diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index baeb3f9f0..394b6d45e 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -32,15 +32,21 @@ class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
   
   validates :guid, :uniqueness => true
 
+  #scopes
   scope :all_public, where(:public => true, :pending => false)
   scope :includes_for_a_stream,  includes({:author => :profile}, :mentions => {:person => :profile}) #note should include root and photos, but i think those are both on status_message
 
-  def self.for_a_stream(max_time, order='created_at')
-    where("posts.#{order} < ?", max_time).order("posts.#{order} desc").
-    includes_for_a_stream. 
+  def self.for_a_stream(max_time, order)
+    by_max_time(max_time, order).
+    includes_for_a_stream.
     limit(15)
   end
 
+  def by_max_time(max_time, order='created_at')
+    where("posts.#{order} < ?", max_time).order("posts.#{order} desc")
+  end
+  #############
+
   def diaspora_handle
     read_attribute(:diaspora_handle) || self.author.diaspora_handle
   end
@@ -147,4 +153,3 @@ class Post < ActiveRecord::Base
       update_all(:comments_count => self.comments.count)
   end
 end
-
diff --git a/spec/lib/base_stream_spec.rb b/spec/lib/base_stream_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1083821a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/base_stream_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+require File.join(Rails.root, 'spec', 'shared_behaviors', 'stream')
+describe BaseStream do
+  before do
+    @stream = BaseStream.new(stub)
+  end
+
+  describe 'shared behaviors' do
+    it_should_behave_like 'it is a stream'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/mention_stream_spec.rb b/spec/lib/mention_stream_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d92b3f8c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/mention_stream_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+require File.join(Rails.root, 'spec', 'shared_behaviors', 'stream')
+
+describe MentionStream do
+  before do
+    @stream = MentionStream.new(Factory(:user), :max_time => Time.now, :order => 'updated_at')
+  end
+
+  describe 'shared behaviors' do
+    it_should_behave_like 'it is a stream'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/tag_stream_spec.rb b/spec/lib/tag_stream_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..93050c839
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/tag_stream_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+require File.join(Rails.root, 'spec', 'shared_behaviors', 'stream')
+
+describe TagStream do
+  before do
+    @stream = TagStream.new(Factory(:user), :max_time => Time.now, :order => 'updated_at')
+  end
+
+  describe 'shared behaviors' do
+    it_should_behave_like 'it is a stream'
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/shared_behaviors/stream.rb b/spec/shared_behaviors/stream.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..01af8b497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/shared_behaviors/stream.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe 'Streams' do
+  shared_examples_for 'it is a stream' do
+    context 'required methods for display' do
+      it '#title' do
+        @stream.title.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it '#posts' do
+        @stream.posts.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it '#people' do
+        @stream.people.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'has a #contacts title' do
+        @stream.contacts_title.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'has a contacts link' do
+        @stream.contacts_link.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'responds to ajax_stream' do
+        @stream.ajax_stream?.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'responds to ajax_stream' do
+        @stream.ajax_stream?.should_not be_nil
+      end
+
+      it 'should make the stream a time object' do
+        @stream.max_time = 123
+        @stream.max_time.should be_a(Time)
+      end
+
+      it 'should default order to created_at' do
+        @stream.order=nil
+        @stream.order.should == 'created_at'
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end