diff --git a/admin/Gemfile b/admin/Gemfile
index b121b5991..c8b1d1772 100644
--- a/admin/Gemfile
+++ b/admin/Gemfile
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ gem 'unf', '0.1.3' #optional fog dependency
 gem 'country-select'
 gem 'aasm', '3.0.16'
 gem 'postgres-copy', '0.6.0'
-gem 'aws-sdk', '1.29.1'
+gem 'aws-sdk' #, '1.29.1'
 gem 'bugsnag'
 gem 'gon'
 gem 'cocoon'
diff --git a/ruby/Gemfile b/ruby/Gemfile
index f81545af0..5ed51d3d0 100644
--- a/ruby/Gemfile
+++ b/ruby/Gemfile
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ gem 'amqp', '1.0.2'
 gem 'will_paginate'
 gem 'actionmailer', '3.2.13'
 gem 'sendgrid', '1.2.0'
-gem 'aws-sdk', '1.29.1'
+gem 'aws-sdk' #, '1.29.1'
 gem 'carrierwave', '0.9.0'
 gem 'aasm', '3.0.16'
 gem 'devise', '>= 1.1.2'
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/email_batch.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/email_batch.rb
index bdd3f2e7d..309b63305 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/email_batch.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/email_batch.rb
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ FOO
 
     def send_test_batch
       self.perform_event('do_test_run!')
-      if 'test'==Rails.env
+      if 'test' == Rails.env
         BatchMailer.send_batch_email_test(self.id).deliver!
       else
         BatchMailer.send_batch_email_test(self.id).deliver
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/recorded_track_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/recorded_track_spec.rb
index 7fb0add63..42c197bc9 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/recorded_track_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/recorded_track_spec.rb
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ describe RecordedTrack do
   describe "aws-based operations", :aws => true do
 
     def put_file_to_aws(signed_data, contents)
+
+      begin
       RestClient.put( signed_data[:url],
                       contents,
                       {
@@ -76,6 +78,11 @@ describe RecordedTrack do
                           :'Content-MD5' => signed_data[:md5],
                           :Authorization => signed_data[:authorization]
                       })
+      rescue => e
+        puts e.response
+        raise e
+      end
+
     end
     # create a test file
     upload_file='some_file.ogg'
diff --git a/ruby/spec/spec_helper.rb b/ruby/spec/spec_helper.rb
index bb26870cd..afe08c312 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+
+ENV["RAILS_ENV"] = "test"
+
 require 'simplecov'
 require 'support/utilities'
 require 'active_record'
@@ -28,13 +31,14 @@ require 'factories'
 
 include JamRuby
 
+
 # manually register observers
 ActiveRecord::Base.add_observer InvitedUserObserver.instance
 ActiveRecord::Base.add_observer UserObserver.instance
 ActiveRecord::Base.add_observer FeedbackObserver.instance
 ActiveRecord::Base.add_observer RecordedTrackObserver.instance
 
-RecordedTrack.observers.disable :all # only a few tests want this observer active
+#RecordedTrack.observers.disable :all # only a few tests want this observer active
 
 # put ActionMailer into test mode
 ActionMailer::Base.delivery_method = :test
diff --git a/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb b/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
index 564ec7b34..0f78e56c4 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@ JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET = 'jamkazam-testing' # cuz i'm not comfortable using aws
 
 def app_config
   klass = Class.new do
+
     def aws_bucket
-       JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET
+      JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET
     end
 
     def aws_access_key_id
@@ -14,6 +15,18 @@ def app_config
       'h0V0ffr3JOp/UtgaGrRfAk25KHNiO9gm8Pj9m6v3'
     end
 
+    def aws_region
+      'us-east-1'
+    end
+
+    def aws_bucket_public
+      'jamkazam-testing-public'
+    end
+
+    def aws_cache
+      '315576000'
+    end
+
     def audiomixer_path
       # you can specify full path to audiomixer with AUDIOMIXER_PATH env variable...
       # or we check for audiomixer path in the user's workspace
@@ -77,30 +90,6 @@ def app_config
       "#{external_protocol}#{external_hostname}#{(external_port == 80 || external_port == 443) ? '' : ':' + external_port.to_s}"
     end
 
-    def aws_access_key_id
-      'AKIAJESQY24TOT542UHQ'
-    end
-
-    def aws_secret_access_key
-      'h0V0ffr3JOp/UtgaGrRfAk25KHNiO9gm8Pj9m6v3'
-    end
-
-    def aws_region
-      'us-east-1'
-    end
-
-    def aws_bucket
-      'jamkazam-testing'
-    end
-
-    def aws_bucket_public
-      'jamkazam-testing-public'
-    end
-
-    def aws_cache
-      '315576000'
-    end
-
     def max_audio_downloads
       100
     end
@@ -124,7 +113,7 @@ def app_config
 
   end
 
-  return klass.new
+  klass.new
 end
 
 def run_tests? type
diff --git a/web/Gemfile b/web/Gemfile
index 04415dab0..2595343ce 100644
--- a/web/Gemfile
+++ b/web/Gemfile
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ gem 'fb_graph', '2.5.9'
 gem 'sendgrid', '1.2.0'
 gem 'recaptcha', '0.3.4'
 gem 'filepicker-rails', '0.1.0'
-gem 'aws-sdk', '1.29.1'
+gem 'aws-sdk' #, '1.29.1'
 gem 'aasm', '3.0.16'
 gem 'carrierwave', '0.9.0'
 gem 'carrierwave_direct'
diff --git a/websocket-gateway/Gemfile b/websocket-gateway/Gemfile
index 7ffbb045f..1f7444ad8 100644
--- a/websocket-gateway/Gemfile
+++ b/websocket-gateway/Gemfile
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ gem 'aasm', '3.0.16'
 gem 'carrierwave'
 gem 'devise'
 gem 'postgres-copy'
-gem 'aws-sdk', '1.29.1'
+gem 'aws-sdk' #, '1.29.1'
 gem 'bugsnag'
 gem 'postgres_ext'
 gem 'resque'