diff --git a/app/assets/images/ui-bg_flat_75_ffffff_40x100.png b/app/assets/images/ui-bg_flat_75_ffffff_40x100.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ac8b229a
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/assets/images/ui-bg_flat_75_ffffff_40x100.png differ
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/filters.js b/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/filters.js
index caa0f769..936657fc 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/filters.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/filters.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // create filters for maps, and for card views
 
-//  keep an array of which item categories are currently visible.
+//  keep an array of which metacodes are currently visible.
 var categoryVisible = new Object();
 
 categoryVisible['Group'] = true; 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ function switchVisible(category, duration) {
 function hideCategory(category, duration) {
     if (duration == null) duration = 500;
 	Mconsole.graph.eachNode( function (n) {
-		if (n.getData('itemcatname') == category) {
+		if (n.getData('metacode') == category) {
 			n.setData('alpha', 0.4, 'end');
 			n.eachAdjacency(function(adj) {  
 			adj.setData('alpha', 0.4, 'end');  
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ function hideCategory(category, duration) {
 function showCategory(category, duration) {
     if (duration == null) duration = 500;
 	Mconsole.graph.eachNode( function (n) {
-		if (n.getData('itemcatname') == category) {
+		if (n.getData('metacode') == category) {
 			n.setData('alpha', 1, 'end');
 			n.eachAdjacency(function(adj) {  
 			adj.setData('alpha', 1, 'end');  
@@ -130,31 +130,31 @@ function onCanvasSearch(name,mapID,mapperID) {
 		  if (name != null) {
 		     if (n.name.indexOf(name) !== -1 && name != "") {
 				 n.setData('onCanvas', true);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','block');
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','block');
 		     }
 			 else {
 				 n.setData('onCanvas', false);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
 			 }
 		  }
 		  else if (mapID != null) {
 		     if (n.getData('inmaps').indexOf(parseInt(mapID)) !== -1) {
 				 n.setData('onCanvas', true);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','block');
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','block');
 		     }
 			 else {
 				 n.setData('onCanvas', false);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
 			 }
 		  }
 		  else if (mapperID != null) {
 		     if (n.getData('userid').toString() == mapperID) {
 			    n.setData('onCanvas', true);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','block');
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','block');
 			 }
 			 else {
 				 n.setData('onCanvas', false);
-				 //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
+				 //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','none'); 
 			 }
 		  }
 		  Mconsole.plot();
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
 	   Mconsole.graph.eachNode( function (n) {
 		  n.setData('inCommons', false);
 		  n.setData('onCanvas', false);
-		  //$('.name.item_' + n.id).css('display','block');
+		  //$('.name.topic_' + n.id).css('display','block');
 	   });
 	   Mconsole.plot();
 	   $('#closeFind, #findWhere').css('display','none');
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
    $('.find_topic_by_name #topic_by_name_input').bind('railsAutocomplete.select', function(event, data){
       /* Do something here */
       if (data.item.id != undefined) {
-        window.open("/items/" + data.item.id)
+        window.open("/topics/" + data.item.id)
       }
       $('.find_topic_by_name #topic_by_name_input').val('');
     });
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
       event.preventDefault();
     });
 
-	// toggle visibility of item categories based on status in the filters list
+	// toggle visibility of topics with metacodes based on status in the filters list
 	$('.find_topic_by_metacode ul li').click(function(event) {
 		obj = document.getElementById('container');
         
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
 				}
 				// this means that we are on a card view
 				else {
-					$('.item').fadeIn('slow');
+					$('.topic').fadeIn('slow');
 				}
 				$('.find_topic_by_metacode ul li').not('#hideAll, #showAll').removeClass('toggledOff');
 				for (var catVis in categoryVisible) {
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
 				}
 				// this means that we are on a card view
 				else {
-					$('.item').fadeOut('slow');
+					$('.topic').fadeOut('slow');
 				}
 				$('.find_topic_by_metacode ul li').not('#hideAll, #showAll').addClass('toggledOff');
 				for (var catVis in categoryVisible) {
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/graphsettings.js b/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/graphsettings.js
index 8dddd433..ad3e679c 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/graphsettings.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/Jit/graphsettings.js
@@ -61,15 +61,15 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
             },
 			onDragEnd: function() {
 				if (tempInit && tempNode2 == null) {
-					$('#item_addSynapse').val("true");
-					$('#new_item').fadeIn('fast');
+					$('#topic_addSynapse').val("true");
+					$('#new_topic').fadeIn('fast');
 					addMetacode();
-					$('#item_name').focus();
+					$('#topic_name').focus();
 				}
 				else if (tempInit && tempNode2 != null) {
-					$('#item_addSynapse').val("false");
-					$('#synapse_item1id').val(tempNode.id);
-        			$('#synapse_item2id').val(tempNode2.id);
+					$('#topic_addSynapse').val("false");
+					$('#synapse_topic1id').val(tempNode.id);
+        			$('#synapse_topic2id').val(tempNode2.id);
 					$('#new_synapse').fadeIn('fast');
 					$('#synapse_desc').focus();
 					tempNode = null;
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
 				tempNode = null;
 				tempNode2 = null;
 				tempInit = false;
-				$('#item_addSynapse').val("false");
-				$('#item_item1id').val(0);
-				$('#item_item2id').val(0);
+				$('#topic_addSynapse').val("false");
+				$('#topic_topic1id').val(0);
+				$('#topic_topic2id').val(0);
 				Mconsole.plot();
 			},
             //Implement the same handler for touchscreens
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
          // on label creation and only for DOM labels (not native canvas ones).
          onCreateLabel: function (domElement, node) {
 			var html = 
-           '<div class="CardOnGraph" title="Click to Hide" id="item_' + node.id + '"><p class="type">' + node.getData("itemcatname") + '</p>' + 
-           '<img alt="' + node.getData("itemcatname") + '" class="icon" height="50" src="' + imgArray[node.getData("itemcatname")].src + '" width="50" />' +
-           '<div class="scroll"><a href="/items/' + node.id + '" class="title">' + node.name + '</a>' + 
+           '<div class="CardOnGraph" title="Click to Hide" id="topic_' + node.id + '"><p class="type">' + node.getData("metacode") + '</p>' + 
+           '<img alt="' + node.getData("metacode") + '" class="icon" height="50" src="' + imgArray[node.getData("metacode")].src + '" width="50" />' +
+           '<div class="scroll"><a href="/topics/' + node.id + '" class="title">' + node.name + '</a>' + 
 		   '<div class="contributor">Added by: <a href="/users/' + node.getData('userid') + '">' + node.getData('username') + '</a></div>' + 
            '<div class="desc"><p>' + node.getData('desc') + '</p></div></div>' +
            '<a href="' + node.getData('link') + '" class="link" target="_blank">' + node.getData('link') + '</a></div>';
 		   var showCard = document.createElement('div'); 
-			showCard.className = 'showcard item_' + node.id;  
+			showCard.className = 'showcard topic_' + node.id;  
 			showCard.innerHTML = html; 
 			showCard.style.display = "none";
 			domElement.appendChild(showCard);
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
 				  modes: ['edge-property:lineWidth:color'],
 				  duration: 500
 			   });
-				$('.showcard.item_' + node.id).fadeOut('fast', function(){
+				$('.showcard.topic_' + node.id).fadeOut('fast', function(){
 					$('.name').css('display','block');
 					Mconsole.plot();
 				});	
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
 			// to the main node label  
 			var nameContainer = document.createElement('span'),  
 				style = nameContainer.style;  
-			nameContainer.className = 'name item_' + node.id;  
+			nameContainer.className = 'name topic_' + node.id;  
 			nameContainer.innerHTML = '<div class="label">' + node.name + '</div>';  
 			domElement.appendChild(nameContainer);  
 			style.fontSize = "0.9em";  
@@ -239,15 +239,15 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
             },
 			onDragEnd: function() {
 				if (tempInit && tempNode2 == null) {
-					$('#item_addSynapse').val("true");
-					$('#new_item').fadeIn('fast');
+					$('#topic_addSynapse').val("true");
+					$('#new_topic').fadeIn('fast');
 					addMetacode();
-					$('#item_name').focus();
+					$('#topic_name').focus();
 				}
 				else if (tempInit && tempNode2 != null) {
-					$('#item_addSynapse').val("false");
-					$('#synapse_item1id').val(tempNode.id);
-        			$('#synapse_item2id').val(tempNode2.id);
+					$('#topic_addSynapse').val("false");
+					$('#synapse_topic1id').val(tempNode.id);
+        			$('#synapse_topic2id').val(tempNode2.id);
 					$('#new_synapse').fadeIn('fast');
 					$('#synapse_desc').focus();
 					tempNode = null;
@@ -294,14 +294,14 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
          // on label creation and only for DOM labels (not native canvas ones).
          onCreateLabel: function (domElement, node) {
 			var html = 
-           '<div class="CardOnGraph" title="Click to Hide" id="item_' + node.id + '"><p class="type">' + node.getData("itemcatname") + '</p>' + 
-           '<img alt="' + node.getData("itemcatname") + '" class="icon" height="50" src="' + imgArray[node.getData("itemcatname")].src + '" width="50" />' +
-           '<div class="scroll"><a href="/items/' + node.id + '" class="title">' + node.name + '</a>' + 
+           '<div class="CardOnGraph" title="Click to Hide" id="topic_' + node.id + '"><p class="type">' + node.getData("metacode") + '</p>' + 
+           '<img alt="' + node.getData("metacode") + '" class="icon" height="50" src="' + imgArray[node.getData("metacode")].src + '" width="50" />' +
+           '<div class="scroll"><a href="/topics/' + node.id + '" class="title">' + node.name + '</a>' + 
 		   '<div class="contributor">Added by: <a href="/users/' + node.getData('userid') + '">' + node.getData('username') + '</a></div>' + 
            '<div class="desc"><p>' + node.getData('desc') + '</p></div></div>' +
            '<a href="' + node.getData('link') + '" class="link" target="_blank">' + node.getData('link') + '</a></div>';
 		   var showCard = document.createElement('div'); 
-			showCard.className = 'showcard item_' + node.id;  
+			showCard.className = 'showcard topic_' + node.id;  
 			showCard.innerHTML = html; 
 			showCard.style.display = "none";
 			domElement.appendChild(showCard);
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
 					  modes: ['edge-property:lineWidth:color'],
 					  duration: 500
 				   });
-					$('.showcard.item_' + node.id).fadeOut('fast', function(){
+					$('.showcard.topic_' + node.id).fadeOut('fast', function(){
 						$('.name').css('display','block');
 						Mconsole.plot();
 					});	
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ function graphSettings(type) {
 			// to the main node label  
 			var nameContainer = document.createElement('span'),  
 				style = nameContainer.style;  
-			nameContainer.className = 'name item_' + node.id;  
+			nameContainer.className = 'name topic_' + node.id;  
 			nameContainer.innerHTML = '<div class="label">' + node.name + '</div>';  
 			domElement.appendChild(nameContainer);  
 			style.fontSize = "0.9em";  
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ var nodeSettings = {
 		  'render': function (node, canvas) {		  			  
 			  var pos = node.pos.getc(true),
 			  dim = node.getData('dim'),
-			  cat = node.getData('itemcatname'),
+			  cat = node.getData('metacode'),
 			  inCommons = node.getData('inCommons'),
 			  onCanvas = node.getData('onCanvas'),
 			  ctx = canvas.getCtx();
@@ -502,8 +502,8 @@ function selectNodeOnClickHandler(node) {
    
     $('.showcard').css('display','none');
 	$('.name').css('display','block');
-	$('.name.item_' + node.id).css('display','none');
-	$('.showcard.item_' + node.id).fadeIn('fast');
+	$('.name.topic_' + node.id).css('display','none');
+	$('.showcard.topic_' + node.id).fadeIn('fast');
 				
    //set final styles  
    Mconsole.graph.eachNode(function (n) {
@@ -552,18 +552,18 @@ function canvasDoubleClickHandler(canvasLoc,e) {
 
    if (now - storedTime < TOLERANCE) {
       //pop up node creation :)
-	  $('#item_grabItem').val("null");
-	  $('#item_addSynapse').val("false");
-      document.getElementById('new_item').style.left = e.x + "px";
-      document.getElementById('new_item').style.top = e.y + "px";
-      $('#item_x').val(canvasLoc.x);
-      $('#item_y').val(canvasLoc.y);
-      $('#new_item').fadeIn('fast');
+	  $('#topic_grabTopic').val("null");
+	  $('#topic_addSynapse').val("false");
+      document.getElementById('new_topic').style.left = e.x + "px";
+      document.getElementById('new_topic').style.top = e.y + "px";
+      $('#topic_x').val(canvasLoc.x);
+      $('#topic_y').val(canvasLoc.y);
+      $('#new_topic').fadeIn('fast');
 	  addMetacode();
-      $('#item_name').focus();
+      $('#topic_name').focus();
    } else {
       canvasDoubleClickHandlerObject.storedTime = now;
-	  $('#new_item').fadeOut('fast');
+	  $('#new_topic').fadeOut('fast');
 	  $('#new_synapse').fadeOut('fast');
 	  tempInit = false;
 	  tempNode = null;
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ function canvasDoubleClickHandler(canvasLoc,e) {
 function clickDragOnTopic(node, eventInfo, e) {
     if (node && !node.nodeFrom) {
 	   $('#new_synapse').fadeOut('fast');
-	   $('#new_item').fadeOut('fast');
+	   $('#new_topic').fadeOut('fast');
 	   var pos = eventInfo.getPos();
 	   // if it's a left click, move the node
 	   if (e.button == 0 && !e.altKey ) {
@@ -608,15 +608,15 @@ function clickDragOnTopic(node, eventInfo, e) {
 				  n.setData('dim', 25, 'current');
 			   });
 			   //pop up node creation :)
-			  $('#item_grabItem').val("null");
+			  $('#topic_grabTopic').val("null");
 			  var myX = e.x - 110;
 			  var myY = e.y - 30;
-			  document.getElementById('new_item').style.left = myX + "px";
-			  document.getElementById('new_item').style.top = myY + "px";
+			  document.getElementById('new_topic').style.left = myX + "px";
+			  document.getElementById('new_topic').style.top = myY + "px";
 			  document.getElementById('new_synapse').style.left = myX + "px";
 			  document.getElementById('new_synapse').style.top = myY + "px";
-			  $('#item_x').val(eventInfo.getPos().x);
-			  $('#item_y').val(eventInfo.getPos().y);
+			  $('#topic_x').val(eventInfo.getPos().x);
+			  $('#topic_y').val(eventInfo.getPos().y);
 			  Mconsole.plot();
 			  renderMidArrow({ x: tempNode.pos.getc().x, y: tempNode.pos.getc().y }, { x: pos.x, y: pos.y }, 13, false, Mconsole.canvas);
 			  Mconsole.fx.plotNode(tempNode, Mconsole.canvas);
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/application.js b/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
index 6069ec05..c38362e5 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
@@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ var labelType, useGradients, nativeTextSupport, animate, json, Mconsole = null,
 
  $(document).ready(function() {
  
-    $('#new_item, #new_synapse').bind('contextmenu', function(e){
+    $('#new_topic, #new_synapse').bind('contextmenu', function(e){
 		return false;
 	});
 	
 	/// this is for the topic creation autocomplete field
-	$('#item_name').bind('railsAutocomplete.select', function(event, data){  
+	$('#topic_name').bind('railsAutocomplete.select', function(event, data){  
       if (data.item.id != undefined) {
-        $('#item_grabItem').val(data.item.id);
+        $('#topic_grabTopic').val(data.item.id);
       }
     });
 	
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/carousel/cloud-carousel.1.0.5.js b/app/assets/javascripts/carousel/cloud-carousel.1.0.5.js
index 1b33702e..0dd961af 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/carousel/cloud-carousel.1.0.5.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/carousel/cloud-carousel.1.0.5.js
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@
 			if ( items[this.frontIndex] === undefined ) { return; }	// Images might not have loaded yet.
 			$(options.titleBox).html( $(items[this.frontIndex].image).attr('title'));
 			// METAMAPS CODE
-			$('#item_metacode').val( $(items[this.frontIndex].image).attr('title'));
+			$('#topic_metacode').val( $(items[this.frontIndex].image).attr('title'));
 			// NOT METAMAPS CODE
 			$(options.altBox).html( $(items[this.frontIndex].image).attr('alt'));				
 		};
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/topics.js.coffee b/app/assets/javascripts/topics.js.coffee
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52b1d028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/topics.js.coffee
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Place all the behaviors and hooks related to the matching controller here.
+# All this logic will automatically be available in application.js.
+# You can use CoffeeScript in this file: http://jashkenas.github.com/coffee-script/
+
+jQuery ->
+  $('.best_in_place').best_in_place()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
index fc1f50e7..3b7ef952 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/application.css
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ a {
 .new_user,
 .new_map,
 .edit_user,
-.edit_item,
+.edit_topic,
 .edit_synapse,
 .edit_map,
 .invite {
@@ -135,18 +135,18 @@ a {
   right:3px;
 }
 
-.anypage .new_item {
+.anypage .new_topic {
   width:300px;	
   margin:-40px 0 0 -50px;
 }
 
-.anypage .new_item,
+.anypage .new_topic,
 .anypage .new_synapse {
   display: block;
   position: absolute;
 }
 
-.anypage #item_name {
+.anypage #topic_name {
   width:200px;
   position:absolute;
   top:40px;
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/jquery-ui.css b/app/assets/stylesheets/jquery-ui.css
index ac0b1b7c..4d2c8534 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/jquery-ui.css
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/jquery-ui.css
@@ -152,18 +152,18 @@ button.ui-button::-moz-focus-inner { border: 0; padding: 0; } /* reset extra pad
 
 .ui-menu { list-style:none; padding: 2px; margin: 0; display:block; outline: none; }
 .ui-menu .ui-menu { margin-top: -3px; position: absolute; }
-.ui-menu .ui-menu-item { margin: 0; padding: 0; zoom: 1; width: 100%; }
+.ui-menu .ui-menu-topic { margin: 0; padding: 0; zoom: 1; width: 100%; }
 .ui-menu .ui-menu-divider { margin: 5px -2px 5px -2px; height: 0; font-size: 0; line-height: 0; border-width: 1px 0 0 0; }
-.ui-menu .ui-menu-item a { text-decoration: none; display: block; padding: 2px .4em; line-height: 1.5; zoom: 1; font-weight: normal; }
-.ui-menu .ui-menu-item a.ui-state-focus,
-.ui-menu .ui-menu-item a.ui-state-active { font-weight: normal; margin: -1px; }
+.ui-menu .ui-menu-topic a { text-decoration: none; display: block; padding: 2px .4em; line-height: 1.5; zoom: 1; font-weight: normal; }
+.ui-menu .ui-menu-topic a.ui-state-focus,
+.ui-menu .ui-menu-topic a.ui-state-active { font-weight: normal; margin: -1px; }
 
 .ui-menu .ui-state-disabled { font-weight: normal; margin: .4em 0 .2em; line-height: 1.5; }
 .ui-menu .ui-state-disabled a { cursor: default; }
 
 /* icon support */
 .ui-menu-icons { position: relative; }
-.ui-menu-icons .ui-menu-item a { position: relative; padding-left: 2em; }
+.ui-menu-icons .ui-menu-topic a { position: relative; padding-left: 2em; }
 
 /* left-aligned */
 .ui-menu .ui-icon { position: absolute; top: .2em; left: .2em; }
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/maps.css.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/maps.css.scss
index 3fdbcb09..3b527c51 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/maps.css.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/maps.css.scss
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ line-height: 24px;}
 
 // add topic on maps pages
 .selecttype { border:1px solid #000; margin-top: 20px; border-radius:15px; }
-.mapspages .new_item h3 { padding: 10px 26px; display: block; cursor: pointer; color: #2d6a5d; float:left; }
\ No newline at end of file
+.mapspages .new_topic h3 { padding: 10px 26px; display: block; cursor: pointer; color: #2d6a5d; float:left; }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/topics.css.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/topics.css.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fbc6738
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/topics.css.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// Place all the styles related to the Topics controller here.
+// They will automatically be included in application.css.
+// You can use Sass (SCSS) here: http://sass-lang.com/
+
+.topic { display:block; float:left; position:relative; width:175px; height:300px; padding:10px 5px 10px 35px; background: url('bg.png'); border-radius:15px; margin:30px 0 30px 50px; color:#000; }
+
+.topic .delete {position: absolute;
+top: -14px;
+left: 0px;
+background: none;
+border: 0;
+color: white;
+border: none;
+font-size: 14px;
+margin: 0;
+padding: 0;
+cursor:pointer;
+}
+
+.topic .scroll { display:block; height:283px; }
+
+.topic .type {position: absolute;
+color: white;
+top: -22px;
+right: 0;
+font-weight: bold;
+font-size: 20px;
+line-height: 24px;}
+
+.topic .icon { position:absolute; top:135px; left:-25px; }
+
+.topic .title { font-size:22px; line-height:25px; display:block; border-bottom:2px solid #000; padding-bottom:5px; }
+
+.topic .desc { font-size:15px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; }
+.topic .desc h3 { font-style:normal; margin-top:5px; }
+
+.topic .link { position:absolute; width:170px; top:295px; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/controllers/main_controller.rb b/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
index b7949c25..7b8e7e3a 100644
--- a/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/main_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 class MainController < ApplicationController
-  include ItemsHelper
+  include TopicsHelper
 
   before_filter :require_user, only: [:invite] 
    
@@ -11,16 +11,16 @@ class MainController < ApplicationController
   
   def search
     @current = current_user
-    @items = Array.new()
+    @topics = Array.new()
     if params[:topics_by_user_id] != ""
       @user = User.find(params[:topics_by_user_id])
-      @items = Item.visibleToUser(@current, @user)
+      @topics = Topic.visibleToUser(@current, @user)
     elsif params[:topics_by_map_id] != ""
       @map = Map.find(params[:topics_by_map_id])
-      @items = @map.items.delete_if{|item| not item.authorize_to_view(@current)}
+      @topics = @map.topics.delete_if{|topic| not topic.authorize_to_view(@current)}
     end
     respond_to do |format|
-      format.js { respond_with(@items) }
+      format.js { respond_with(@topics) }
     end
   end
   
diff --git a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
index 4487abba..1e93a7c3 100644
--- a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
@@ -63,15 +63,15 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
     if params[:map][:topicsToMap]
 		  @all = params[:map][:topicsToMap]
   		@all = @all.split(',')
-		  @all.each do |item|
-			  item = item.split('/')
+		  @all.each do |topic|
+			  topic = topic.split('/')
 			  @mapping = Mapping.new()
-        @mapping.category = "Item"
+        @mapping.category = "Topic"
         @mapping.user = @user
         @mapping.map  = @map
-        @mapping.item = Item.find(item[0])
-        @mapping.xloc = item[1]
-        @mapping.yloc = item[2]
+        @mapping.topic = Topic.find(topic[0])
+        @mapping.xloc = topic[1]
+        @mapping.yloc = topic[2]
         @mapping.save
 		  end
 		  @map.arranged = true
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
 	    redirect_to root_url and return
 	  end
 	
-	  @outitems = @map.items.order("name ASC").delete_if{|item| not item.authorize_to_view(@current)}
+	  @outtopics = @map.topics.order("name ASC").delete_if{|topic| not topic.authorize_to_view(@current)}
   
-	  respond_with(@user, @map, @outitems)
+	  respond_with(@user, @map, @outtopics)
   end
   
   # PUT maps/:id
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
 	  @map.attributes = params[:map]
 	  @map.save
 	
-	  if params[:outitems]
-		  @outitems = params[:outitems]
-		  @outitems.each do |item|
-			  @mapping = Mapping.where("map_id = ? AND item_id = ?", @map.id, item).first
+	  if params[:outtopics]
+		  @outtopics = params[:outtopics]
+		  @outtopics.each do |topic|
+			  @mapping = Mapping.where("map_id = ? AND topic_id = ?", @map.id, topic).first
 			  @mapping.delete
 		  end
 	  end
@@ -126,11 +126,11 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
 	  if params[:map][:coordinates]
 		  @all = params[:map][:coordinates]
   		@all = @all.split(',')
-		  @all.each do |item|
-			  item = item.split('/')
-			  @mapping = Mapping.find(item[0])
-			  @mapping.xloc = item[1]
-			  @mapping.yloc = item[2]
+		  @all.each do |topic|
+			  topic = topic.split('/')
+			  @mapping = Mapping.find(topic[0])
+			  @mapping.xloc = topic[1]
+			  @mapping.yloc = topic[2]
 			  @mapping.save
 		  end
 		  @map.arranged = true
diff --git a/app/controllers/synapses_controller.rb b/app/controllers/synapses_controller.rb
index 75a0a9ff..8e23c638 100644
--- a/app/controllers/synapses_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/synapses_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 class SynapsesController < ApplicationController
-  include ItemsHelper
+  include TopicsHelper
 
   before_filter :require_user, only: [:new, :create, :edit, :update]
     
@@ -39,10 +39,10 @@ class SynapsesController < ApplicationController
   def show
   	@current = current_user
     @synapse = Synapse.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_show(@current)
-	  @item1 = @synapse.item1.authorize_to_show(@current)
-	  @item2 = @synapse.item2.authorize_to_show(@current)
+	  @topic1 = @synapse.topic1.authorize_to_show(@current)
+	  @topic2 = @synapse.topic2.authorize_to_show(@current)
 	
-	  if @synapse && @item1 && @item2
+	  if @synapse && @topic1 && @topic2
 		  @synapsejson = @synapse.selfplusnodes_as_json.html_safe
 	  else
 		  redirect_to root_url and return
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ class SynapsesController < ApplicationController
     @user = current_user
     @synapse = Synapse.new()
     @synapse.desc = params[:synapse][:desc]
-    @synapse.item1 = Item.find(params[:synapse][:item1id])
-    @synapse.item2 = Item.find(params[:synapse][:item2id])
+    @synapse.topic1 = Topic.find(params[:synapse][:topic1id])
+    @synapse.topic2 = Topic.find(params[:synapse][:topic2id])
     @synapse.permission = "commons"
     @synapse.category = "from-to"
     @synapse.weight = 5
@@ -90,12 +90,12 @@ class SynapsesController < ApplicationController
     @synapse = Synapse.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_edit(@current)
 	
 	  if @synapse 
-		  @items = Item.visibleToUser(@current, nil)
+		  @topics = Topic.visibleToUser(@current, nil)
 	  elsif not @synapse
 		  redirect_to root_url and return
 	  end
   
-	  respond_with(@synapse, @items)
+	  respond_with(@synapse, @topics)
   end
   
   # PUT synapses/:id
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ class SynapsesController < ApplicationController
 	  if @synapse 
 		  @synapse.desc = params[:synapse][:desc]
 		  @synapse.category = params[:synapse][:category]
-		  @synapse.item1 = Item.find(params[:node1_id][:node1])
-		  @synapse.item2 = Item.find(params[:node2_id][:node2])
+		  @synapse.topic1 = Topic.find(params[:node1_id][:node1])
+		  @synapse.topic2 = Topic.find(params[:node2_id][:node2])
 	    @synapse.permission = params[:synapse][:permission]
 		  @synapse.save
     end
diff --git a/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb b/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eef727a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/controllers/topics_controller.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+class TopicsController < ApplicationController
+  before_filter :require_user, only: [:new, :create, :edit, :update]
+    
+  respond_to :html, :js, :json
+  
+  autocomplete :topic, :name, :full => true, :extra_data => [:user_id]
+  
+  
+  # GET topics
+  # or GET /users/:user_id/topics
+  def index
+    @current = current_user
+    
+    if params[:user_id]
+      @user = User.find(params[:user_id])
+  	  @topics = Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(@current, @user)
+    elsif      
+      @topics = Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(@current, nil)
+    end
+     
+    respond_with(@user,@topics)
+  end
+  
+  # Get topics/new
+  def new
+  	@topic = Topic.new
+    @user = current_user
+    
+    respond_with(@topic)
+  end
+  
+  # GET topics/:id
+  def show
+    @current = current_user
+    @topic = Topic.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_show(@current)
+	
+    if @topic
+	  @relatives = @topic.network_as_json(@current).html_safe
+    else
+	  redirect_to root_url and return
+    end
+	
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { respond_with(@topic, @user) }
+      format.json { respond_with(@relatives) }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET showcard/:id
+  def showcard
+    @user = current_user
+    @topic = Topic.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_show(@user)
+	
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { respond_with(@topic, @user) }
+    end
+  end
+  
+  # POST topics
+  def create
+    
+    @user = current_user
+    
+    # if the topic exists grab it and return it
+    if params[:topic][:grabTopic] != "null"
+        @topic = Topic.find(params[:topic][:grabTopic])
+    # if the topic doesn't exist yet, create it
+    else
+      @topic = Topic.new()
+      @topic.name = params[:topic][:name]
+      @topic.desc = ""
+      @topic.link = ""
+      @topic.permission = 'commons'
+      @topic.metacode = Metacode.find_by_name(params[:topic][:metacode])
+      @topic.user = @user
+
+      @topic.save
+    end
+
+    # pass on to the topic create js whether it's being created with a synapse
+    @synapse = "false"
+    if params[:topic][:addSynapse] == "true"
+      @synapse = "true" 
+    end		
+
+    # also create an object to return the position to the canvas
+    @position = Hash.new()
+    @position['x'] = params[:topic][:x]
+    @position['y'] = params[:topic][:y]
+    
+    # set this for the case where the topic is being created on a map.
+    @mapping = Mapping.new()
+    if params[:topic][:map]
+      @mapping.category = "Topic"
+      @mapping.user = @user
+      @mapping.map = Map.find(params[:topic][:map])
+      @mapping.topic = @topic
+      @mapping.xloc = params[:topic][:x]
+      @mapping.yloc = params[:topic][:y]
+      @mapping.save
+    end
+    
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { respond_with(@user, location: topic_url(@topic)) }
+      format.js { respond_with(@topic, @mapping, @synapse, @position) }
+    end
+  end
+  
+  # GET topics/:id/edit
+  def edit
+	  @current = current_user
+	  @topic = Topic.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_edit(@current)
+	
+	  if not @topic
+		  redirect_to root_url and return
+	  end
+  
+	  respond_with(@topic)
+  end
+  
+  # PUT topics/:id
+  def update
+	  @current = current_user
+	  @topic = Topic.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_edit(@current)
+    
+	  if @topic 
+		  @topic.name = params[:topic][:name]
+		  @topic.desc = params[:topic][:desc]
+		  @topic.link = params[:topic][:link]
+		  @topic.permission = params[:topic][:permission]
+		  @topic.metacode = Metacode.find(params[:category][:metacode_id])
+	    @topic.save
+    end
+	
+    respond_with(@user, location: topic_url(@topic)) do |format|
+    end
+  end
+  
+  # DELETE topics/:id
+  def destroy
+	  @current = current_user
+	  @topic = Topic.find(params[:id]).authorize_to_edit(@current)
+	  
+    if @topic 
+      @synapses = @topic.synapses
+      @mappings = @topic.mappings
+    
+      @synapses.each do |synapse| 
+        synapse.delete
+      end
+    
+      @mappings.each do |mapping| 
+        mapping.delete
+      end
+    
+      @topic.delete
+    end
+      
+	  respond_to do |format|
+      format.js
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/helpers/topics_helper.rb b/app/helpers/topics_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d9c8358e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/helpers/topics_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+module TopicsHelper
+
+#find all nodes in any given nodes network
+  def network(node, array, count)
+	# recurse starting with a node to find all connected nodes and return an array of topics that constitutes the starting nodes network
+
+	# if the array of nodes is empty initialize it
+	if array.nil?
+		array = Array.new
+	end
+
+	# add the node to the array
+	array.push(node)
+
+	if count == 0
+		return array
+	end
+
+	count = count - 1
+
+	# check if each relative is already in the array and if not, call the network function again
+	if not node.relatives.empty?
+		if (node.relatives-array).empty?
+			return array
+		else
+			(node.relatives-array).each do |relative|	
+				array = (array | network(relative, array, count))				
+			end
+			return array
+		end
+
+	elsif node.relatives.empty?
+		return array
+	end	  
+  end
+  
+  #return a json object containing all of a users added synapses
+  def synapses_as_json(current, synapses)
+    Jbuilder.encode do |json|
+	  @topics = Array.new
+
+	  synapses.each do |synapse|
+		@topics.push(synapse.topic1) if (not @topics.include?(synapse.topic1)) && synapse.topic1.authorize_to_view(current)
+		@topics.push(synapse.topic2) if (not @topics.include?(synapse.topic2)) && synapse.topic2.authorize_to_view(current)
+	  end
+
+	  json.array!(@topics) do |topic|
+	      json.adjacencies topic.synapses2.delete_if{|synapse| not @topics.include?(Topic.find_by_id(synapse.node1_id))} do |json, synapse|
+				json.nodeTo synapse.node1_id
+				json.nodeFrom synapse.node2_id
+
+				@synapsedata = Hash.new
+				@synapsedata['$desc'] = synapse.desc
+        @synapsedata['$showDesc'] = false
+        @synapsedata['$category'] = synapse.category
+        @synapsedata['$id'] = synapse.id
+        @synapsedata['$userid'] = synapse.user.id
+        @synapsedata['$username'] = synapse.user.name
+        @synapsedata['$direction'] = [synapse.node1_id.to_s(), synapse.node2_id.to_s()]
+				json.data @synapsedata
+		  end
+
+      @inmaps = Array.new
+      topic.maps.each do |map|
+        @inmaps.push(map.id)
+      end
+      
+		  @topicdata = Hash.new
+		  @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+		  @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+		  @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+      @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+		  @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+		  @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+		  json.data @topicdata
+		  json.id topic.id
+		  json.name topic.name
+	  end	
+    end
+  end
+  
+  def all_as_json(current, user)
+  
+    # current is current user
+    
+    Jbuilder.encode do |json|
+    if user.nil?
+      @topics = Topic.visibleToUser(current, nil) 
+	    @synapses = Synapse.visibleToUser(current, nil)
+    else
+      @topics = Topic.visibleToUser(current, user) 
+	    @synapses = Synapse.visibleToUser(current, user)
+    end
+
+	  json.array!(@topics) do |topic|
+	      json.adjacencies topic.synapses2.delete_if{|synapse| (not @topics.include?(Topic.find_by_id(synapse.node1_id))) || (not @synapses.include?(synapse))} do |json, synapse|
+				json.nodeTo synapse.node1_id
+				json.nodeFrom synapse.node2_id
+
+				@synapsedata = Hash.new
+				@synapsedata['$desc'] = synapse.desc
+				@synapsedata['$category'] = synapse.category
+				@synapsedata['$userid'] = synapse.user.id
+				@synapsedata['$username'] = synapse.user.name
+				json.data @synapsedata
+		  end
+
+		  @inmaps = Array.new
+      topic.maps.each do |map|
+        @inmaps.push(map.id)
+      end
+      
+		  @topicdata = Hash.new
+		  @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+		  @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+		  @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+      @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+		  @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+		  @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+
+		  json.data @topicdata
+		  json.id topic.id
+		  json.name topic.name
+	  end	
+    end
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/app/models/map.rb b/app/models/map.rb
index 2c538a52..4793c40c 100644
--- a/app/models/map.rb
+++ b/app/models/map.rb
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@ class Map < ActiveRecord::Base
 
 belongs_to :user
 
-has_many :itemmappings, :class_name => 'Mapping', :conditions => {:category => 'Item'}
+has_many :topicmappings, :class_name => 'Mapping', :conditions => {:category => 'Topic'}
 has_many :synapsemappings, :class_name => 'Mapping', :conditions => {:category => 'Synapse'}
 
-has_many :items, :through => :itemmappings
+has_many :topics, :through => :topicmappings
 has_many :synapses, :through => :synapsemappings
 
 def mappings 
-	itemmappings + synapsemappings
+	topicmappings + synapsemappings
 end
   
   
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ end
   #build a json object of a map
   def self_as_json(current)
     Jbuilder.encode do |json|
-	  @items = self.items
+	  @topics = self.topics
 	  @synapses = self.synapses
 	  
-	  json.array!(@items.delete_if{|item| not item.authorize_to_view(current)}) do |item|
+	  json.array!(@topics.delete_if{|topic| not topic.authorize_to_view(current)}) do |topic|
 		
-		#json.adjacencies item.synapses2.delete_if{|synapse| (not @items.include?(synapse.item1)) || (not @synapses.include?(synapse)) || (not synapse.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not synapse.item1.authorize_to_view(current)) } do |json, synapse|
+		#json.adjacencies topic.synapses2.delete_if{|synapse| (not @topics.include?(synapse.topic1)) || (not @synapses.include?(synapse)) || (not synapse.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not synapse.topic1.authorize_to_view(current)) } do |json, synapse|
 		
-	      json.adjacencies item.synapses1.delete_if{|synapse| (not @items.include?(synapse.item2)) || (not synapse.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not synapse.item2.authorize_to_view(current)) } do |json, synapse|
+	      json.adjacencies topic.synapses1.delete_if{|synapse| (not @topics.include?(synapse.topic2)) || (not synapse.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not synapse.topic2.authorize_to_view(current)) } do |json, synapse|
 				json.nodeTo synapse.node2_id
 				json.nodeFrom synapse.node1_id
 				
@@ -40,24 +40,24 @@ end
 		  end
 		  
 		  @inmaps = Array.new
-      item.maps.each do |map|
+      topic.maps.each do |map|
         @inmaps.push(map.id)
       end
       
-		  @itemdata = Hash.new
-		  @itemdata['$desc'] = item.desc
-		  @itemdata['$link'] = item.link
-		  @itemdata['$itemcatname'] = item.item_category.name
-      @itemdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
-		  @itemdata['$userid'] = item.user.id
-		  @itemdata['$username'] = item.user.name
-		  @mapping = Mapping.find_by_item_id_and_map_id(item.id,self.id)
-		  @itemdata['$xloc'] = @mapping.xloc
-		  @itemdata['$yloc'] = @mapping.yloc
-		  @itemdata['$mappingid'] = @mapping.id
-		  json.data @itemdata
-		  json.id item.id
-		  json.name item.name
+		  @topicdata = Hash.new
+		  @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+		  @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+		  @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+      @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+		  @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+		  @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+		  @mapping = Mapping.find_by_topic_id_and_map_id(topic.id,self.id)
+		  @topicdata['$xloc'] = @mapping.xloc
+		  @topicdata['$yloc'] = @mapping.yloc
+		  @topicdata['$mappingid'] = @mapping.id
+		  json.data @topicdata
+		  json.id topic.id
+		  json.name topic.name
 	  end	
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/models/mapping.rb b/app/models/mapping.rb
index b36fee81..434c19ff 100644
--- a/app/models/mapping.rb
+++ b/app/models/mapping.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 class Mapping < ActiveRecord::Base
 
-belongs_to :item, :class_name => "Item", :foreign_key => "item_id"
+belongs_to :topic, :class_name => "Topic", :foreign_key => "topic_id"
 belongs_to :synapse, :class_name => "Synapse", :foreign_key => "synapse_id"
 belongs_to :map, :class_name => "Map", :foreign_key => "map_id"
 
diff --git a/app/models/metacode.rb b/app/models/metacode.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c181a19f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/metacode.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+class Metacode < ActiveRecord::Base
+
+has_many :topics
+
+end
diff --git a/app/models/synapse.rb b/app/models/synapse.rb
index 6324f236..c7fe44e1 100644
--- a/app/models/synapse.rb
+++ b/app/models/synapse.rb
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ class Synapse < ActiveRecord::Base
 
 belongs_to :user
 
-belongs_to :item1, :class_name => "Item", :foreign_key => "node1_id"
-belongs_to :item2, :class_name => "Item", :foreign_key => "node2_id"
+belongs_to :topic1, :class_name => "Topic", :foreign_key => "node1_id"
+belongs_to :topic2, :class_name => "Topic", :foreign_key => "node2_id"
 
 has_many :mappings
 has_many :maps, :through => :mappings
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ has_many :maps, :through => :mappings
   
   def selfplusnodes_as_json
     Jbuilder.encode do |json|
-	  @items = Array.new
-	  @items.push(self.item1)
-	  @items.push(self.item2)
+	  @topics = Array.new
+	  @topics.push(self.topic1)
+	  @topics.push(self.topic2)
 	  
-	  json.array!(@items) do |item|
-	      json.adjacencies item.synapses1.delete_if{|synapse| not @items.include?(Item.find_by_id(synapse.node2_id))} do |json, synapse|
+	  json.array!(@topics) do |topic|
+	      json.adjacencies topic.synapses1.delete_if{|synapse| not @topics.include?(Topic.find_by_id(synapse.node2_id))} do |json, synapse|
 				json.nodeTo synapse.node2_id
 				json.nodeFrom synapse.node1_id
 				
@@ -47,20 +47,20 @@ has_many :maps, :through => :mappings
 		  end
 		  
 		  @inmaps = Array.new
-      item.maps.each do |map|
+      topic.maps.each do |map|
         @inmaps.push(map.id)
       end
       
-		  @itemdata = Hash.new
-		  @itemdata['$desc'] = item.desc
-		  @itemdata['$link'] = item.link
-		  @itemdata['$itemcatname'] = item.item_category.name
-      @itemdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
-		  @itemdata['$userid'] = item.user.id
-		  @itemdata['$username'] = item.user.name
-		  json.data @itemdata
-		  json.id item.id
-		  json.name item.name
+		  @topicdata = Hash.new
+		  @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+		  @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+		  @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+      @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+		  @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+		  @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+		  json.data @topicdata
+		  json.id topic.id
+		  json.name topic.name
 	  end	
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/models/topic.rb b/app/models/topic.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb4199a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/topic.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+class Topic < ActiveRecord::Base
+
+include TopicsHelper
+
+belongs_to :user
+
+has_many :synapses1, :class_name => 'Synapse', :foreign_key => 'node1_id'
+has_many :synapses2, :class_name => 'Synapse', :foreign_key => 'node2_id'
+has_many :topics1, :through => :synapses2, :source => :topic1
+has_many :topics2, :through => :synapses1, :source => :topic2
+
+has_many :mappings
+has_many :maps, :through => :mappings
+  
+  def synapses
+     synapses1 + synapses2
+  end
+  
+  def relatives
+     topics1 + topics2
+  end 
+
+belongs_to :metacode
+
+  # has no viewable synapses helper function
+  def has_viewable_synapses(current)
+	result = false
+	self.synapses.each do |synapse|
+		if synapse.authorize_to_view(current)
+			result = true
+		end
+	end
+	return result
+  end
+  
+  ###### JSON ######
+  
+  def self_as_json
+    Jbuilder.encode do |json|
+		  @inmaps = Array.new
+      self.maps.each do |map|
+        @inmaps.push(map.id)
+      end
+      
+		  @topicdata = Hash.new
+		  @topicdata['$desc'] = self.desc
+		  @topicdata['$link'] = self.link
+		  @topicdata['$metacode'] = self.metacode.name
+      @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+		  @topicdata['$userid'] = self.user.id
+		  @topicdata['$username'] = self.user.name
+		  json.data @topicdata
+		  json.id self.id
+		  json.name self.name
+    end
+  end
+  
+  #build a json object of everything connected to a specified node
+  def network_as_json(current)
+    Jbuilder.encode do |json|
+	  @topics = network(self,nil,4)
+	  
+	    if @topics.count > 1
+		  json.array!(@topics.delete_if{|topic| (not topic.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not topic.has_viewable_synapses(current))}) do |topic|
+			
+			  json.adjacencies topic.synapses1.delete_if{|synapse| (not @topics.include?(synapse.topic2)) || (not synapse.authorize_to_view(current)) || (not synapse.topic2.authorize_to_view(current)) } do |json, synapse|
+					json.nodeTo synapse.node2_id
+					json.nodeFrom synapse.node1_id
+					
+					@synapsedata = Hash.new
+					@synapsedata['$desc'] = synapse.desc
+					@synapsedata['$showDesc'] = false
+					@synapsedata['$category'] = synapse.category
+					@synapsedata['$id'] = synapse.id
+					@synapsedata['$userid'] = synapse.user.id
+					@synapsedata['$username'] = synapse.user.name
+					@synapsedata['$direction'] = [synapse.node1_id.to_s(), synapse.node2_id.to_s()]
+					json.data @synapsedata
+			  end
+			  
+			  @inmaps = Array.new
+        topic.maps.each do |map|
+          @inmaps.push(map.id)
+        end
+        
+        @topicdata = Hash.new
+        @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+        @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+        @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+        @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+			  @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+			  @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+			  json.data @topicdata
+			  json.id topic.id
+			  json.name topic.name
+		  end
+		elsif @topics.count == 1
+		    json.array!(@topics) do |topic|
+          @inmaps = Array.new
+          topic.maps.each do |map|
+            @inmaps.push(map.id)
+          end
+          
+          @topicdata = Hash.new
+          @topicdata['$desc'] = topic.desc
+          @topicdata['$link'] = topic.link
+          @topicdata['$metacode'] = topic.metacode.name
+          @topicdata['$inmaps'] = @inmaps
+          @topicdata['$userid'] = topic.user.id
+          @topicdata['$username'] = topic.user.name
+          json.data @topicdata
+          json.id topic.id
+          json.name topic.name
+		    end
+		end
+    end
+  end
+  
+  ##### PERMISSIONS ######
+  
+  scope :visibleToUser, lambda { |current, user|  
+    if user != nil
+	   if user != current
+		 Topic.find_all_by_user_id_and_permission(user.id, "commons") | Topic.find_all_by_user_id_and_permission(user.id, "public")
+	   elsif user ==  current
+	     Topic.find_all_by_user_id_and_permission(user.id, "commons") | Topic.find_all_by_user_id_and_permission(user.id, "public") | current.topics.where(:permission => "private")
+	   end
+	elsif (current != nil &&  user == nil)
+		Topic.find_all_by_permission("commons") | Topic.find_all_by_permission("public") | current.topics.where(:permission => "private")
+	elsif (current == nil) 
+		Topic.find_all_by_permission("commons") | Topic.find_all_by_permission("public")
+	end
+  }
+  
+  # returns false if user not allowed to 'show' Topic, Synapse, or Map
+  def authorize_to_show(user)  
+	if (self.permission == "private" && self.user != user)
+		return false
+	end
+	return self
+  end
+  
+  # returns false if user not allowed to 'edit' Topic, Synapse, or Map
+  def authorize_to_edit(user)  
+	if (self.permission == "private" && self.user != user)
+		return false
+	elsif (self.permission == "public" && self.user != user)
+		return false
+	end
+	return self
+  end
+  
+  # returns Boolean if user allowed to view Topic, Synapse, or Map
+  def authorize_to_view(user)  
+	if (self.permission == "private" && self.user != user)
+		return false
+	end
+	return true
+  end
+  
+  # returns Boolean based on whether user has permissions to edit or not
+  def authorize_linkto_edit(user)
+    if (self.user == user)
+		return true
+    elsif (self.permission == "commons")
+		return true
+	end
+	return false
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 1aaa3c3a..1e4f824c 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ require 'open-uri'
 
 class User < ActiveRecord::Base
 
-has_many :items
+has_many :topics
 has_many :synapses
 has_many :maps
 has_many :mappings
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
index 2c28686a..f1703bd5 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
           <% unless authenticated? %>
             <ul class="menu">
               <li class="first"><%= link_to "Console", console_url %></li>
-              <li><%= link_to "Topics", items_url %></li>
+              <li><%= link_to "Topics", topics_url %></li>
               <li><%= link_to "Synapses", synapses_url %></li>
               <li><%= link_to "Maps", maps_url %></li>
               <li class="last"><%= link_to "Login", new_session_path, id: "Login" %></li>
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
             <ul class="menu">
                 <li class="first"><%= link_to "Console", console_url %></li>
                 <li><%= link_to "Create Map", new_map_url %></li>
-                <li><%= link_to "My Topics", user_items_url(user) %></li>
+                <li><%= link_to "My Topics", user_topics_url(user) %></li>
                 <li><%= link_to "My Synapses", user_synapses_url(user) %></li>
                 <li><%= link_to "My Maps", user_maps_url(user) %></li>
                 <li><%= link_to "Invite", invite_path %></li>
diff --git a/app/views/main/console.html.erb b/app/views/main/console.html.erb
index b42b8e8f..9287ff81 100644
--- a/app/views/main/console.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/main/console.html.erb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   </div>
   <div class="clearfloat"></div>
   <% if authenticated? %>
-    <%= render :partial => 'items/new' %>
+    <%= render :partial => 'topics/new' %>
     <%= render :partial => 'synapses/new' %>
     <%= render :partial => 'maps/new' %>
   <% end %>
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@
     <option value="mapper (by name)">mapper (by name)</option>
   </select>
   <div class="clearfloat"></div>
-  <%= form_for Item.new, :html => { :class => "find_topic_by_name find find_topic", :id => "find_topic_by_name" } do |f| %>
-    <%= f.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_item_name_items_path, :id => "topic_by_name_input", :placeholder => "Search for topics..." %>
+  <%= form_for Topic.new, :html => { :class => "find_topic_by_name find find_topic", :id => "find_topic_by_name" } do |f| %>
+    <%= f.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_topic_name_topics_path, :id => "topic_by_name_input", :placeholder => "Search for topics..." %>
   <% end %>
   <%= form_for Map.new, :html => { :class => "find_map_by_name find", :id => "find_map_by_name" } do |f| %>
     <%= f.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_map_name_maps_path, :id => "map_by_name_input", :placeholder => "Search for maps..." %>
diff --git a/app/views/main/metamap.html.erb b/app/views/main/metamap.html.erb
index f0977cac..23191a42 100644
--- a/app/views/main/metamap.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/main/metamap.html.erb
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<% unless @item.nil? %>
+<% unless @topic.nil? %>
 <div class="home" id="container">
   <div id="center-container">
     <div id="infovis"></div>    
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
 	});
 </script>
 <% end %>
-<% if @item.nil? %>
+<% if @topic.nil? %>
 	 <p><br>Shucks, there is nothing in metamaps.<p>
 <% end %>
 
 <% if authenticated? %>
-	<%= render :partial => 'items/new' %>
+	<%= render :partial => 'topics/new' %>
 	<%= render :partial => 'synapses/new' %>
 <% end %>
 
diff --git a/app/views/main/search.js.erb b/app/views/main/search.js.erb
index 6d3ab04c..04c5b436 100644
--- a/app/views/main/search.js.erb
+++ b/app/views/main/search.js.erb
@@ -7,11 +7,11 @@ var myX = -w + 400;
 var myY = -h + 100;
 var even = true;
 
-<% @items.each do |item| %>
+<% @topics.each do |topic| %>
   if ($.isEmptyObject(Mconsole.graph.nodes)) {
-    json = <%= item.self_as_json.html_safe %>;
+    json = <%= topic.self_as_json.html_safe %>;
     Mconsole.loadJSON(json);
-    var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= item.id %>');
+    var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= topic.id %>');
     temp.setData('dim', 1, 'start');
     temp.setData('dim', 25, 'end');
     temp.setData('inCommons',true);
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ var even = true;
     even = !even;
   }
   else {
-    var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= item.id %>');
+    var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= topic.id %>');
     if (temp == null) {
-      var newnode = <%= item.self_as_json.html_safe %>;
+      var newnode = <%= topic.self_as_json.html_safe %>;
       Mconsole.graph.addNode(newnode);
-      var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= item.id %>');
+      var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= topic.id %>');
       temp.setData('dim', 1, 'start');
       temp.setData('dim', 25, 'end');
       temp.setData('inCommons',true);
diff --git a/app/views/maps/_map.html.erb b/app/views/maps/_map.html.erb
index ef735856..73b56a1b 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/_map.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/_map.html.erb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	<% if map.user == user %><%= link_to 'Delete', map_path(map), :class => 'delete', :confirm => 'Delete this map (nodes and synapses will remain)?', :method => :delete, :remote => true %><% end %>
 	<div class="scroll">
 		<%= link_to map.name, map_path(map), :class => 'title' %>
-		<div class="desc"><p><%= map.desc %></p><p># of Topics: <%= map.items.count %></p><p># of Synapses: <%= map.synapses.count %></p></div>
+		<div class="desc"><p><%= map.desc %></p><p># of Topics: <%= map.topics.count %></p><p># of Synapses: <%= map.synapses.count %></p></div>
 	</div>
 	<div class="link"><p>Permissions:<%= map.permission %></p></div>
 <% end %>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/maps/_newsynapse.html.erb b/app/views/maps/_newsynapse.html.erb
index b707f622..06691e5e 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/_newsynapse.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/_newsynapse.html.erb
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 <div class="anypage">
 	<%= form_for Synapse.new, url: synapses_url, remote: true do |form| %>
     <%= form.autocomplete_field :desc, autocomplete_synapse_desc_synapses_path, :placeholder => "Describe the connection..." %>
-    <%= form.hidden_field :item1id, :value => 0 %>
-    <%= form.hidden_field :item2id, :value => 0 %>
+    <%= form.hidden_field :topic1id, :value => 0 %>
+    <%= form.hidden_field :topic2id, :value => 0 %>
     <%= form.hidden_field :map, :value => @map.id %>
 	<% end %>
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb b/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
index 145c84b2..5fd6eb61 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/_newtopic.html.erb
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <div class="anypage">
-<%= form_for Item.new, url: items_url, remote: true do |form| %>
+<%= form_for Topic.new, url: topics_url, remote: true do |form| %>
   <div id="metacodeImg"><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/action.png" alt="Action" title="Action"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/activity.png" alt="Activity" title="Activity"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/bizarre.png" alt="Bizarre" title="Bizarre"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/catalyst.png" alt="Catalyst" title="Catalyst"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/closed.png" alt="Closed" title="Closed"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/experience.png" alt="Experience" title="Experience"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/futuredev.png" alt="Future Dev" title="Future Dev"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/group.png" alt="Group" title="Group"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/idea.png" alt="Idea" title="Idea"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/implication.png" alt="Implication" title="Implication"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/insight.png" alt="Insight" title="Insight"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/intention.png" alt="Intention" title="Intention"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/knowledge.png" alt="Knowledge" title="Knowledge"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/location.png" alt="Location" title="Location"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/openissue.png" alt="Open Issue" title="Open Issue"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/opinion.png" alt="Opinion" title="Opinion"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/opportunity.png" alt="Opportunity" title="Opportunity"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/person.png" alt="Person" title="Person"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/platform.png" alt="Platform" title="Platform"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/problem.png" alt="Problem" title="Problem"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/question.png" alt="Question" title="Question"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/reference.png" alt="Reference" title="Reference"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/requirement.png" alt="Requirement" title="Requirement"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/resource.png" alt="Resource" title="Resource"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/role.png" alt="Role" title="Role"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/task.png" alt="Task" title="Task"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/tool.png" alt="Tool" title="Tool"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/trajectory.png" alt="Trajectory" title="Trajectory"/></div> 
-  <%= form.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_item_name_items_path, :placeholder => "What is the name of your topic?" %>
+  <%= form.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_topic_name_topics_path, :placeholder => "What is the name of your topic?" %>
   <%= form.hidden_field :metacode, :value => "Action" %>
   <%= form.hidden_field :x, :value => 0 %>
   <%= form.hidden_field :y, :value => 0 %>
   <%= form.hidden_field :map, :value => @map.id %>
-  <%= form.hidden_field :grabItem, :value => "null" %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :grabTopic, :value => "null" %>
   <%= form.hidden_field :addSynapse, :value => false %>
   <!--<input id="left-but"  type="button" value="Left" />-->
   <div id="metacodeImgTitle"></div>
diff --git a/app/views/maps/edit.html.erb b/app/views/maps/edit.html.erb
index 55818179..131617be 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/edit.html.erb
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
   <%= form.text_field :name %>
   <label for="map_desc">Description</label>
   <%= form.text_area :desc, class: "description", :rows => 5 %>
-  <label for="outitems">Remove Topics From Map</label>
-  <%= select_tag "outitems", options_from_collection_for_select(@outitems, "id", "name"), { :multiple => true } %>
+  <label for="outtopics">Remove Topics From Map</label>
+  <%= select_tag "outtopics", options_from_collection_for_select(@outtopics, "id", "name"), { :multiple => true } %>
   <label for="map_perm">Permission</label>
   <%= form.select :permission, options_for_select(['commons', 'public', 'private'], @map.permission) %>
   <%= form.submit "Update", class: "update" %>
diff --git a/app/views/maps/show.html.erb b/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
index 9ca0a908..0d075348 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/show.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <div class="focus">
 	<div class="focusleft">
-		<p># of Topics: <%= @map.items.count %></p>
+		<p># of Topics: <%= @map.topics.count %></p>
 		<p># of Synapses: <%= @map.synapses.count %></p>
 		<% if (@map.permission == "commons" && authenticated?) || @map.user == user %>
 			<%= form_for @map, :url => savelayout_path(@map), :html => { :class => "saveMapLayout", :id => "saveMapLayout"}, remote: true do |form| %>
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/_new.html.erb b/app/views/synapses/_new.html.erb
index f9b2f8a6..3d7140a3 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/_new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/_new.html.erb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <div class="anypage">
 	<%= form_for Synapse.new, url: synapses_url, remote: true do |form| %>
     <%= form.autocomplete_field :desc, autocomplete_synapse_desc_synapses_path, :placeholder => "Describe the connection..." %>
-    <%= form.hidden_field :item1id, :value => 0 %>
-    <%= form.hidden_field :item2id, :value => 0 %>
+    <%= form.hidden_field :topic1id, :value => 0 %>
+    <%= form.hidden_field :topic2id, :value => 0 %>
 	<% end %>
 </div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/create.js.erb b/app/views/synapses/create.js.erb
index 89c180fe..1823b646 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/create.js.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/create.js.erb
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 $('#new_synapse').fadeOut('fast');
 $('#synapse_desc').attr('value','');
-$('#synapse_item1id').attr('value','0');
-$('#synapse_item2id').attr('value','0');
+$('#synapse_topic1id').attr('value','0');
+$('#synapse_topic2id').attr('value','0');
 
 var temp1, temp2, temp;	
 		 
 if ( Mconsole != null) {
-    temp1 = Mconsole.graph.getNode(<%= @synapse.item1.id %>);
-    temp2 = Mconsole.graph.getNode(<%= @synapse.item2.id %>);
+    temp1 = Mconsole.graph.getNode(<%= @synapse.topic1.id %>);
+    temp2 = Mconsole.graph.getNode(<%= @synapse.topic2.id %>);
     Mconsole.graph.addAdjacence(temp1, temp2, {});
     temp = Mconsole.graph.getAdjacence(temp1.id, temp2.id);
     console.log(temp);
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/edit.html.erb b/app/views/synapses/edit.html.erb
index fb6d8c92..ecb2bd49 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/edit.html.erb
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 <%= form_for @synapse, url: synapse_url do |form| %>
   <h3>Edit Synapse</h3>
-  <% if Item.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
+  <% if Topic.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
 	<label for="node1_id">Choose First Topic</label>
-	<%= select "node1_id", "node1", Item.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil).map {|p| [ p.name, p.id ] }, { :selected => @synapse.node1_id } %>
+	<%= select "node1_id", "node1", Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil).map {|p| [ p.name, p.id ] }, { :selected => @synapse.node1_id } %>
   <% end %>
-  <label for="item_category">Directionality of the Connection</label>
+  <label for="metacode">Directionality of the Connection</label>
   <%= form.select :category, options_for_select(['none', 'both', 'from-to'], @synapse.category) %>
-  <label for="item_desc">Describe The Connection</label>
+  <label for="topic_desc">Describe The Connection</label>
   <%= form.text_field :desc, class: "description" %>
-  <% if Item.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
+  <% if Topic.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
 	<label for="node2_id">Choose Second Topic</label>
-	<%= select "node2_id", "node2", Item.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil).map {|p| [ p.name, p.id ] }, { :selected => @synapse.node2_id } %>
+	<%= select "node2_id", "node2", Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil).map {|p| [ p.name, p.id ] }, { :selected => @synapse.node2_id } %>
   <% end %>
   <label for="synapse_permission">Permission</label>
   <%= form.select :permission, options_for_select(['commons', 'public', 'private'], @synapse.permission) %>
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/index.html.erb b/app/views/synapses/index.html.erb
index 1f5fa883..0f7daa11 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/index.html.erb
@@ -17,6 +17,6 @@
 </script>
 
 <% if authenticated? %>
-	<%= render :partial => 'items/new' %>
+	<%= render :partial => 'topics/new' %>
 	<%= render :partial => 'synapses/new' %>
 <% end %>
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/new.html.erb b/app/views/synapses/new.html.erb
index df15d932..25253d08 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/new.html.erb
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 <div class="newsynapses">
 	<%= form_for @synapse, url: synapses_url do |form| %>
 	  <h3>Add Synapse Between Topics</h3> 
-	  <% if Item.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
+	  <% if Topic.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
 		<label for="node1_id">Choose First Topic</label>
-		<%= select_tag :node1_id, options_from_collection_for_select(Item.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil), "id", "name") %>
+		<%= select_tag :node1_id, options_from_collection_for_select(Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil), "id", "name") %>
 	  <% end %>
-	  <label for="item_category">Directionality of the Connection</label>
+	  <label for="metacode">Directionality of the Connection</label>
 	  <%= form.select :category, options_for_select(['none', 'both', 'from-to']) %>
-	  <label for="item_desc">Describe The Connection</label>
+	  <label for="topic_desc">Describe The Connection</label>
 	  <%= form.text_field :desc, class: "description" %>
-	  <% if Item.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
+	  <% if Topic.visibleToUser(user, nil).count > 0 %>
 		<label for="node2_id">Choose Second Topic</label>
-		<%= select_tag :node2_id, options_from_collection_for_select(Item.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil), "id", "name") %>
+		<%= select_tag :node2_id, options_from_collection_for_select(Topic.order("name ASC").visibleToUser(user, nil), "id", "name") %>
 	  <% end %>
 	  <label for="synapse_permission">Permission</label>
 	  <%= form.select(:permission, options_for_select(['commons', 'public', 'private'])) %>
diff --git a/app/views/synapses/show.html.erb b/app/views/synapses/show.html.erb
index fba2e70a..876ea7c6 100644
--- a/app/views/synapses/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/synapses/show.html.erb
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@
 </script>
 
 <% if authenticated? %>
-	<%= render :partial => 'items/new' %>
+	<%= render :partial => 'topics/new' %>
 	<%= render :partial => 'synapses/new' %>
 <% end %>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/_new.html.erb b/app/views/topics/_new.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c9cd856
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/_new.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+<div class="anypage">
+<%= form_for Topic.new, url: topics_url, remote: true do |form| %>
+  <div id="metacodeImg"><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/action.png" alt="Action" title="Action"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/activity.png" alt="Activity" title="Activity"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/bizarre.png" alt="Bizarre" title="Bizarre"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/catalyst.png" alt="Catalyst" title="Catalyst"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/closed.png" alt="Closed" title="Closed"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/experience.png" alt="Experience" title="Experience"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/futuredev.png" alt="Future Dev" title="Future Dev"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/group.png" alt="Group" title="Group"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/idea.png" alt="Idea" title="Idea"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/implication.png" alt="Implication" title="Implication"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/insight.png" alt="Insight" title="Insight"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/intention.png" alt="Intention" title="Intention"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/knowledge.png" alt="Knowledge" title="Knowledge"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/location.png" alt="Location" title="Location"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/openissue.png" alt="Open Issue" title="Open Issue"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/opinion.png" alt="Opinion" title="Opinion"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/opportunity.png" alt="Opportunity" title="Opportunity"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/person.png" alt="Person" title="Person"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/platform.png" alt="Platform" title="Platform"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/problem.png" alt="Problem" title="Problem"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/question.png" alt="Question" title="Question"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/reference.png" alt="Reference" title="Reference"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/requirement.png" alt="Requirement" title="Requirement"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/resource.png" alt="Resource" title="Resource"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/role.png" alt="Role" title="Role"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/task.png" alt="Task" title="Task"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/tool.png" alt="Tool" title="Tool"/><img class="cloudcarousel" width="40" height="40" src="/assets/trajectory.png" alt="Trajectory" title="Trajectory"/></div> 
+  <%= form.autocomplete_field :name, autocomplete_topic_name_topics_path, :placeholder => "What is the name of your topic?" %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :metacode, :value => "Action" %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :x, :value => 0 %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :y, :value => 0 %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :grabTopic, :value => "null" %>
+  <%= form.hidden_field :addSynapse, :value => false %>
+  <!--<input id="left-but"  type="button" value="Left" />-->
+  <div id="metacodeImgTitle"></div>
+  <!--<input id="right-but" type="button" value="Right" />-->
+  <div class="clearfloat"></div>
+<% end %>
+</div>
diff --git a/app/views/topics/_topic.html.erb b/app/views/topics/_topic.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..346d8aeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/_topic.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<%= div_for topic, class: topic.metacode.name do %>
+	<% if topic.user == user %><%= link_to 'Delete', topic_path(topic), :class => 'delete', :confirm => 'Delete this topic and all synapses linking to it?', :method => :delete, :remote => true%><% end %>
+	<p class="type"><%= topic.metacode.name %></p>
+	<%= image_tag topic.metacode.icon, :class => 'icon', :size => '50x50' %>
+	<div class="scroll">
+		<%= link_to topic.name, topic_path(topic), :class => 'title' %>
+		<div class="desc"><p><%=topic.desc %></p></div>
+	</div>
+	<%= link_to topic.link, topic.link, :class => 'link', :target => '_blank' %>
+<% end %>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/create.js.erb b/app/views/topics/create.js.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..debc125c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/create.js.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+$('#new_topic').fadeOut('fast');
+$('#topic_name').data().autocomplete.term = null;
+$('.ui-autocomplete').children().remove();
+$('.ui-autocomplete').css('display','none');
+$('#topic_name').attr('value','');
+$('#topic_grabTopic').attr('value','null');
+$('#topic_addSynapse').attr('value','false');
+
+
+
+var newnode = <%= @topic.self_as_json.html_safe %>;
+var x = <%= @position['x'] %>;
+var y = <%= @position['y'] %>;
+  
+
+if (!$.isEmptyObject(Mconsole.graph.nodes)) {
+  Mconsole.graph.addNode(newnode);
+  
+  // set the animation for everything back to normal
+  Mconsole.graph.eachNode( function (n) {
+    n.setData('dim', 25, 'start');
+    n.setData('dim', 25, 'end');
+  });
+  var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= @topic.id %>');
+  temp.setData('dim', 1, 'start');
+  temp.setData('dim', 40, 'end');
+  
+  if (gType == "centered") {
+    var tempPos = new $jit.Complex(x, y);
+    tempPos = tempPos.toPolar();
+    temp.setPos(tempPos, 'current');
+    temp.setPos(tempPos, 'start');
+    temp.setPos(tempPos, 'end');
+  }
+  else if (gType == "arranged" || gType == "chaotic") {
+    temp.setData('xloc',0);
+    temp.setData('yloc',0);
+    temp.setData('mappingid', '<%= @mapping.id %>');
+    temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'current');
+    temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'start');
+    temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'end');
+  }
+  
+  if ( '<%= @synapse %>' == "true" ) {
+    $('#synapse_topic1id').val(tempNode.id);
+    $('#synapse_topic2id').val(temp.id);
+    $('#new_synapse').fadeIn('fast');
+    $('#synapse_desc').focus();
+    Mconsole.fx.animate({  
+      modes: ['node-property:dim'],  
+      duration: 500,
+      onComplete: function() {
+        renderMidArrow({ x: tempNode.pos.getc().x, y: tempNode.pos.getc().y }, { x: temp.pos.getc().x, y: temp.pos.getc().y }, 13, false, Mconsole.canvas);
+        Mconsole.fx.plotNode(tempNode, Mconsole.canvas);
+        Mconsole.fx.plotNode(temp, Mconsole.canvas);
+        tempNode = null;
+		    tempNode2 = null;
+		    tempInit = false;
+     }    
+    });
+  } else {
+      Mconsole.fx.plotNode(temp, Mconsole.canvas);
+      Mconsole.fx.animate({  
+        modes: ['node-property:dim'],  
+        duration: 500    
+      });
+  }
+  
+} else {
+  json = newnode;
+  Mconsole.loadJSON(json);
+  var temp = Mconsole.graph.getNode('<%= @topic.id %>');
+  temp.setData('dim', 1, 'start');
+  temp.setData('dim', 25, 'end');
+  temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'current');
+  temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'start');
+  temp.setPos(new $jit.Complex(x, y), 'end');
+  Mconsole.fx.plotNode(temp, Mconsole.canvas);
+  Mconsole.fx.animate({  
+        modes: ['node-property:dim'],  
+        duration: 500    
+      });
+}
diff --git a/app/views/topics/destroy.js.erb b/app/views/topics/destroy.js.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..da2a26ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/destroy.js.erb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+$('#<%= dom_id(@topic) %>').fadeOut('slow');
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/edit.html.erb b/app/views/topics/edit.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..88b7a6af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/edit.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<%= form_for @topic, url: topic_url do |form| %>
+  <h3>Edit Topic</h3>
+  <label for="category">Category</label>
+  <%= select "category", "metacode_id", Metacode.order("name ASC").all.collect {|p| [ p.name, p.id ] }, { :selected => @topic.metacode.id } %>
+  <label for="topic_name">Title</label>
+  <%= form.text_field :name %>
+  <label for="topic_desc">Description</label>
+  <%= form.text_area :desc, class: "description", :rows => 5 %>
+  <label for="topic_link">Link</label>
+  <%= form.text_field :link, class: "link" %> 
+  <label for="topic_permission">Permission</label>
+  <%= form.select :permission, options_for_select(['commons', 'public', 'private'], @topic.permission) %>
+  <%= form.submit "Update", class: "update" %>
+<% end %>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/index.html.erb b/app/views/topics/index.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3b801d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/index.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<h1 class="index"><% if @user %><%= @user.name %>'s<% end %> Topics</h1>
+
+<div class="topics" id="cards">
+  <% @topics.each do |topic| %>
+    <%= render topic %>
+  <% end %>
+  <% if @topics.empty? %>
+	 <p class="empty"><br>Shucks, there are no topics. <% if authenticated? %><%= link_to "Create some if you want.", console_url %><% end %></p>
+  <% end %>
+</div>
+<div class="clearfloat"></div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/new.html.erb b/app/views/topics/new.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bcf9d9cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/new.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<div class="nothidden">
+<%= form_for @topic || Topic.new, url: topics_path do |form| %>
+  <h3>Add Topic</h3>
+  <label for="category">Category</label>
+  <%= select_tag "category", options_from_collection_for_select(Metacode.order("name ASC").all, "id", "name") %>
+  <label for="topic_name">Title</label>
+  <%= form.text_field :name %>
+  <label for="topic_desc">Description</label>
+  <%= form.text_area :desc, class: "description", :rows => 5 %>
+  <label for="topic_link">Link</label>
+  <%= form.text_field :link, class: "link" %>
+  <label for="topic_permission">Permission</label>
+  <%= form.select(:permission, options_for_select(['commons', 'public', 'private'])) %>
+  <%= form.submit "Add Topic", class: "addTopic", id: "addTopic" %>
+<% end %>
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/views/topics/show.html.erb b/app/views/topics/show.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c80ea25b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/show.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+<div class="focus">
+	<div class="focusleft">
+		<p><%= @topic.metacode.name %></p>
+		<%= image_tag @topic.metacode.icon, :class => 'icon', :size => '50x50' %>
+	</div>
+	<div class="focusmiddle">
+		<h1 class="title"><%= @topic.name %> <% if (@topic.permission == "commons" && authenticated?) || @topic.user == user %><%= link_to "[edit]", edit_topic_path(@topic) %><% end %></h1>
+		<div class="desc">
+			<p><%= @topic.desc %></p>
+		</div>
+	</div>
+	<div class="focusright">
+		<p>Link</p>
+		<%= link_to @topic.link, @topic.link, :class => 'link', :target => '_blank' %>
+	</div>
+</div>
+<div class="clearfloat nodemargin"></div>
+
+<div class="relatives" id="container">
+  <div id="center-container">
+    <div id="infovis"></div>    
+  </div>
+</div>
+<div class="clearfloat"></div>
+
+<script>
+	json = <%= @relatives %>;
+	console.log(json);
+	$(document).ready(function() {
+		initialize("centered");
+	});
+</script>
+
+<% if authenticated? %>
+  <%= render :partial => 'topics/new' %>
+	<%= render :partial => 'synapses/new' %>
+<% end %>
+
diff --git a/app/views/topics/showcard.html.erb b/app/views/topics/showcard.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ccceea1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/topics/showcard.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<div class="showcard topic_<%= @topic.id %>">
+  <div class="CardOnGraph" title="Click to Hide" id="topic_' + node.id + '">
+    <p class="type">
+      <%= @topic.metacode.name %>
+    </p>
+    <img alt="<%= @topic.metacode.name %>" 
+         src="/assets/<%= @topic.metacode.name %>.png" 
+         class="icon" height="50" width="50" />
+    <div class="scroll">
+      <a href="/topics/<%=@topic.id%>" class="title">
+        <%= @topic.name %>
+      </a>
+      <div class="contributor">
+        Added by: 
+        <a href="/users/<%= @user.id %>">
+          <%= @user.name %>
+        </a>
+      </div>
+      <div class="desc">
+        <p>
+          <%= @topic.desc %>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+    </div><!-- div.scroll -->
+    <a href="<%= @topic.link %>" class="link" target="_blank">
+      <%= @topic.link %>
+    </a>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/app/views/users/show.html.erb b/app/views/users/show.html.erb
index cd1902f1..c7240ceb 100644
--- a/app/views/users/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/show.html.erb
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 <div class="focus">
 	<div class="focusleft">
-		<p># of Topics: <%= @user.items.count %></p>
+		<p># of Topics: <%= @user.topics.count %></p>
 		<p># of Synapses: <%= @user.synapses.count %></p>
 		<p># of Maps: <%= @user.maps.count %></p>
 	</div>
 	<div class="focusmiddle">
 		<h1 class="title"><%= @user.name %></h1>
 		<div class="desc">
-			<p><%= link_to "View their topics", user_items_path(@user)%></p>
+			<p><%= link_to "View their topics", user_topics_path(@user)%></p>
 			<p><%= link_to "View their synapses", user_synapses_path(@user)%></p>
 			<p><%= link_to "View their maps", user_maps_path(@user) %></p>
 		</div>
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index cd1dafda..fe7301d5 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ ISSAD::Application.routes.draw do
 
   resource :session
   
-  resources :items do
-    get :autocomplete_item_name, :on => :collection
+  resources :topics do
+    get :autocomplete_topic_name, :on => :collection
   end
   
   resources :synapses do
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ ISSAD::Application.routes.draw do
   
   resources :users do
     get :autocomplete_user_name, :on => :collection
-	  resources :items, :only => [:index]
+	  resources :topics, :only => [:index]
     resources :synapses, :only => [:index]
 	  resources :maps, :only => [:index]
   end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20120920013446_create_users.rb b/db/migrate/20120920013446_create_users.rb
index aa0cea24..6c603cd0 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20120920013446_create_users.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20120920013446_create_users.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ class CreateUsers < ActiveRecord::Migration
     create_table :users do |t|
       t.string :name
       t.string :email
-	  t.string :code, :limit => 8
-	  t.string :joinedwithcode, :limit => 8
+	    t.string :code, :limit => 8
+	    t.string :joinedwithcode, :limit => 8
       t.string :crypted_password
       t.string :password_salt
       t.string :persistence_token
diff --git a/db/migrate/20121005160234_create_synapses.rb b/db/migrate/20121005160234_create_synapses.rb
index 17b1f5a3..4ff17811 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20121005160234_create_synapses.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20121005160234_create_synapses.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ class CreateSynapses < ActiveRecord::Migration
   def change
     create_table :synapses do |t|
       t.text :desc
-	  t.text :category
-	  t.text :weight
-	  t.text :permission
-	  t.integer :node1_id
-	  t.integer :node2_id
-	  t.integer :user_id
+	    t.text :category
+	    t.text :weight
+	    t.text :permission
+	    t.integer :node1_id
+	    t.integer :node2_id
+	    t.integer :user_id
 
       t.timestamps
     end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20121026000731_create_mappings.rb b/db/migrate/20121026000731_create_mappings.rb
index b03ee426..01598d5c 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20121026000731_create_mappings.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20121026000731_create_mappings.rb
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ class CreateMappings < ActiveRecord::Migration
   def change
     create_table :mappings do |t|
       t.text :category
-	  t.integer :xloc
+	    t.integer :xloc
       t.integer :yloc
-	  t.integer :item_id
-	  t.integer :synapse_id
-	  t.integer :map_id
-	  t.integer :user_id
+	    t.integer :topic_id
+	    t.integer :synapse_id
+	    t.integer :map_id
+	    t.integer :user_id
       t.timestamps
     end
   end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20130101193917_create_topics.rb b/db/migrate/20130101193917_create_topics.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..34f9a538
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20130101193917_create_topics.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+class CreateTopics < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    create_table :topics do |t|
+      t.text :name
+      t.text :desc
+      t.text :link
+	    t.text :permission
+	    t.integer :user_id
+	    t.integer :metacode_id
+      t.timestamps
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20130101194424_create_metacodes.rb b/db/migrate/20130101194424_create_metacodes.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..154c8afe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20130101194424_create_metacodes.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+class CreateMetacodes < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    create_table :metacodes do |t|
+      t.text :name
+      t.string :icon
+      
+      t.timestamps
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20130101215010_items_to_topics.rb b/db/migrate/20130101215010_items_to_topics.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..114c6fcf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20130101215010_items_to_topics.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+class ItemsToTopics < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def change
+    rename_column :items, :item_category_id, :metacode_id
+    rename_column :mappings, :item_id, :topic_id
+  
+    rename_table :items, :topics
+    rename_table :item_categories, :metacodes
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index c4f01152..7ff926ce 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended to check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20121203225613) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20130101215010) do
 
   create_table "item_categories", :force => true do |t|
     t.text     "name"
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20121203225613) do
     t.text     "category"
     t.integer  "xloc"
     t.integer  "yloc"
-    t.integer  "item_id"
+    t.integer  "topic_id"
     t.integer  "synapse_id"
     t.integer  "map_id"
     t.integer  "user_id"
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20121203225613) do
     t.boolean  "arranged"
   end
 
+  create_table "metacodes", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "name"
+    t.string   "icon"
+    t.datetime "created_at", :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
+  end
+
   create_table "synapses", :force => true do |t|
     t.text     "desc"
     t.text     "category"
@@ -65,6 +72,17 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(:version => 20121203225613) do
     t.datetime "updated_at", :null => false
   end
 
+  create_table "topics", :force => true do |t|
+    t.text     "name"
+    t.text     "desc"
+    t.text     "link"
+    t.text     "permission"
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.integer  "metacode_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at",  :null => false
+    t.datetime "updated_at",  :null => false
+  end
+
   create_table "users", :force => true do |t|
     t.string   "name"
     t.string   "email"
diff --git a/test/fixtures/mappings.yml b/test/fixtures/mappings.yml
index c63aac0b..9cfe87b6 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/mappings.yml
+++ b/test/fixtures/mappings.yml
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 # model remove the '{}' from the fixture names and add the columns immediately
 # below each fixture, per the syntax in the comments below
 #
-one: {}
+#one: {}
 # column: value
 #
-two: {}
+#two: {}
 #  column: value
diff --git a/test/fixtures/metacodes.yml b/test/fixtures/metacodes.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4af9d7ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/metacodes.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+# Read about fixtures at http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveRecord/Fixtures.html
+
+# This model initially had no columns defined.  If you add columns to the
+# model remove the '{}' from the fixture names and add the columns immediately
+# below each fixture, per the syntax in the comments below
+#
+one: 
+  name: Action  
+  icon: action.png
+
+two: 
+  name: Activity  
+  icon: activity.png
+
+three: 
+  name: Bizarre  
+  icon: bizarre.png
+
+four: 
+  name: Catalyst  
+  icon: catalyst.png
+
+five: 
+  name: Closed  
+  icon: closed.png
+
+six: 
+  name: Experience  
+  icon: experience.png
+
+seven: 
+  name: Future Dev  
+  icon: futuredev.png
+
+eight:
+  name: Group  
+  icon: group.png
+
+nine:
+  name: Idea  
+  icon: idea.png
+
+ten:
+  name: Implication  
+  icon: implication.png
+
+eleven:
+  name: Insight  
+  icon: insight.png
+
+twelve:
+  name: Intention  
+  icon: intention.png
+
+thirteen:
+  name: Knowledge  
+  icon: knowledge.png
+
+fourteen:
+  name: Location  
+  icon: location.png
+
+fifteen:
+  name: Open Issue  
+  icon: openissue.png
+
+sixteen:
+  name: Opinion  
+  icon: opinion.png
+
+seventeen:
+  name: Opportunity  
+  icon: opportunity.png
+
+eighteen:
+  name: Person  
+  icon: person.png
+
+nineteen:
+  name: Platform  
+  icon: platform.png
+
+twenty:
+  name: Problem  
+  icon: problem.png
+
+twenty-one:
+  name: Question  
+  icon: question.png
+
+twenty-two:
+  name: Reference  
+  icon: reference.png
+
+twenty-three:
+  name: Requirement  
+  icon: requirement.png
+
+twenty-four:
+  name: Resource  
+  icon: resource.png 
+
+twenty-five:
+  name: Role  
+  icon: role.png
+
+twenty-six:
+  name: Task  
+  icon: task.png
+
+twenty-seven:
+  name: Tool	  
+  icon: tool.png 
+
+twenty-eight:
+  name: Trajectory  
+  icon: trajectory.png
diff --git a/test/fixtures/topics.yml b/test/fixtures/topics.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9cfe87b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/topics.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Read about fixtures at http://api.rubyonrails.org/classes/ActiveRecord/Fixtures.html
+
+# This model initially had no columns defined.  If you add columns to the
+# model remove the '{}' from the fixture names and add the columns immediately
+# below each fixture, per the syntax in the comments below
+#
+#one: {}
+# column: value
+#
+#two: {}
+#  column: value
diff --git a/test/functional/topics_controller_test.rb b/test/functional/topics_controller_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dd41edd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/functional/topics_controller_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+class TopicsControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
+  # test "the truth" do
+  #   assert true
+  # end
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/helpers/topics_helper_test.rb b/test/unit/helpers/topics_helper_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..12cc0b4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/helpers/topics_helper_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+class TopicsHelperTest < ActionView::TestCase
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/metacode_test.rb b/test/unit/metacode_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7bfd318d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/metacode_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+class MetacodeTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
+  # test "the truth" do
+  #   assert true
+  # end
+end
diff --git a/test/unit/topic_test.rb b/test/unit/topic_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90522ee5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/topic_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+require 'test_helper'
+
+class TopicTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
+  # test "the truth" do
+  #   assert true
+  # end
+end