     /* Flickr api wrapper object */
     let flickr = Flickr()
     
-    /* core data managed object context */
+    /* The main core data managed object context. This context will be persisted. */
     lazy var sharedContext: NSManagedObjectContext = {
         return CoreDataStackManager.sharedInstance().managedObjectContext!
+    }()
+    
+    /* A core data managed object context that will not be persisted. */
+    lazy var scratchContext: NSManagedObjectContext = {
+        var context = NSManagedObjectContext()
+        context.persistentStoreCoordinator = CoreDataStackManager.sharedInstance().persistentStoreCoordinator
+        return context
     }()
     
     /* The pin instance that is saved to Core Data. */

        let mapPoint: CLLocationCoordinate2D = self.mapView.convertPoint(viewPoint, toCoordinateFromView: self.mapView)
        println("CreatePinAtCoordinate mapPoint = \(mapPoint.latitude), \(mapPoint.longitude)") // TODO: remove
        
        // Create a pin (annotation) based on the calculated gps coordinates.
        let pin: Pin = createPinAtCoordinate(latitude: mapPoint.latitude, longitude: mapPoint.longitude)
        
        if bPersistPin {
            // Display the pin on the map.
//TODO - debug            showPinOnMap(pin)

            // TODO: persist the pin
//TODO - debug             savePin()
/* 
//TODO - debug
            // TODO: Udacious - As soon as a pin is dropped on the map, the photos for that location are pre-fetched from Flickr
            self.flickr.searchPhotosBy2DCoordinates(pin) {
                success, error, imageMetadata in

            
            // Create a new Pin instance, display on the map, and save to the context.
            let viewPoint1: CGPoint = recognizer.locationInView(self.mapView)
            createPinAtPoint(viewPoint1, bPersistPin: true)
            
            return
                
