diff --git a/akka-core/src/main/scala/stm/TransactionalState.scala b/akka-core/src/main/scala/stm/TransactionalState.scala
index c74fde4ab0..4f35f1199e 100644
--- a/akka-core/src/main/scala/stm/TransactionalState.scala
+++ b/akka-core/src/main/scala/stm/TransactionalState.scala
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ trait Committable {
 }
 
 /**
+ * Alias to TransactionalRef.
+ * 
+ * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
+ */
+object Ref {
+  def apply[T]() = new Ref[T]
+}
+
+/**
+ * Alias to Ref.
+ * 
  * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
  */
 object TransactionalRef {
@@ -65,8 +76,17 @@ object TransactionalRef {
   def apply[T]() = new TransactionalRef[T]
 }
 
+/**
+ * Implements a transactional managed reference. 
+ * Alias to TransactionalRef.
+ *
+ * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
+ */
+class Ref[T] extends TransactionalRef[T]
+
 /**
  * Implements a transactional managed reference.
+ * Alias to Ref.
  *
  * @author <a href="http://jonasboner.com">Jonas Bon&#233;r</a>
  */
diff --git a/akka-samples/akka-sample-chat/src/main/scala/ChatServer.scala b/akka-samples/akka-sample-chat/src/main/scala/ChatServer.scala
index dcf8f74d6b..9b85972958 100644
--- a/akka-samples/akka-sample-chat/src/main/scala/ChatServer.scala
+++ b/akka-samples/akka-sample-chat/src/main/scala/ChatServer.scala
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ trait ChatStorage extends Actor
  */
 class RedisChatStorage extends ChatStorage {
   lifeCycle = Some(LifeCycle(Permanent))    
-      
-  private var chatLog = atomic { RedisStorage.getVector("akka.chat.log") }
+  val CHAT_LOG = "akka.chat.log"
+  
+  private var chatLog = atomic { RedisStorage.getVector(CHAT_LOG) }
 
   log.info("Redis-based chat storage is starting up...")
 
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ class RedisChatStorage extends ChatStorage {
       reply(ChatLog(messageList))
   }
   
-  override def postRestart(reason: Throwable) = chatLog = RedisStorage.getVector("akka.chat.log")  
+  override def postRestart(reason: Throwable) = chatLog = RedisStorage.getVector(CHAT_LOG)  
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/project/build/AkkaProject.scala b/project/build/AkkaProject.scala
index 158f193494..cd46dbea5c 100644
--- a/project/build/AkkaProject.scala
+++ b/project/build/AkkaProject.scala
@@ -127,11 +127,11 @@ class AkkaParent(info: ProjectInfo) extends DefaultProject(info) {
   // ------------------------------------------------------------
   // publishing
   override def managedStyle = ManagedStyle.Maven
-  val publishTo = Resolver.file("maven-local", new java.io.File((Path.userHome / ".m2" / "repository").toString))
+  val publishTo = Resolver.file("maven-local", Path.userHome / ".m2" / "repository" asFile)
 
   // Credentials(Path.userHome / ".akka_publish_credentials", log)
   val sourceArtifact = Artifact(artifactID, "src", "jar", Some("sources"), Nil, None)
-//  val docsArtifact = Artifact(artifactID, "docs", "jar", Some("javadoc"), Nil, None)
+  //val docsArtifact = Artifact(artifactID, "docs", "jar", Some("javadoc"), Nil, None)
 
   override def packageDocsJar = defaultJarPath("-javadoc.jar")
   override def packageSrcJar= defaultJarPath("-sources.jar")