diff --git a/config/development.json b/config/development.json
index 34c4c849..d3472a68 100644
--- a/config/development.json
+++ b/config/development.json
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	},
 	"Database": {
 		"MySqlConnectionUri": "none",
-		"DownloadDirectory": "/home/lbry/Downloads/"
+		"DownloadDirectory": "/home/ubuntu/Downloads/"
 	},
 	"Logging": {
 		"LogLevel": "silly"
diff --git a/controllers/serveController.js b/controllers/serveController.js
index 845dfb57..a390a32c 100644
--- a/controllers/serveController.js
+++ b/controllers/serveController.js
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ const db = require('../models');
 const logger = require('winston');
 const getAllFreePublicClaims = require('../helpers/functions/getAllFreePublicClaims.js');
 const isFreePublicClaim = require('../helpers/functions/isFreePublicClaim.js');
+const { validateClaimId } = require('../helpers/libraries/serveHelpers.js');
 
 function updateFileIfNeeded (uri, claimName, claimId, localOutpoint, localHeight) {
-  logger.debug(`A mysql record was found for ${claimName}:${claimId}. Initiating resolve to check outpoint.`);
+  logger.debug(`Initiating resolve to check outpoint for ${claimName}:${claimId}.`);
   // 1. resolve claim
   lbryApi
     .resolveUri(uri)
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ function updateFileIfNeeded (uri, claimName, claimId, localOutpoint, localHeight
       }
     })
     .catch(error => {
-      logger.error(`error resolving "${uri}" >> `, error);
+      logger.error(error);
     });
 }
 
@@ -110,6 +111,41 @@ function getClaimAndHandleResponse (uri, address, height, resolve, reject) {
     });
 }
 
+function getClaimAndReturnResponse (uri, address, height) {
+  const deferred = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    lbryApi
+      .getClaim(uri)
+      .then(({ name, claim_id, outpoint, file_name, download_path, mime_type, metadata }) => {
+        // create entry in the db
+        logger.silly(`creating new File record`);
+        db.File
+          .create({
+            name,
+            claimId : claim_id,
+            address,  // note: passed as an arguent, not from this 'get' call
+            outpoint,
+            height, // note: passed as an arguent, not from this 'get' call
+            fileName: file_name,
+            filePath: download_path,
+            fileType: mime_type,
+            nsfw    : metadata.stream.metadata.nsfw,
+          })
+          .then(result => {
+            logger.debug('successfully created File record');
+            resolve(result); // note: result.dataValues ?
+          })
+          .catch(error => {
+            logger.error('sequelize create error', error);
+            reject(error);
+          });
+      })
+      .catch(error => {
+        reject(error);
+      });
+  });
+  return deferred;
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   getClaimByName (claimName) {
     const deferred = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
@@ -155,35 +191,36 @@ module.exports = {
   },
   getClaimByClaimId (name, claimId) {
     const deferred = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-      const uri = `${name}#${claimId}`;
-      // 1. check locally for the claim
-      db.File
-        .findOne({ where: { name, claimId } })
-        .then(claim => {
-          // 2. if a match is found locally, serve it
-          if (claim) {
-            // serve the file
-            resolve(claim.dataValues);
-            // trigger an update if needed
-            updateFileIfNeeded(uri, name, claimId, claim.dataValues.outpoint, claim.dataValues.outpoint);
-          // 2. otherwise use daemon to retrieve it
+      let uri;
+      validateClaimId(name, claimId)  // 1. validate the claim id & retrieve the full claim id if needed
+        .then(validClaimId => {  // 2. check locally for the claim
+          logger.debug('valid claim id:', validClaimId);
+          uri = `${name}#${validClaimId}`;
+          return db.File.findOne({ where: { name, claimId: validClaimId } });
+        })
+        .then(result => {
+          // 3. if a match is found locally, serve that claim
+          if (result) {
+            logger.debug('Result found in File table:', result.dataValues);
+            // return the data for the file to be served
+            resolve(result.dataValues);
+            // update the file, as needed
+            updateFileIfNeeded(uri, name, claimId, result.dataValues.outpoint, result.dataValues.outpoint);
+          // 3. if a match was not found use the daemon to retrieve the claim & return the db data once it is created
           } else {
-            // 3. resolve the Uri
+            logger.debug('No result found in File table');
             lbryApi
               .resolveUri(uri)
               .then(result => {
-                // check to make sure the result is a claim
-                if (!result.claim) {
+                if (!result.claim) { // check to make sure the result is a claim
                   logger.debug('resolve did not return a claim');
                   resolve(null);
-                  return;
                 }
-                // 4. check to see if the claim is free & public
-                if (isFreePublicClaim(result.claim)) {
-                  // 5. get claim and serve
-                  getClaimAndHandleResponse(uri, result.claim.address, result.claim.height, resolve, reject);
+                if (isFreePublicClaim(result.claim)) { // check to see if the claim is free & public
+                  // get claim and serve
+                  resolve(getClaimAndReturnResponse(uri, result.claim.address, result.claim.height));
                 } else {
-                  reject(null);
+                  resolve(null);
                 }
               })
               .catch(error => {
diff --git a/controllers/statsController.js b/controllers/statsController.js
index 961d7b5a..e13f0d03 100644
--- a/controllers/statsController.js
+++ b/controllers/statsController.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ module.exports = {
           });
       })
       .catch(error => {
-        logger.error('sequelize error', error);
+        logger.error('Sequelize error', error);
       });
   },
   sendGoogleAnalytics (action, headers, ip, originalUrl) {
diff --git a/helpers/functions/getAllFreePublicClaims.js b/helpers/functions/getAllFreePublicClaims.js
index 4a902691..e5f6f8c7 100644
--- a/helpers/functions/getAllFreePublicClaims.js
+++ b/helpers/functions/getAllFreePublicClaims.js
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ module.exports = (claimName) => {
         resolve(orderedPublicClaims);
       })
       .catch(error => {
-        logger.error('error received from lbryApi.getClaimsList', error);
         reject(error);
       });
   });
diff --git a/helpers/libraries/serveHelpers.js b/helpers/libraries/serveHelpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dfaa663d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers/libraries/serveHelpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+const logger = require('winston');
+const db = require('../../models');
+
+module.exports = {
+  serveFile ({ fileName, fileType, filePath }, res) {
+    logger.info(`serving file ${fileName}`);
+    // set default options
+    let options = {
+      headers: {
+        'X-Content-Type-Options': 'nosniff',
+        'Content-Type'          : fileType,
+      },
+    };
+    // adjust default options as needed
+    switch (fileType) {
+      case 'image/jpeg':
+        break;
+      case 'image/gif':
+        break;
+      case 'image/png':
+        break;
+      case 'video/mp4':
+        break;
+      default:
+        logger.warn('sending file with unknown type as .jpeg');
+        options['headers']['Content-Type'] = 'image/jpeg';
+        break;
+    }
+    // send the file
+    res.status(200).sendFile(filePath, options);
+  },
+  validateClaimId (name, claimId) {
+    const deferred = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      logger.debug('claim id length:', claimId.length);
+      // make sure the claim id is 40 characters
+      if (claimId.length === 40) {
+        logger.debug('Claim Id length is valid.');
+        resolve(claimId);
+      // if the claim id is shorter than 40, check the db for the full claim id
+      } else if (claimId.length === 1) {
+        logger.debug(`Finding claim id for "${name}" "${claimId}"`);
+        db.File
+          .findOne({
+            where: {
+              name,
+              claimId: { $like: `${claimId}%` },
+            },
+          })
+          .then(file => {
+            // if no results were found, throw an error
+            if (!file) {
+              reject(new Error('That is not a valid short URL.'));
+            }
+            // if a result was found, resolve with the full claim id
+            logger.debug('Full claim id:', file.dataValues.claimId);
+            resolve(file.dataValues.claimId);
+          })
+          .catch(error => {
+            reject(error);
+          });
+      } else {
+        logger.error('The Claim Id was neither 40 nor 1 character in length');
+        reject(new Error('That Claim Id is not valid.'));
+      }
+    });
+    return deferred;
+  },
+};
diff --git a/public/assets/css/componentStyle.css b/public/assets/css/componentStyle.css
index a7735c32..82174523 100644
--- a/public/assets/css/componentStyle.css
+++ b/public/assets/css/componentStyle.css
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ button.copy-button {
 	float: right;
 }
 
+.share-option {
+	margin-bottom: 1em;
+}
+
 .metadata-table {
 	font-size: small;
 	border-collapse: collapse;
diff --git a/routes/serve-routes.js b/routes/serve-routes.js
index 4a6bf307..552c399f 100644
--- a/routes/serve-routes.js
+++ b/routes/serve-routes.js
@@ -2,47 +2,17 @@ const logger = require('winston');
 const { getClaimByClaimId, getClaimByName } = require('../controllers/serveController.js');
 const { postToStats, sendGoogleAnalytics } = require('../controllers/statsController.js');
 const errorHandlers = require('../helpers/libraries/errorHandlers.js');
-
-function serveFile ({ fileName, fileType, filePath }, res) {
-  logger.info(`serving file ${fileName}`);
-  // set default options
-  let options = {
-    headers: {
-      'X-Content-Type-Options': 'nosniff',
-      'Content-Type'          : fileType,
-    },
-  };
-  // adjust default options as needed
-  switch (fileType) {
-    case 'image/jpeg':
-      break;
-    case 'image/gif':
-      break;
-    case 'image/png':
-      break;
-    case 'video/mp4':
-      break;
-    default:
-      logger.warn('sending file with unknown type as .jpeg');
-      options['headers']['Content-Type'] = 'image/jpeg';
-      break;
-  }
-  // send file
-  res.status(200).sendFile(filePath, options);
-}
-
-function sendAnalyticsAndLog (headers, ip, originalUrl) {
-  // google analytics
-  sendGoogleAnalytics('serve', headers, ip, originalUrl);
-}
+const { serveFile } = require('../helpers/libraries/serveHelpers.js');
 
 module.exports = (app) => {
   // route to serve a specific asset
   app.get('/:name/:claim_id', ({ headers, ip, originalUrl, params }, res) => {
-    sendAnalyticsAndLog(headers, ip, originalUrl);
+    // google analytics
+    sendGoogleAnalytics('serve', headers, ip, originalUrl);
     // begin image-serve processes
     getClaimByClaimId(params.name, params.claim_id)
       .then(fileInfo => {
+        logger.debug('file info:', fileInfo);
         // check to make sure a file was found
         if (!fileInfo) {
           res.status(307).render('noClaims');
@@ -67,9 +37,10 @@ module.exports = (app) => {
         errorHandlers.handleRequestError('serve', originalUrl, ip, error, res);
       });
   });
-  // route to serve the winning claim
+  // route to serve the winning asset at a claim
   app.get('/:name', ({ headers, ip, originalUrl, params }, res) => {
-    sendAnalyticsAndLog(headers, ip, originalUrl);
+    // google analytics
+    sendGoogleAnalytics('serve', headers, ip, originalUrl);
     // begin image-serve processes
     getClaimByName(params.name)
       .then(fileInfo => {
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 48ed5079..0a8e2adf 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ const siofu = require('socketio-file-upload');
 const expressHandlebars = require('express-handlebars');
 const Handlebars = require('handlebars');
 const config = require('config');
-const winston = require('winston');
+const logger = require('winston');
 
 const hostedContentPath = config.get('Database.DownloadDirectory');
 
 // configure logging
 const logLevel = config.get('Logging.LogLevel');
-require('./config/loggerSetup.js')(winston, logLevel);
+require('./config/loggerSetup.js')(logger, logLevel);
 
 // set port
 const PORT = 3000;
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ app.use(bodyParser.json()); // for parsing application/json
 app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true })); // for parsing application/x-www-form-urlencoded
 app.use(siofu.router);
 app.use((req, res, next) => {  // logging middleware
-  winston.verbose(`Request on ${req.originalUrl} from ${req.ip}`);
+  logger.verbose(`Request on ${req.originalUrl} from ${req.ip}`);
   next();
 });
 
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ const hbs = expressHandlebars.create({
           return options.inverse(this);
       }
     },
+    firstCharacter (word) {
+      return word.substring(0, 1);
+    },
   },
 });
 app.engine('handlebars', hbs.engine);
@@ -94,10 +97,10 @@ const server = require('./routes/sockets-routes.js')(app, siofu, hostedContentPa
 db.sequelize.sync()
   .then(() => {
     server.listen(PORT, () => {
-      winston.info('Trusting proxy?', app.get('trust proxy'));
-      winston.info(`Server is listening on PORT ${PORT}`);
+      logger.info('Trusting proxy?', app.get('trust proxy'));
+      logger.info(`Server is listening on PORT ${PORT}`);
     });
   })
   .catch((error) => {
-    winston.log('Error syncing sequelize db:', error);
+    logger.log('Error syncing sequelize db:', error);
   });
diff --git a/views/partials/assetInfo.handlebars b/views/partials/assetInfo.handlebars
index 7ad1bace..b33a9026 100644
--- a/views/partials/assetInfo.handlebars
+++ b/views/partials/assetInfo.handlebars
@@ -4,45 +4,45 @@
 </div>
 <div class="panel links">
 	<h2 class="subheader">Links</h2>
-	{{!--direct link to asset--}}
-	<a href="/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}">Direct Link</a>
-	<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-direct-link" hidden="true"></div>
-	<br/>
-	<input type="text" id="direct-link" class="link" readonly spellcheck="false" value="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}" onclick="select()"/>
-	<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="direct-link" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
-	<br/>
-	<br/>
+	{{!--short direct link to asset--}}
+	<div class="share-option">
+		<a href="/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{firstCharacter fileInfo.claimId}}">Direct Link</a>
+		<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-direct-link" hidden="true"></div>
+		<br/>
+		<input type="text" id="direct-link" class="link" readonly spellcheck="false" value="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{firstCharacter fileInfo.claimId}}" onclick="select()"/>
+		<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="direct-link" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
+	</div>
+	{{!-- link to show route for asset--}}
+	<div class="share-option">
+		<a href="/show/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{firstCharacter fileInfo.claimId}}">Details Link</a>
+		<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-show-link" hidden="true"></div>
+		</br>
+		<input type="text" id="show-link" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value="https://spee.ch/show/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{firstCharacter fileInfo.claimId}}"/>
+		<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="show-link" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
+	</div>
+	{{!-- html text for embedding asset--}}
+	<div class="share-option">
+		Embed HTML
+		<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-embed-text" hidden="true"></div>
+		<br/>
+		{{#ifConditional fileInfo.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
+			<input type="text" id="embed-text" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value='&lt;video width="100%" controls>&lt;source src="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}" />&lt;/video>'/>
+		{{else}}
+			<input type="text" id="embed-text" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value='&lt;img src="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}" />'/>
+		{{/ifConditional}}
+		<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="embed-text" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
+	</div>
 	{{!--markdown text using asset--}}
 	{{#ifConditional fileInfo.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
 	{{else}}
+	<div class="share-option">
 		Markdown
 		<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-markdown-text" hidden="true"></div>
 		<br/>
 		<input type="text" id="markdown-text" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value='![{{fileInfo.name}}](https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}})'/>
 		<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="markdown-text" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
-		<br/>
-		<br/>
+	</div>
 	{{/ifConditional}}
-	{{!-- html text for embedding asset--}}
-	Embed HTML
-	<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-embed-text" hidden="true"></div>
-	<br/>
-	{{#ifConditional fileInfo.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
-		<input type="text" id="embed-text" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value='&lt;video autoplay controls>&lt;source src="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}" />&lt;/video>'/>
-	{{else}}
-		<input type="text" id="embed-text" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value='&lt;img src="https://spee.ch/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}" />'/>
-	{{/ifConditional}}
-	<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="embed-text" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
-	<br/>
-	<br/>
-	{{!-- link to show route for asset--}}
-	<a href="/show/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}">Details Link</a>
-	<div class="input-error" id="input-error-copy-show-link" hidden="true"></div>
-	</br>
-	<input type="text" id="show-link" class="link" readonly onclick="select()" spellcheck="false" value="https://spee.ch/show/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}"/>
-	<button class="copy-button" data-elementtocopy="show-link" onclick="copyToClipboard(event)">copy</button>
-	<br/>
-	<br/>
 </div>
 <div class="panel">
 	<h2 class="subheader">Metadata</h2>
diff --git a/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars b/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
index 0f94924b..7ce5379a 100644
--- a/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
+++ b/views/partials/trendingAssets.handlebars
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 	{{#each trendingAssets}}
 		{{#if this.nsfw}}
 		{{else }}
+			<a href="/show/{{this.name}}/{{this.claimId}}">
 			{{#ifConditional this.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
 				<video class="asset-small" controls>
 					<source src="/api/streamFile/{{this.fileName}}">
@@ -10,10 +11,9 @@
 					Your browser does not support the <code>video</code> element.
 				</video>
 			{{else}}
-			<a href="/show/{{this.name}}/{{this.claimId}}">
 				<img  class="asset-small" src="/api/streamFile/{{this.fileName}}" />
-			</a>
 			{{/ifConditional}}
+			</a>
 		{{/if}}
 	{{/each}}
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/views/show.handlebars b/views/show.handlebars
index 2e432715..1a841511 100644
--- a/views/show.handlebars
+++ b/views/show.handlebars
@@ -10,11 +10,6 @@
 </div>
 
 <script type ="text/javascript">
-
-	function focusThisInput(event){
-
-	}
-
 	function copyToClipboard(event){
 		var elementToCopy = event.target.dataset.elementtocopy;
 		var element = document.getElementById(elementToCopy);
diff --git a/views/showLite.handlebars b/views/showLite.handlebars
index c3477088..a236d657 100644
--- a/views/showLite.handlebars
+++ b/views/showLite.handlebars
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 <div id="asset-placeholder">
+	<a href="/show/{{fileInfo.name}}/{{fileInfo.claimId}}">
 	{{#ifConditional fileInfo.fileType '===' 'video/mp4'}}
 		<video class="show-asset-lite" autoplay controls>
 			<source src="/api/streamFile/{{fileInfo.fileName}}">
 			{{!--fallback--}}
 			Your browser does not support the <code>video</code> element.
 		</video>
+		
 	{{else}}
 		<img class="show-asset-lite" src="/api/streamFile/{{fileInfo.fileName}}" alt="{{fileInfo.fileName}}"/>
 	{{/ifConditional}}
+	</a>
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file