diff --git a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.info b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.info
index e7add60..840a647 100644
--- a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.info
+++ b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.info
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ package = Core
 version = VERSION
 core = 8.x
 files[] = statistics.test
+scripts[] = statistics.js
 configure = admin/config/system/statistics
diff --git a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.js b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b56f4ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.js
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+(function ($) {
+
+  Drupal.behaviors.statisticsModule = {
+    attach: function (context, settings) {
+      var nid = settings.statistics.nid;
+      var basePath = settings.basePath
+      $.ajax({
+        type: "POST",
+        cache: false,
+        url: basePath+"core/modules/statistics/statistics.php",
+        data: "nid="+nid,
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+})(jQuery);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.module b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.module
index eda808f..98cb5d8 100644
--- a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.module
+++ b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.module
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ function statistics_help($path, $arg) {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Implements hook_page_alter()
+ */
+function statistics_page_alter() {
+  if (arg(0) == 'node' && is_numeric(arg(1)) && arg(2) == NULL) {
+    drupal_add_js(array('statistics' => array('nid' => arg(1))), 'setting');
+  }
+}
 
 /**
  * Implements hook_exit().
@@ -57,22 +65,6 @@ function statistics_exit() {
   // in which case we need to bootstrap to the session phase anyway.
   drupal_bootstrap(DRUPAL_BOOTSTRAP_VARIABLES);
 
-  if (variable_get('statistics_count_content_views', 0)) {
-    // We are counting content views.
-    if (arg(0) == 'node' && is_numeric(arg(1)) && arg(2) == NULL) {
-      // A node has been viewed, so update the node's counters.
-      db_merge('node_counter')
-        ->key(array('nid' => arg(1)))
-        ->fields(array(
-          'daycount' => 1,
-          'totalcount' => 1,
-          'timestamp' => REQUEST_TIME,
-        ))
-        ->expression('daycount', 'daycount + 1')
-        ->expression('totalcount', 'totalcount + 1')
-        ->execute();
-    }
-  }
   if (variable_get('statistics_enable_access_log', 0)) {
     drupal_bootstrap(DRUPAL_BOOTSTRAP_SESSION);
 
@@ -230,6 +222,9 @@ function statistics_user_predelete($account) {
  * Implements hook_cron().
  */
 function statistics_cron() {
+  drupal_static_reset('statistics_get');
+  cache()->deletePrefix('statistics_data');
+  
   $statistics_timestamp = variable_get('statistics_day_timestamp', '');
 
   if ((REQUEST_TIME - $statistics_timestamp) >= 86400) {
@@ -298,10 +293,19 @@ function statistics_title_list($dbfield, $dbrows) {
  *   - timestamp: timestamp of when that node was last viewed.
  */
 function statistics_get($nid) {
-
   if ($nid > 0) {
-    // Retrieve an array with both totalcount and daycount.
-    return db_query('SELECT totalcount, daycount, timestamp FROM {node_counter} WHERE nid = :nid', array(':nid' => $nid), array('target' => 'slave'))->fetchAssoc();
+    $stats_data = &drupal_static(__FUNCTION__);
+    if (!isset($stats_data)) {
+      if ($cache = cache()->get('statistics_data')) {
+        $stats_data = $cache->data;
+      }
+      else {
+        // Retrieve an array with both totalcount and daycount.
+        $stats_data =  db_query('SELECT totalcount, daycount, timestamp FROM {node_counter} WHERE nid = :nid', array(':nid' => $nid), array('target' => 'slave'))->fetchAssoc();
+        cache()->set('statistics_data', $stats_data);
+      }
+    }
+    return $stats_data;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/core/modules/statistics/statistics.php b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0b7610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/modules/statistics/statistics.php
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<?php
+
+// Change the directory to the Drupal root.
+chdir('../../..');
+
+/**
+ * Root directory of Drupal installation.
+ */
+define('DRUPAL_ROOT', getcwd());
+
+include_once DRUPAL_ROOT . '/core/includes/bootstrap.inc';
+drupal_bootstrap(DRUPAL_BOOTSTRAP_VARIABLES);
+
+if (variable_get('statistics_count_content_views', 0)) {
+  $nid = $_POST['nid'];
+  db_merge('node_counter')
+    ->key(array('nid' => $nid))
+    ->fields(array(
+      'daycount' => 1,
+      'totalcount' => 1,
+      'timestamp' => REQUEST_TIME,
+    ))
+    ->expression('daycount', 'daycount + 1')
+    ->expression('totalcount', 'totalcount + 1')
+    ->execute();
+}
+
+?>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/core/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.install b/core/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.install
index 3e07259..0829877 100644
--- a/core/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.install
+++ b/core/modules/taxonomy/taxonomy.install
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ function taxonomy_schema() {
         'translatable' => TRUE,
       ),
       'description' => array(
-        'type' => 'text',
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        'length' => 255,
         'not null' => FALSE,
         'size' => 'big',
         'description' => 'A description of the term.',
@@ -136,7 +137,8 @@ function taxonomy_schema() {
         'description' => 'The vocabulary machine name.',
       ),
       'description' => array(
-        'type' => 'text',
+        'type' => 'varchar',
+        'length' => 255,
         'not null' => FALSE,
         'size' => 'big',
         'description' => 'Description of the vocabulary.',