diff --git a/Manifest.txt b/Manifest.txt
index 98a6a08..216b705 100644
--- a/Manifest.txt
+++ b/Manifest.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ ext/v8/convert_string.cpp
 ext/v8/convert_string.h
 ext/v8/convert_v8.cpp
 ext/v8/convert_v8.h
+ext/v8/converters.cpp
 ext/v8/converters.h
 ext/v8/extconf.rb
 ext/v8/v8.cpp
diff --git a/ext/v8/convert_ruby.h b/ext/v8/convert_ruby.h
index 2131e37..0c66a07 100644
--- a/ext/v8/convert_ruby.h
+++ b/ext/v8/convert_ruby.h
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 #define __convert_ruby_h__
 
 #include <ruby.h>
-#include <v8.h>
-#include "v8_ref.h"
-#include "v8_obj.h"
 #include <string>
 
 /**
@@ -44,16 +41,6 @@ template<class DEST, class RET> class RubyValueSource {
           return dest.pushBool(true);
         case T_FALSE:
           return dest.pushBool(false);
-        case T_DATA:
-/*
-            VALUE clsProc = rb_eval_string("::Proc");
-            VALUE clsMethod = rb_eval_string("::Method");
-            VALUE smartMatch = rb_intern("===");
-            if (RTEST(rb_funcall(clsProc, smartMatch, value)) || RTEST(rb_funcall(clsMethod, smartMatch, value))) {
-          
-            }
-*/
-            break;
         }
         return dest.pushUndefined();
     }
@@ -99,10 +86,6 @@ class RubyValueDest {
     VALUE pushUndefined() {
         return Qnil;
     }
-    
-    VALUE pushObject(v8::Handle<v8::Object>& value) {
-      return V8_Ref_Create(V8_C_Object, value);
-    }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/ext/v8/convert_v8.h b/ext/v8/convert_v8.h
index 88c7aaf..a13a238 100644
--- a/ext/v8/convert_v8.h
+++ b/ext/v8/convert_v8.h
@@ -15,57 +15,69 @@ template<class T, class R> class V8HandleSource {
   V8HandleSource() {}
   ~V8HandleSource() {}
 
-  R operator() (v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value) {
+  bool operator() (v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value, R& result) {
+
+    // a bit klunky, but alternative is to evaluate what type the
+    // object is twice, which is unappealing
     
     if (value.IsEmpty()) {
-      return dest.pushNull();
+      result = dest.pushNull();
+      return true;
     }
 
     if (value->IsUndefined()) {
-      return dest.pushNull();
+      result = dest.pushNull();
+      return true;
     }
 
     if(value->IsNull()) {
-      return dest.pushNull();
+      result = dest.pushNull();
+      return true;
     }
     
     if(value->IsTrue()) {
-      return dest.pushBool(true);
+      result = dest.pushBool(true);
+      return true;
     }
 
     if(value->IsFalse()) {
-      return dest.pushBool(false);
+      result = dest.pushBool(false);
+      return true;
     }
 
     if(value->IsString()) {
       v8::Local<v8::String> str = value->ToString();
-      char buffer[1024];
-      int strlen = str->Length();
-      std::string output(strlen, 0);
-      for (int total = 0; total < strlen;) {
-        int written = str->WriteAscii(buffer, total, 1024);
-        output.replace(total, written, buffer);
-        total += written;
-      }
-      return dest.pushString(output);
+      result = convertString(str);
+      return true;
     }
 
     if(value->IsInt32()) {
-      return dest.pushInt(value->Int32Value());
+      result = dest.pushInt(value->Int32Value());
+      return true;
     }
 
     if(value->IsNumber()) {
-      return dest.pushDouble(value->NumberValue());
+      result = dest.pushDouble(value->NumberValue());
+      return true;
     }
     
-    if (value->IsObject()) {
-      v8::Local<v8::Object> object(v8::Object::Cast(*value));
-      return dest.pushObject(object);
-    }
-    
-    return dest.pushNull();
+    result = dest.pushNull();
+    return false;
   }
 
+  R convertString(v8::Local<v8::String>& str) {
+    char buffer[1024];
+    int strlen = str->Length();
+    std::string output(strlen, 0);
+    for (int total = 0; total < strlen;) {
+      int written = str->WriteAscii(buffer, total, 1024);
+      output.replace(total, written, buffer);
+      total += written;
+    }
+    return dest.pushString(output);    
+  }
+
+
 };
 
 /**
@@ -103,10 +115,6 @@ public:
     v8::Local<v8::Value> pushUndefined() {
       return v8::Local<v8::Value>::New(v8::Undefined());
     }
-    
-    // v8:Local<v8:Value> pushFunction(Function) {
-    //   
-    // }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/ext/v8/converters.cpp b/ext/v8/converters.cpp
index ff311b3..e157445 100644
--- a/ext/v8/converters.cpp
+++ b/ext/v8/converters.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,51 @@
 #include "converters.h"
 
-convert_v8_to_rb_t V82RB;
-convert_rb_to_v8_t RB2V8;
+#include "v8_ref.h"
+#include "v8_obj.h"
+
+namespace {
+  std::string UNDEFINED_STR("undefined");
+}
+
+VALUE V82RB(v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value) {
+  convert_v8_to_rb_t convert;
+  VALUE result;
+  if(convert(value, result)) {
+    return result;
+  }
+  
+  if (value->IsObject()) {
+    v8::Local<v8::Object> object(v8::Object::Cast(*value));
+    return V8_Ref_Create(V8_C_Object, value);
+  }
+  
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+v8::Local<v8::Value> RB2V8(VALUE value) {
+  convert_rb_to_v8_t convert;
+  return convert(value);
+}
+
+std::string RB2String(VALUE value) {
+  convert_rb_to_string_t convert;
+  return convert(value);
+}
+
+std::string V82String(v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value) {
+  convert_v8_to_string_t convert;
+  std::string result;
+  if(convert(value, result)) {
+    return result;
+  }
+  
+  if (value->IsObject()) {
+    v8::Local<v8::Object> object(v8::Object::Cast(*value));
+    v8::Local<v8::String> str = object->ToString();
+    if(convert(value, result)) {
+      return result;
+    }
+  }  
+  
+  return UNDEFINED_STR;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ext/v8/converters.h b/ext/v8/converters.h
index 160a6df..c0f79cb 100644
--- a/ext/v8/converters.h
+++ b/ext/v8/converters.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "convert_ruby.h"
 #include "convert_string.h"
 #include "convert_v8.h"
+#include <cstring>
 
 typedef RubyValueSource<V8LocalDest, v8::Local<v8::Value> > convert_rb_to_v8_t; 
 typedef V8HandleSource<RubyValueDest, VALUE> convert_v8_to_rb_t;
@@ -11,7 +12,10 @@ typedef V8HandleSource<RubyValueDest, VALUE> convert_v8_to_rb_t;
 typedef RubyValueSource<StringDest, std::string> convert_rb_to_string_t;
 typedef V8HandleSource<StringDest, std::string> convert_v8_to_string_t;
 
-extern convert_v8_to_rb_t V82RB;
-extern convert_rb_to_v8_t RB2V8;
+VALUE V82RB(v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value);
+v8::Local<v8::Value> RB2V8(VALUE value);
+
+std::string RB2String(VALUE value);
+std::string V82String(v8::Handle<v8::Value>& value);
 
 #endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp b/ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp
index e9cdb8f..694743e 100644
--- a/ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp
+++ b/ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,9 @@ VALUE v8_Context_New(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self) {
 
 VALUE v8_cxt_Global(VALUE self) {
   HandleScope handles;
-  convert_v8_to_rb_t v82rb;
   Local<Context> cxt = V8_Ref_Get<Context>(self);
   Local<Value> global = *cxt->Global();
-  return v82rb(global);
+  return V82RB(global);
 }
 
 VALUE v8_cxt_open(VALUE self) {
diff --git a/ext/v8/v8_obj.cpp b/ext/v8/v8_obj.cpp
index 5f0c8fa..3cb0079 100644
--- a/ext/v8/v8_obj.cpp
+++ b/ext/v8/v8_obj.cpp
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ VALUE v8_Object_Set(VALUE self, VALUE key, VALUE value) {
   
   VALUE valueClass = rb_class_of(value);
   if(valueClass == rb_cProc) {
-    printf("** This is a proc! We should do something different.\n");
+    //printf("** This is a proc! We should do something different.\n");
   }
   else if(valueClass == rb_cMethod) {
-    printf("** This is a method! We should do something different.\n");
+    //printf("** This is a method! We should do something different.\n");
   }
   
   obj->Set(RB2V8(keystr), RB2V8(value));
diff --git a/ext/v8/v8_script.cpp b/ext/v8/v8_script.cpp
index 1d6a58f..1a89508 100644
--- a/ext/v8/v8_script.cpp
+++ b/ext/v8/v8_script.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ VALUE v8_script_new(VALUE self, VALUE source) {
 VALUE v8_script_Run(VALUE self) {
   HandleScope handles;
   Local<Script> script = V8_Ref_Get<Script>(self);
-  convert_v8_to_rb_t toValue;
   Local<Value> result = script->Run();
-  return toValue(result);  
+  return V82RB(result);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/therubyracer.gemspec b/therubyracer.gemspec
index 2613cd7..e4faad5 100644
--- a/therubyracer.gemspec
+++ b/therubyracer.gemspec
@@ -6,18 +6,18 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |s|
 
   s.required_rubygems_version = Gem::Requirement.new(">= 0") if s.respond_to? :required_rubygems_version=
   s.authors = ["Charles Lowell", "Bill Robertson"]
-  s.date = %q{2009-12-15}
-  s.description = %q{FIX (describe your package)}
+  s.date = %q{2009-12-22}
+  s.description = %q{Embed the V8 Javascript interpreter into Ruby.}
   s.email = ["cowboyd@thefrontside.net", "billrobertson42@gmail.com"]
   s.extensions = ["ext/v8/extconf.rb"]
   s.extra_rdoc_files = ["History.txt", "Manifest.txt", "docs/data_conversion.txt"]
-  s.files = ["Doxyfile", "History.txt", "Manifest.txt", "README.rdoc", "Rakefile", "config.sh", "docs/data_conversion.txt", "ext/v8/convert_ruby.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_ruby.h", "ext/v8/convert_string.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_string.h", "ext/v8/convert_v8.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_v8.h", "ext/v8/converters.h", "ext/v8/extconf.rb", "ext/v8/v8.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_context.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_context.h", "ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_cxt.h", "ext/v8/v8_object.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_object.h", "ext/v8/v8_ref.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_ref.h", "ext/v8/v8_script.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_script.h", "ext/v8/v8_standalone.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_standalone.h", "ext/v8/v8_str.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_str.h", "ext/v8/v8_template.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_template.h", "lib/v8.rb", "lib/v8/v8.bundle", "script/console", "script/destroy", "script/generate", "spec/spec.opts", "spec/spec_helper.rb", "spec/therubyracer_spec.rb", "spike.rb", "tasks/rspec.rake"]
-  s.homepage = %q{http://github.com/#{github_username}/#{project_name}}
+  s.files = ["Doxyfile", "History.txt", "Manifest.txt", "README.rdoc", "Rakefile", "docs/data_conversion.txt", "ext/v8/convert_ruby.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_ruby.h", "ext/v8/convert_string.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_string.h", "ext/v8/convert_v8.cpp", "ext/v8/convert_v8.h", "ext/v8/converters.cpp", "ext/v8/converters.h", "ext/v8/extconf.rb", "ext/v8/v8.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_cxt.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_cxt.h", "ext/v8/v8_func.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_func.h", "ext/v8/v8_msg.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_msg.h", "ext/v8/v8_obj.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_obj.h", "ext/v8/v8_ref.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_ref.h", "ext/v8/v8_script.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_script.h", "ext/v8/v8_standalone.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_standalone.h", "ext/v8/v8_str.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_str.h", "ext/v8/v8_template.cpp", "ext/v8/v8_template.h", "lib/v8.rb", "lib/v8/context.rb", "lib/v8/object.rb", "lib/v8/to.rb", "script/console", "script/destroy", "script/generate", "spec/redjs/README.txt", "spec/redjs/jsapi_spec.rb", "spec/redjs_helper.rb", "spec/spec.opts", "spec/spec_helper.rb", "tasks/rspec.rake", "therubyracer.gemspec"]
+  s.homepage = %q{http://github.com/cowboyd/therubyracer}
   s.rdoc_options = ["--main", "README.rdoc"]
   s.require_paths = ["lib", "ext"]
   s.rubyforge_project = %q{therubyracer}
   s.rubygems_version = %q{1.3.5}
-  s.summary = %q{FIX (describe your package)}
+  s.summary = %q{Embed the V8 Javascript interpreter into Ruby.}
 
   if s.respond_to? :specification_version then
     current_version = Gem::Specification::CURRENT_SPECIFICATION_VERSION