diff --git a/src/ttfrog/bootstrap.py b/src/ttfrog/bootstrap.py
index 731cc88..c18470a 100644
--- a/src/ttfrog/bootstrap.py
+++ b/src/ttfrog/bootstrap.py
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ def bootstrap():
     """
     app.check_state()
 
+    # the system user does not get added to the list of Users.
+    app.db.save(schema.User(name="__system__"))
+
     # create the top-level pages
     root = app.db.save(schema.Page(name=app.config.VIEW_URI, body=b"This is the home page", uri=""))
 
diff --git a/src/ttfrog/forms.py b/src/ttfrog/forms.py
index c925eea..4d91563 100644
--- a/src/ttfrog/forms.py
+++ b/src/ttfrog/forms.py
@@ -30,13 +30,11 @@ class Form:
 
     def prepare(self):
         for key, value in self.data.items():
-            # filter out fields that cannot be set by the user
             if key in self.read_only:
                 continue
             if self.record[key] != value:
-                logger.debug(f"Updating {self.record.__class__.__name__}[{self.record.doc_id}] {key}={value}")
                 self.record[key] = value
-        self.record.author = g.user
+        self.record.author = None if self.record == g.user else g.user
         return self.record
 
 
diff --git a/src/ttfrog/schema.py b/src/ttfrog/schema.py
index 93b89f1..93109e0 100644
--- a/src/ttfrog/schema.py
+++ b/src/ttfrog/schema.py
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ from grung.types import (
 from tinydb import where
 
 
+def app_context():
+    import ttfrog.app
+
+    ttfrog.app.check_state()
+    return ttfrog.app
+
+
 class Permissions(StrEnum):
     READ = "r"
     WRITE = "w"
@@ -58,20 +65,21 @@ class Page(Record):
         ]
         # fmt: on
 
-    def parent(self, db):
+    def parent(self):
         if self.uri == "":
             return None
 
+        app = app_context()
+
         parent_uri = ""
         if "/" in self.uri:
             parent_uri = self.uri.rsplit("/", 1)[0]
-        print(f"Checking for parent at {parent_uri=}")
-        for table_name in db.tables():
-            page = db.table(table_name).get(where('uri') == parent_uri, recurse=False)
+        for table_name in app.db.tables():
+            page = app.db.table(table_name).get(where("uri") == parent_uri, recurse=False)
             if page:
                 return page
 
-    def before_insert(self, db):
+    def before_insert(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         Make the following adjustments before saving this record:
           * Derive the URI from the hierarchy of the parent.
@@ -79,16 +87,20 @@ class Page(Record):
         if not self.name:
             raise Exception("Must provide a name")
 
-        super().before_insert(db)
+        app = app_context()
+
+        super().before_insert(app.db)
+
+        if not self.author:
+            self.author = app.db.User.get(where('name') == '__system__')
 
         now = datetime.utcnow()
         if not self.doc_id and self.created < now:
             self.created = now
 
     def add_member(self, child: Record):
-        from ttfrog import app
+        app = app_context()
 
-        app.check_state()
         prefix = (self.uri + "/") if self.uri else ""
         new_uri = f"{prefix}{child.name}"
         if child.uri != new_uri:
@@ -105,9 +117,7 @@ class Page(Record):
         return None
 
     def set_permissions(self, entity: Entity, permissions: List) -> str:
-        from ttfrog import app
-
-        app.check_state()
+        app = app_context()
 
         perms = "".join(permissions)
         self.acl[entity.reference] = perms
@@ -119,9 +129,7 @@ class Page(Record):
         Search upward through the page hierarchy looking for one with an ACL that either
         has a grant for the entity we care about, or at least one group in which the entity is a member.
         """
-        from ttfrog import app
-
-        app.check_state()
+        app = app_context()
 
         def find_acl(obj):
             if hasattr(obj, "acl"):
@@ -139,7 +147,7 @@ class Page(Record):
                     return group_grants
 
             if hasattr(obj, "parent"):
-                return find_acl(obj.parent(app.db))
+                return find_acl(obj.parent())
             return {"": ""}
 
         return find_acl(self)
@@ -184,20 +192,20 @@ class User(Entity):
     def check_credentials(self, username: str, password: str) -> bool:
         return username == self.name and self._metadata.fields["password"].compare(password, self.password)
 
-    def after_insert(self, db):
+    def after_insert(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         After saving this record, ensure that any page in the members collection is updated with the
         correct URI. This ensures that if a page is moved from one collection to another, the URI is updated.
         """
-        super().after_insert(db)
-        for name, _field in self._metadata.fields.items():
-            _field.after_insert(db, self)
+        app = app_context()
+
+        super().after_insert(app.db)
         if not hasattr(self, "members"):
             return
         for child in self.members:
-            obj = BackReference.dereference(child, db, recurse=False)
+            obj = BackReference.dereference(child, app.db, recurse=False)
             obj.uri = f"{self.uri}/{obj.name}"
-            child = db.save(obj)
+            child = app.db.save(obj)
 
 
 class Group(Entity):