diff --git a/akka.iws b/akka.iws
index 5fbfeffb69..a542bf2f14 100644
--- a/akka.iws
+++ b/akka.iws
@@ -6,17 +6,12 @@
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diff --git a/fun-test-java/akka-fun-test-java.iml b/fun-test-java/akka-fun-test-java.iml
index a906c3d925..9ef386fdde 100644
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index 2ab816b9b2..575fe344c0 100644
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     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-comet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-servlet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-http:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
@@ -82,6 +78,10 @@
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.jersey:jersey-json:1.1.1-ea" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.codehaus.jettison:jettison:1.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: stax:stax-api:1.0.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.xml.bind:jaxb-impl:2.1.12" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.bind:jaxb-api:2.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.stream:stax-api:1.0-2" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.activation:activation:1.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.codehaus.jackson:jackson-asl:0.9.4" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.jersey.contribs:jersey-scala:1.1.2-ea-SNAPSHOT" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.atmosphere:atmosphere-core:0.3" level="project" />
diff --git a/kernel/src/main/scala/state/CassandraStorage.scala b/kernel/src/main/scala/state/CassandraStorage.scala
index b2538722fb..196177c8d5 100644
--- a/kernel/src/main/scala/state/CassandraStorage.scala
+++ b/kernel/src/main/scala/state/CassandraStorage.scala
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import java.io.{File, Flushable, Closeable}
 import kernel.util.Logging
 import serialization.{Serializer, Serializable, SerializationProtocol}
 
+import org.apache.cassandra.db._
 import org.apache.cassandra.config.DatabaseDescriptor
 import org.apache.cassandra.service._
 
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   val VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY = "vector"
   val REF_COLUMN_FAMILY = "ref:item"
 
+  val DEFAULT_CONSISTENCY_LEVEL = 10 //What should the default be?
+
   val IS_ASCENDING = true
 
   import kernel.Kernel.config
@@ -39,7 +42,7 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   val CASSANDRA_SERVER_HOSTNAME = config.getString("akka.storage.cassandra.hostname", "localhost")
   val CASSANDRA_SERVER_PORT = config.getInt("akka.storage.cassandra.port", 9160)
   val BLOCKING_CALL = if (config.getBool("akka.storage.cassandra.blocking", true)) 0
-                      else 1 
+  else 1
 
   @volatile private[this] var isRunning = false
   private[this] val protocol: Protocol = {
@@ -51,13 +54,13 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
     }
   }
 
-  
+
   private[this] var sessions: Option[CassandraSessionPool[_]] = None
 
   def start = synchronized {
     if (!isRunning) {
       try {
-        sessions = Some(new CassandraSessionPool(StackPool(SocketProvider(CASSANDRA_SERVER_HOSTNAME, CASSANDRA_SERVER_PORT)), protocol))
+        sessions = Some(new CassandraSessionPool(StackPool(SocketProvider(CASSANDRA_SERVER_HOSTNAME, CASSANDRA_SERVER_PORT)), protocol, DEFAULT_CONSISTENCY_LEVEL))
         log.info("Cassandra persistent storage has started up successfully");
       } catch {
         case e =>
@@ -67,21 +70,21 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
       isRunning
     }
   }
- 
+
   def stop = synchronized {
     if (isRunning && sessions.isDefined) sessions.get.close
   }
- 
+
   //implicit def strToBytes(s: String) = s.getBytes("UTF-8")
 
-/*
-  def insertRefStorageFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) = sessions.withSession { session => {
-    val user_id = "1"
-    session ++| ("users", user_id, "base_attributes:name", "Lord Foo Bar", false)
-    session ++| ("users", user_id, "base_attributes:age", "24", false)
-    for( i <- session / ("users", user_id, "base_attributes", None, None).toList) println(i)
-  }}
-*/
+  /*
+    def insertRefStorageFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) = sessions.withSession { session => {
+      val user_id = "1"
+      session ++| ("users", user_id, "base_attributes:name", "Lord Foo Bar", false)
+      session ++| ("users", user_id, "base_attributes:age", "24", false)
+      for( i <- session / ("users", user_id, "base_attributes", None, None).toList) println(i)
+    }}
+  */
   // ===============================================================
   // For Ref
   // ===============================================================
@@ -89,23 +92,23 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   def insertRefStorageFor(name: String, element: String) = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     sessions.get.withSession {
       _ ++| (
-        TABLE_NAME,
-        name,
-        REF_COLUMN_FAMILY,
-        element,
-        System.currentTimeMillis,
-        BLOCKING_CALL)
+              TABLE_NAME,
+              name,
+              REF_COLUMN_FAMILY,
+              element,
+              System.currentTimeMillis,
+              BLOCKING_CALL)
     }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getRefStorageFor(name: String): Option[String] = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     try {
-      val column = sessions.get.withSession { _ | (TABLE_NAME, name, REF_COLUMN_FAMILY) }
+      val column = sessions.get.withSession {_ | (TABLE_NAME, name, REF_COLUMN_FAMILY)}
       Some(column.value)
     } catch {
       case e =>
         e.printStackTrace
-        None 
+        None
     }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
@@ -116,32 +119,32 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   def insertVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, element: String) = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     sessions.get.withSession {
       _ ++| (
-        TABLE_NAME,
-        name,
-        VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + getVectorStorageSizeFor(name),
-        element,
-        System.currentTimeMillis,
-        BLOCKING_CALL)
+              TABLE_NAME,
+              name,
+              VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + getVectorStorageSizeFor(name),
+              element,
+              System.currentTimeMillis,
+              BLOCKING_CALL)
     }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, index: Int): String = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     try {
-      val column = sessions.get.withSession { _ | (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + index) }
+      val column = sessions.get.withSession {_ | (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + index)}
       column.value
     } catch {
       case e =>
         e.printStackTrace
         throw new NoSuchElementException(e.getMessage)
-    }  
+    }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getVectorStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[String] = if (sessions.isDefined) {
-    sessions.get.withSession { _ / (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count) }.map(_.value) 
+    sessions.get.withSession {_ / (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)}.map(_.value)
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getVectorStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int = if (sessions.isDefined) {
-    sessions.get.withSession { _ |# (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY) }
+    sessions.get.withSession {_ |# (TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY)}
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   // ===============================================================
@@ -151,12 +154,12 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   def insertMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: String, value: String) = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     sessions.get.withSession {
       _ ++| (
-        TABLE_NAME, 
-        name,
-        MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key,
-        value,
-        System.currentTimeMillis,
-        BLOCKING_CALL)
+              TABLE_NAME,
+              name,
+              MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key,
+              value,
+              System.currentTimeMillis,
+              BLOCKING_CALL)
     }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
@@ -170,17 +173,17 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
     }
     sessions.get.withSession {
       _ ++| (
-        new batch_mutation_t(
-          TABLE_NAME, 
-          name,
-          columns),
-        BLOCKING_CALL)
+              new batch_mutation_t(
+                TABLE_NAME,
+                name,
+                columns),
+              BLOCKING_CALL)
     }
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: String): Option[String] = if (sessions.isDefined) {
     try {
-      val column = sessions.get.withSession { _ | (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key) }
+      val column = sessions.get.withSession {_ | (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key)}
       Some(column.value)
     } catch {
       case e =>
@@ -201,15 +204,15 @@ object CassandraStorage extends Logging {
   */
 
   def getMapStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int = if (sessions.isDefined) {
-    sessions.get.withSession { _ |# (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY) }
+    sessions.get.withSession {_ |# (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY)}
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def removeMapStorageFor(name: String) = if (sessions.isDefined) {
-    sessions.get.withSession { _ -- (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, System.currentTimeMillis, BLOCKING_CALL) }
+    sessions.get.withSession {_ -- (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, System.currentTimeMillis, BLOCKING_CALL)}
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 
   def getMapStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[Tuple2[String, String]] = if (sessions.isDefined) {
-    sessions.get.withSession { _ / (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count) }.toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, String]]]
+    sessions.get.withSession {_ / (TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)}.toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, String]]]
   } else throw new IllegalStateException("CassandraStorage is not started")
 }
 
@@ -217,80 +220,113 @@ trait CassandraSession extends Closeable with Flushable {
   import scala.collection.jcl.Conversions._
   import org.scala_tools.javautils.Imports._
 
-  private implicit def null2Option[T](t: T): Option[T] = if(t != null) Some(t) else None
+  private implicit def null2Option[T](t: T): Option[T] = if (t != null) Some(t) else None
 
   protected val client: Cassandra.Client
 
   val obtainedAt: Long
-    
-  def /(tableName: String, key: String, columnParent: String, start: Option[Int],end: Option[Int]): List[column_t] =
-    client.get_slice(tableName, key, columnParent, start.getOrElse(-1),end.getOrElse(-1)).toList
-  
-  def /(tableName: String, key: String, columnParent: String, colNames: List[String]): List[column_t] = 
-    client.get_slice_by_names(tableName, key, columnParent, colNames.asJava ).toList
+  val consistencyLevel: Int
 
-  def |(tableName: String, key: String, colPath: String): Option[column_t] =
-    client.get_column(tableName, key, colPath)
-  
-  def |#(tableName: String, key: String, columnParent: String): Int =
-    client.get_column_count(tableName, key, columnParent)
-  
-  def ++|(tableName: String, key: String, columnPath: String, cellData: Array[Byte], timestamp: Long, block: Int) =
-    client.insert(tableName, key, columnPath, cellData,timestamp,block)
-  
-  def ++|(tableName: String, key: String, columnPath: String, cellData: Array[Byte], block: Int) =
-    client.insert(tableName,key,columnPath,cellData,obtainedAt,block)
-  
-  def ++|(batch: batch_mutation_t, block: Int) =
-    client.batch_insert(batch, block)
-  
-  def --(tableName: String, key: String, columnPathOrParent: String, timestamp: Long, block: Int) =
-    client.remove(tableName, key, columnPathOrParent, timestamp, block)
-  
-  def --(tableName: String, key: String, columnPathOrParent: String, block: Int) =
-    client.remove(tableName, key, columnPathOrParent, obtainedAt, block)
-  
-  def /@(tableName: String, key: String, columnParent: String, timestamp: Long): List[column_t] =
-    client.get_columns_since(tableName, key, columnParent, timestamp).toList
-  
-  def /^(tableName: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, start: Option[Int], end: Option[Int], count: Int ): List[superColumn_t] =
-    client.get_slice_super(tableName, key,columnFamily, start.getOrElse(-1), end.getOrElse(-1)).toList //TODO upgrade thrift interface to support count
+  def /(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent, start: Array[Byte], end: Array[Byte], ascending: Boolean, count: Int): List[Column] =
+    /(keyspace, key, columnParent, start, end, ascending, count, consistencyLevel)
 
-  def /^(tableName: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, superColNames: List[String]): List[superColumn_t] =
-    client.get_slice_super_by_names(tableName, key, columnFamily, superColNames.asJava).toList
+  def /(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent, start: Array[Byte], end: Array[Byte], ascending: Boolean, count: Int, consistencyLevel: Int): List[Column] =
+    client.get_slice(keyspace, key, columnParent, start, end, ascending, count, consistencyLevel).toList
 
-  def |^(tableName: String, key: String, superColumnPath: String): Option[superColumn_t] =
-    client.get_superColumn(tableName,key,superColumnPath)
+  def /(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent, colNames: List[Array[Byte]]): List[Column] =
+    /(keyspace, key, columnParent, colNames, consistencyLevel)
 
-  def ++|^ (batch: batch_mutation_super_t, block: Int) =
-    client.batch_insert_superColumn(batch, block)
+  def /(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent, colNames: List[Array[Byte]], consistencyLevel: Int): List[Column] =
+    client.get_slice_by_names(keyspace, key, columnParent, colNames.asJava, consistencyLevel).toList
 
-  def keys(tableName: String, startsWith: String, stopsAt: String, maxResults: Option[Int]): List[String] =
-    client.get_key_range(tableName, startsWith, stopsAt, maxResults.getOrElse(-1)).toList
-  
-  def property(name: String): String = client.getStringProperty(name)
-  def properties(name: String): List[String] = client.getStringListProperty(name).toList
-  def describeTable(tableName: String) = client.describeTable(tableName)
-  
-  def ?(query: String) = client.executeQuery(query)
+  def |(keyspace: String, key: String, colPath: ColumnPath): Option[Column] =
+    |(keyspace, key, colPath, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def |(keyspace: String, key: String, colPath: ColumnPath, consistencyLevel: Int): Option[Column] =
+    client.get_column(keyspace, key, colPath, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def |#(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent): Int =
+    |#(keyspace, key, columnParent, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def |#(keyspace: String, key: String, columnParent: ColumnParent, consistencyLevel: Int): Int =
+    client.get_column_count(keyspace, key, columnParent, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|(keyspace: String, key: String, columnPath: ColumnPath, value: Array[Byte]): Unit =
+    ++|(keyspace, key, columnPath, value, obtainedAt, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|(keyspace: String, key: String, columnPath: ColumnPath, value: Array[Byte], timestamp: Long): Unit =
+    ++|(keyspace, key, columnPath, value, timestamp, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|(keyspace: String, key: String, columnPath: ColumnPath, value: Array[Byte], timestamp: Long, consistencyLevel: Int) =
+    client.insert(keyspace, key, columnPath, value, timestamp, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|(keyspace: String, batch: BatchMutation): Unit =
+    ++|(keyspace, batch, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|(keyspace: String, batch: BatchMutation, consistencyLevel: Int): Unit =
+    client.batch_insert(keyspace, batch, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def --(keyspace: String, key: String, columnPathOrParent: ColumnPathOrParent, timestamp: Long): Unit =
+    --(keyspace, key, columnPathOrParent, timestamp, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def --(keyspace: String, key: String, columnPathOrParent: ColumnPathOrParent, timestamp: Long, consistencyLevel: Int): Unit =
+    client.remove(keyspace, key, columnPathOrParent, timestamp, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def /^(keyspace: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, start: Array[Byte], end: Array[Byte], ascending: Boolean, count: Int): List[SuperColumn] =
+    /^(keyspace, key, columnFamily, start, end, ascending, count, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def /^(keyspace: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, start: Array[Byte], end: Array[Byte], ascending: Boolean, count: Int, consistencyLevel: Int): List[SuperColumn] =
+    client.get_slice_super(keyspace, key, columnFamily, start, end, ascending, count, consistencyLevel).toList
+
+  def /^(keyspace: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, superColNames: List[Array[Byte]]): List[SuperColumn] =
+    /^(keyspace, key, columnFamily, superColNames, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def /^(keyspace: String, key: String, columnFamily: String, superColNames: List[Array[Byte]], consistencyLevel: Int): List[SuperColumn] =
+    client.get_slice_super_by_names(keyspace, key, columnFamily, superColNames.asJava, consistencyLevel).toList
+
+  def |^(keyspace: String, key: String, superColumnPath: SuperColumnPath): Option[SuperColumn] =
+    |^(keyspace, key, superColumnPath, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def |^(keyspace: String, key: String, superColumnPath: SuperColumnPath, consistencyLevel: Int): Option[SuperColumn] =
+    client.get_super_column(keyspace, key, superColumnPath, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|^(keyspace: String, batch: BatchMutationSuper): Unit =
+    ++|^(keyspace, batch, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def ++|^(keyspace: String, batch: BatchMutationSuper, consistencyLevel: Int): Unit =
+    client.batch_insert_super_column(keyspace, batch, consistencyLevel)
+
+  def keys(keyspace: String, columnFamily: String, startsWith: String, stopsAt: String, maxResults: Option[Int]): List[String] =
+    client.get_key_range(keyspace, columnFamily, startsWith, stopsAt, maxResults.getOrElse(-1)).toList
+
+  def property(name: String): String = client.get_string_property(name)
+
+  def properties(name: String): List[String] = client.get_string_list_property(name).toList
+
+  def describeTable(keyspace: String) = client.describe_keyspace(keyspace)
+
+  def ?(query: String) = client.execute_query(query)
 }
 
-class CassandraSessionPool[T <: TTransport](transportPool: Pool[T], inputProtocol: Protocol, outputProtocol: Protocol) extends Closeable {
-  def this(transportPool: Pool[T], ioProtocol: Protocol) = this(transportPool,ioProtocol,ioProtocol)
-    
-  def newSession: CassandraSession = {
+class CassandraSessionPool[T <: TTransport](transportPool: Pool[T], inputProtocol: Protocol, outputProtocol: Protocol, defConsistencyLvl: Int) extends Closeable {
+  def this(transportPool: Pool[T], ioProtocol: Protocol, defConsistencyLvl: Int) = this (transportPool, ioProtocol, ioProtocol, defConsistencyLvl)
+
+  def newSession: CassandraSession = newSession(defConsistencyLvl)
+
+  def newSession(consistencyLvl: Int): CassandraSession = {
     val t = transportPool.borrowObject
-    val c = new Cassandra.Client(inputProtocol(t),outputProtocol(t))
+    val c = new Cassandra.Client(inputProtocol(t), outputProtocol(t))
     new CassandraSession {
       val client = c
       val obtainedAt = System.currentTimeMillis
+      val consistencyLevel = consistencyLvl
       def flush = t.flush
       def close = transportPool.returnObject(t)
     }
   }
 
   def withSession[R](body: CassandraSession => R) = {
-    val session = newSession
+    val session = newSession(defConsistencyLvl)
     try {
       val result = body(session)
       session.flush
@@ -299,7 +335,7 @@ class CassandraSessionPool[T <: TTransport](transportPool: Pool[T], inputProtoco
       session.close
     }
   }
-  
+
   def close = transportPool.close
 }
 
@@ -320,221 +356,217 @@ object Protocol {
  * <p/>
  * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
  *
-object EmbeddedCassandraStorage extends Logging {
-  val TABLE_NAME = "akka"
-  val MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY = "map"
-  val VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY = "vector"
-  val REF_COLUMN_FAMILY = "ref:item"
+object EmbeddedCassandraStorage extends Logging  {
+val TABLE_NAME = "akka"
+val MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY = "map"
+val VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY = "vector"
+val REF_COLUMN_FAMILY = "ref:item"
 
-  val IS_ASCENDING = true
+val IS_ASCENDING = true
 
-  val RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE = kernel.Kernel.config.getBool("akka.storage.cassandra.thrift-server.service", false)
-  val BLOCKING_CALL = {
-     if (kernel.Kernel.config.getBool("akka.storage.cassandra.blocking", true)) 0
-     else 1 
-  }
+val RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE = kernel.Kernel.config.getBool("akka.storage.cassandra.thrift-server.service", false)
+val BLOCKING_CALL =  {
+if (kernel.Kernel.config.getBool("akka.storage.cassandra.blocking", true)) 0
+else 1 }
 
-  @volatile private[this] var isRunning = false
-  private[this] val serializer: Serializer = {
-    kernel.Kernel.config.getString("akka.storage.cassandra.storage-format", "java") match {
-      case "scala-json" => Serializer.ScalaJSON
-      case "java-json" =>  Serializer.JavaJSON
-      case "protobuf" =>   Serializer.Protobuf
-      case "java" =>       Serializer.Java
-      case "sbinary" =>    throw new UnsupportedOperationException("SBinary serialization protocol is not yet supported for storage")
-      case "avro" =>       throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Avro serialization protocol is not yet supported for storage")
-      case unknown =>      throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unknown storage serialization protocol [" + unknown + "]")
-    }
-  }
- 
-  // TODO: is this server thread-safe or needed to be wrapped up in an actor?
-  private[this] val server = classOf[CassandraServer].newInstance.asInstanceOf[CassandraServer]
+@volatile private[this] var isRunning = false
+private[this] val serializer: Serializer =  {
+kernel.Kernel.config.getString("akka.storage.cassandra.storage-format", "java") match  {
+case "scala-json" => Serializer.ScalaJSON
+case "java-json" =>  Serializer.JavaJSON
+case "protobuf" =>   Serializer.Protobuf
+case "java" =>       Serializer.Java
+case "sbinary" =>    throw new UnsupportedOperationException("SBinary serialization protocol is not yet supported for storage")
+case "avro" =>       throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Avro serialization protocol is not yet supported for storage")
+case unknown =>      throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Unknown storage serialization protocol [" + unknown + "]")
+}
+}
 
-  private[this] var thriftServer: CassandraThriftServer = _
-  
-  def start = synchronized {
-    if (!isRunning) {
-      try {
-        server.start
-        log.info("Cassandra persistent storage has started up successfully");
-      } catch {
-        case e =>
-          log.error("Could not start up Cassandra persistent storage")
-          throw e
-      }
-      if (RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE) {
-        thriftServer = new CassandraThriftServer(server)
-        thriftServer.start
-      }
-      isRunning
-    }
-  }
+// TODO: is this server thread-safe or needed to be wrapped up in an actor?
+private[this] val server = classOf[CassandraServer].newInstance.asInstanceOf[CassandraServer]
 
-  def stop = if (isRunning) {
-    //server.storageService.shutdown
-    if (RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE) thriftServer.stop
-  }
+private[this] var thriftServer: CassandraThriftServer = _
 
-  // ===============================================================
-  // For Ref
-  // ===============================================================
+def start = synchronized  {
+if (!isRunning)  {
+try  {
+server.start
+log.info("Cassandra persistent storage has started up successfully");
+} catch  {
+case e =>
+log.error("Could not start up Cassandra persistent storage")
+throw e
+}
+if (RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE)  {
+thriftServer = new CassandraThriftServer(server)
+thriftServer.start
+}
+isRunning
+}
+}
 
-  def insertRefStorageFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) = {
-    server.insert(
-      TABLE_NAME,
-      name,
-      REF_COLUMN_FAMILY,
-      element,
-      System.currentTimeMillis,
-      BLOCKING_CALL)
-  }
+def stop = if (isRunning)  {
+//server.storageService.shutdown
+if (RUN_THRIFT_SERVICE) thriftServer.stop
+}
 
-  def getRefStorageFor(name: String): Option[AnyRef] = {
-    try {
-      val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, REF_COLUMN_FAMILY)
-      Some(serializer.in(column.value, None))
-    } catch {
-      case e =>
-        e.printStackTrace
-        None 
-    }
-  }
+// ===============================================================
+// For Ref
+// ===============================================================
 
-  // ===============================================================
-  // For Vector
-  // ===============================================================
+def insertRefStorageFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) =  {
+server.insert(
+TABLE_NAME,
+name,
+REF_COLUMN_FAMILY,
+element,
+System.currentTimeMillis,
+BLOCKING_CALL)
+}
 
-  def insertVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) = {
-    server.insert(
-      TABLE_NAME,
-      name,
-      VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + getVectorStorageSizeFor(name),
-      element,
-      System.currentTimeMillis,
-      BLOCKING_CALL)
-  }
+def getRefStorageFor(name: String): Option[AnyRef] =  {
+try  {
+val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, REF_COLUMN_FAMILY)
+Some(serializer.in(column.value, None))
+} catch  {
+case e =>
+e.printStackTrace
+None }
+}
 
-  def getVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, index: Int): AnyRef = {                                                                                
-    try {
-      val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + index)
-      serializer.in(column.value, None)
-    } catch {
-      case e =>
-        e.printStackTrace
-        throw new Predef.NoSuchElementException(e.getMessage)
-    }  
-  }
+// ===============================================================
+// For Vector
+// ===============================================================
 
-  def getVectorStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[AnyRef]  =
-    server.get_slice(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)
-      .toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]].map(tuple => tuple._2)
+def insertVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, element: AnyRef) =  {
+server.insert(
+TABLE_NAME,
+name,
+VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + getVectorStorageSizeFor(name),
+element,
+System.currentTimeMillis,
+BLOCKING_CALL)
+}
 
-  def getVectorStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int =
-    server.get_column_count(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY)
+def getVectorStorageEntryFor(name: String, index: Int): AnyRef =  {
+try  {
+val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + index)
+serializer.in(column.value, None)
+} catch  {
+case e =>
+e.printStackTrace
+throw new Predef.NoSuchElementException(e.getMessage)
+}
+}
 
-  // ===============================================================
-  // For Map
-  // ===============================================================
+def getVectorStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[AnyRef]  =
+server.get_slice(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)
+.toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]].map(tuple => tuple._2)
 
-  def insertMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: String, value: AnyRef) = {
-    server.insert(
-      TABLE_NAME, 
-      name,
-      MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key,
-      serializer.out(value),
-      System.currentTimeMillis,
-      BLOCKING_CALL)
-  }
+def getVectorStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int =
+server.get_column_count(TABLE_NAME, name, VECTOR_COLUMN_FAMILY)
 
-  def insertMapStorageEntriesFor(name: String, entries: List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]) = {
-    import java.util.{Map, HashMap, List, ArrayList}
-    val columns: Map[String, List[column_t]] = new HashMap
-    for (entry <- entries) {
-      val cls: List[column_t] = new ArrayList
-      cls.add(new column_t(entry._1, serializer.out(entry._2), System.currentTimeMillis))
-      columns.put(MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, cls)
-    }
-    server.batch_insert(new batch_mutation_t(
-      TABLE_NAME, 
-      name,
-      columns),
-      BLOCKING_CALL)
-  }
+// ===============================================================
+// For Map
+// ===============================================================
 
-  def getMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: AnyRef): Option[AnyRef] = {
-    try {
-      val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key)
-      Some(serializer.in(column.value, None))
-    } catch {
-      case e =>
-        e.printStackTrace
-        None
-    }
-  }
+def insertMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: String, value: AnyRef) =  {
+server.insert(
+TABLE_NAME, name,
+MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key,
+serializer.out(value),
+System.currentTimeMillis,
+BLOCKING_CALL)
+}
 
-  def getMapStorageFor(name: String): List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]  = {
-    val columns = server.get_columns_since(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, -1)
-      .toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[org.apache.cassandra.service.column_t]]
-    for {
-      column <- columns
-      col = (column.columnName, serializer.in(column.value, None))
-    } yield col
-  }
-  
-  def getMapStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int =
-    server.get_column_count(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY)
+def insertMapStorageEntriesFor(name: String, entries: List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]) =  {
+import java.util.{ Map, HashMap, List, ArrayList }
+val columns: Map[String, List[column_t]] = new HashMap
+for (entry <- entries)  {
+val cls: List[column_t] = new ArrayList
+cls.add(new column_t(entry._1, serializer.out(entry._2), System.currentTimeMillis))
+columns.put(MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, cls)
+}
+server.batch_insert(new batch_mutation_t(
+TABLE_NAME, name,
+columns),
+BLOCKING_CALL)
+}
 
-  def removeMapStorageFor(name: String) =
-    server.remove(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, System.currentTimeMillis, BLOCKING_CALL)
+def getMapStorageEntryFor(name: String, key: AnyRef): Option[AnyRef] =  {
+try  {
+val column = server.get_column(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY + ":" + key)
+Some(serializer.in(column.value, None))
+} catch  {
+case e =>
+e.printStackTrace
+None
+}
+}
 
-  def getMapStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]] = {
-    server.get_slice(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)
-            .toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]]
-  }
+def getMapStorageFor(name: String): List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]  =  {
+val columns = server.get_columns_since(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, -1)
+.toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[org.apache.cassandra.service.column_t]]
+for  {
+column <- columns
+col = (column.columnName, serializer.in(column.value, None))
+} yield col
+}
+
+def getMapStorageSizeFor(name: String): Int =
+server.get_column_count(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY)
+
+def removeMapStorageFor(name: String) =
+server.remove(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, System.currentTimeMillis, BLOCKING_CALL)
+
+def getMapStorageRangeFor(name: String, start: Int, count: Int): List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]] =  {
+server.get_slice(TABLE_NAME, name, MAP_COLUMN_FAMILY, IS_ASCENDING, count)
+.toArray.toList.asInstanceOf[List[Tuple2[String, AnyRef]]]
+}
 }
 
 
-class CassandraThriftServer(server: CassandraServer) extends Logging {
-  case object Start
-  case object Stop
+class CassandraThriftServer(server: CassandraServer) extends Logging  {
+case object Start
+case object Stop
 
-  private[this] val serverEngine: TThreadPoolServer = try {
-    val pidFile = kernel.Kernel.config.getString("akka.storage.cassandra.thrift-server.pidfile", "akka.pid")
-    if (pidFile != null) new File(pidFile).deleteOnExit();
-    val listenPort = DatabaseDescriptor.getThriftPort
+private[this] val serverEngine: TThreadPoolServer = try  {
+val pidFile = kernel.Kernel.config.getString("akka.storage.cassandra.thrift-server.pidfile", "akka.pid")
+if (pidFile != null) new File(pidFile).deleteOnExit();
+val listenPort = DatabaseDescriptor.getThriftPort
 
-    val processor = new Cassandra.Processor(server)
-    val tServerSocket = new TServerSocket(listenPort)
-    val tProtocolFactory = new TBinaryProtocol.Factory
+val processor = new Cassandra.Processor(server)
+val tServerSocket = new TServerSocket(listenPort)
+val tProtocolFactory = new TBinaryProtocol.Factory
 
-    val options = new TThreadPoolServer.Options
-    options.minWorkerThreads = 64
-    new TThreadPoolServer(new TProcessorFactory(processor),
-      tServerSocket,
-      new TTransportFactory,
-      new TTransportFactory,
-      tProtocolFactory,
-      tProtocolFactory,
-      options)
-  } catch {
-    case e =>
-      log.error("Could not start up Cassandra thrift service")
-      throw e
-  }
-
-  import scala.actors.Actor._
-  private[this] val serverDaemon = actor {
-    receive {
-     case Start =>
-        serverEngine.serve
-        log.info("Cassandra thrift service has starting up successfully")
-     case Stop =>
-        log.info("Cassandra thrift service is shutting down...")
-        serverEngine.stop
-    }
-  }
-
-  def start = serverDaemon ! Start
-  def stop = serverDaemon ! Stop
+val options = new TThreadPoolServer.Options
+options.minWorkerThreads = 64
+new TThreadPoolServer(new TProcessorFactory(processor),
+tServerSocket,
+new TTransportFactory,
+new TTransportFactory,
+tProtocolFactory,
+tProtocolFactory,
+options)
+} catch  {
+case e =>
+log.error("Could not start up Cassandra thrift service")
+throw e
 }
-*/
+
+import scala.actors.Actor._
+private[this] val serverDaemon = actor  {
+receive  {
+case Start =>
+serverEngine.serve
+log.info("Cassandra thrift service has starting up successfully")
+case Stop =>
+log.info("Cassandra thrift service is shutting down...")
+serverEngine.stop
+}
+}
+
+def start = serverDaemon ! Start
+def stop = serverDaemon ! Stop
+}
+ */
diff --git a/samples-lift/akka-samples-lift.iml b/samples-lift/akka-samples-lift.iml
index 70037ebd8b..7e8bb22ce4 100644
--- a/samples-lift/akka-samples-lift.iml
+++ b/samples-lift/akka-samples-lift.iml
@@ -39,11 +39,6 @@
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: asm:asm:3.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: aopalliance:aopalliance:1.0" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.apache.camel:camel-core:2.0-SNAPSHOT" level="project" />
-    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: commons-logging:commons-logging-api:1.1" level="project" />
-    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.bind:jaxb-api:2.1" level="project" />
-    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.stream:stax-api:1.0-2" level="project" />
-    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.activation:activation:1.1" level="project" />
-    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.xml.bind:jaxb-impl:2.1.6" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.jboss.netty:netty:3.1.0.CR1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.apache:zookeeper:3.1.0" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.codehaus.jackson:jackson-core-asl:1.1.0" level="project" />
@@ -57,6 +52,7 @@
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: high-scale-lib:high-scale-lib:1.0" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: commons-lang:commons-lang:2.4" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: se.foldleft:cassidy:0.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: commons-pool:commons-pool:1.5.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-comet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-servlet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-http:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
@@ -73,6 +69,10 @@
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.jersey:jersey-json:1.1.1-ea" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.codehaus.jettison:jettison:1.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: stax:stax-api:1.0.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.xml.bind:jaxb-impl:2.1.12" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.bind:jaxb-api:2.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.xml.stream:stax-api:1.0-2" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: javax.activation:activation:1.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.codehaus.jackson:jackson-asl:0.9.4" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.jersey.contribs:jersey-scala:1.1.2-ea-SNAPSHOT" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: org.atmosphere:atmosphere-core:0.3" level="project" />
diff --git a/samples-scala/akka-samples-scala.iml b/samples-scala/akka-samples-scala.iml
index ee46aa485c..05d2b682d7 100644
--- a/samples-scala/akka-samples-scala.iml
+++ b/samples-scala/akka-samples-scala.iml
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: high-scale-lib:high-scale-lib:1.0" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: commons-lang:commons-lang:2.4" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: se.foldleft:cassidy:0.1" level="project" />
+    <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: commons-pool:commons-pool:1.5.1" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-comet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-servlet-webserver:1.8.6.3" level="project" />
     <orderEntry type="library" exported="" name="Maven: com.sun.grizzly:grizzly-http:1.8.6.3" level="project" />