diff --git a/go/gothings/gcd.go b/go/gothings/gcd.go
index 099e947..0ce4cc8 100644
--- a/go/gothings/gcd.go
+++ b/go/gothings/gcd.go
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) loadMessagesPaneHelper(handle string) {
 	this.ClearMessages()
 	this.SetCurrentOpenConversation(handle)
 	c := this.UIState.GetContact(handle)
+
 	c.Badge = 0
 	this.UIState.UpdateContact(handle)
 
diff --git a/go/gothings/uistate.go b/go/gothings/uistate.go
index 52e6f6d..547524f 100644
--- a/go/gothings/uistate.go
+++ b/go/gothings/uistate.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package gothings
 
 import (
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/constants"
+	"cwtch.im/ui/go/cwutil"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/gobjects"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/the"
 	"encoding/base32"
@@ -50,6 +51,22 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) AddContact(c *gobjects.Contact) {
 }
 
 func (this *InterfaceState) GetContact(handle string) *gobjects.Contact {
+	if _, found := this.contacts[handle]; !found {
+		c := &gobjects.Contact{
+			handle,
+			handle,
+			cwutil.RandomProfileImage(handle),
+			"",
+			1,
+			0,
+			false,
+		}
+
+		this.contacts[handle] = c
+		this.parentGcd.AddContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, c.Badge, c.Status, c.Trusted)
+		go the.Peer.PeerWithOnion(c.Handle)
+	}
+
 	return this.contacts[handle]
 }
 
@@ -57,21 +74,16 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) AddMessage(m *gobjects.Message) {
 	_, found := this.contacts[m.Handle]
 	if !found {
 		this.AddContact(&gobjects.Contact{
-			m.DisplayName,
-			m.Image,
 			m.Handle,
+			m.Handle,
+			cwutil.RandomProfileImage(m.Handle),
 			"",
-			1,
+			0,
 			0,
 			false,
 		})
 	}
 
-	c := the.Peer.GetContact(m.Handle)
-	if c == nil {
-
-	}
-
 	_, found = this.messages[m.Handle]
 	if !found {
 		this.messages[m.Handle] = make([]*gobjects.Message, 0)
diff --git a/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml b/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
index e1e89e5..06a37fc 100644
--- a/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
+++ b/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
 			target: gcd
 
 			onClearMessages: function() {
-				//jsonModel4.clear()
+				jsonModel4.clear()
 			}
 
 			onAppendMessage: function(handle, from, displayName, message, image, mid, fromMe, ts) {
@@ -173,10 +173,6 @@ ColumnLayout {
 			   }
 
 				focus: true
-				onCurrentItemChanged: console.log(model.get(bulletinView.currentIndex).title + ' selected')
-
-
-
 				ListModel {
 					id: jsonModel4
 				}
diff --git a/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml b/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
index 3f813f4..24130e2 100644
--- a/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
+++ b/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ ColumnLayout {
 
 			Flickable {
 				id: flkMessage
+				anchors.fill: parent//this does nothing! bug in qt
+				Layout.minimumWidth: parent.width
+				Layout.maximumWidth: parent.width
 				Layout.minimumHeight: rectMessage.height
 				Layout.maximumHeight: rectMessage.height
 				contentWidth: txtMessage.width
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
 					padding: 6
 					wrapMode: TextEdit.Wrap
 					textFormat: Text.RichText
+					width: rectMessage.width
 
 					property bool skipOneUpdate: false