diff --git a/src/components/BookmarkList.tsx b/src/components/BookmarkList.tsx
index f2d11720..e4036142 100644
--- a/src/components/BookmarkList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/BookmarkList.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ import IconButton from './IconButton'
 import { ViewMode } from './Bookmarks'
 import { extractUrlsFromContent } from '../services/bookmarkHelpers'
 import { UserSettings } from '../services/settingsService'
-import { usePullToRefresh } from '../hooks/usePullToRefresh'
-import PullToRefreshIndicator from './PullToRefreshIndicator'
+import { usePullToRefresh } from 'use-pull-to-refresh'
+import RefreshIndicator from './RefreshIndicator'
 import { BookmarkSkeleton } from './Skeletons'
 
 interface BookmarkListProps {
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@ export const BookmarkList: React.FC<BookmarkListProps> = ({
   const bookmarksListRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
 
   // Pull-to-refresh for bookmarks
-  const pullToRefreshState = usePullToRefresh(bookmarksListRef, {
+  const { isRefreshing: isPulling, pullPosition } = usePullToRefresh({
     onRefresh: () => {
       if (onRefresh) {
         onRefresh()
       }
     },
-    isRefreshing: isRefreshing || false,
-    disabled: !onRefresh
+    maximumPullLength: 240,
+    refreshThreshold: 80,
+    isDisabled: !onRefresh
   })
 
   // Helper to check if a bookmark has either content or a URL
@@ -146,13 +147,11 @@ export const BookmarkList: React.FC<BookmarkListProps> = ({
       ) : (
         <div 
           ref={bookmarksListRef}
-          className={`bookmarks-list pull-to-refresh-container ${pullToRefreshState.isPulling ? 'is-pulling' : ''}`}
+          className="bookmarks-list"
         >
-          <PullToRefreshIndicator
-            isPulling={pullToRefreshState.isPulling}
-            pullDistance={pullToRefreshState.pullDistance}
-            canRefresh={pullToRefreshState.canRefresh}
-            isRefreshing={isRefreshing || false}
+          <RefreshIndicator
+            isRefreshing={isPulling || isRefreshing || false}
+            pullPosition={pullPosition}
           />
           <div className={`bookmarks-grid bookmarks-${viewMode}`}>
             {allIndividualBookmarks.map((individualBookmark, index) => 
diff --git a/src/components/Explore.tsx b/src/components/Explore.tsx
index 3ca08747..c9a13ca1 100644
--- a/src/components/Explore.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Explore.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef, useMemo } from 'react'
+import React, { useState, useEffect, useMemo } from 'react'
 import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome'
-import { faExclamationCircle, faNewspaper, faPenToSquare, faHighlighter, faUser, faUserGroup, faNetworkWired } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
+import { faNewspaper, faPenToSquare, faHighlighter, faUser, faUserGroup, faNetworkWired } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
 import IconButton from './IconButton'
 import { BlogPostSkeleton, HighlightSkeleton } from './Skeletons'
 import { Hooks } from 'applesauce-react'
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
   const [highlights, setHighlights] = useState<Highlight[]>([])
   const [followedPubkeys, setFollowedPubkeys] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set())
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
-  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [refreshTrigger, setRefreshTrigger] = useState(0)
   
   // Visibility filters (defaults from settings)
@@ -60,7 +59,6 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
   useEffect(() => {
     const loadData = async () => {
       if (!activeAccount) {
-        setError('Please log in to explore content from your friends')
         setLoading(false)
         return
       }
@@ -68,7 +66,6 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
       try {
         // show spinner but keep existing data
         setLoading(true)
-        setError(null)
 
         // Seed from in-memory cache if available to avoid empty flash
         const cachedPosts = getCachedPosts(activeAccount.pubkey)
@@ -150,15 +147,8 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
           }
         )
         
-        if (contacts.size === 0) {
-          // If we already have any cached or previously shown data, do not block the UI.
-          const hasAnyData = (blogPosts.length > 0) || (highlights.length > 0)
-          if (!hasAnyData) {
-            // No friends and no cached content: set a soft hint, but still proceed to load nostrverse.
-            setError(null)
-          }
-          // Continue without returning: still fetch nostrverse content below.
-        }
+        // Always proceed to load nostrverse content even if no contacts
+        // (removed blocking error for empty contacts)
 
         // Store final followed pubkeys
         setFollowedPubkeys(contacts)
@@ -205,12 +195,7 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
           })
         }
 
-        if (contacts.size === 0 && uniquePosts.length === 0 && uniqueHighlights.length === 0) {
-          setError('You are not following anyone yet. Follow some people to see their content!')
-        } else if (uniquePosts.length === 0 && uniqueHighlights.length === 0) {
-          setError('No content found yet')
-        }
-
+        // No blocking errors - let empty states handle messaging
         setBlogPosts(uniquePosts)
         setCachedPosts(activeAccount.pubkey, uniquePosts)
 
@@ -218,13 +203,15 @@ const Explore: React.FC<ExploreProps> = ({ relayPool, eventStore, settings, acti
         setCachedHighlights(activeAccount.pubkey, uniqueHighlights)
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('Failed to load data:', err)
-        setError('Failed to load content. Please try again.')
+        // No blocking error - user can pull-to-refresh
       } finally {
         setLoading(false)
       }
     }
 
     loadData()
+    // Note: intentionally not including blogPosts/highlights length to avoid re-fetch loops
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   }, [relayPool, activeAccount, refreshTrigger, eventStore, settings])
 
   // Pull-to-refresh
diff --git a/src/components/HighlightsPanel.tsx b/src/components/HighlightsPanel.tsx
index 461de312..f2596c89 100644
--- a/src/components/HighlightsPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/HighlightsPanel.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useState, useRef } from 'react'
+import React, { useState } from 'react'
 import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome'
 import { faHighlighter } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
 import { Highlight } from '../types/highlights'
diff --git a/src/components/Me.tsx b/src/components/Me.tsx
index 34466095..45876095 100644
--- a/src/components/Me.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Me.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
 import { FontAwesomeIcon } from '@fortawesome/react-fontawesome'
-import { faSpinner, faExclamationCircle, faHighlighter, faBookmark, faList, faThLarge, faImage, faPenToSquare } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
+import { faSpinner, faHighlighter, faBookmark, faList, faThLarge, faImage, faPenToSquare } from '@fortawesome/free-solid-svg-icons'
 import { Hooks } from 'applesauce-react'
 import { BlogPostSkeleton, HighlightSkeleton, BookmarkSkeleton } from './Skeletons'
 import { RelayPool } from 'applesauce-relay'
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import { getCachedMeData, setCachedMeData, updateCachedHighlights } from '../ser
 import { faBooks } from '../icons/customIcons'
 import { usePullToRefresh } from 'use-pull-to-refresh'
 import RefreshIndicator from './RefreshIndicator'
-import { getProfileUrl } from '../config/nostrGateways'
 
 interface MeProps {
   relayPool: RelayPool
@@ -47,7 +46,6 @@ const Me: React.FC<MeProps> = ({ relayPool, activeTab: propActiveTab, pubkey: pr
   const [readArticles, setReadArticles] = useState<BlogPostPreview[]>([])
   const [writings, setWritings] = useState<BlogPostPreview[]>([])
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
-  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
   const [viewMode, setViewMode] = useState<ViewMode>('cards')
   const [refreshTrigger, setRefreshTrigger] = useState(0)
 
@@ -61,14 +59,12 @@ const Me: React.FC<MeProps> = ({ relayPool, activeTab: propActiveTab, pubkey: pr
   useEffect(() => {
     const loadData = async () => {
       if (!viewingPubkey) {
-        setError(isOwnProfile ? 'Please log in to view your data' : 'Invalid profile')
         setLoading(false)
         return
       }
 
       try {
         setLoading(true)
-        setError(null)
 
         // Seed from cache if available to avoid empty flash (own profile only)
         if (isOwnProfile) {
@@ -114,7 +110,7 @@ const Me: React.FC<MeProps> = ({ relayPool, activeTab: propActiveTab, pubkey: pr
         }
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('Failed to load data:', err)
-        setError('Failed to load data. Please try again.')
+        // No blocking error - user can pull-to-refresh
       } finally {
         setLoading(false)
       }
diff --git a/src/hooks/useSettings.ts b/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
index a6b6ff6d..fd210500 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useSettings.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ export function useSettings({ relayPool, eventStore, pubkey, accountManager }: U
       const fullAccount = accountManager.getActive()
       if (!fullAccount) throw new Error('No active account')
       const factory = new EventFactory({ signer: fullAccount })
-      await saveSettings(relayPool, eventStore, factory, newSettings, RELAYS)
+      await saveSettings(relayPool, eventStore, factory, newSettings)
       setSettings(newSettings)
       setToastType('success')
       setToastMessage('Settings saved')
diff --git a/src/services/contactService.ts b/src/services/contactService.ts
index 468777b3..d7c3e780 100644
--- a/src/services/contactService.ts
+++ b/src/services/contactService.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { RelayPool } from 'applesauce-relay'
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs'
 import { prioritizeLocalRelays } from '../utils/helpers'
 import { queryEvents } from './dataFetch'
 import { CONTACTS_REMOTE_TIMEOUT_MS } from '../config/network'
diff --git a/src/services/exploreService.ts b/src/services/exploreService.ts
index 189a5bdf..b4b4c122 100644
--- a/src/services/exploreService.ts
+++ b/src/services/exploreService.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export const fetchBlogPostsFromAuthors = async (
     // Group by author + d-tag identifier
     const uniqueEvents = new Map<string, NostrEvent>()
 
-    const events = await queryEvents(
+    await queryEvents(
       relayPool,
       { kinds: [30023], authors: pubkeys, limit: 100 },
       {
diff --git a/src/services/highlightCreationService.ts b/src/services/highlightCreationService.ts
index e5a93d21..36d30503 100644
--- a/src/services/highlightCreationService.ts
+++ b/src/services/highlightCreationService.ts
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ export async function createHighlight(
   const signedEvent = await factory.sign(highlightEvent)
 
   // Use unified write service to store and publish
-  await publishEvent(relayPool, eventStore, signedEvent, settings)
+  await publishEvent(relayPool, eventStore, signedEvent)
 
   // Check current connection status for UI feedback
   const connectedRelays = Array.from(relayPool.relays.values())
diff --git a/src/services/nostrverseService.ts b/src/services/nostrverseService.ts
index 04a98431..586136b5 100644
--- a/src/services/nostrverseService.ts
+++ b/src/services/nostrverseService.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const fetchNostrverseBlogPosts = async (
     // Deduplicate replaceable events by keeping the most recent version
     const uniqueEvents = new Map<string, NostrEvent>()
 
-    const events = await queryEvents(
+    await queryEvents(
       relayPool,
       { kinds: [30023], limit },
       {
diff --git a/src/services/settingsService.ts b/src/services/settingsService.ts
index 5e081106..16458601 100644
--- a/src/services/settingsService.ts
+++ b/src/services/settingsService.ts
@@ -148,8 +148,7 @@ export async function saveSettings(
   relayPool: RelayPool,
   eventStore: IEventStore,
   factory: EventFactory,
-  settings: UserSettings,
-  _relays: string[]
+  settings: UserSettings
 ): Promise<void> {
   console.log('💾 Saving settings to nostr:', settings)
 
@@ -165,7 +164,7 @@ export async function saveSettings(
   const signed = await factory.sign(draft)
 
   // Use unified write service
-  await publishEvent(relayPool, eventStore, signed, settings)
+  await publishEvent(relayPool, eventStore, signed)
 
   console.log('✅ Settings published successfully')
 }
diff --git a/src/services/writeService.ts b/src/services/writeService.ts
index 55ef4e17..7ef6aa67 100644
--- a/src/services/writeService.ts
+++ b/src/services/writeService.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { RelayPool } from 'applesauce-relay'
 import { NostrEvent } from 'nostr-tools'
 import { IEventStore } from 'applesauce-core'
-import { UserSettings } from './settingsService'
 import { RELAYS } from '../config/relays'
 import { isLocalRelay, areAllRelaysLocal } from '../utils/helpers'
 import { markEventAsOfflineCreated } from './offlineSyncService'
@@ -13,8 +12,7 @@ import { markEventAsOfflineCreated } from './offlineSyncService'
 export async function publishEvent(
   relayPool: RelayPool,
   eventStore: IEventStore,
-  event: NostrEvent,
-  settings?: UserSettings
+  event: NostrEvent
 ): Promise<void> {
   // Store the event in the local EventStore FIRST for immediate UI display
   eventStore.add(event)