      */
     override public function get baselinePosition():Number
     {
-        var isEmpty:Boolean = text == "";
-        
-        if (isEmpty)
-            text = "Wj";
-
-        validateBaselinePosition();
-        
-        if (isEmpty)
-            text = "";
+        // Update ascent, if fontMetrics changed.
+        calculateFontMetrics();    
 
         return getStyle("paddingTop") + ascent;
     }

     */
    private function calculateFontMetrics():void
    {
        // If the CSS styles for this component specify an embedded font,
        // embeddedFontContext will be set to the module factory that
        // should create TextLines (since they must be created in the

    {
        super.measure();
        
        // Recalculate the ascent, and descent, if fontMetrics changed.
        calculateFontMetrics();    
    
        if (_autoSize)
        {
