     // Silence assertions on this thread
     RSilentAssertionHandler.setup()
 
-    let className = getClassNameOfObject(spec as! AnyObject)
+    let className = getClassNameOfObject(spec)
 
     currentGroup = Group(className)
     specStatus   = .Passed
   }
 
-  @objc func runSpec(aSpec: AnyObject?) {
-    let spec = aSpec as! Spec
-
+  @objc func runSpec(spec: Spec) {
     prepareForSpec(spec)
 
     // Process the definitions

        hasFailure = true
      }
      if specStatus == .Unknown {
        let name = getClassNameOfObject(spec as! AnyObject)
        println("Unknown status of spec: \(name)"); exit(2)
      }
    }

      specStatus = .Unknown

      let block = {
        self.runSpec(spec)
      }

      let timeout: NSTimeInterval = 2; // 2 seconds in the future
