diff --git a/site/app/editor/PostEditor.tsx b/site/app/editor/PostEditor.tsx
index 0f4c4a3..aa95fe1 100644
--- a/site/app/editor/PostEditor.tsx
+++ b/site/app/editor/PostEditor.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,16 @@ import Collaboration from '@tiptap/extension-collaboration';
 import { CollaborationCaret } from '@tiptap/extension-collaboration-caret';
 import { Placeholder } from '@tiptap/extensions';
 import { EditorContent, useEditor, useEditorState } from '@tiptap/react';
-import { useEffect, useState, type FormEvent } from 'react';
+import {
+  createContext,
+  useContext,
+  useEffect,
+  useRef,
+  useState,
+  type FocusEvent,
+  type FormEvent,
+  type KeyboardEvent,
+} from 'react';
 import { readingMinutes } from '../posts';
 import { CALLOUT_TINTS, columnsOf, postExtensions } from './extensions';
 import { holdSession, openSession } from './session';
@@ -52,6 +61,8 @@ function selection(user: Record<string, string>) {
 
 type Ask = { kind: 'link' | 'video'; value: string } | null;
 
+const StopContext = createContext<(label: string) => 0 | -1>(() => 0);
+
 function Mark({
   on,
   label,
@@ -65,6 +76,7 @@ function Mark({
   act: () => void;
   className?: string;
 }) {
+  const stop = useContext(StopContext);
   return (
     <button
       type="button"
@@ -72,6 +84,7 @@ function Mark({
       aria-label={label}
       title={label}
       aria-pressed={on}
+      tabIndex={stop(label)}
       onMouseDown={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
       onClick={act}
     >
@@ -80,6 +93,35 @@ function Mark({
   );
 }
 
+const STEP: Record<string, number> = { ArrowLeft: -1, ArrowRight: 1 };
+
+function useRovingFocus(shape: string) {
+  const box = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const [current, setCurrent] = useState('Undo');
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!box.current?.querySelector('[tabindex="0"]')) {
+      setCurrent('Undo');
+    }
+  }, [shape]);
+  const stops = () => [...(box.current?.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>('button, select') ?? [])];
+  return {
+    box,
+    stop: (label: string): 0 | -1 => (label === current ? 0 : -1),
+    onFocus: (event: FocusEvent<HTMLDivElement>) =>
+      setCurrent(event.target.getAttribute('aria-label') ?? current),
+    onKeyDown: (event: KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+      const all = stops();
+      const index = all.indexOf(event.target as HTMLElement);
+      const next = { Home: 0, End: all.length - 1 }[event.key] ?? index + STEP[event.key];
+      if (index < 0 || Number.isNaN(next)) {
+        return;
+      }
+      event.preventDefault();
+      all[(next + all.length) % all.length].focus();
+    },
+  };
+}
+
 function Toolbar({
   editor,
   pickImage,
@@ -120,6 +162,7 @@ function Toolbar({
       canRedo: current.can().redo(),
     }),
   });
+  const { box, stop, onFocus, onKeyDown } = useRovingFocus(`${state.block}:${state.inTable}`);
   const chain = () => editor.chain().focus();
   const turn = (block: string) => {
     const base = chain().clearNodes();
@@ -143,127 +186,138 @@ function Toolbar({
     }
   };
   return (
-    <div className="toolbar" role="toolbar" aria-label="Formatting">
-      <div className="set">
-        <Mark label="Undo" glyph="↶" act={() => chain().undo().run()} />
-        <Mark label="Redo" glyph="↷" act={() => chain().redo().run()} />
-      </div>
-      <select
-        aria-label="Block style"
-        value={state.block}
-        onChange={(event) => turn(event.target.value)}
-        onMouseDown={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+    <StopContext value={stop}>
+      <div
+        ref={box}
+        className="toolbar"
+        role="toolbar"
+        aria-label="Formatting"
+        onFocus={onFocus}
+        onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
       >
-        <option value="text">text</option>
-        <option value="heading2">heading</option>
-        <option value="heading3">subheading</option>
-        <option value="heading4">small heading</option>
-        <option value="quote">quote</option>
-        <option value="callout">callout</option>
-        <option value="code">code block</option>
-      </select>
-      <div className="set">
-        <Mark
-          on={state.bold}
-          label="Bold"
-          glyph="B"
-          className="b"
-          act={() => chain().toggleBold().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.italic}
-          label="Italic"
-          glyph="I"
-          className="i"
-          act={() => chain().toggleItalic().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.strike}
-          label="Strikethrough"
-          glyph="S"
-          className="s"
-          act={() => chain().toggleStrike().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.code}
-          label="Inline code"
-          glyph="</>"
-          className="mono"
-          act={() => chain().toggleCode().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.highlight}
-          label="Highlight"
-          glyph="◐"
-          act={() => chain().toggleHighlight().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.link}
-          label="Link"
-          glyph="⤷"
-          act={() => (state.link ? chain().unsetLink().run() : ask('link'))}
-        />
-      </div>
-      <div className="set">
-        <Mark
-          on={state.bullets}
-          label="Bulleted list"
-          glyph="•≡"
-          act={() => chain().toggleBulletList().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.numbers}
-          label="Numbered list"
-          glyph="1≡"
-          act={() => chain().toggleOrderedList().run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          on={state.checklist}
-          label="Checklist"
-          glyph="☑"
-          act={() => chain().toggleTaskList().run()}
-        />
-      </div>
-      <div className="set">
-        <Mark label="Image" glyph="▣" act={pickImage} />
-        <Mark label="Video" glyph="▶" act={() => ask('video')} />
-        <Mark
-          label="Table"
-          glyph="▦"
-          act={() => chain().insertTable({ rows: 3, cols: 3, withHeaderRow: true }).run()}
-        />
-        <Mark
-          label="Two columns"
-          glyph="▯▯"
-          act={() => chain().insertContent(columnsOf(2)).run()}
-        />
-        <Mark label="Divider" glyph="—" act={() => chain().setHorizontalRule().run()} />
-      </div>
-      {state.block === 'callout' && (
-        <div className="set tints" role="group" aria-label="Callout tint">
-          {CALLOUT_TINTS.map((tint) => (
-            <button
-              key={tint}
-              type="button"
-              data-tint={tint}
-              aria-label={tint}
-              aria-pressed={state.tint === tint}
-              onMouseDown={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
-              onClick={() => chain().updateAttributes('callout', { tint }).run()}
-            />
-          ))}
+        <div className="set">
+          <Mark label="Undo" glyph="↶" act={() => chain().undo().run()} />
+          <Mark label="Redo" glyph="↷" act={() => chain().redo().run()} />
         </div>
-      )}
-      {state.inTable && (
+        <select
+          aria-label="Block style"
+          tabIndex={stop('Block style')}
+          value={state.block}
+          onChange={(event) => turn(event.target.value)}
+          onMouseDown={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+        >
+          <option value="text">text</option>
+          <option value="heading2">heading</option>
+          <option value="heading3">subheading</option>
+          <option value="heading4">small heading</option>
+          <option value="quote">quote</option>
+          <option value="callout">callout</option>
+          <option value="code">code block</option>
+        </select>
         <div className="set">
-          <Mark label="Add row" glyph="+row" act={() => chain().addRowAfter().run()} />
-          <Mark label="Add column" glyph="+col" act={() => chain().addColumnAfter().run()} />
-          <Mark label="Delete row" glyph="−row" act={() => chain().deleteRow().run()} />
-          <Mark label="Delete column" glyph="−col" act={() => chain().deleteColumn().run()} />
-          <Mark label="Delete table" glyph="×" act={() => chain().deleteTable().run()} />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.bold}
+            label="Bold"
+            glyph="B"
+            className="b"
+            act={() => chain().toggleBold().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.italic}
+            label="Italic"
+            glyph="I"
+            className="i"
+            act={() => chain().toggleItalic().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.strike}
+            label="Strikethrough"
+            glyph="S"
+            className="s"
+            act={() => chain().toggleStrike().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.code}
+            label="Inline code"
+            glyph="</>"
+            className="mono"
+            act={() => chain().toggleCode().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.highlight}
+            label="Highlight"
+            glyph="◐"
+            act={() => chain().toggleHighlight().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.link}
+            label="Link"
+            glyph="⤷"
+            act={() => (state.link ? chain().unsetLink().run() : ask('link'))}
+          />
         </div>
-      )}
-    </div>
+        <div className="set">
+          <Mark
+            on={state.bullets}
+            label="Bulleted list"
+            glyph="•≡"
+            act={() => chain().toggleBulletList().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.numbers}
+            label="Numbered list"
+            glyph="1≡"
+            act={() => chain().toggleOrderedList().run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            on={state.checklist}
+            label="Checklist"
+            glyph="☑"
+            act={() => chain().toggleTaskList().run()}
+          />
+        </div>
+        <div className="set">
+          <Mark label="Image" glyph="▣" act={pickImage} />
+          <Mark label="Video" glyph="▶" act={() => ask('video')} />
+          <Mark
+            label="Table"
+            glyph="▦"
+            act={() => chain().insertTable({ rows: 3, cols: 3, withHeaderRow: true }).run()}
+          />
+          <Mark
+            label="Two columns"
+            glyph="▯▯"
+            act={() => chain().insertContent(columnsOf(2)).run()}
+          />
+          <Mark label="Divider" glyph="—" act={() => chain().setHorizontalRule().run()} />
+        </div>
+        {state.block === 'callout' && (
+          <div className="set tints" role="group" aria-label="Callout tint">
+            {CALLOUT_TINTS.map((tint) => (
+              <button
+                key={tint}
+                type="button"
+                data-tint={tint}
+                aria-label={tint}
+                aria-pressed={state.tint === tint}
+                tabIndex={stop(tint)}
+                onMouseDown={(event) => event.preventDefault()}
+                onClick={() => chain().updateAttributes('callout', { tint }).run()}
+              />
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {state.inTable && (
+          <div className="set">
+            <Mark label="Add row" glyph="+row" act={() => chain().addRowAfter().run()} />
+            <Mark label="Add column" glyph="+col" act={() => chain().addColumnAfter().run()} />
+            <Mark label="Delete row" glyph="−row" act={() => chain().deleteRow().run()} />
+            <Mark label="Delete column" glyph="−col" act={() => chain().deleteColumn().run()} />
+            <Mark label="Delete table" glyph="×" act={() => chain().deleteTable().run()} />
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </StopContext>
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/site/app/routes/post-editor.tsx b/site/app/routes/post-editor.tsx
index 8426528..add4874 100644
--- a/site/app/routes/post-editor.tsx
+++ b/site/app/routes/post-editor.tsx
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ export default function PostEditorRoute({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
   const act = useFetcher<Result>();
   const [tab, setTab] = useState<(typeof TABS)[number][0]>('post');
   const [draft, setDraft] = useState<PostFields>(post);
+  const [tagText, setTagText] = useState(post.tags.join(', '));
   const [slugTouched, setSlugTouched] = useState(
     post.slug !== slugify(post.title) && post.title !== '',
   );
@@ -162,6 +163,7 @@ export default function PostEditorRoute({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
   const [label, setLabel] = useState('');
   const [templateName, setTemplateName] = useState('');
   const timer = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>(undefined);
+  const cover = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const hydrated = useSyncExternalStore(
     () => () => {},
     () => true,
@@ -255,9 +257,10 @@ export default function PostEditorRoute({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
                 <Row label="tags">
                   <input
                     className="field"
-                    value={draft.tags.join(', ')}
+                    value={tagText}
                     placeholder="comma, separated"
-                    onChange={(event) =>
+                    onChange={(event) => {
+                      setTagText(event.target.value);
                       change({
                         ...draft,
                         tags: [
@@ -268,8 +271,8 @@ export default function PostEditorRoute({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
                               .filter(Boolean),
                           ),
                         ].slice(0, POST_LIMITS.tags),
-                      })
-                    }
+                      });
+                    }}
                   />
                 </Row>
                 <Row label="about a project">
@@ -299,21 +302,26 @@ export default function PostEditorRoute({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
                     ) : (
                       <span className="thumb empty" />
                     )}
-                    <label className="chip-button">
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      className="chip-button"
+                      onClick={() => cover.current?.click()}
+                    >
                       upload
-                      <input
-                        type="file"
-                        accept="image/jpeg,image/png,image/webp,image/gif"
-                        hidden
-                        onChange={(event) => {
-                          const file = event.target.files?.[0];
-                          if (file) {
-                            void uploadCover(file);
-                          }
-                          event.target.value = '';
-                        }}
-                      />
-                    </label>
+                    </button>
+                    <input
+                      ref={cover}
+                      type="file"
+                      accept="image/jpeg,image/png,image/webp,image/gif"
+                      hidden
+                      onChange={(event) => {
+                        const file = event.target.files?.[0];
+                        if (file) {
+                          void uploadCover(file);
+                        }
+                        event.target.value = '';
+                      }}
+                    />
                     {draft.coverUpload && (
                       <button
                         type="button"
diff --git a/site/app/routes/post.tsx b/site/app/routes/post.tsx
index d740e6b..35777e2 100644
--- a/site/app/routes/post.tsx
+++ b/site/app/routes/post.tsx
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export default function Post({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
         <>
           {headings.length > 1 && (
             <Panel title="on this page">
-              <ol className="mono-sm grid gap-1.5 outline">
+              <ol className="mono-sm grid gap-1.5 headings">
                 {headings.map((heading) => (
                   <li key={heading.id} data-level={heading.level}>
                     <a href={`#${heading.id}`} className="text-muted hover:text-ink">
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export default function Post({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
           )}
           {more.length > 0 && (
             <Panel
-              title={`more by ${author.name}`}
+              title={`more by ${author.name.split(' ')[0]}`}
               link={{ to: `${author.path}/blog`, label: 'all' }}
             >
               <div className="post-rows">
diff --git a/site/app/styles/graphite.css b/site/app/styles/graphite.css
index f1db9b3..9d07876 100644
--- a/site/app/styles/graphite.css
+++ b/site/app/styles/graphite.css
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@
 }
 .live-pulse[data-state='reconnecting'] i {
   background: var(--color-wip);
-  animation: state-pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 .badge {
   display: inline-flex;
@@ -601,7 +600,20 @@ textarea.field {
 .chip-button[data-armed] {
   color: var(--color-danger);
   border-color: var(--color-danger);
-  animation: state-pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+  .live-pulse[data-state='reconnecting'] i,
+  .chip-button[data-armed] {
+    animation: state-pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
+  .setting-state[data-state='saving'] i,
+  .editor .facts .live[data-connection='connecting'] i {
+    animation: state-pulse 0.9s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
+  .stage > .bar .live::before,
+  .editor .facts .live[data-connection='online'] i {
+    animation: state-pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
 }
 @keyframes state-pulse {
   50% {
diff --git a/site/app/styles/pages/blog.css b/site/app/styles/pages/blog.css
index b94d4d9..1c6a074 100644
--- a/site/app/styles/pages/blog.css
+++ b/site/app/styles/pages/blog.css
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@
   }
 }
 
-.outline li[data-level='3'] {
+.headings li[data-level='3'] {
   padding-left: 0.9rem;
 }
 .post-rows {
diff --git a/site/app/styles/pages/editor.css b/site/app/styles/pages/editor.css
index 964bb6a..bbc220c 100644
--- a/site/app/styles/pages/editor.css
+++ b/site/app/styles/pages/editor.css
@@ -45,11 +45,9 @@
 }
 .editor .facts .live[data-connection='online'] i {
   background: var(--color-live);
-  animation: state-pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 .editor .facts .live[data-connection='connecting'] i {
   background: var(--color-wip);
-  animation: state-pulse 0.9s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 .editor .facts .live[data-connection='offline'] i {
   background: var(--color-wip);
diff --git a/site/app/styles/pages/signed-in.css b/site/app/styles/pages/signed-in.css
index de61f42..515bcab 100644
--- a/site/app/styles/pages/signed-in.css
+++ b/site/app/styles/pages/signed-in.css
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@
 }
 .setting-state[data-state='saving'] i {
   background: var(--color-wip);
-  animation: state-pulse 0.9s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 .setting-state[data-state='saved'] {
   color: var(--color-live);
@@ -712,7 +711,6 @@
   height: 6px;
   border-radius: 50%;
   background: var(--color-live);
-  animation: state-pulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 .stage-body {
   padding: 0.5rem 2rem 2.5rem;
diff --git a/site/server/app.ts b/site/server/app.ts
index 4b15aea..a1e9258 100644
--- a/site/server/app.ts
+++ b/site/server/app.ts
@@ -114,9 +114,8 @@ export function createApp(
   app.get('/health/ready', async (_request, response) => {
     try {
       db.prepare('SELECT 1').get();
-      await redis.ping();
       snapshot.get();
-      response.type('text').send('ready');
+      response.type('text').send((await bus.alive()) ? 'ready' : 'ready; the live bus is down');
     } catch (error) {
       log.warn({ err: error }, 'not ready');
       response.status(503).type('text').send('not ready');
diff --git a/site/server/auth.test.ts b/site/server/auth.test.ts
index fc103ac..204222a 100644
--- a/site/server/auth.test.ts
+++ b/site/server/auth.test.ts
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import type { IncomingMessage } from 'node:http';
 import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
 import { clientAddress, cloudflareRanges, countryOf, fromCloudflare } from './address.ts';
-import { cookies, safeReturn, sameOrigin } from './auth.ts';
+import { cookies, createAuth, safeReturn, sameOrigin } from './auth.ts';
 import { createVerifier, sign } from './internal.ts';
 import type { Redis } from './redis.ts';
-import { createSealer, createSessions, type Session } from './sessions.ts';
+import { createSealer, createSessions, type Session, type Sessions } from './sessions.ts';
 
 function request(headers: Record<string, string>, remoteAddress = '172.18.0.5') {
   return { headers, socket: { remoteAddress } } as unknown as IncomingMessage;
@@ -45,6 +45,24 @@ describe('a session after SESSION_SECRET changes', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('the current session', () => {
+  it('serves a member as a visitor while the session store is unreachable', async () => {
+    const sessions = {
+      read: async () => {
+        throw new Error('Reached the max retries per request limit');
+      },
+    } as unknown as Sessions;
+    const headers: string[] = [];
+    const response = { appendHeader: (_name: string, value: string) => headers.push(value) };
+    const { current } = createAuth(sessions, {} as Redis);
+    assert.equal(
+      await current(request({ cookie: 'hub_session=abc' }), response as never),
+      undefined,
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(headers, []);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('sign-in helpers', () => {
   it('returns only to a path on this site', () => {
     assert.equal(safeReturn('/members/amrmscll'), '/members/amrmscll');
diff --git a/site/server/auth.ts b/site/server/auth.ts
index 108d129..907b018 100644
--- a/site/server/auth.ts
+++ b/site/server/auth.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import express, { type Request, type Response } from 'express';
 import { clientAddress } from './address.ts';
 import { config } from './config.ts';
 import { GitHubError, request as asUser } from './github.ts';
+import { log } from './log.ts';
 import { slidingLimit, type Redis } from './redis.ts';
 import { sameSecret, type Session, type Sessions } from './sessions.ts';
 
@@ -53,7 +54,10 @@ async function membership(token: string) {
 export function createAuth(sessions: Sessions, redis: Redis) {
   async function current(request: IncomingMessage, response: ServerResponse) {
     const id = cookies(request)[SESSION_COOKIE];
-    const session = await sessions.read(id);
+    const session = await sessions.read(id).catch((error: unknown) => {
+      log.warn({ err: error }, 'session store unreachable; serving as a visitor');
+      return undefined;
+    });
     if (!id || !session) {
       return undefined;
     }
diff --git a/site/server/bus.ts b/site/server/bus.ts
index a8f3d35..1975093 100644
--- a/site/server/bus.ts
+++ b/site/server/bus.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ export function createBus(db: Database, redis: Redis, subscriber: Redis) {
 
   return {
     ready,
+    alive: () =>
+      redis.ping().then(
+        () => true,
+        () => false,
+      ),
     async record(event: HubEvent) {
       const { lastInsertRowid } = insert.run(
         event.kind,
diff --git a/site/server/jobs.test.ts b/site/server/jobs.test.ts
index 0cfd8e0..456f236 100644
--- a/site/server/jobs.test.ts
+++ b/site/server/jobs.test.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
 import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
-import { createJobs } from './jobs.ts';
+import { createJobs, retryAt } from './jobs.ts';
 import { memoryDatabase } from './testing.ts';
 
+const MINUTE = 60_000;
+
 describe('jobs', () => {
-  it('runs what is due, keeps retrying failures and gives up after five attempts', async () => {
+  it('runs what is due, retries failures with a growing wait and gives up after eight attempts', async () => {
     const db = memoryDatabase();
     const ran: string[] = [];
     const errors: unknown[] = [];
@@ -29,13 +31,42 @@ describe('jobs', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(ran, ['a']);
     assert.equal(errors.length, 1);
     assert.equal(jobs.pending('ok', 'later'), true);
-    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 6; attempt += 1) {
-      await jobs.runDue(now);
+    const row = () => db.prepare("SELECT due_at, last_error FROM jobs WHERE ref = 'b'").get()!;
+    assert.deepEqual({ ...row() }, { due_at: retryAt(1, now), last_error: 'nope' });
+    assert.equal(retryAt(1, now), new Date(now + MINUTE).toISOString());
+    assert.equal(retryAt(4, now), new Date(now + 8 * MINUTE).toISOString());
+    assert.equal(retryAt(7, now), new Date(now + 60 * MINUTE).toISOString());
+    await jobs.runDue(now + MINUTE - 1);
+    assert.equal(errors.length, 1);
+    for (let attempt = 2; attempt <= 9; attempt += 1) {
+      await jobs.runDue(Date.parse(row().due_at as string));
     }
-    assert.equal(errors.length, 5);
-    assert.equal(
-      db.prepare("SELECT last_error FROM jobs WHERE ref = 'b'").get()!.last_error,
-      'nope',
+    assert.equal(errors.length, 8);
+    assert.equal(jobs.pending('bad', 'b'), true);
+    jobs.stop();
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the row of a job that cancels itself while it runs, so the outcome is recorded', async () => {
+    const db = memoryDatabase();
+    const jobs = createJobs(
+      db,
+      {
+        publish: async (ref) => {
+          jobs.cancel('publish', ref);
+          throw new Error('the bus is down');
+        },
+      },
+      () => {},
+    );
+    jobs.add('publish', 'p1', '2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z');
+    const now = Date.parse('2026-01-01T00:00:01.000Z');
+    await jobs.runDue(now);
+    assert.deepEqual(
+      db
+        .prepare('SELECT attempts, due_at, last_error FROM jobs')
+        .all()
+        .map((row) => ({ ...row })),
+      [{ attempts: 1, due_at: retryAt(1, now), last_error: 'the bus is down' }],
     );
     jobs.stop();
   });
diff --git a/site/server/jobs.ts b/site/server/jobs.ts
index 6e59f64..3351d5d 100644
--- a/site/server/jobs.ts
+++ b/site/server/jobs.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import type { Database } from './db.ts';
 
 const MINUTE = 60_000;
-const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 5;
+const HOUR = 60 * MINUTE;
+const MAX_ATTEMPTS = 8;
+
+export function retryAt(attempts: number, now: number) {
+  return new Date(now + Math.min(HOUR, MINUTE * 2 ** (attempts - 1))).toISOString();
+}
 
 export type JobHandlers = Record<string, (ref: string) => Promise<void>>;
 
@@ -30,13 +35,14 @@ export function createJobs(
   async function runDue(now = Date.now()) {
     const due = db
       .prepare(
-        'SELECT id, kind, ref FROM jobs WHERE done_at IS NULL AND attempts < ? AND due_at <= ? ORDER BY due_at, id',
+        'SELECT id, kind, ref, attempts FROM jobs WHERE done_at IS NULL AND attempts < ? AND due_at <= ? ORDER BY due_at, id',
       )
       .all(MAX_ATTEMPTS, new Date(now).toISOString());
     const ran: string[] = [];
     for (const job of due) {
       const id = job.id as number;
-      db.prepare('UPDATE jobs SET attempts = attempts + 1 WHERE id = ?').run(id);
+      const attempts = (job.attempts as number) + 1;
+      db.prepare('UPDATE jobs SET attempts = ? WHERE id = ?').run(attempts, id);
       active.add(id);
       try {
         await handlers[job.kind as string]?.(job.ref as string);
@@ -46,8 +52,9 @@ export function createJobs(
         );
         ran.push(`${job.kind as string}:${job.ref as string}`);
       } catch (error) {
-        db.prepare('UPDATE jobs SET last_error = ? WHERE id = ?').run(
+        db.prepare('UPDATE jobs SET last_error = ?, due_at = ? WHERE id = ?').run(
           error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+          retryAt(attempts, now),
           id,
         );
         capture(error, { route: `job:${job.kind as string}` });
@@ -71,16 +78,20 @@ export function createJobs(
     }
   }
 
+  function clear(kind: string, ref: string) {
+    db.prepare(
+      'DELETE FROM jobs WHERE kind = ? AND ref = ? AND done_at IS NULL AND id NOT IN (SELECT value FROM json_each(?))',
+    ).run(kind, ref, JSON.stringify([...active]));
+  }
+
   return {
     add(kind: string, ref: string, dueAt: string) {
-      db.prepare(
-        'DELETE FROM jobs WHERE kind = ? AND ref = ? AND done_at IS NULL AND id NOT IN (SELECT value FROM json_each(?))',
-      ).run(kind, ref, JSON.stringify([...active]));
+      clear(kind, ref);
       db.prepare('INSERT INTO jobs (kind, ref, due_at) VALUES (?, ?, ?)').run(kind, ref, dueAt);
       arm();
     },
     cancel(kind: string, ref: string) {
-      db.prepare('DELETE FROM jobs WHERE kind = ? AND ref = ? AND done_at IS NULL').run(kind, ref);
+      clear(kind, ref);
       arm();
     },
     pending(kind: string, ref: string) {
diff --git a/site/server/posts.test.ts b/site/server/posts.test.ts
index 19363f5..14c7dd8 100644
--- a/site/server/posts.test.ts
+++ b/site/server/posts.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { memoryDatabase, recordingBus } from './testing.ts';
 
 function setup() {
   const db = memoryDatabase();
-  const { bus, recorded, published } = recordingBus();
+  const { bus, recorded, published, link } = recordingBus();
   for (const [handle, login] of [
     ['amrmscll', 'AmrMsCLL'],
     ['omar', 'Omar-Mohamed24'],
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ function setup() {
     "INSERT INTO uploads (id, owner, kind, mime, bytes, width, height, at) VALUES ('img1', 'amrmscll', 'cover', 'image/webp', 1, 1, 1, '2026-01-01')",
   ).run();
   const jobs = createJobs(db, {}, () => {});
-  const posts = createPosts(db, bus, jobs);
-  return { db, jobs, posts, recorded, published };
+  const announced: string[] = [];
+  const posts = createPosts(db, bus, jobs, (post) => announced.push(post.id));
+  return { db, jobs, posts, recorded, published, link, announced };
 }
 
 const fields = {
@@ -103,6 +104,30 @@ describe('posts', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('leaves a scheduled post untouched while the bus is down, so the job publishes it later', async () => {
+    const { db, posts, link, announced, recorded } = setup();
+    const id = await posts.create('amrmscll', 'amrmscll', null);
+    await posts.save(id, fields, 'amrmscll');
+    await posts.schedule(id, new Date(Date.now() + 60_000).toISOString(), 'amrmscll');
+    link.down = true;
+    await assert.rejects(posts.publish(id, 'amrmscll'), Refused);
+    const errors: unknown[] = [];
+    const fresh = createJobs(db, { publish: (ref) => posts.publishDue(ref) }, (error) =>
+      errors.push(error),
+    );
+    const due = Date.now() + 61_000;
+    assert.deepEqual(await fresh.runDue(due), []);
+    assert.equal(posts.read(id)?.status, 'scheduled');
+    assert.equal(errors.length, 1);
+    assert.equal(fresh.pending('publish', id), true);
+    link.down = false;
+    assert.deepEqual(await fresh.runDue(due + 60_000), [`publish:${id}`]);
+    assert.equal(posts.read(id)?.status, 'published');
+    assert.deepEqual(announced, [id]);
+    assert.equal(recorded.filter((event) => event.kind === 'post').length, 1);
+    fresh.stop();
+  });
+
   it('schedules through the jobs table and publishes when due', async () => {
     const { db, posts, jobs } = setup();
     const id = await posts.create('amrmscll', 'amrmscll', null);
diff --git a/site/server/posts.ts b/site/server/posts.ts
index 363f259..1a6f25d 100644
--- a/site/server/posts.ts
+++ b/site/server/posts.ts
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ export function createPosts(
     if (problem) {
       throw new Refused(problem);
     }
+    if (!(await bus.alive())) {
+      throw new Refused('The live stream is unreachable; try again in a moment.');
+    }
     const at = new Date().toISOString();
     const rendered = render(state(id));
     transaction(db, () => {
@@ -203,6 +206,7 @@ export function createPosts(
     });
     jobs.cancel(PUBLISH_JOB, id);
     const published = must(id);
+    onPublished(published);
     await bus.record({
       topic: 'posts',
       key: id,
@@ -219,7 +223,6 @@ export function createPosts(
       },
       at,
     });
-    onPublished(published);
     return published;
   }
 
diff --git a/site/server/redis.ts b/site/server/redis.ts
index dd79f82..d5f47b5 100644
--- a/site/server/redis.ts
+++ b/site/server/redis.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ import { Redis } from 'ioredis';
 export type { Redis };
 
 export function connectRedis(url: string) {
-  const command = new Redis(url, { maxRetriesPerRequest: 2, lazyConnect: false });
+  const command = new Redis(url, {
+    maxRetriesPerRequest: 2,
+    lazyConnect: false,
+    commandTimeout: 2000,
+  });
   return { command, subscriber: command.duplicate() };
 }
 
diff --git a/site/server/testing.ts b/site/server/testing.ts
index 8376d82..213786a 100644
--- a/site/server/testing.ts
+++ b/site/server/testing.ts
@@ -75,8 +75,10 @@ export function recordingBus() {
   const recorded: HubEvent[] = [];
   const published: HubEvent[] = [];
   const listeners = new Set<(delivery: { event: HubEvent }) => void>();
+  const link = { down: false };
   const bus = {
     ready: Promise.resolve(),
+    alive: async () => !link.down,
     record: async (event: HubEvent) => {
       recorded.push(event);
       return `${Date.now()}-${recorded.length}`;
@@ -93,5 +95,5 @@ export function recordingBus() {
       return () => listeners.delete(listener);
     },
   } as unknown as Bus;
-  return { bus, recorded, published };
+  return { bus, recorded, published, link };
 }