diff --git a/SwiftRSS/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString.swift b/SwiftRSS/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString.swift
index 8d96808..1c01572 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString.swift
@@ -56,28 +56,28 @@ extension NSDate {
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "EEE, d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss zzz"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "EEE, d MMM yyyy HH:mm zzz"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "EEE, d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss"
 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "EEE, d MMM yyyy HH:mm"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
         }
         else
@@ -86,28 +86,28 @@ extension NSDate {
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss zzz"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "d MMM yyyy HH:mm zzz"
                                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "d MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
             
             if date == nil
             {
                 NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "d MMM yyyy HH:mm"
                 
-                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string)
+                date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc822_string as String)
             }
         }
         
@@ -134,21 +134,21 @@ extension NSDate {
         {
             NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ssZZZ"
             
-            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string)
+            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string as String)
         }
         
         if date == nil // this case may need more work
         {
             NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ss.SSSZZZ"
             
-            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string)
+            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string as String)
         }
         
         if date == nil
         {
             NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFormat = "yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ss"
             
-            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string)
+            date = NSDate.internetDateFormatter.dateFromString(rfc3339_string as String)
         }
         
         if date == nil
diff --git a/SwiftRSS/RSSFeed.swift b/SwiftRSS/RSSFeed.swift
index 30d20c1..4722e5d 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS/RSSFeed.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS/RSSFeed.swift
@@ -48,46 +48,46 @@ class RSSFeed: NSObject, NSCoding {
         feedDescription = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("description") as? String
         language = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("language") as? String
         lastBuildDate = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("lastBuildDate") as? NSDate
-        generator = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("generator") as? NSString
-        copyright = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("copyright") as? NSString
+        generator = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("generator") as? String
+        copyright = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("copyright") as? String
         
-        items = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("items") as [RSSItem]
+        items = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("items") as! [RSSItem]
     }
     
     func encodeWithCoder(aCoder: NSCoder)
     {
-        if let title = self.title?
+        if let title = self.title
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(title, forKey: "title")
         }
         
-        if let link = self.link?
+        if let link = self.link
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(link, forKey: "link")
         }
         
-        if let feedDescription = self.feedDescription?
+        if let feedDescription = self.feedDescription
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(feedDescription, forKey: "description")
         }
         
-        if let language = self.language?
+        if let language = self.language
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(language, forKey: "language")
         }
         
-        if let lastBuildDate = self.lastBuildDate?
+        if let lastBuildDate = self.lastBuildDate
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(lastBuildDate, forKey: "lastBuildDate")
         }
         
-        if let generator = self.generator?
+        if let generator = self.generator
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(generator, forKey: "generator")
         }
         
         
-        if let copyright = self.copyright?
+        if let copyright = self.copyright
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(copyright, forKey: "copyright")
         }
diff --git a/SwiftRSS/RSSItem.swift b/SwiftRSS/RSSItem.swift
index f8915f6..c8ff581 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS/RSSItem.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS/RSSItem.swift
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class RSSItem: NSObject, NSCoding {
     var categories: [String]! = [String]()
     
     var imagesFromItemDescription: [NSURL]! {
-        if let itemDescription = self.itemDescription?
+        if let itemDescription = self.itemDescription
         {
             return itemDescription.imageLinksFromHTMLString
         }
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class RSSItem: NSObject, NSCoding {
     }
     
     var imagesFromContent: [NSURL]! {
-        if let content = self.content?
+        if let content = self.content
         {
             return content.imageLinksFromHTMLString
         }
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ class RSSItem: NSObject, NSCoding {
         link = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("link") as? NSURL
         guid = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("guid") as? String
         pubDate = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("pubDate") as? NSDate
-        itemDescription = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("description") as? NSString
-        content = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("content") as? NSString
+        itemDescription = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("description") as? String
+        content = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("content") as? String
         commentsLink = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("commentsLink") as? NSURL
         commentsCount = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("commentsCount") as? Int
         commentRSSLink = aDecoder.decodeObjectForKey("commentRSSLink") as? NSURL
@@ -92,52 +92,52 @@ class RSSItem: NSObject, NSCoding {
     
     func encodeWithCoder(aCoder: NSCoder)
     {
-        if let title = self.title?
+        if let title = self.title
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(title, forKey: "title")
         }
         
-        if let link = self.link?
+        if let link = self.link
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(link, forKey: "link")
         }
         
-        if let guid = self.guid?
+        if let guid = self.guid
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(guid, forKey: "guid")
         }
         
-        if let pubDate = self.pubDate?
+        if let pubDate = self.pubDate
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(pubDate, forKey: "pubDate")
         }
         
-        if let itemDescription = self.itemDescription?
+        if let itemDescription = self.itemDescription
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(itemDescription, forKey: "description")
         }
         
-        if let content = self.content?
+        if let content = self.content
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(content, forKey: "content")
         }
         
-        if let commentsLink = self.commentsLink?
+        if let commentsLink = self.commentsLink
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(commentsLink, forKey: "commentsLink")
         }
         
-        if let commentsCount = self.commentsCount?
+        if let commentsCount = self.commentsCount
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(commentsCount, forKey: "commentsCount")
         }
         
-        if let commentRSSLink = self.commentRSSLink?
+        if let commentRSSLink = self.commentRSSLink
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(commentRSSLink, forKey: "commentRSSLink")
         }
         
-        if let author = self.author?
+        if let author = self.author
         {
             aCoder.encodeObject(author, forKey: "author")
         }
diff --git a/SwiftRSS/RSSParser.swift b/SwiftRSS/RSSParser.swift
index 46f51fd..7d77156 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS/RSSParser.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS/RSSParser.swift
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class RSSParser: NSObject, NSXMLParserDelegate {
     
     func parserDidEndDocument(parser: NSXMLParser)
     {
-        if let closure = self.callbackClosure?
+        if let closure = self.callbackClosure
         {
             closure(feed: self.feed, error: nil)
         }
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class RSSParser: NSObject, NSXMLParserDelegate {
         
         if elementName == node_item
         {
-            if let item = self.currentItem?
+            if let item = self.currentItem
             {
                 self.feed.items.append(item)
             }
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class RSSParser: NSObject, NSXMLParserDelegate {
             return
         }
         
-        if let item = self.currentItem?
+        if let item = self.currentItem
         {
             if elementName == node_title
             {
@@ -196,13 +196,15 @@ class RSSParser: NSObject, NSXMLParserDelegate {
         }
     }
     
-    func parser(parser: NSXMLParser, foundCharacters string: String) {
-        self.currentElement += string
+    func parser(parser: NSXMLParser, foundCharacters string: String?) {
+        if let str = string {
+            self.currentElement += str
+        }
     }
     
     func parser(parser: NSXMLParser, parseErrorOccurred parseError: NSError) {
         
-        if let closure = self.callbackClosure?
+        if let closure = self.callbackClosure
         {
             closure(feed: nil, error: parseError)
         }
diff --git a/SwiftRSS/String+imageLinksFromHTML.swift b/SwiftRSS/String+imageLinksFromHTML.swift
index 578f766..b3edbc7 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS/String+imageLinksFromHTML.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS/String+imageLinksFromHTML.swift
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ extension String {
         
         var error: NSError?
         
-        var full_range: NSRange = NSMakeRange(0, countElements(self))
+        var full_range: NSRange = NSMakeRange(0, count(self))
         
         if let regex = NSRegularExpression(pattern:"(https?)\\S*(png|jpg|jpeg|gif)", options:.CaseInsensitive, error:&error)
         {
diff --git a/SwiftRSS_Example/AppDelegate.swift b/SwiftRSS_Example/AppDelegate.swift
index d5a6913..0bb4dc5 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS_Example/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS_Example/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate, UISplitViewControllerDele
 
     func application(application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [NSObject: AnyObject]?) -> Bool {
         // Override point for customization after application launch.
-        let splitViewController = self.window!.rootViewController as UISplitViewController
-        let navigationController = splitViewController.viewControllers[splitViewController.viewControllers.count-1] as UINavigationController
+        let splitViewController = self.window!.rootViewController as! UISplitViewController
+        let navigationController = splitViewController.viewControllers[splitViewController.viewControllers.count-1] as! UINavigationController
         navigationController.topViewController.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = splitViewController.displayModeButtonItem()
         splitViewController.delegate = self
         return true
diff --git a/SwiftRSS_Example/DetailViewController.swift b/SwiftRSS_Example/DetailViewController.swift
index c4a04a4..4f09f99 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS_Example/DetailViewController.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS_Example/DetailViewController.swift
@@ -26,25 +26,25 @@ class DetailViewController: UIViewController {
             if let webView = self.itemWebView
             {
                 
-                if let templateURL = NSURL(fileURLWithPath: NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("template", ofType: "html")!)?
+                if let templateURL = NSURL(fileURLWithPath: NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("template", ofType: "html")!)
                 {
-                    if var template = NSString(contentsOfURL: templateURL, encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding, error: nil)?
+                    if var template = NSString(contentsOfURL: templateURL, encoding: NSUTF8StringEncoding, error: nil)
                     {
-                        if let title = item.title?
+                        if let title = item.title
                         {
                             template = template.stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString("###TITLE###", withString: title)
                         }
                         
-                        if let content = item.content?
+                        if let content = item.content
                         {
                             template = template.stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString("###CONTENT###", withString: content)
                         }
-                        else if let description = item.itemDescription?
+                        else if let description = item.itemDescription
                         {
                             template = template.stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString("###CONTENT###", withString: description)
                         }
                         
-                        if let date = item.pubDate?
+                        if let date = item.pubDate
                         {
                             var formatter = NSDateFormatter()
                             formatter.dateFormat = "MMM dd, yyyy"
@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ class DetailViewController: UIViewController {
                             template = template.stringByReplacingOccurrencesOfString("###DATE###", withString: formatter.stringFromDate(date))
                         }
                         
-                        webView.loadHTMLString(template, baseURL: nil)
+                        webView.loadHTMLString(template as String, baseURL: nil)
                     }
                     
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    if let content = item.content?
+                    if let content = item.content
                     {
                         webView.loadHTMLString(content, baseURL: nil)
                     }
-                    else if let description = item.itemDescription?
+                    else if let description = item.itemDescription
                     {
                         webView.loadHTMLString(description, baseURL: nil)
                     }
diff --git a/SwiftRSS_Example/MasterViewController.swift b/SwiftRSS_Example/MasterViewController.swift
index 74513d7..1495541 100644
--- a/SwiftRSS_Example/MasterViewController.swift
+++ b/SwiftRSS_Example/MasterViewController.swift
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ class MasterViewController: UITableViewController {
         let request = NSURLRequest(URL: NSURL(string: "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/news.rss")!)
         
         RSSParser.parseFeedForRequest(request, callback: { (feed, error) -> Void in
-            if let myFeed = feed?
+            if let myFeed = feed
             {
-                if let title = myFeed.title?
+                if let title = myFeed.title
                 {
                     self.title = title
                 }
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ class MasterViewController: UITableViewController {
         if segue.identifier == "showDetail" {
             if let indexPath = self.tableView.indexPathForSelectedRow() {
                 
-                if let feed = self.feed?
+                if let feed = self.feed
                 {
                     let item = feed.items[indexPath.row] as RSSItem
-                    let controller = (segue.destinationViewController as UINavigationController).topViewController as DetailViewController
+                    let controller = (segue.destinationViewController as! UINavigationController).topViewController as! DetailViewController
                     controller.detailItem = item
                     controller.navigationItem.leftBarButtonItem = self.splitViewController?.displayModeButtonItem()
                     controller.navigationItem.leftItemsSupplementBackButton = true
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class MasterViewController: UITableViewController {
 
     override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
         
-        if let feed = self.feed?
+        if let feed = self.feed
         {
             return feed.items.count
         }
@@ -87,13 +87,13 @@ class MasterViewController: UITableViewController {
     }
 
     override func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell {
-        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("Cell", forIndexPath: indexPath) as UITableViewCell
+        let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier("Cell", forIndexPath: indexPath) as! UITableViewCell
 
-        if let feed = self.feed?
+        if let feed = self.feed
         {
             let item = feed.items[indexPath.row] as RSSItem
             
-            cell.textLabel.text = item.title
+            cell.textLabel?.text = item.title
         }
         
         return cell
diff --git a/Tests/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString_Tests.swift b/Tests/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString_Tests.swift
index fdfd29a..1555eb6 100644
--- a/Tests/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString_Tests.swift
+++ b/Tests/NSDate+dateFromInternetDateTimeString_Tests.swift
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import XCTest
 class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
     
     let GMT_timeZone: NSTimeZone! = NSTimeZone(forSecondsFromGMT: 0)
-    let calendar: NSCalendar! = NSCalendar(calendarIdentifier: NSGregorianCalendar)
+    let calendar: NSCalendar! = NSCalendar(calendarIdentifier: NSCalendarIdentifierGregorian)
     let calendar_flags = NSCalendarUnit(UInt.max)
 
     override func setUp() {
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "Sun, 19 May 2002 15:21:36 GMT"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "Sun, 19 May 2002 15:21 GMT"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "Sun, 19 May 2002 15:21:36"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "Sun, 19 May 2002 15:21"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "19 May 2002 15:21:36 GMT"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "19 May 2002 15:21 GMT"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "19 May 2002 15:21:36"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "19 May 2002 15:21"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         let timeZone = NSTimeZone(forSecondsFromGMT: -60*60*8)
         calendar.timeZone = timeZone
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         let timeZone = NSTimeZone(forSecondsFromGMT: 60*60*2)
         calendar.timeZone = timeZone
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class NSDateExtension_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         let dateString = "1937-01-01T12:00:27"
         
-        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)?
+        if let date: NSDate = NSDate.dateFromInternetDateTimeString(dateString)
         {
             var dateComponent = calendar.components(calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
             
diff --git a/Tests/RSSFeed_Tests.swift b/Tests/RSSFeed_Tests.swift
index 9cdb6a0..45acca2 100644
--- a/Tests/RSSFeed_Tests.swift
+++ b/Tests/RSSFeed_Tests.swift
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import XCTest
 
 class RSSFeed_Tests: XCTestCase {
     
-    let documentsPath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.DocumentDirectory, .UserDomainMask, true)[0] as String
+    let documentsPath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.DocumentDirectory, .UserDomainMask, true)[0] as! String
 
     override func setUp() {
         super.setUp()
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class RSSFeed_Tests: XCTestCase {
         var item: RSSItem = RSSItem()
         item.setLink("http://www.apple.com")
         
-        if let link = item.link?
+        if let link = item.link
         {
             XCTAssert(true, "link is valid")
         }
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class RSSFeed_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         NSKeyedArchiver.archiveRootObject(feed, toFile: archive)
         
-        var feed2 = NSKeyedUnarchiver.unarchiveObjectWithFile(archive) as RSSFeed
+        var feed2 = NSKeyedUnarchiver.unarchiveObjectWithFile(archive) as! RSSFeed
 
         XCTAssert(feed.title == feed2.title, "")
         XCTAssert(feed.link == feed2.link, "")
diff --git a/Tests/RSSItem_Tests.swift b/Tests/RSSItem_Tests.swift
index e967c33..9c062e8 100644
--- a/Tests/RSSItem_Tests.swift
+++ b/Tests/RSSItem_Tests.swift
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import XCTest
 
 class RSSItem_Tests: XCTestCase {
     
-    let documentsPath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.DocumentDirectory, .UserDomainMask, true)[0] as String
+    let documentsPath = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(.DocumentDirectory, .UserDomainMask, true)[0] as! String
 
     override func setUp() {
         super.setUp()
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class RSSItem_Tests: XCTestCase {
         var item: RSSItem = RSSItem()
         item.setLink("http://www.apple.com")
         
-        if let link = item.link?
+        if let link = item.link
         {
             XCTAssert(true, "link is valid")
         }
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class RSSItem_Tests: XCTestCase {
         
         NSKeyedArchiver.archiveRootObject(item, toFile: archive)
         
-        var item2 = NSKeyedUnarchiver.unarchiveObjectWithFile(archive) as RSSItem
+        var item2 = NSKeyedUnarchiver.unarchiveObjectWithFile(archive) as! RSSItem
         
         XCTAssert(item.title == item2.title, "")
         XCTAssert(item.link == item2.link, "")
diff --git a/Tests/RSSParser_Tests.swift b/Tests/RSSParser_Tests.swift
index b2532c3..f152848 100644
--- a/Tests/RSSParser_Tests.swift
+++ b/Tests/RSSParser_Tests.swift
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
     let PDT_timeZone: NSTimeZone! = NSTimeZone(name: "PST")
     let GMT_timeZone: NSTimeZone! = NSTimeZone(name: "GMT")
     let DST_timeZone: NSTimeZone! = NSTimeZone(forSecondsFromGMT: 60 * 60 * -4)
-    let calendar: NSCalendar! = NSCalendar(calendarIdentifier: NSGregorianCalendar)
+    let calendar: NSCalendar! = NSCalendar(calendarIdentifier: NSCalendarIdentifierGregorian)
     let calendar_flags = NSCalendarUnit(UInt.max)
     
     override func setUp() {
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
             
             XCTAssertNil(error, "error should be nil")
             
-            if let testFeed = feed?
+            if let testFeed = feed
             {
                 XCTAssert(testFeed.title == "Swift Blog - Apple Developer", "")
-                if let link = testFeed.link?
+                if let link = testFeed.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/", "")
                 }
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(testFeed.language == "en-US", "")
                 
-                if let date = testFeed.lastBuildDate?
+                if let date = testFeed.lastBuildDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Building  assert()  in Swift, Part 2:  __FILE__  and  __LINE__ ", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=15", "")
                 }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=15", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Swift Has Reached 1.0", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=14", "")
                 }
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=14", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Patterns Playground", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=13", "")
                 }
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=13", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Optionals Case Study:  valuesForKeys ", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=12", "")
                 }
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=12", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Access Control and  protected ", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=11", "")
                 }
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=11", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Value and Reference Types", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=10", "")
                 }
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=10", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Balloons", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=9", "")
                 }
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=9", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Welcome to Swift Blog", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=1", "")
                 }
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://developer.apple.com/swift/blog/?id=1", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -415,12 +415,12 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
             
             XCTAssertNil(error, "error should be nil")
             
-            if let testFeed = feed?
+            if let testFeed = feed
             {
                 XCTAssertTrue(testFeed.items.count == 10, "should have 10 items")
                 
                 XCTAssert(testFeed.title == "WordPress.com News", "")
-                if let link = testFeed.link?
+                if let link = testFeed.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com", "")
                 }
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(testFeed.language == "en", "")
                 
-                if let date = testFeed.lastBuildDate?
+                if let date = testFeed.lastBuildDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Engaged, Inspired, and Ready to Build a Better Web", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/grand-meetup-reflections/", "")
                 }
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/?p=28737", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 XCTAssert(myItem.imagesFromItemDescription.count == 1, "")
                 XCTAssert(myItem.imagesFromItemDescription[0].absoluteString == "http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.commentsLink?
+                if let link = myItem.commentsLink
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/grand-meetup-reflections/#comments", "")
                 }
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                     XCTFail("link shouldn't be nil")
                 }
                 
-                if let link = myItem.commentRSSLink?
+                if let link = myItem.commentRSSLink
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/grand-meetup-reflections/feed/", "")
                 }
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Gmail Password Leak Update", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/gmail-password-leak-update/", "")
                 }
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/?p=28615", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 XCTAssert(myItem.imagesFromItemDescription.count == 1, "")
                 XCTAssert(myItem.imagesFromItemDescription[0].absoluteString == "http://pixel.wp.com/b.gif", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.commentsLink?
+                if let link = myItem.commentsLink
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/gmail-password-leak-update/#comments", "")
                 }
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                     XCTFail("link shouldn't be nil")
                 }
                 
-                if let link = myItem.commentRSSLink?
+                if let link = myItem.commentRSSLink
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/gmail-password-leak-update/feed/", "")
                 }
@@ -615,12 +615,12 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
             
             XCTAssertNil(error, "error should be nil")
             
-            if let testFeed = feed?
+            if let testFeed = feed
             {
                 XCTAssertTrue(testFeed.items.count == 20, "should have 20 items")
                 
                 XCTAssert(testFeed.title == "Tumblr Engineering", "")
-                if let link = testFeed.link?
+                if let link = testFeed.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://engineering.tumblr.com/", "")
                 }
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Sam Giddins: My Summer at TumblrThis summer, I had the immense...", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://engineering.tumblr.com/post/98331642904", "")
                 }
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://engineering.tumblr.com/post/98331642904", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)
                     
@@ -670,7 +670,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.title == "Megan Belzner: My Summer at TumblrThis summer I got the amazing...", "")
                 
-                if let link = myItem.link?
+                if let link = myItem.link
                 {
                     XCTAssert(link.absoluteString == "http://engineering.tumblr.com/post/98050002584", "")
                 }
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ class RSSParser_Tests: XCTestCase {
                 
                 XCTAssert(myItem.guid == "http://engineering.tumblr.com/post/98050002584", "")
                 
-                if let date = myItem.pubDate?
+                if let date = myItem.pubDate
                 {
                     var dateComponent = self.calendar.components(self.calendar_flags, fromDate: date)