diff --git a/fedireads/api.py b/fedireads/api.py
index 1c345e3dd..76a56b979 100644
--- a/fedireads/api.py
+++ b/fedireads/api.py
@@ -15,16 +15,28 @@ from fedireads.settings import DOMAIN
 def get_or_create_remote_user(actor):
     ''' look up a remote user or add them '''
     try:
-        user = models.User.objects.get(actor=actor)
+        return models.User.objects.get(actor=actor)
     except models.User.DoesNotExist:
-        # TODO: how do you actually correctly learn this?
-        username = '%s@%s' % (actor.split('/')[-1], actor.split('/')[2])
-        user = models.User.objects.create_user(
-            username,
-            '', '',
-            actor=actor,
-            local=False
-        )
+        pass
+
+    # get the user's info
+    response = requests.get(
+        actor,
+        headers={'Accept': 'application/activity+json'}
+    )
+    data = response.json()
+
+    username = '%s@%s' % (actor.split('/')[-1], actor.split('/')[2])
+    user = models.User.objects.create_user(
+        username, '', '',
+        name=data.get('name'),
+        summary=data.get('summary'),
+        inbox=data['inbox'],
+        outbox=data['outbox'],
+        shared_inbox=data.get('endpoints').get('sharedInbox'),
+        actor=actor,
+        local=False
+    )
     return user
 
 
diff --git a/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py b/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
index 043a3fc47..6402ab2d1 100644
--- a/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
+++ b/fedireads/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Generated by Django 3.0.2 on 2020-01-29 18:40
+# Generated by Django 3.0.2 on 2020-01-29 19:58
 
 from django.conf import settings
 import django.contrib.auth.models
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
                 ('is_staff', models.BooleanField(default=False, help_text='Designates whether the user can log into this admin site.', verbose_name='staff status')),
                 ('is_active', models.BooleanField(default=True, help_text='Designates whether this user should be treated as active. Unselect this instead of deleting accounts.', verbose_name='active')),
                 ('date_joined', models.DateTimeField(default=django.utils.timezone.now, verbose_name='date joined')),
-                ('private_key', models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, unique=True)),
-                ('public_key', models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, unique=True)),
+                ('private_key', models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)),
+                ('public_key', models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)),
                 ('api_key', models.CharField(blank=True, max_length=255, null=True)),
                 ('actor', models.CharField(max_length=255, unique=True)),
                 ('inbox', models.CharField(max_length=255, unique=True)),
diff --git a/fedireads/models.py b/fedireads/models.py
index 1161b331d..3f41e436b 100644
--- a/fedireads/models.py
+++ b/fedireads/models.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ from fedireads.settings import DOMAIN, OL_URL
 
 class User(AbstractUser):
     ''' a user who wants to read books '''
-    private_key = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, unique=True)
-    public_key = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True, unique=True)
+    private_key = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)
+    public_key = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)
     api_key = models.CharField(max_length=255, blank=True, null=True)
     actor = models.CharField(max_length=255, unique=True)
     inbox = models.CharField(max_length=255, unique=True)
@@ -44,13 +44,7 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
 def execute_before_save(sender, instance, *args, **kwargs):
     ''' create shelves for new users '''
     # this user already exists, no need to poplate fields
-    if instance.id:
-        return
-
-    # TODO: how do I know this properly???
-    if not instance.local:
-        instance.inbox = instance.actor = 'inbox'
-        instance.outbox = instance.actor = 'outbox'
+    if instance.id or not instance.local:
         return
 
     # populate fields for local users
diff --git a/fedireads/urls.py b/fedireads/urls.py
index fd40b4341..e6641aaec 100644
--- a/fedireads/urls.py
+++ b/fedireads/urls.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     # TODO: re_path(r'^.well-known/host-meta/?$', incoming.host_meta),
 
     # ui views
-    re_path(r'^/?$', views.home),
+    path(r'', views.home),
     re_path(r'^register/?$', views.register),
     re_path(r'^login/?$', views.user_login),
     re_path(r'^logout/?$', views.user_logout),