diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e290e90..acb1ac9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ Please [visit the website](https://crafatar.com) for details.
 
 ## Contact
 
-You can [join us](https://webchat.esper.net/?channels=spongy) in #spongy on irc.esper.net.
+* You can follow us on [![t](https://favicons.githubusercontent.com/twitter.com)@crafatar](https://twitter.com/crafatar)
+* You can [join us](https://webchat.esper.net/?channels=spongy) in #spongy on irc.esper.net.
 
 ## Install
 
diff --git a/modules/cache.js b/modules/cache.js
index 39f9aff..885c078 100644
--- a/modules/cache.js
+++ b/modules/cache.js
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ exp.get_redis = function() {
 exp.update_timestamp = function(uuid, hash) {
   logging.log(uuid + " cache: updating timestamp");
   var time = new Date().getTime();
+  // store uuid in lower case if not null
+  uuid = uuid && uuid.toLowerCase();
   redis.hmset(uuid, "t", time);
   update_file_date(hash);
 };
@@ -67,6 +69,10 @@ exp.update_timestamp = function(uuid, hash) {
 exp.save_hash = function(uuid, hash) {
   logging.log(uuid + " cache: saving hash");
   var time = new Date().getTime();
+  // store shorter null byte instead of "null"
+  hash = hash || ".";
+  // store uuid in lower case if not null
+  uuid = uuid && uuid.toLowerCase();
   redis.hmset(uuid, "h", hash, "t", time);
 };
 
@@ -74,11 +80,13 @@ exp.save_hash = function(uuid, hash) {
 // {hash: "0123456789abcdef", time: 1414881524512}
 // null when uuid unkown
 exp.get_details = function(uuid, callback) {
+  // get uuid in lower case if not null
+  uuid = uuid && uuid.toLowerCase();
   redis.hgetall(uuid, function(err, data) {
     var details = null;
     if (data) {
       details = {
-        hash: (data.h == "null" ? null : data.h),
+        hash: (data.h == "." ? null : data.h),
         time: Number(data.t)
       };
     }
diff --git a/modules/helpers.js b/modules/helpers.js
index 1fc77b3..739d356 100644
--- a/modules/helpers.js
+++ b/modules/helpers.js
@@ -112,10 +112,11 @@ exp.get_image_hash = function(uuid, callback) {
           if (err) {
             callback(err, -1, details && details.hash);
           } else {
-            var oldhash = details && details.hash || "none";
-            logging.debug(uuid + " old hash: " + oldhash);
+            // skin is only checked (3) when uuid known AND hash didn't change
+            // in all other cases the skin is downloaded (2)
+            var status = details && (details.hash == hash) ? 3 : 2;
+            logging.debug(uuid + " old hash: " + (details && details.hash));
             logging.log(uuid + " hash: " + hash);
-            var status = hash == oldhash ? 3 : 2;
             callback(null, status, hash);
           }
         });
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index bf6c45b..ecdd44f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "version": "0.0.1",
   "private": true,
   "author": "Jake0oo0",
-  "description": "A NodeJS application to server Minecraft avatars.",
+  "description": "A Minecraft avatar service with support for avatars, skins, and even renders!",
   "contributors": [
     {
       "name": "jomo"
diff --git a/routes/avatars.js b/routes/avatars.js
index 7a5e76f..6537b59 100644
--- a/routes/avatars.js
+++ b/routes/avatars.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var human_status = {
 
 /* GET avatar request. */
 router.get("/:uuid.:ext?", function(req, res) {
-  var uuid = req.params.uuid;
+  var uuid = (req.params.uuid || "");
   var size = parseInt(req.query.size) || config.default_size;
   var def = req.query.default;
   var helm = req.query.hasOwnProperty("helm");
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ router.get("/:uuid.:ext?", function(req, res) {
     return;
   }
 
-  // strip dashes, to lower case
-  uuid = uuid.replace(/-/g, "").toLowerCase();
+  // strip dashes
+  uuid = uuid.replace(/-/g, "");
 
   try {
     helpers.get_avatar(uuid, helm, size, function(err, status, image, hash) {
diff --git a/routes/skins.js b/routes/skins.js
index 4c225af..4493847 100644
--- a/routes/skins.js
+++ b/routes/skins.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ var lwip = require("lwip");
 
 /* GET skin request. */
 router.get("/:uuid.:ext?", function(req, res) {
-  var uuid = req.params.uuid;
+  var uuid = (req.params.uuid || "");
   var def = req.query.default;
   var start = new Date();
   var etag = null;
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ router.get("/:uuid.:ext?", function(req, res) {
     return;
   }
 
-  // strip dashes, to lower case
-  uuid = uuid.replace(/-/g, "").toLowerCase();
+  // strip dashes
+  uuid = uuid.replace(/-/g, "");
 
   try {
     helpers.get_skin(uuid, function(err, hash, image) {
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index 45f698c..90992bb 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -16,12 +16,18 @@ config.http_timeout *= 3;
 logging.log = function(){};
 
 var uuids = fs.readFileSync("test/uuids.txt").toString().split(/\r?\n/);
-var usernames = fs.readFileSync("test/usernames.txt").toString().split(/\r?\n/);
-// Get a random UUID + username in order to prevent rate limiting
+var names = fs.readFileSync("test/usernames.txt").toString().split(/\r?\n/);
+
+// Get a random UUID + name in order to prevent rate limiting
 var uuid = uuids[Math.round(Math.random() * (uuids.length - 1))];
-console.log("using uuid '" + uuid + "'");
-var username = usernames[Math.round(Math.random() * (usernames.length - 1))];
-console.log("using username '" + username + "'");
+var name = names[Math.round(Math.random() * (names.length - 1))];
+
+var ids = [
+  uuid.toLowerCase(),
+  uuid.toUpperCase(),
+  name.toLowerCase(),
+  name.toUpperCase()
+];
 
 describe("Crafatar", function() {
   // we might have to make 2 HTTP requests
@@ -32,43 +38,43 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
   });
 
   describe("UUID/username", function() {
-    it("should be an invalid uuid", function(done) {
+    it("non-hex uuid is invalid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("g098cb60fa8e427cb299793cbd302c9a"), false);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be an invalid uuid", function(done) {
+    it("empty id is invalid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid(""), false);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be an invalid username", function(done) {
+    it("non-alphanumeric username is invalid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("usernäme"), false);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be an invalid username", function(done) {
+    it("dashed username is invalid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("user-name"), false);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be an invalid username", function(done) {
+    it(">16 length username is invalid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("ThisNameIsTooLong"), false);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be a valid uuid", function(done) {
+    it("lowercase uuid is valid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("0098cb60fa8e427cb299793cbd302c9a"), true);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be a valid uuid", function(done) {
+    it("uppercase uuid is valid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("1DCEF164FF0A47F2B9A691385C774EE7"), true);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be a valid uuid", function(done) {
+    it("dashed uuid is valid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("0098cb60-fa8e-427c-b299-793cbd302c9a"), true);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be a valid username", function(done) {
+    it("16 chars, underscored, capital, numbered username is valid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("__niceUs3rname__"), true);
       done();
     });
-    it("should be a valid username", function(done) {
+    it("1 char username is valid", function(done) {
       assert.strictEqual(helpers.uuid_valid("a"), true);
       done();
     });
@@ -86,128 +92,28 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
     });
   });
 
-  describe("Networking: Avatar", function() {
-    it("should be downloaded (uuid)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(uuid, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status, 2);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should be cached (uuid)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(uuid, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status === 0 || status === 1, true);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    /* We can't test this because of mojang's rate limits :(
-    it("should be checked (uuid)", function(done) {
-      var original_cache_time = config.local_cache_time;
-      config.local_cache_time = 0;
-      helpers.get_avatar(uuid, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status, 3);
-        config.local_cache_time = original_cache_time;
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    */
-    it("should be downloaded (username)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(username, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status, 2);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should be cached (username)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(username, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status === 0 || status === 1, true);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should be checked (username)", function(done) {
-      var original_cache_time = config.local_cache_time;
-      config.local_cache_time = 0;
-      helpers.get_avatar(username, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status, 3);
-        config.local_cache_time = original_cache_time;
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should not exist (but account does)", function(done) {
-      // profile "Alex"
-      helpers.get_avatar("ec561538f3fd461daff5086b22154bce", false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(status, 2);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should default to Alex", function(done) {
-      assert.strictEqual(skins.default_skin("ec561538f3fd461daff5086b22154bce"), "alex");
-      done();
-    });
-    it("should default to Steve", function(done) {
-      assert.strictEqual(skins.default_skin("b8ffc3d37dbf48278f69475f6690aabd"), "steve");
-      done();
-    });
-  });
+  describe("Avatar", function() {
+    // profile "Alex" - hoping it'll never have a skin
+    var alex_uuid = "ec561538f3fd461daff5086b22154bce";
+    // profile "Steven" (Steve doesn't exist) - hoping it'll never have a skin
+    var steven_uuid = "b8ffc3d37dbf48278f69475f6690aabd";
 
-  describe("Networking: Skin", function() {
-    it("should not fail (uuid)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_skin(uuid, function(err, hash, img) {
-        assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+    it("uuid's account should exist, but skin should not", function(done) {
+      helpers.get_avatar(alex_uuid, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+        assert.strictEqual(status, 2);
         done();
       });
     });
-    it("should not fail (username)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_skin(username, function(err, hash, img) {
-        assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-        done();
-      });
+    it("odd UUID should default to Alex", function(done) {
+      assert.strictEqual(skins.default_skin(alex_uuid), "alex");
+      done();
     });
-  });
-  describe("Networking: Renders", function() {
-    describe("Head", function() {
-      it("should not fail (username)", function(done) {
-        helpers.get_render(username, 6, true, false, function(err, status, hash, img) {
-          assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-          done();
-        });
-      });
-      it("should not fail (uuid)", function(done) {
-        helpers.get_render(username, 6, true, false, function(err, status, hash, img) {
-          assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-          done();
-        });
-      });
-    });
-    describe("Body", function() {
-      it("should not fail (username)", function(done) {
-        helpers.get_render(username, 6, true, true, function(err, status, hash, img) {
-          assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-          done();
-        });
-      });
-      it("should not fail (uuid)", function(done) {
-        helpers.get_render(username, 6, true, true, function(err, status, hash, img) {
-          assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-          done();
-        });
-      });
+    it("even UUID should default to Steve", function(done) {
+      assert.strictEqual(skins.default_skin(steven_uuid), "steve");
+      done();
     });
   });
   describe("Errors", function() {
-    before(function() {
-      cache.get_redis().flushall();
-    });
-    it("should be rate limited (uuid)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(uuid, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(JSON.parse(err).error, "TooManyRequestsException");
-        done();
-      });
-    });
-    it("should NOT be rate limited (username)", function(done) {
-      helpers.get_avatar(username, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
-        assert.strictEqual(err, null);
-        done();
-      });
-    });
     it("should time out on uuid info download", function(done) {
       var original_timeout = config.http_timeout;
       config.http_timeout = 1;
@@ -243,11 +149,83 @@ describe("Crafatar", function() {
         });
       });
     });
-    it("should handle file updates on invalid files", function(done) {
+    it("should ignore file updates on invalid files", function(done) {
       assert.doesNotThrow(function() {
         cache.update_timestamp("0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef", "invalid-file.png");
       });
       done();
     });
   });
+
+  // DRY with uuid and username tests
+  for (var i in ids) {
+    var id = ids[i];
+    var id_type = id.length > 16 ? "uuid" : "name";
+    // needs an anonymous function because id and id_type aren't constant
+    (function(id, id_type) {
+      describe("Networking: Avatar", function() {
+        before(function() {
+          cache.get_redis().flushall();
+          console.log("\n\nRunning tests with " + id_type + " '" + id + "'\n\n");
+        });
+
+        it("should be downloaded", function(done) {
+          helpers.get_avatar(id, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+            assert.strictEqual(status, 2);
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+        it("should be cached", function(done) {
+          helpers.get_avatar(id, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+            assert.strictEqual(status === 0 || status === 1, true);
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+        if (id.length > 16) {
+          console.log("can't run 'checked' test due to Mojang's rate limits :(");
+        } else {
+          it("should be checked", function(done) {
+            var original_cache_time = config.local_cache_time;
+            config.local_cache_time = 0;
+            helpers.get_avatar(id, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+              assert.strictEqual(status, 3);
+              config.local_cache_time = original_cache_time;
+              done();
+            });
+          });
+        }
+      });
+
+      describe("Networking: Skin", function() {
+        it("should not fail (uuid)", function(done) {
+          helpers.get_skin(id, function(err, hash, img) {
+            assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+            done();
+          });
+        });
+      });
+
+      describe("Errors", function() {
+        before(function() {
+          cache.get_redis().flushall();
+        });
+
+        if (id_type == "uuid") {
+          it("uuid should be rate limited", function(done) {
+            helpers.get_avatar(id, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+              assert.strictEqual(JSON.parse(err).error, "TooManyRequestsException");
+              done();
+            });
+          });
+        } else {
+          it("username should NOT be rate limited (username)", function(done) {
+            helpers.get_avatar(id, false, 160, function(err, status, image) {
+              assert.strictEqual(err, null);
+              done();
+            });
+          });
+        }
+      });
+    })(id, id_type);
+  }
 });
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