+   
+    try:
+        my_status_code = int(controller_user.backend_status[0])
+        try:
+            his_status_code = int(controller_user.user.backend_status[0])
+        except:
+            his_status_code = 0
+ 
+        if (my_status_code not in [0,his_status_code]):
+            controller_user.user.backend_status = controller_user.backend_status
+            controller_user.user.save(update_fields = ['backend_status'])
+    except Exception,e:
+        print str(e)	
+        pass
diff --git a/planetstack/model_policy.py b/planetstack/model_policy.py
index 8ddb82e..dc14766 100644
--- a/planetstack/model_policy.py
+++ b/planetstack/model_policy.py
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@
         instance.save(update_fields=['policed'])
 
 def run_policy():
-        from core.models import Slice,Controller,Network,User,SlicePrivilege,Site,SitePrivilege,Image,ControllerSlice
+        from core.models import Slice,Controller,Network,User,SlicePrivilege,Site,SitePrivilege,Image,ControllerSlice,ControllerUser,ControllerSite
 	while (True):
 		start = time.time()
-		models = [Slice, Controller, Network, User, SlicePrivilege, Site, SitePrivilege, Image, ControllerSlice]
+		models = [Slice, Controller, Network, User, SlicePrivilege, Site, SitePrivilege, Image, ControllerSlice, ControllerSite, ControllerUser]
 		objects = []
 		
 		for m in models:
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/event_loop.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
index 51be5d3..bc0b226 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/event_loop.py
@@ -136,6 +136,12 @@
 			logger.info('Loading backend dependency graph from %s' % backend_path)
 			# This contains dependencies between backend records
 			self.backend_dependency_graph = json.loads(open(backend_path).read())
+			for k,v in self.backend_dependency_graph.items():
+				try:
+					self.model_dependency_graph[k].extend(v)
+				except KeyError:
+					self.model_dependency_graphp[k] = v
+
 		except Exception,e:
 			logger.info('Backend dependency graph not loaded')
 			# We can work without a backend graph
@@ -173,28 +179,6 @@
 				pass
 				# no dependencies, pass
 		
-		#import pdb
-		#pdb.set_trace()
-		if (self.backend_dependency_graph):
-			backend_dict = {}
-			for s in self.sync_steps:
-				for m in s.serves:
-					backend_dict[m]=s.__name__
-					
-			for k,v in backend_dependency_graph.iteritems():
-				try:
-					source = backend_dict[k]
-					for m in v:
-						try:
-							dest = backend_dict[m]
-						except KeyError:
-							# no deps, pass
-							pass
-						step_graph[source]=dest
-						
-				except KeyError:
-					pass
-					# no dependencies, pass
 
 		self.dependency_graph = step_graph
 		self.deletion_dependency_graph = invert_graph(step_graph)
@@ -395,6 +379,7 @@
 
 		while True:
 			try:
+				loop_start = time.time()
 				error_map_file = getattr(Config(), "error_map_path", "/opt/planetstack/error_map.txt")
 				self.error_mapper = ErrorMapper(error_map_file)
 
@@ -446,6 +431,8 @@
 						t.join()
 
 				self.save_run_times()
+				loop_end = time.time()
+				open('/tmp/observer_last_run','w').write(json.dumps({'last_run': loop_end, 'last_duration':loop_end - loop_start}))
 			except Exception, e:
 				logger.error('Core error. This seems like a misconfiguration or bug: %r. This error will not be relayed to the user!' % e)
 				logger.log_exc("Exception in observer run loop")
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
index fa0cad1..e076d81 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_images.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 class SyncControllerImages(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[ControllerImages]
+    observes = ControllerImages
     requested_interval=0
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
index 1071ef7..83cf8ea 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_networks.py
@@ -11,11 +11,14 @@
 from util.logger import Logger, logging
 from observer.ansible import *
 
+import pdb
+
 logger = Logger(level=logging.INFO)
 
 class SyncControllerNetworks(OpenStackSyncStep):
     requested_interval = 0
     provides=[Network]
+    observes=ControllerNetwork	
 
     def alloc_subnet(self, uuid):
         # 16 bits only
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
index 89fa27c..0ea86e1 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_site_privileges.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 class SyncControllerSitePrivileges(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[SitePrivilege]
     requested_interval=0
+    observes=ControllerSitePrivilege
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
 
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
index 2dc13da..f7905c9 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_sites.py
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@
 class SyncControllerSites(OpenStackSyncStep):
     requested_interval=0
     provides=[Site]
+    observes=ControllerSite
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted=False):
         pending = super(OpenStackSyncStep, self).fetch_pending(deleted)
         return pending.filter(controller__isnull=False)
 
     def sync_record(self, controller_site):
-
 	template = os_template_env.get_template('sync_controller_sites.yaml')
 	tenant_fields = {'endpoint':controller_site.controller.auth_url,
 		         'admin_user': controller_site.controller.admin_user,
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
index 35d1b99..99000ea 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slice_privileges.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 class SyncControllerSlicePrivileges(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[SlicePrivilege]
     requested_interval=0
+    observes=ControllerSlicePrivilege
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
 
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
index 9e47669..0c24ae1 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_slices.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 class SyncControllerSlices(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[Slice]
     requested_interval=0
+    observes=ControllerSlice
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
         if (deleted):
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
index d7d79f7..08123fe 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_controller_users.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 class SyncControllerUsers(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[User]
     requested_interval=0
+    observes=ControllerUser
 
     def fetch_pending(self, deleted):
 
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
index 3989c16..9a25c19 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/steps/sync_slivers.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 class SyncSlivers(OpenStackSyncStep):
     provides=[Sliver]
     requested_interval=0
+    observes=Sliver
 
     def get_userdata(self, sliver):
         userdata = 'opencloud:\n   slicename: "%s"\n   hostname: "%s"\n' % (sliver.slice.name, sliver.node.name)
diff --git a/planetstack/openstack_observer/syncstep.py b/planetstack/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
index fd34f55..247d4c9 100644
--- a/planetstack/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
+++ b/planetstack/openstack_observer/syncstep.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 from util.logger import Logger, logging
 from observer.steps import *
 from django.db.models import F, Q
+import json
+import time
+import pdb
 
 logger = Logger(level=logging.INFO)
 
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@
         # This is the most common implementation of fetch_pending
         # Steps should override it if they have their own logic
         # for figuring out what objects are outstanding.
-        main_obj = self.provides[0]
+        main_obj = self.observes
         if (not deletion):
             objs = main_obj.objects.filter(Q(enacted__lt=F('updated')) | Q(enacted=None))
         else:
@@ -74,34 +77,69 @@
     def call(self, failed=[], deletion=False):
         pending = self.fetch_pending(deletion)
         for o in pending:
+            sync_failed = False
             try:
-                for f in failed:
-                    self.check_dependencies(o,f) # Raises exception if failed
-                if (deletion):
-                    self.delete_record(o)
-                    o.delete(purge=True)
-                else:
-                    self.sync_record(o)
-                    o.enacted = datetime.now() # Is this the same timezone? XXX
-                    o.backend_status = "1 - OK"
-                    o.save(update_fields=['enacted'])
-            except Exception,e:
-                logger.log_exc("sync step failed!")
-                str_e = '%r'%e
+                scratchpad = json.loads(o.backend_register)
+                if (scratchpad):
+                    next_run = scratchpad['next_run']
+                    if (next_run>time.time()):
+                        sync_failed = True
+                        print "BACKING OFF, exponent = %d"%scratchpad['exponent']
+            except:
+                pass
+
+            if (not sync_failed):
                 try:
-                    o.backend_status = '2 - %s'%self.error_map.map(str_e)
-                except:
-                    o.backend_status = '2 - %s'%str_e
-
-                # TOFIX:
-                # DatabaseError: value too long for type character varying(140)
-                if (o.pk):
+                    for f in failed:
+                        self.check_dependencies(o,f) # Raises exception if failed
+                    if (deletion):
+                        self.delete_record(o)
+                        o.delete(purge=True)
+                    else:
+                        self.sync_record(o)
+                        o.enacted = datetime.now() # Is this the same timezone? XXX
+                        scratchpad = {'next_run':0, 'exponent':0}
+                        o.backend_register = json.dumps(scratchpad)
+                        o.backend_status = "1 - OK"
+                        o.save(update_fields=['enacted','backend_status','backend_register'])
+                except Exception,e:
+                    logger.log_exc("sync step failed!")
+                    str_e = '%r'%e
                     try:
-                        o.save(update_fields=['backend_status'])
+                        o.backend_status = '2 - %s'%self.error_map.map(str_e)
                     except:
-                        print "Could not update backend status field!"
-                        pass
+                        o.backend_status = '2 - %s'%str_e
 
+                    try:
+                        scratchpad = json.loads(o.backend_register)
+                        scratchpad['exponent']
+                    except:
+                        scratchpad = {'next_run':0, 'exponent':0}
+
+                    # Second failure
+                    if (scratchpad['exponent']):
+                        delay = scratchpad['exponent'] * 600 # 10 minutes
+                        if (delay<1440):
+                            delay = 1440
+                        scratchpad['next_run'] = time.time() + delay
+
+                    scratchpad['exponent']+=1
+
+                    o.backend_register = json.dumps(scratchpad)
+
+                    # TOFIX:
+                    # DatabaseError: value too long for type character varying(140)
+                    if (o.pk):
+                        try:
+                            o.backend_status = o.backend_status[:140]
+                            o.save(update_fields=['backend_status','backend_register'])
+                        except:
+                            print "Could not update backend status field!"
+                            pass
+                    sync_failed = True
+
+
+            if (sync_failed):
                 failed.append(o)
 
         return failed
diff --git a/planetstack/planetstack/urls.py b/planetstack/planetstack/urls.py
index 30ad665..7e780fb 100644
--- a/planetstack/planetstack/urls.py
+++ b/planetstack/planetstack/urls.py
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@
     # Examples:
     # url(r'^$', 'planetstack.views.home', name='home'),
     # url(r'^planetstack/', include('planetstack.foo.urls')),
-
     url(r'^stats', 'core.views.stats.Stats', name='stats'),
+    url(r'^observer', 'core.views.observer.Observer', name='observer'),
+
 
     # Uncomment the admin/doc line below to enable admin documentation:
     url(r'^admin/doc/', include('django.contrib.admindocs.urls')),