diff --git a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
index b58258076..aeea38e05 100644
--- a/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/requests_controller.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class RequestsController < ApplicationController
   
   def create
     url = diaspora_url(params[:request][:destination_url])
-    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')
+    @request = current_user.send_friend_request_to(url) unless url.include?('@')|| url == ''
     if @request
       flash[:notice] = "a friend request was sent to #{@request.destination_url}"
       redirect_to requests_url
diff --git a/app/models/comment.rb b/app/models/comment.rb
index 8fbd9dd0c..7643e9eae 100644
--- a/app/models/comment.rb
+++ b/app/models/comment.rb
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class Comment
 
   def verify_post_creator_signature
     unless person == User.owner
+      puts "verifying post creator sig from #{post.person.real_name}"
       verify_signature(post_creator_signature, post.person)
     else
       true
diff --git a/app/models/photo.rb b/app/models/photo.rb
index 8de0e993a..42e704273 100644
--- a/app/models/photo.rb
+++ b/app/models/photo.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 class Photo < Post
   require 'carrierwave/orm/mongomapper'
   include MongoMapper::Document
-
+  before_validation {puts "I'M GONNA VALIDATE"} 
+  before_save {puts "I'M GONNA SAVE"} 
+  before_create {puts "I'M GONNA CREATE"} 
   mount_uploader :image, ImageUploader
 end
diff --git a/app/models/post.rb b/app/models/post.rb
index 81c66de88..383d56b10 100644
--- a/app/models/post.rb
+++ b/app/models/post.rb
@@ -36,16 +36,16 @@ class Post
     self.first(:person_id => person.id, :order => '_id desc')
   end
 
- def self.my_newest
-   self.newest(User.owner)
- end
+   def self.my_newest
+     self.newest(User.owner)
+   end
   def self.newest_by_email(email)
     self.newest(Person.first(:email => email))
   end
 
 #ENCRYPTION
-  #before_validation :sign_if_mine
-    #validates_true_for :creator_signature, :logic => lambda {self.verify_creator_signature}
+    before_validation :sign_if_mine
+    validates_true_for :creator_signature, :logic => lambda {self.verify_creator_signature}
     
     xml_accessor :creator_signature
     key :creator_signature, String
diff --git a/app/views/requests/_form.haml b/app/views/requests/_form.haml
index 390062d8d..319265e29 100644
--- a/app/views/requests/_form.haml
+++ b/app/views/requests/_form.haml
@@ -5,6 +5,5 @@
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
 
-
   %p
     = f.submit
diff --git a/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml b/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
index 319265e29..d44bdcea0 100644
--- a/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
+++ b/app/views/requests/_new_request.haml
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
   = f.error_messages
 
   %p
+    enter a diaspora url, diaspora username, or random email address:  
     = f.label :destination_url
     = f.text_field :destination_url
-
   %p
     = f.submit
diff --git a/config/sprinkle/packages/ruby.rb b/config/sprinkle/packages/ruby.rb
index e90b4e516..13ece39ca 100644
--- a/config/sprinkle/packages/ruby.rb
+++ b/config/sprinkle/packages/ruby.rb
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ end
 
 package :diaspora_dependencies do
 	description 'random dependencies'
-	apt %w(libxslt1.1 libxslt1-dev libxml2 libgpgme11-dev )
+	apt %w(libxslt1.1 libxslt1-dev libxml2 libgpgme11-dev imagemagick libmagick9-dev)
 end
 #package :diaspora do
 #	description 'Diaspora'
diff --git a/lib/common.rb b/lib/common.rb
index f2fb5c29a..ccd4e5758 100644
--- a/lib/common.rb
+++ b/lib/common.rb
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ module Diaspora
     def store_objects_from_xml(xml)
       objects = parse_objects_from_xml(xml)
       objects.each do |p|
+        Rails.logger.info("Receiving object:\n#{p.inspect}")
         if p.is_a? Retraction
           p.perform
         elsif p.is_a? Request
diff --git a/lib/encryptable.rb b/lib/encryptable.rb
index c35ba70c3..226ae5e1f 100644
--- a/lib/encryptable.rb
+++ b/lib/encryptable.rb
@@ -3,30 +3,38 @@
      ""
    end
     def verify_creator_signature
+      #creator_signature = sign if creator_signature.nil? && person == User.owner
       verify_signature(creator_signature, person)
     end
     
     def verify_signature(signature, person)
       return false unless signature && person.key_fingerprint
       validity = nil
-      GPGME::verify(creator_signature, signable_string, 
-        {:armor => true, :always_trust => true}){ |signature|
-        validity =  signature.status == GPGME::GPG_ERR_NO_ERROR &&
-            signature.fpr == person.key_fingerprint
+      GPGME::verify(signature, signable_string, 
+        {:armor => true, :always_trust => true}){ |signature_analysis|
+        puts signature_analysis
+        validity =  signature_analysis.status == GPGME::GPG_ERR_NO_ERROR &&
+            signature_analysis.fpr == person.key_fingerprint
       }
       return validity
     end
     
     protected
     def sign_if_mine
+      puts "In sign_if_mine"
       if self.person == User.owner
         self.creator_signature = sign
       end
     end
 
     def sign
+      puts "signing"
+      sign_with_key(User.owner.key)
+    end
+
+    def sign_with_key(key)
       GPGME::sign(signable_string,nil,
-          {:armor=> true, :mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :signers => [User.owner.key]})
+          {:armor=> true, :mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :signers => [key]})
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/controllers/requests_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/requests_controller_spec.rb
index 82333f6bb..3cc8f7c41 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/requests_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/requests_controller_spec.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../spec_helper'
 describe RequestsController do
   describe "profile" do
     it 'should fetch the public webfinger profile on request' do
+      pending "Duplicate test"
       #post :create {:request => {:destination_url => 'tom@tom.joindiaspora.com'}
      
       url = RequestsController.diaspora_url('http://tom.joindiaspora.com/')
diff --git a/spec/helpers/requests_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/requests_helper_spec.rb
index 38d0d1cd4..b3a20f989 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/requests_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/requests_helper_spec.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ include RequestsHelper
 describe RequestsHelper do
   describe "profile" do
     it 'should fetch the public webfinger profile on request' do
+      pending "Can we please find a way to do this that doesn't freak me out if my internet connection is down?  Thanks, Rafi"
       #post :create {:request => {:destination_url => 'tom@tom.joindiaspora.com'}
      
       url = diaspora_url('http://tom.joindiaspora.com/')
diff --git a/spec/lib/parser_spec.rb b/spec/lib/parser_spec.rb
index 4b4c7cc2d..697d773c1 100644
--- a/spec/lib/parser_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/parser_spec.rb
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ describe "parser in application helper" do
 
     it "should activate the Person if I initiated a request to that url" do 
       request = Request.instantiate(:to => @person.url, :from => @user).save
-
-      request_remote = Request.new(:_id => request.id)#
+      
+      request_remote = Request.new
       request_remote.destination_url = @user.url
       request_remote.callback_url = @user.url
       request_remote.person = @person
diff --git a/spec/models/photo_spec.rb b/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
index 9936f6c9b..148251e8d 100644
--- a/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/photo_spec.rb
@@ -1,19 +1,39 @@
 require File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../spec_helper'
 
 describe Photo do
+  before do
+    @user = Factory.create(:user)
+    @fixture_name = File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../fixtures/bp.jpeg'
+  end
   it 'should save a photo to GridFS' do
-    photo = Photo.new
-    fixture_name = File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../fixtures/bp.jpeg'
-    file = File.open(fixture_name)
+    photo = Photo.new(:person => @user)
+    file = File.open(@fixture_name)
     photo.image = file
     photo.save.should == true
     binary = photo.image.read
-    fixture_binary = File.open(fixture_name).read
+    fixture_binary = File.open(@fixture_name).read
     binary.should == fixture_binary
   end
 
   it 'should create thumbnails' do
     pending('need to figure this out... tearing issue')
   end
+  describe 'with encryption' do
+    
+    before do
+      unstub_mocha_stubs
+    end
+    
+    after do
+      stub_signature_verification
+    end
 
+    it 'should save a signed photo to GridFS' do
+      photo = Photo.new(:person => @user)
+      photo.image = File.open(@fixture_name)
+      photo.save.should == true
+      photo.verify_creator_signature.should be true
+    end
+    
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index f0156464d..7194908bb 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -42,11 +42,18 @@ end
   end
 
   def stub_signature_verification
-    Post.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
-    StatusMessage.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
-    Blog.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
-    Bookmark.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
-    Comment.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
+    post_models = []
+    get_models.each{ |model|
+      constant_model = model.camelize.constantize
+      if constant_model == Post || constant_model.superclass == Post
+        post_models << constant_model
+      end
+    }
+    
+    post_models.each{ | model|
+      model.any_instance.stubs(:verify_creator_signature).returns(true)
+    }
+
     Comment.any_instance.stubs(:verify_post_creator_signature).returns(true)
     Person.any_instance.stubs(:remove_key).returns(true)
     User.any_instance.stubs(:remove_key).returns(true)
@@ -54,5 +61,12 @@ end
 
   def unstub_mocha_stubs
     Mocha::Mockery.instance.stubba.unstub_all
- 
+  end
+
+  def get_models
+    models = []
+    Dir.glob( File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../app/models/*' ).each do |f|
+      models << File.basename( f ).gsub( /^(.+).rb/, '\1')
+    end
+    models
   end
diff --git a/spec/user_encryption_spec.rb b/spec/user_encryption_spec.rb
index b0083f0ec..e05b31d29 100644
--- a/spec/user_encryption_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/user_encryption_spec.rb
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ describe 'user encryption' do
     
     it 'should verify a remote signature' do 
       message = Factory.build(:status_message, :person => @person)
-      message.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(message.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person.key]})
+      message.creator_signature = message.send(:sign_with_key,@person.key)
       message.save(:validate => false)
       message.verify_creator_signature.should be true
     end
@@ -109,16 +108,14 @@ describe 'user encryption' do
     it 'should know if the signature is from the wrong person' do
       message = Factory.build(:status_message, :person => @person)
       message.save(:validate => false)
-      message.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(message.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person.key]})
+      message.creator_signature = message.send(:sign_with_key,@person.key)
       message.person = @user
       message.verify_creator_signature.should be false
     end
    
     it 'should know if the signature is for the wrong text' do
       message = Factory.build(:status_message, :person => @person)
-      message.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(message.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person.key]})
+      message.creator_signature = message.send(:sign_with_key,@person.key)
       message.message = 'I love VENISON'
       message.save(:validate => false)
       message.verify_creator_signature.should be false
@@ -133,8 +130,7 @@ describe 'user encryption' do
     end
     it 'A message with an invalid signature should be rejected' do
       message = Factory.build(:status_message, :person => @person)
-      message.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(message.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@user.key]})
+      message.creator_signature = message.send(:sign )
       message.save
       xml = Post.build_xml_for([message])
       message.destroy
@@ -147,10 +143,9 @@ describe 'user encryption' do
   describe 'comments' do
     before do
       @remote_message = Factory.build(:status_message, :person => @person)
-      @remote_message.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(@remote_message.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person.key]})
+      @remote_message.creator_signature = @remote_message.send(:sign_with_key,@person.key)
       @remote_message.save 
-
+      @message = Factory.create(:status_message, :person => @user)
     end
     it 'should attach the creator signature if the user is commenting' do
       @user.comment "Yeah, it was great", :on => @remote_message
@@ -160,29 +155,32 @@ describe 'user encryption' do
     it 'should sign the comment if the user is the post creator' do
       message = Factory.create(:status_message, :person => @user)
       @user.comment "Yeah, it was great", :on => message
-      StatusMessage.first.comments.first.verify_creator_signature.should be true
+      message.comments.first.verify_creator_signature.should be true
       StatusMessage.first.comments.first.verify_post_creator_signature.should be true
     end
     
     it 'should verify a comment made on a remote post by a different friend' do
       comment = Comment.new(:person => @person2, :text => "balls", :post => @remote_message)
-      comment.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(comment.signable_string, nil,
-        {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person2.key]})
+      comment.creator_signature = comment.send(:sign_with_key,@person2.key)
       comment.verify_creator_signature.should be true
-
+      comment.valid?.should be false
+      comment.post_creator_signature = comment.send(:sign_with_key,@person.key)
+      comment.verify_post_creator_signature.should be true
+      comment.valid?.should be true
     end
 
     it 'should reject comments on a remote post with only a creator sig' do
         comment = Comment.new(:person => @person2, :text => "balls", :post => @remote_message)
-        comment.creator_signature = GPGME.sign(comment.signable_string, nil,
-          {:mode => GPGME::SIG_MODE_DETACH, :armor => true, :signers => [@person2.key]})
+        comment.creator_signature = comment.send(:sign_with_key,@person2.key)
         comment.verify_creator_signature.should be true
         comment.verify_post_creator_signature.should be false
         comment.save.should be false
     end
 
     it 'should receive remote comments on a user post with a creator sig' do
-      
+        comment = Comment.new(:person => @person2, :text => "balls", :post => @message)
+        comment.creator_signature = comment.send(:sign_with_key,@person2.key)
+        comment.save.should be true
     end
 
   end