Rails 3.2.6 doesn't like them

- `Rails.root` is a `Pathname`, so let's use `Rails.root.join`
- Clean up most of the remaining `File.join`s

also now add a beta role

thanks @mperham! see: http://t.co/Jyt7vV4I

add acts_as_api to the models directly for now.  the 'root node' problem (posts : {}) breaks backbone.  wip

we find a better way to reimpliment it in a  more sane way

This reverts commit 655558cb.

Revert "MS DG; for real this time?"

This reverts commit f85a047f.

Revert "MS DG; actually fix the bug"

This reverts commit cde12ec2.

Revert "fix small commenting email bug #oops"

This reverts commit a552fc80.

Revert "dont ban diasporahq  stuff"

This reverts commit 2c12b94e.

Revert "Merge branch 'participants'"

This reverts commit 74178018, reversing
changes made to abd211ba.

* When only has last_name, return last_name not diaspora_handle
* Strip contstructed name to avoid trailing or preceding space
when having only first or last name present

fixed/moved specs; made Person.all_from_aspects scope (move direct AR querying from AspectStream; added more documentation in AspectStream