diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js b/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
index f4a59bc20..5418680d5 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
@@ -170,7 +170,9 @@
             routing();
 
             var hash = context.location.hash;
-            var url = '#/ftue1';
+            // TODO - defaulting to home for video
+            // var url = '#/ftue1';
+            var url = '#/home';
             if (hash) {
                 url = hash;
             }
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js b/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
index 45e4a546a..4e6f61a58 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
@@ -376,17 +376,22 @@
             screenEvent(previousScreen, 'beforeHide', data);
             screenEvent(currentScreen, 'beforeShow', data);
 
+            // For now -- it seems we want it open always.
+            // TODO - support user preference here? Remember how they left it?
+            sidebarVisible = true;
+            /*
             var openSidebarScreens = [
                 'home', 'session', 'createSession',
                 'findSession', 'searchResults'
             ];
-            sidebarVisible = false;
             $.each(openSidebarScreens, function() {
+                logger.debug("comparing " + this + " to " + currentScreen);
                 if (this === currentScreen) {
                     sidebarVisible = true;
                     return false;
                 }
             });
+            */
             layout();
 
             screenEvent(previousScreen, 'afterHide', data);
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
index 9603f6c83..df50083f1 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/client/jamkazam.css.scss
@@ -319,3 +319,9 @@ input[type="text"] {
 .right {
     float:right;
 }
+
+
+/* TODO - we need a separate stylesheet(s) for signin/signup screens */
+/* Following is a style adjustment for the sign-in table spacing */
+#sign-in td { padding: 4px; }
+
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/client/session.css.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/client/session.css.scss
index 028848ec4..c78bfe7b7 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/client/session.css.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/client/session.css.scss
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ table.vu td {
 
 
 .session-add {
-    margin-top:6px;
+    margin-top:9px;
     margin-bottom:8px;
     font-size:16px;
 }
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ table.vu td {
 }
 
 .session-add a img {
-    margin-top: 2px;
+    vertical-align:bottom;
 }
 
 .session-recording-name-wrapper {
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ table.vu td {
 }
 
 .session-tracks-scroller {
+    position:relative;
     overflow-x:auto;
     overflow-y:hidden;
     width:100%;
@@ -524,12 +525,13 @@ table.vu td {
 }
 
 .recording {
+    bottom: 0px;
     margin-top:15px;
     padding:3px;
     height:19px;
     width:95%;
     background-color:#242323;
-    position:relative;
+    position:absolute;
     text-align:center;
     font-size:13px;
 }
@@ -539,6 +541,10 @@ table.vu td {
     text-decoration:none;
 }
 
+.recording a img {
+    vertical-align:middle;
+}
+
 .recording-controls {
     margin-top:15px;
     padding:3px 5px 3px 10px;
diff --git a/app/views/clients/_session.html.erb b/app/views/clients/_session.html.erb
index 1d2b4473c..673225240 100644
--- a/app/views/clients/_session.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/clients/_session.html.erb
@@ -103,18 +103,22 @@
             <!-- recordings -->
             <div class="session-recordings">
                 <h2>recordings</h2>
+                <div class="session-add">
+                    (No recording loaded)
+                </div>
 
                 <!-- recording name and close button -->
+                <!--
                 <div class="session-recording-name-wrapper">
                     <div class="session-recording-name left">(No recording loaded)</div>
-                    <!--
                     <div class="session-add right">
                         <a href="#">
                             <%= image_tag "content/icon_close.png", {:width => 18, :height => 20, :align => "texttop"} %>&nbsp;&nbsp;Close
                         </a>
                     </div>
-                    -->
                 </div>
+                -->
+
                 <!-- recording tracks scroller -->
                 <div class="session-tracks-scroller">
                 </div> <!-- end session-tracks-scroller -->
diff --git a/app/views/sessions/new.html.erb b/app/views/sessions/new.html.erb
index 60aade7fc..7d4dff6f0 100644
--- a/app/views/sessions/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/sessions/new.html.erb
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@
         <!-- sign in left column -->
         <div class="ftue-left"><br />
 
-            <span class="white"><strong>Already a member?</strong></span> Enter your email address and password:
+            <span class="white"><strong>Already a member?</strong></span><br/>
+            Enter your email address and password:
             <br>
             <br>
 
             <%= form_for(:session, url: sessions_path) do |f| %>
-                <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10">
+                <table id="sign-in" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="10">
                     <tr>
                         <td><%= f.label :email %></td>
                         <td><%= f.label :password %></td>