          */
         static public function assertNotNull(...args:Array):void {
             var message:String;
-            var object:Object;
+            var actual:Object;
 
             if(args.length == 1) {
                 message = "";
-                object = args[0];
+                actual = args[0];
             }
             else if(args.length == 2) {
                 message = args[0];
-                object = args[1];
-            }
-            else {
-                throw new IllegalOperationError("Invalid argument count");
-            }
-
-            assertTrue(message, object != null);
+                actual = args[1];
+            }
+            else {
+                throw new IllegalOperationError("Invalid argument count");
+            }
+
+			if(actual == null) {
+				throw new AssertionFailedError("expected not null but was:<" + actual + ">");
+			}
         }
         /**
          * Asserts that an object is null.  If it is not

                throw new IllegalOperationError("Invalid argument count");
            }

            if(expected === actual) {
                return;
            }
            failNotSame(message, expected, actual);
        }
         /**
          * Asserts that two objects do not refer to the same object. If they do,

                throw new IllegalOperationError("Invalid argument count");
            }

            if(expected === actual) {
				throw new AssertionFailedError("expected not same but both were:<" + actual + ">");
			}
        }

        /**
