diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/computed.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/computed.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c97ead1ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/components/computed.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+Discourse.computed = {
+
+  /**
+    Returns whether two properties are equal to each other.
+
+    @method propertyEqual
+    @params {String} p1 the first property
+    @params {String} p2 the second property
+    @return {Function} computedProperty function
+  **/
+  propertyEqual: function(p1, p2) {
+    return Ember.computed(function() {
+      return this.get(p1) === this.get(p2);
+    }).property(p1, p2);
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/helpers/i18n_helpers.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/helpers/i18n_helpers.js
index 2027296e5..b6b7af10f 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/helpers/i18n_helpers.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/helpers/i18n_helpers.js
@@ -37,14 +37,11 @@ Ember.Handlebars.registerHelper('i18n', function(property, options) {
 Ember.Handlebars.registerHelper('countI18n', function(key, options) {
   var view = Discourse.View.extend({
     tagName: 'span',
+    shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('countChanged'),
 
     render: function(buffer) {
       buffer.push(I18n.t(key, { count: this.get('count') }));
-    },
-
-    countChanged: function() {
-      this.rerender();
-    }.observes('count')
+    }
 
   });
   return Ember.Handlebars.helpers.view.call(this, view, options);
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/post.js.handlebars b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/post.js.handlebars
index a9f990647..57323e820 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/post.js.handlebars
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/post.js.handlebars
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 
     <div class='span5 gutter'>
       {{collection contentBinding="internalLinks" itemViewClass="Discourse.PostLinkView" tagName="ul" classNames="post-links"}}
-      {{#if controller.details.can_reply_as_new_topic}}
+      {{#if topic.details.can_reply_as_new_topic}}
         <a href='#' class='reply-new' {{action replyAsNewTopic this}}><i class='icon icon-plus'></i>{{i18n post.reply_as_new_topic}}</a>
       {{/if}}
     </div>
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/actions_history_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/actions_history_view.js
index c43f6b4b1..8ca6aee17 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/actions_history_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/actions_history_view.js
@@ -11,18 +11,14 @@ Discourse.ActionsHistoryView = Discourse.View.extend({
   tagName: 'section',
   classNameBindings: [':post-actions', 'hidden'],
 
-  hidden: (function() {
-    return this.blank('content');
-  }).property('content.@each'),
+  hidden: Em.computed.empty('content'),
 
-  usersChanged: (function() {
-    return this.rerender();
-  }).observes('content.@each', 'content.users.@each'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('content.@each', 'content.users.@each'),
 
   // This was creating way too many bound ifs and subviews in the handlebars version.
   render: function(buffer) {
-
     if (!this.present('content')) return;
+
     return this.get('content').forEach(function(c) {
       var actionString, iconsHtml;
       buffer.push("<div class='post-action'>");
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/dropdown_button_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/dropdown_button_view.js
index 9defe80f1..9d9e8bfc6 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/dropdown_button_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/dropdown_button_view.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Discourse.DropdownButtonView = Discourse.View.extend({
   classNames: ['btn-group'],
   attributeBindings: ['data-not-implemented'],
 
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('text', 'longDescription'),
+
   didInsertElement: function(e) {
     // If there's a click handler, call it
     if (this.clicked) {
@@ -26,10 +28,6 @@ Discourse.DropdownButtonView = Discourse.View.extend({
     this.$('ul li').off('click.dropdown-button');
   },
 
-  textChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('text', 'longDescription'),
-
   render: function(buffer) {
     buffer.push("<h4 class='title'>" + this.get('title') + "</h4>");
     buffer.push("<button class='btn standard dropdown-toggle' data-toggle='dropdown'>");
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/favorite_button.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/favorite_button.js
index ac1f73548..7834622b5 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/favorite_button.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/buttons/favorite_button.js
@@ -10,9 +10,7 @@ Discourse.FavoriteButton = Discourse.ButtonView.extend({
   textKey: 'favorite.title',
   helpKeyBinding: 'controller.content.favoriteTooltipKey',
 
-  favoriteChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('controller.content.starred'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('controller.content.starred'),
 
   click: function() {
     this.get('controller').toggleStar();
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/hotness_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/hotness_view.js
index 40257728a..7a8e4bdb9 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/hotness_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/hotness_view.js
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 Discourse.HotnessView = Discourse.View.extend({
   classNames: ['hotness-control'],
 
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('hotness'),
+
   render: function(buffer) {
     // Our scale goes to 11!
     for (var i=1; i<12; i++) {
@@ -21,15 +23,6 @@ Discourse.HotnessView = Discourse.View.extend({
     }
   },
 
-  /**
-    Trigger a re-render whenever the hotness changes
-
-    @observer hotnessChanged
-  **/
-  hotnessChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('hotness'),
-
   /**
     When the user clicks on a hotness value button, change it.
 
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/input_tip_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/input_tip_view.js
index 5c5fdf501..b183caf57 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/input_tip_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/input_tip_view.js
@@ -9,17 +9,9 @@
 Discourse.InputTipView = Discourse.View.extend({
   classNameBindings: [':tip', 'good', 'bad'],
 
-  good: function() {
-    return !this.get('validation.failed');
-  }.property('validation'),
-
-  bad: function() {
-    return this.get('validation.failed');
-  }.property('validation'),
-
-  triggerRender: function() {
-    return this.rerender();
-  }.observes('validation'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('validation'),
+  bad: Em.computed.alias('validation.failed'),
+  good: Em.computed.not('bad'),
 
   render: function(buffer) {
     var reason = this.get('validation.reason');
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/nav_item_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/nav_item_view.js
index e1b5159bf..e0c73c383 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/nav_item_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/nav_item_view.js
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@
 **/
 Discourse.NavItemView = Discourse.View.extend({
   tagName: 'li',
-  classNameBindings: ['isActive', 'content.hasIcon:has-icon'],
+  classNameBindings: ['active', 'content.hasIcon:has-icon'],
   attributeBindings: ['title'],
-  countBinding: Ember.Binding.oneWay('content.count'),
+
+  hidden: Em.computed.not('content.visible'),
+  count: Ember.computed.alias('content.count'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('count'),
+  active: Discourse.computed.propertyEqual('contentNameSlug', 'controller.filterMode'),
 
   title: function() {
     var categoryName, extra, name;
@@ -23,16 +27,13 @@ Discourse.NavItemView = Discourse.View.extend({
     return I18n.t("filters." + name + ".help", extra);
   }.property("content.filter"),
 
-  isActive: function() {
-    if (this.get("content.name").toLowerCase().replace(' ','-') === this.get("controller.filterMode")) return "active";
-    return "";
-  }.property("content.name", "controller.filterMode"),
+  contentNameSlug: function() {
+    return this.get("content.name").toLowerCase().replace(' ','-');
+  }.property('content.name'),
 
-  hidden: Em.computed.not('content.visible'),
-
-  countChanged: function(){
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('count'),
+  // active: function() {
+  //   return (this.get("contentNameSlug") === this.get("controller.filterMode"));
+  // }.property("contentNameSlug", "controller.filterMode"),
 
   name: function() {
     var categoryName, extra, name;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/post_menu_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/post_menu_view.js
index c38b934af..22a3f6273 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/post_menu_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/post_menu_view.js
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ Discourse.PostMenuView = Discourse.View.extend({
   tagName: 'section',
   classNames: ['post-menu-area', 'clearfix'],
 
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged(
+    'post.deleted_at',
+    'post.flagsAvailable.@each',
+    'post.url',
+    'post.bookmarked',
+    'post.reply_count',
+    'post.showRepliesBelow',
+    'post.can_delete',
+    'post.read',
+    'post.topic.last_read_post_number'),
+
   render: function(buffer) {
     var post = this.get('post');
     buffer.push("<nav class='post-controls'>");
@@ -35,12 +46,6 @@ Discourse.PostMenuView = Discourse.View.extend({
     handler.call(this);
   },
 
-  // Trigger re-rendering
-  needsToRender: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('post.deleted_at', 'post.flagsAvailable.@each', 'post.url', 'post.bookmarked', 'post.reply_count',
-             'post.showRepliesBelow', 'post.can_delete', 'post.read', 'post.topic.last_read_post_number'),
-
   // Replies Button
   renderReplies: function(post, buffer) {
     if (!post.get('showRepliesBelow')) return;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/raw_div_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/raw_div_view.js
index a81480d22..28ef39e8f 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/raw_div_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/raw_div_view.js
@@ -2,12 +2,10 @@
 
 Discourse.RawDivView = Ember.View.extend({
 
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('content'),
+
   render: function(buffer) {
     buffer.push(this.get('content'));
-  },
+  }
 
-  contentChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('content')
-  
 });
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_closing_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_closing_view.js
index d22d0e1d3..9259114f9 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_closing_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_closing_view.js
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ Discourse.TopicClosingView = Discourse.View.extend({
   elementId: 'topic-closing-info',
   delayedRerender: null,
 
-  contentChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('topic.details.auto_close_at'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('topic.details.auto_close_at'),
 
   render: function(buffer) {
     if (!this.present('topic.details.auto_close_at')) return;
@@ -49,12 +47,12 @@ Discourse.TopicClosingView = Discourse.View.extend({
     buffer.push('</h3>');
 
     // TODO Sam: concerned this can cause a heavy rerender loop
-    this.delayedRerender = Em.run.later(this, this.rerender, rerenderDelay);
+    this.set('delayedRerender', Em.run.later(this, this.rerender, rerenderDelay));
   },
 
   willDestroyElement: function() {
     if( this.delayedRerender ) {
-      Em.run.cancel(this.delayedRerender);
+      Em.run.cancel(this.get('delayedRerender'));
     }
   }
 });
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_status_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_status_view.js
index 47db32a6d..3f12da1fe 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_status_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_status_view.js
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ Discourse.TopicStatusView = Discourse.View.extend({
     return false;
   }.property('topic.closed', 'topic.pinned', 'topic.visible'),
 
-  statusChanged: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('topic.closed', 'topic.pinned', 'topic.visible'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('topic.closed', 'topic.pinned', 'topic.visible'),
 
   renderIcon: function(buffer, name, key) {
     var title = I18n.t("topic_statuses." + key + ".help");
@@ -27,8 +25,7 @@ Discourse.TopicStatusView = Discourse.View.extend({
   },
 
   render: function(buffer) {
-
-    if (!this.get('hasDisplayableStatus')) return;
+    if (!this.get('hasDisplayableStatus')) { return; }
 
     // Allow a plugin to add a custom icon to a topic
     this.trigger('addCustomIcon', buffer);
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_summary/topic_summary_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_summary/topic_summary_view.js
index c9c1f8661..afb5d768b 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_summary/topic_summary_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/topic_summary/topic_summary_view.js
@@ -26,12 +26,10 @@ Discourse.TopicSummaryView = Discourse.ContainerView.extend({
     return allLinks.slice(0, Discourse.TopicSummaryView.LINKS_SHOWN);
   }.property('topic.details.links', 'allLinksShown'),
 
-  newPostCreated: function() {
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('topic.posts_count'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('topic.posts_count'),
 
   hidden: function() {
-    if (this.get('post.post_number') !== 1) return true;
+    if (!this.get('post.firstPost')) return true;
     if (this.get('controller.content.archetype') === 'private_message') return false;
     if (this.get('controller.content.archetype') !== 'regular') return true;
     return this.get('controller.content.posts_count') < 2;
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/user/activity_filter_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/user/activity_filter_view.js
index d64cee80a..783e6e9d8 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/user/activity_filter_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/user/activity_filter_view.js
@@ -11,10 +11,7 @@ Discourse.ActivityFilterView = Discourse.View.extend({
   classNameBindings: ['active'],
 
   stream: Em.computed.alias('controller.content'),
-
-  countChanged: function(){
-    this.rerender();
-  }.observes('count'),
+  shouldRerender: Discourse.View.renderIfChanged('count'),
 
   active: function() {
     var content = this.get('content');
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/view.js
index 90d484535..0be210a50 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/views/view.js
@@ -26,6 +26,21 @@ Discourse.View.reopenClass({
       Discourse.Utilities.normalizeHash(hash, types);
       return Ember.Handlebars.helpers.view.call(this, helperClass, options);
     });
+  },
+
+  /**
+    Returns an observer that will re-render if properties change. This is useful for
+    views where rendering is done to a buffer manually and need to know when to trigger
+    a new render call.
+
+    @method renderIfChanged
+    @params {String} propertyNames*
+    @return {Function} observer
+  **/
+  renderIfChanged: function() {
+    var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments, 0);
+    args.unshift(function () { this.rerender(); });
+    return Ember.observer.apply(this, args);
   }
 
 });
diff --git a/app/serializers/post_serializer.rb b/app/serializers/post_serializer.rb
index a54c4d84c..c6da600ca 100644
--- a/app/serializers/post_serializer.rb
+++ b/app/serializers/post_serializer.rb
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ class PostSerializer < BasicPostSerializer
              :hidden,
              :hidden_reason_id,
              :deleted_at,
-             :trust_level
+             :trust_level,
+             :deleted_by
 
 
   def moderator?
@@ -72,7 +73,6 @@ class PostSerializer < BasicPostSerializer
   end
 
   def link_counts
-
     return @single_post_link_counts if @single_post_link_counts.present?
 
     # TODO: This could be better, just porting the old one over