diff --git a/ansible/roles/node/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/node/tasks/main.yml
index 56c830f2b..049f0d524 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/node/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/node/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 ---
-- name: Ensure 'nb' user owns /srv/ recursively
-  become: yes
-  file:
-    path: /srv
-    owner: nb
-    group: nb
-    recurse: yes
-    state: directory
+# - name: Ensure 'nb' user owns /srv/ recursively
+#   become: yes
+#   file:
+#     path: /srv
+#     owner: nb
+#     group: nb
+#     recurse: yes
+#     state: directory
 
 - name: Copy node secrets
   copy:
diff --git a/media/js/newsblur/reader/reader.js b/media/js/newsblur/reader/reader.js
index bfa9c1ca8..da69ca08b 100644
--- a/media/js/newsblur/reader/reader.js
+++ b/media/js/newsblur/reader/reader.js
@@ -5263,6 +5263,7 @@
             if (!force && NEWSBLUR.Globals.is_anonymous) return;
             // if (!force && !NEWSBLUR.Globals.is_premium) return;
             if (this.socket && !this.socket.connected) {
+                NEWSBLUR.log(["Reconnecting to existing socket..."]);
                 this.socket.connect();
             } else if (force || !this.socket || !this.socket.connected) {
                 var server = window.location.protocol + '//' + window.location.hostname;
@@ -5274,6 +5275,9 @@
                 if (local) {
                     port = https ? 8889 : 8888;
                 }
+
+                NEWSBLUR.log(["Creating new socket connection to", server + ":" + port]);
+
                 this.socket = this.socket || io.connect(server + ":" + port, {
                     path: "/v3/socket.io",
                     reconnectionDelay: 2000,
@@ -5284,10 +5288,47 @@
                     upgrade: false
                 });
 
+                // Debug socket connection events
+                this.socket.on('connect_error', _.bind(function (error) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket connect_error:", error.message]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('connect_timeout', _.bind(function () {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket connect_timeout"]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('reconnect', _.bind(function (attemptNumber) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket reconnected after", attemptNumber, "attempts"]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('reconnect_attempt', _.bind(function (attemptNumber) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket reconnect attempt #", attemptNumber]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('reconnect_error', _.bind(function (error) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket reconnect_error:", error.message]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('reconnect_failed', _.bind(function () {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket reconnect_failed"]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('error', _.bind(function (error) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket error:", error]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('ping', _.bind(function () {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket ping sent at", new Date().toISOString()]);
+                }, this));
+
+                this.socket.on('pong', _.bind(function (latency) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket pong received, latency:", latency, "ms"]);
+                }, this));
+
                 // this.socket.refresh_feeds = _.debounce(_.bind(this.force_feeds_refresh, this), 1000*10);
                 this.socket.on('connect', _.bind(function () {
                     var active_feeds = this.send_socket_active_feeds();
-                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Connected to real-time pubsub with " + active_feeds.length + " feeds."]);
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Connected to real-time pubsub with " + active_feeds.length + " feeds at", new Date().toISOString()]);
                     this.flags.feed_refreshing_in_realtime = true;
                     this.setup_feed_refresh();
                     NEWSBLUR.assets.stories.retry_failed_marked_read_stories();
@@ -5316,16 +5357,17 @@
                 this.socket.on('user:update', _.bind(this.handle_realtime_update, this));
 
 
-                this.socket.on('disconnect', _.bind(function () {
-                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Lost connection to real-time pubsub. Falling back to polling."]);
+                this.socket.on('disconnect', _.bind(function (reason) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Lost connection to real-time pubsub due to:", reason, "at", new Date().toISOString(), "Falling back to polling."]);
                     this.flags.feed_refreshing_in_realtime = false;
                     this.setup_feed_refresh();
                     // $('.NB-module-content-account-realtime-subtitle').html($.make('b', 'Updating every 60 sec'));
                     $('.NB-module-content-account-realtime').attr('title', 'Updating sites every ' + this.flags.refresh_interval + ' seconds...').addClass('NB-error').removeClass('NB-active');
                     this.apply_tipsy_titles();
                 }, this));
-                this.socket.on('error', _.bind(function () {
-                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Can't connect to real-time pubsub."]);
+
+                this.socket.on('error', _.bind(function (error) {
+                    NEWSBLUR.log(["Can't connect to real-time pubsub:", error]);
                     this.flags.feed_refreshing_in_realtime = false;
                     this.setup_feed_refresh();
                     // $('.NB-module-content-account-realtime-subtitle').html($.make('b', 'Updating every 60 sec'));
@@ -5333,15 +5375,24 @@
                     this.apply_tipsy_titles();
                     _.delay(_.bind(this.setup_socket_realtime_unread_counts, this), Math.random() * 60 * 1000);
                 }, this));
-                this.socket.on('reconnect_failed', _.bind(function () {
-                    console.log(["Socket.io reconnect failed"]);
-                }, this));
-                this.socket.on('reconnect', _.bind(function () {
-                    console.log(["Socket.io reconnected successfully!"]);
-                }, this));
-                this.socket.on('reconnecting', _.bind(function () {
-                    console.log(["Socket.io reconnecting..."]);
-                }, this));
+
+                // Add a heartbeat check to detect stalled connections
+                this.socket_heartbeat_interval = setInterval(_.bind(function () {
+                    if (this.socket && this.socket.connected) {
+                        var now = Date.now();
+                        if (!this.last_heartbeat_time) {
+                            this.last_heartbeat_time = now;
+                        } else if (now - this.last_heartbeat_time > 70000) { // 70 seconds (longer than pingInterval)
+                            NEWSBLUR.log(["Socket heartbeat missed, reconnecting...",
+                                "Last heartbeat:", new Date(this.last_heartbeat_time).toISOString(),
+                                "Current time:", new Date(now).toISOString(),
+                                "Difference:", now - this.last_heartbeat_time, "ms"]);
+                            this.socket.disconnect();
+                            this.socket.connect();
+                        }
+                        this.last_heartbeat_time = now;
+                    }
+                }, this), 30000); // Check every 30 seconds
             }
 
             // this.watch_navigator_online();
diff --git a/node/unread_counts.coffee b/node/unread_counts.coffee
index 80f1a1d4b..da95c045b 100644
--- a/node/unread_counts.coffee
+++ b/node/unread_counts.coffee
@@ -87,13 +87,34 @@ unread_counts = (server) =>
             
         return client
 
+    # Track active connections by username for debugging
+    active_connections = {}
+    
+    # Log engine events for debugging
+    io.engine.on 'connection', (socket) ->
+        log.debug "Engine connection established: #{socket.id}"
+        
+    io.engine.on 'close', (socket) ->
+        log.debug "Engine connection closed: #{socket.id}"
+
     io.on 'connection', (socket) ->
         ip = socket.handshake.headers['X-Forwarded-For'] || socket.handshake.address
+        socket_id = socket.id
+        log.debug "Socket connected: #{socket_id} from #{ip}"
+        
+        socket.conn.on 'error', (err) ->
+            log.debug "Socket #{socket_id} - connection error: #{err}"
+            
+        socket.conn.on 'close', (reason) ->
+            log.debug "Socket #{socket_id} - connection closed: #{reason}"
 
         socket.on 'subscribe:feeds', (@feeds, @username) =>
-            log.info @username, "Connecting (#{@feeds.length} feeds, #{ip})," +
-                    " (#{io.engine.clientsCount} connected) " +
-                    " #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else ""}"
+            log.info @username, "Connecting (#{@feeds.length} feeds, #{ip}), (#{io.engine.clientsCount} connected) #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else ""}"
+            
+            # Track connections by username for debugging
+            active_connections[@username] = active_connections[@username] || []
+            active_connections[@username].push(socket_id)
+            log.debug "#{@username} now has #{active_connections[@username].length} active connections"
             
             if not @username
                 return
@@ -105,9 +126,7 @@ unread_counts = (server) =>
             socket.subscribe = setup_redis_client(socket, @username)
             
             socket.subscribe.on "connect", =>
-                log.info @username, "Connected (#{@feeds.length} feeds, #{ip})," +
-                        " (#{io.engine.clientsCount} connected) " +
-                        " #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else "(non-SSL)"}"
+                log.info @username, "Connected (#{@feeds.length} feeds, #{ip}), (#{io.engine.clientsCount} connected) #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else "(non-SSL)"}"
                 socket.subscribe.subscribe @feeds
                 feeds_story = @feeds.map (f) -> "#{f}:story"
                 socket.subscribe.subscribe feeds_story
@@ -122,17 +141,33 @@ unread_counts = (server) =>
                 log.info @username, "Update on #{channel}: #{event_name} - #{message}"
                 socket.emit event_name, channel, message
 
-        socket.on 'disconnect', () =>
+        socket.on 'disconnect', (reason) =>
+            log.debug "Socket #{socket_id} disconnected: #{reason}"
+            
+            # Update connection tracking
+            if @username and active_connections[@username]
+                idx = active_connections[@username].indexOf(socket_id)
+                if idx > -1
+                    active_connections[@username].splice(idx, 1)
+                    log.debug "#{@username} now has #{active_connections[@username].length} active connections"
+                if active_connections[@username].length == 0
+                    delete active_connections[@username]
+            
             socket.subscribe?.quit()
-            log.info @username, "Disconnect (#{@feeds?.length} feeds, #{ip})," +
-                        " there are now #{io.engine.clientsCount} users. " +
-                        " #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else "(non-SSL)"}"
+            log.info @username, "Disconnect (#{@feeds?.length} feeds, #{ip}), there are now #{io.engine.clientsCount} users. #{if SECURE then "(SSL)" else "(non-SSL)"}"
 
     io.engine.on 'connection_error', (err) ->
         log.debug "Connection Error: #{err.code} - #{err.message}"
 
     io.sockets.on 'error', (err) ->
         log.debug "Error (sockets): #{err}"
+        
+    # Periodically log connection stats
+    setInterval ->
+        total_users = Object.keys(active_connections).length
+        total_connections = io.engine.clientsCount
+        log.debug "Connection stats: #{total_users} users with #{total_connections} total connections"
+    , 60000
 
     return io
 
diff --git a/node/unread_counts.js b/node/unread_counts.js
index 79b1e625c..182c047c5 100644
--- a/node/unread_counts.js
+++ b/node/unread_counts.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   log = require('./log.js');
 
   unread_counts = (server) => {
-    var ENV_DEV, ENV_DOCKER, ENV_PROD, REDIS_PORT, REDIS_SERVER, SECURE, io, pub_client, redis_opts, setup_redis_client, sub_client;
+    var ENV_DEV, ENV_DOCKER, ENV_PROD, REDIS_PORT, REDIS_SERVER, SECURE, active_connections, io, pub_client, redis_opts, setup_redis_client, sub_client;
     ENV_DEV = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' || process.env.NODE_ENV === 'debug';
     ENV_PROD = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production';
     ENV_DOCKER = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'docker';
@@ -92,14 +92,37 @@
       });
       return client;
     };
+    // Track active connections by username for debugging
+    active_connections = {};
+    
+    // Log engine events for debugging
+    io.engine.on('connection', function(socket) {
+      return log.debug(`Engine connection established: ${socket.id}`);
+    });
+    io.engine.on('close', function(socket) {
+      return log.debug(`Engine connection closed: ${socket.id}`);
+    });
     io.on('connection', function(socket) {
-      var ip;
+      var ip, socket_id;
       ip = socket.handshake.headers['X-Forwarded-For'] || socket.handshake.address;
+      socket_id = socket.id;
+      log.debug(`Socket connected: ${socket_id} from ${ip}`);
+      socket.conn.on('error', function(err) {
+        return log.debug(`Socket ${socket_id} - connection error: ${err}`);
+      });
+      socket.conn.on('close', function(reason) {
+        return log.debug(`Socket ${socket_id} - connection closed: ${reason}`);
+      });
       socket.on('subscribe:feeds', (feeds, username1) => {
         var ref;
         this.feeds = feeds;
         this.username = username1;
-        log.info(this.username, `Connecting (${this.feeds.length} feeds, ${ip}),` + ` (${io.engine.clientsCount} connected) ` + ` ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : ""}`);
+        log.info(this.username, `Connecting (${this.feeds.length} feeds, ${ip}), (${io.engine.clientsCount} connected) ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : ""}`);
+        
+        // Track connections by username for debugging
+        active_connections[this.username] = active_connections[this.username] || [];
+        active_connections[this.username].push(socket_id);
+        log.debug(`${this.username} now has ${active_connections[this.username].length} active connections`);
         if (!this.username) {
           return;
         }
@@ -112,7 +135,7 @@
         socket.subscribe = setup_redis_client(socket, this.username);
         socket.subscribe.on("connect", () => {
           var feeds_story;
-          log.info(this.username, `Connected (${this.feeds.length} feeds, ${ip}),` + ` (${io.engine.clientsCount} connected) ` + ` ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : "(non-SSL)"}`);
+          log.info(this.username, `Connected (${this.feeds.length} feeds, ${ip}), (${io.engine.clientsCount} connected) ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : "(non-SSL)"}`);
           socket.subscribe.subscribe(this.feeds);
           feeds_story = this.feeds.map(function(f) {
             return `${f}:story`;
@@ -132,12 +155,25 @@
           return socket.emit(event_name, channel, message);
         });
       });
-      return socket.on('disconnect', () => {
-        var ref, ref1;
+      return socket.on('disconnect', (reason) => {
+        var idx, ref, ref1;
+        log.debug(`Socket ${socket_id} disconnected: ${reason}`);
+        
+        // Update connection tracking
+        if (this.username && active_connections[this.username]) {
+          idx = active_connections[this.username].indexOf(socket_id);
+          if (idx > -1) {
+            active_connections[this.username].splice(idx, 1);
+            log.debug(`${this.username} now has ${active_connections[this.username].length} active connections`);
+          }
+          if (active_connections[this.username].length === 0) {
+            delete active_connections[this.username];
+          }
+        }
         if ((ref = socket.subscribe) != null) {
           ref.quit();
         }
-        return log.info(this.username, `Disconnect (${(ref1 = this.feeds) != null ? ref1.length : void 0} feeds, ${ip}),` + ` there are now ${io.engine.clientsCount} users. ` + ` ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : "(non-SSL)"}`);
+        return log.info(this.username, `Disconnect (${(ref1 = this.feeds) != null ? ref1.length : void 0} feeds, ${ip}), there are now ${io.engine.clientsCount} users. ${SECURE ? "(SSL)" : "(non-SSL)"}`);
       });
     });
     io.engine.on('connection_error', function(err) {
@@ -146,6 +182,14 @@
     io.sockets.on('error', function(err) {
       return log.debug(`Error (sockets): ${err}`);
     });
+    
+    // Periodically log connection stats
+    setInterval(function() {
+      var total_connections, total_users;
+      total_users = Object.keys(active_connections).length;
+      total_connections = io.engine.clientsCount;
+      return log.debug(`Connection stats: ${total_users} users with ${total_connections} total connections`);
+    }, 60000);
     return io;
   };