diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
index 63a3651e89..d0ab1dec24 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
@@ -53,14 +53,14 @@ OpenLayers.nullHandler = function(request) {
 OpenLayers.loadURL = function(uri, params, caller,
                                   onComplete, onFailure) {
 
-    if (OpenLayers.ProxyHost && uri.startsWith("http")) {
+    if (OpenLayers.ProxyHost && OpenLayers.String.startsWith(uri, "http")) {
         uri = OpenLayers.ProxyHost + escape(uri);
     }
 
-    var success = (onComplete) ? onComplete.bind(caller)
+    var success = (onComplete) ? OpenLayers.Function.bind(onComplete, caller)
                                 : OpenLayers.nullHandler;
 
-    var failure = (onFailure) ? onFailure.bind(caller)
+    var failure = (onFailure) ? OpenLayers.Function.bind(onFailure, caller)
                            : OpenLayers.nullHandler;
 
     // from prototype.js
@@ -307,11 +307,11 @@ OpenLayers.Ajax.Request = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Ajax.Base, {
     
             if (this.options.asynchronous) {
                 this.transport.onreadystatechange = 
-                    this.onStateChange.bind(this);
+                    OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.onStateChange, this);
                 
-                setTimeout((function() {
-                    this.respondToReadyState(1)
-                }).bind(this), 10);
+                setTimeout(OpenLayers.Function.bind(
+                    (function() {this.respondToReadyState(1)}),this), 10
+                );
             }
     
             this.setRequestHeaders();
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
index bc9f648c83..3bbcdb6f27 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 /**
  * Header: OpenLayers Base Types
- * Modifications to standard JavaScript types are described here.
+ * OpenLayers custom string, number and function functions are described here.
  */
 
 /*********************
@@ -13,10 +13,79 @@
  *                   * 
  *********************/
 
+OpenLayers.String = {
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.String.startsWith
+     * Whether or not a string starts with another string. 
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * str - {String} The string to test.
+     * sub - {Sring} The substring to look for.
+     *  
+     * Returns:
+     * {Boolean} The first string starts with the second.
+     */
+    startsWith: function(str, sub) {
+        return (str.indexOf(sub) == 0);
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.String.contains
+     * Whether or not a string contains another string.
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * str - {String} The string to test.
+     * sub - {String} The substring to look for.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Boolean} The first string contains the second.
+     */
+    contains: function(str, sub) {
+        return (str.indexOf(sub) != -1);
+    },
+    
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.String.trim
+     * Removes leading and trailing whitespace characters from a string.
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * str - {String} The (potentially) space padded string.  This string is not
+     *     modified.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {String} A trimmed version of the string - all leading and 
+     *     trailing spaces removed.
+     */
+    trim: function(str) {
+        return str.replace(/^\s*(.*?)\s*$/, "$1");    
+    },
+    
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.String.camelize
+     * Camel-case a hyphenated string. 
+     *     Ex. "chicken-head" becomes "chickenHead", and
+     *     "-chicken-head" becomes "ChickenHead".
+     *
+     * Parameters:
+     * str - {String} The string to be camelized.  The original is not modified.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {String} The string, camelized
+     */
+    camelize: function(str) {
+        var oStringList = str.split('-');
+        var camelizedString = oStringList[0];
+        for (var i = 1; i < oStringList.length; i++) {
+            var s = oStringList[i];
+            camelizedString += s.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + s.substring(1);
+        }
+        return camelizedString;
+    }
+};
 
 /**
  * APIMethod: String.startsWith
- * Whether or not a string starts with another string. 
+ * Deprecated. Whether or not a string starts with another string. 
  * 
  * Parameters:
  * sStart - {Sring} The string we're testing for.
@@ -25,12 +94,16 @@
  * {Boolean} Whether or not this string starts with the string passed in.
  */
 String.prototype.startsWith = function(sStart) {
-    return (this.substr(0,sStart.length) == sStart);
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.String.startsWith instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.String.startsWith(this, sStart);
 };
 
 /**
  * APIMethod: String.contains
- * Whether or not a string contains another string.
+ * Deprecated. Whether or not a string contains another string.
  * 
  * Parameters:
  * str - {String} The string that we're testing for.
@@ -39,24 +112,32 @@ String.prototype.startsWith = function(sStart) {
  * {Boolean} Whether or not this string contains with the string passed in.
  */
 String.prototype.contains = function(str) {
-    return (this.indexOf(str) != -1);
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.String.contains instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.String.contains(this, str);
 };
 
 /**
  * APIMethod: String.trim
- * Removes leading and trailing whitespace characters from a string.
+ * Deprecated. Removes leading and trailing whitespace characters from a string.
  * 
  * Returns:
  * {String} A trimmed version of the string - all leading and 
  *          trailing spaces removed
  */
 String.prototype.trim = function() {
-    return this.replace(/^\s+/, '').replace(/\s+$/, '');    
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.String.trim instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.String.trim(this);
 };
 
 /**
  * APIMethod: camelize
- * Camel-case a hyphenated string. 
+ * Deprecated. Camel-case a hyphenated string. 
  *     Ex. "chicken-head" becomes "chickenHead", and
  *     "-chicken-head" becomes "ChickenHead".
  * 
@@ -64,13 +145,11 @@ String.prototype.trim = function() {
  * {String} The string, camelized
  */
 String.prototype.camelize = function() {
-    var oStringList = this.split('-');
-    var camelizedString = oStringList[0];
-    for (var i = 1; i < oStringList.length; i++) {
-        var s = oStringList[i];
-        camelizedString += s.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + s.substring(1);
-    }
-    return camelizedString;
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.String.camelize instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.String.camelize(this);
 };
 
 
@@ -80,10 +159,34 @@ String.prototype.camelize = function() {
  *                   * 
  *********************/
 
+OpenLayers.Number = {
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs
+     * Limit the number of significant digits on an integer.
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * num - {Integer}
+     * sig - {Integer}
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Integer} The number, rounded to the specified number of significant
+     *     digits.
+     */
+    limitSigDigs: function(num, sig) {
+        var fig;
+        if(sig > 0) {
+            fig = parseFloat(num.toPrecision(sig));
+        } else {
+            fig = 0;
+        }
+        return fig;
+    }
+};
+
 /**
  * APIMethod: Number.limitSigDigs
- * Limit the number of significant digits on an integer. Does *not* work 
- *     with floats!
+ * Deprecated. Limit the number of significant digits on an integer. Does *not*
+ *     work with floats!
  * 
  * Parameters:
  * sig - {Integer}
@@ -93,17 +196,11 @@ String.prototype.camelize = function() {
  *           If null, 0, or negative value passed in, returns 0
  */
 Number.prototype.limitSigDigs = function(sig) {
-    var numStr = (sig > 0) ? this.toString() : "0";
-    if (numStr.contains(".")) {
-        var msg = "limitSigDig can not be called on a floating point number";
-        OpenLayers.Console.error(msg);
-        return null;
-    }
-    if ( (sig > 0) && (sig < numStr.length) ) {
-        var exp = numStr.length - sig;
-        numStr = Math.round( this / Math.pow(10, exp)) * Math.pow(10, exp);
-    }
-    return parseInt(numStr);
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(this, sig);
 };
 
 
@@ -113,9 +210,54 @@ Number.prototype.limitSigDigs = function(sig) {
  *                   * 
  *********************/
 
+OpenLayers.Function = {
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.Function.bind
+     * Bind a function to an object.  Method to easily create closures with
+     *     'this' altered.
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * func - {Function} Input function.
+     * object - {Object} The object to bind to the input function (as this).
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Function} A closure with 'this' set to the passed in object.
+     */
+    bind: function(func, object) {
+        // create a reference to all arguments past the second one
+        var args = Array.prototype.slice.apply(arguments, [2]);
+        return function() {
+            // Push on any additional arguments from the actual function call.
+            // These will come after those sent to the bind call.
+            var newArgs = args.concat(
+                Array.prototype.slice.apply(arguments, [0])
+            );
+            return func.apply(object, newArgs);
+        };
+    },
+    
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener
+     * Bind a function to an object, and configure it to receive the event
+     *     object as first parameter when called. 
+     * 
+     * Parameters:
+     * func - {Function} Input function to serve as an event listener.
+     * object - {Object} A reference to this.
+     * 
+     * Returns:
+     * {Function}
+     */
+    bindAsEventListener: function(func, object) {
+        return function(event) {
+            return func.call(object, event || window.event);
+        };
+    }
+};
+
 /**
  * APIMethod: Function.bind
- * Bind a function to an object. 
+ * Deprecated. Bind a function to an object. 
  * Method to easily create closures with 'this' altered.
  * 
  * Parameters:
@@ -126,31 +268,19 @@ Number.prototype.limitSigDigs = function(sig) {
  *            argument.
  */
 Function.prototype.bind = function() {
-    var __method = this;
-    var args = [];
-    var object = arguments[0];
-    
-    for (var i = 1; i < arguments.length; i++) {
-        args.push(arguments[i]);
-    }
-    
-    return function(moreargs) {
-        var i;
-        var newArgs = [];
-        for (i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
-            newArgs.push(args[i]);
-        }
-        for (i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
-            newArgs.push(arguments[i]);
-        }
-        return __method.apply(object, newArgs);
-    };
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.Function.bind instead"
+    );
+    // new function takes the same arguments with this function up front
+    Array.prototype.unshift.apply(arguments, [this]);
+    return OpenLayers.Function.bind.apply(null, arguments);
 };
 
 /**
  * APIMethod: Function.bindAsEventListener
- * Bind a function to an object, and configure it to receive the event object
- *     as first parameter when called. 
+ * Deprecated. Bind a function to an object, and configure it to receive the
+ *     event object as first parameter when called. 
  * 
  * Parameters:
  * object - {Object} A reference to this.
@@ -159,8 +289,9 @@ Function.prototype.bind = function() {
  * {Function}
  */
 Function.prototype.bindAsEventListener = function(object) {
-    var __method = this;
-    return function(event) {
-        return __method.call(object, event || window.event);
-    };
+    OpenLayers.Console.warn(
+        "This method has been deprecated and will be removed in 3.0. " +
+        "Please use OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener instead"
+    );
+    return OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this, object);
 };
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
index 8b7dc2f267..de12e41448 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/BaseTypes/Element.js
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ OpenLayers.Element = {
      */
     getStyle: function(element, style) {
         element = OpenLayers.Util.getElement(element);
-        var value = element.style[style.camelize()];
+        var value = element.style[OpenLayers.String.camelize(style)];
         if (!value) {
             if (document.defaultView && 
                 document.defaultView.getComputedStyle) {
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ OpenLayers.Element = {
                 var css = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(element, null);
                 value = css ? css.getPropertyValue(style) : null;
             } else if (element.currentStyle) {
-                value = element.currentStyle[style.camelize()];
+                value = element.currentStyle[OpenLayers.String.camelize(style)];
             }
         }
     
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
index 479f60d306..eea73cd8a3 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
@@ -279,7 +279,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
                     'layerSwitcher': this
                 }
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(inputElem, "mouseup", 
-                              this.onInputClick.bindAsEventListener(context));
+                    OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.onInputClick,
+                                                            context)
+                );
                 
                 // create span
                 var labelSpan = document.createElement("span");
@@ -290,7 +292,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
                 labelSpan.style.verticalAlign = (baseLayer) ? "bottom" 
                                                             : "baseline";
                 OpenLayers.Event.observe(labelSpan, "click", 
-                              this.onInputClick.bindAsEventListener(context));
+                    OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.onInputClick,
+                                                            context)
+                );
                 // create line break
                 var br = document.createElement("br");
     
@@ -463,11 +467,11 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
         this.div.style.backgroundColor = "transparent";
     
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.div, "mouseup", 
-                      this.mouseUp.bindAsEventListener(this));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.mouseUp, this));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.div, "click",
                       this.ignoreEvent);
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.div, "mousedown",
-                      this.mouseDown.bindAsEventListener(this));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.mouseDown, this));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.div, "dblclick", this.ignoreEvent);
 
 
@@ -496,7 +500,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
         this.baseLayersDiv = document.createElement("div");
         this.baseLayersDiv.style.paddingLeft = "10px";
         /*OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.baseLayersDiv, "click", 
-                      this.onLayerClick.bindAsEventListener(this));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.onLayerClick, this));
         */
                      
 
@@ -545,9 +549,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
         this.maximizeDiv.style.right = "0px";
         this.maximizeDiv.style.left = "";
         this.maximizeDiv.style.display = "none";
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.maximizeDiv, 
-                      "click", 
-                      this.maximizeControl.bindAsEventListener(this));
+        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.maximizeDiv, "click", 
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.maximizeControl, this)
+        );
         
         this.div.appendChild(this.maximizeDiv);
 
@@ -564,9 +568,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher =
         this.minimizeDiv.style.right = "0px";
         this.minimizeDiv.style.left = "";
         this.minimizeDiv.style.display = "none";
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.minimizeDiv, 
-                      "click", 
-                      this.minimizeControl.bindAsEventListener(this));
+        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.minimizeDiv, "click", 
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.minimizeControl, this)
+        );
 
         this.div.appendChild(this.minimizeDiv);
     },
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
index d4c92d2e49..4429af89b3 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
@@ -84,7 +84,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
      */
     registerWheelEvents: function() {
 
-        this.wheelObserver = this.onWheelEvent.bindAsEventListener(this);
+        this.wheelObserver = OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(
+            this.onWheelEvent, this
+        );
         
         //register mousewheel events specifically on the window and document
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, "DOMMouseScroll", this.wheelObserver);
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/OverviewMap.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/OverviewMap.js
index 582db53b98..9cfead4ad0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/OverviewMap.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/OverviewMap.js
@@ -218,9 +218,10 @@ OpenLayers.Control.OverviewMap = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
                                         'absolute');
             this.maximizeDiv.style.display = 'none';
             this.maximizeDiv.className = this.displayClass + 'MaximizeButton';
-            OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.maximizeDiv, 
-                          'click', 
-                          this.maximizeControl.bindAsEventListener(this));
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.maximizeDiv, 'click', 
+                OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.maximizeControl,
+                                                        this)
+            );
             this.div.appendChild(this.maximizeDiv);
     
             // minimize button div
@@ -233,9 +234,10 @@ OpenLayers.Control.OverviewMap = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
                                         'absolute');
             this.minimizeDiv.style.display = 'none';
             this.minimizeDiv.className = this.displayClass + 'MinimizeButton';
-            OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.minimizeDiv, 
-                          'click', 
-                          this.minimizeControl.bindAsEventListener(this));
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.minimizeDiv, 'click', 
+                OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.minimizeControl,
+                                                        this)
+            );
             this.div.appendChild(this.minimizeDiv);
             
             var eventsToStop = ['dblclick','mousedown'];
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
index 945ee0fd8d..6beeb28e8a 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
@@ -112,11 +112,11 @@ OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
         this.div.appendChild(btn);
 
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(btn, "mousedown", 
-                                 this.buttonDown.bindAsEventListener(btn));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.buttonDown, btn));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(btn, "dblclick", 
-                                 this.doubleClick.bindAsEventListener(btn));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.doubleClick, btn));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(btn, "click", 
-                                 this.doubleClick.bindAsEventListener(btn));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(this.doubleClick, btn));
         btn.action = id;
         btn.map = this.map;
         btn.slideFactor = this.slideFactor;
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
index 5b3e2d0cd2..d62599636a 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Panel.js
@@ -170,9 +170,9 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Panel = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
             var textNode = document.createTextNode(" ");
             controls[i].panel_div = element;
             OpenLayers.Event.observe(controls[i].panel_div, "click", 
-                                     this.onClick.bind(this, controls[i]));
+                OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.onClick, this, controls[i]));
             OpenLayers.Event.observe(controls[i].panel_div, "mousedown", 
-                              OpenLayers.Event.stop.bindAsEventListener());
+                OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(OpenLayers.Event.stop));
         }    
 
         if (this.map) { // map.addControl() has already been called on the panel
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
index e293bcdef0..d4c4a620da 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Events.js
@@ -404,7 +404,9 @@ OpenLayers.Events = OpenLayers.Class({
 
         // keep a bound copy of handleBrowserEvent() so that we can
         // pass the same function to both Event.observe() and .stopObserving()
-        this.eventHandler = this.handleBrowserEvent.bindAsEventListener(this);
+        this.eventHandler = OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(
+            this.handleBrowserEvent, this
+        );
 
         // if eventTypes is specified, create a listeners list for each 
         // custom application event.
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/WKT.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/WKT.js
index 18f2925726..2e7979357e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/WKT.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/WKT.js
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          * @private
          */
         'point': function(str) {
-            var coords = str.trim().split(this.regExes.spaces);
+            var coords = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(this.regExes.spaces);
             return new OpenLayers.Feature.Vector(
                 new OpenLayers.Geometry.Point(coords[0], coords[1])
             );
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          * @private
          */
         'multipoint': function(str) {
-            var points = str.trim().split(',');
+            var points = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(',');
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<points.length; ++i) {
                 components.push(this.parse.point.apply(this, [points[i]]).geometry);
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          * @private
          */
         'linestring': function(str) {
-            var points = str.trim().split(',');
+            var points = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(',');
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<points.length; ++i) {
                 components.push(this.parse.point.apply(this, [points[i]]).geometry);
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          */
         'multilinestring': function(str) {
             var line;
-            var lines = str.trim().split(this.regExes.parenComma);
+            var lines = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(this.regExes.parenComma);
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<lines.length; ++i) {
                 line = lines[i].replace(this.regExes.trimParens, '$1');
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          */
         'polygon': function(str) {
             var ring, linestring, linearring;
-            var rings = str.trim().split(this.regExes.parenComma);
+            var rings = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(this.regExes.parenComma);
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<rings.length; ++i) {
                 ring = rings[i].replace(this.regExes.trimParens, '$1');
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
          */
         'multipolygon': function(str) {
             var polygon;
-            var polygons = str.trim().split(this.regExes.doubleParenComma);
+            var polygons = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split(this.regExes.doubleParenComma);
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<polygons.length; ++i) {
                 polygon = polygons[i].replace(this.regExes.trimParens, '$1');
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ OpenLayers.Format.WKT = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
         'geometrycollection': function(str) {
             // separate components of the collection with |
             str = str.replace(/,\s*([A-Za-z])/g, '|$1');
-            var wktArray = str.trim().split('|');
+            var wktArray = OpenLayers.String.trim(str).split('|');
             var components = [];
             for(var i=0; i<wktArray.length; ++i) {
                 components.push(OpenLayers.Format.WKT.prototype.read.apply(this,[wktArray[i]]));
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
index 84eaa96684..44920e06a8 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Format/XML.js
@@ -60,21 +60,23 @@ OpenLayers.Format.XML = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Format, {
             text = text.substring(index);
         }
         var node = OpenLayers.Util.Try(
-            (function() {
-                var xmldom;
-                /**
-                 * Since we want to be able to call this method on the prototype
-                 * itself, this.xmldom may not exist even if in IE.
-                 */
-                if(window.ActiveXObject && !this.xmldom) {
-                    xmldom = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM");
-                } else {
-                    xmldom = this.xmldom;
-                    
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind((
+                function() {
+                    var xmldom;
+                    /**
+                     * Since we want to be able to call this method on the prototype
+                     * itself, this.xmldom may not exist even if in IE.
+                     */
+                    if(window.ActiveXObject && !this.xmldom) {
+                        xmldom = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM");
+                    } else {
+                        xmldom = this.xmldom;
+                        
+                    }
+                    xmldom.loadXML(text);
+                    return xmldom;
                 }
-                xmldom.loadXML(text);
-                return xmldom;
-            }).bind(this),
+            ), this),
             function() {
                 return new DOMParser().parseFromString(text, 'text/xml');
             },
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
index 51cf41b573..3e39551de2 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/Keyboard.js
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.Keyboard = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
     initialize: function(control, callbacks, options) {
         OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.initialize.apply(this, arguments);
         // cache the bound event listener method so it can be unobserved later
-        this.eventListener = this.handleKeyEvent.bindAsEventListener(this);
+        this.eventListener = OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(
+            this.handleKeyEvent, this
+        );
     },
     
     /**
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
index 719751ee53..20b9d9d713 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Handler/MouseWheel.js
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ OpenLayers.Handler.MouseWheel = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Handler, {
      */
     initialize: function(control, callbacks, options) {
         OpenLayers.Handler.prototype.initialize.apply(this, arguments);
-        this.wheelListener = this.onWheelEvent.bindAsEventListener(this);
+        this.wheelListener = OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(
+            this.onWheelEvent, this
+        );
     },
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/GeoRSS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/GeoRSS.js
index c7e31c8548..fb3ba5e20c 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/GeoRSS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/GeoRSS.js
@@ -228,11 +228,12 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.GeoRSS = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Layer.Markers, {
         if (!sameMarkerClicked) {
             var popup = this.createPopup();
             OpenLayers.Event.observe(popup.div, "click",
-            function() { 
-              for(var i=0; i < this.layer.map.popups.length; i++) { 
-                this.layer.map.removePopup(this.layer.map.popups[i]); 
-              } 
-            }.bind(this));
+                OpenLayers.Function.bind(function() { 
+                    for(var i=0; i < this.layer.map.popups.length; i++) { 
+                        this.layer.map.removePopup(this.layer.map.popups[i]); 
+                    }
+                }, this)
+            );
             this.layer.map.addPopup(popup); 
         }
         OpenLayers.Event.stop(evt);
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
index bbaea5ff33..e6aa8dcc44 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
@@ -393,13 +393,14 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WFS = OpenLayers.Class(
         var data = this.writer.write(this.features);
         
         var url = this.url;
-        if (OpenLayers.ProxyHost && this.url.startsWith("http")) {
+        if (OpenLayers.ProxyHost &&
+            OpenLayers.String.startsWith(this.url, "http")) {
             url = OpenLayers.ProxyHost + escape(this.url);
         }
 
-        var success = this.commitSuccess.bind(this);
+        var success = OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.commitSuccess, this);
 
-        var failure = this.commitFailure.bind(this);
+        var failure = OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.commitFailure, this);
         
         data = OpenLayers.Ajax.serializeXMLToString(data);
         
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
index 29b2965111..7a4052d728 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Map.js
@@ -301,15 +301,15 @@ OpenLayers.Map = OpenLayers.Class({
 
         // Because Mozilla does not support the "resize" event for elements 
         // other than "window", we need to put a hack here. 
-        if (navigator.appName.contains("Microsoft")) {
+        if (OpenLayers.String.contains(navigator.appName, "Microsoft")) {
             // If IE, register the resize on the div
             this.events.register("resize", this, this.updateSize);
         } else {
             // Else updateSize on catching the window's resize
             //  Note that this is ok, as updateSize() does nothing if the 
             //  map's size has not actually changed.
-            OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, 'resize', 
-                          this.updateSize.bind(this));
+            OpenLayers.Event.observe(window, 'resize',
+                            OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.updateSize, this));
         }
         
         // only append link stylesheet if the theme property is set
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ OpenLayers.Map = OpenLayers.Class({
 
         this.popups = [];
 
-        this.unloadDestroy = this.destroy.bind(this);
+        this.unloadDestroy = OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.destroy, this);
         
 
         // always call map.destroy()
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
index 156d423546..c1335befd5 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup.js
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ OpenLayers.Popup = OpenLayers.Class({
                 OpenLayers.Event.stop(e);
             }
             OpenLayers.Event.observe(closeImg, "click", 
-                                     closePopup.bindAsEventListener(this));
+                    OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(closePopup, this));
 
         }
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 2b205d473f..acf7c9598e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
            http://openlayers.org/pipermail/dev/2007-January/000205.html
 
         OpenLayers.Event.observe( this.imgDiv, "load",
-                        this.checkImgURL.bind(this) );
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind(this.checkImgURL, this) );
         */
         this.frame.appendChild(this.imgDiv); 
         this.layer.div.appendChild(this.frame); 
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Tile, {
                 this.events.triggerEvent("loadend"); 
             }
         }
-        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.imgDiv, 'load', onload.bind(this));
+        OpenLayers.Event.observe(this.imgDiv, 'load',
+                                 OpenLayers.Function.bind(onload, this));
 
     },
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
index 61ead807c4..ccbe7e2b54 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Util.js
@@ -255,9 +255,9 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createImage = function(id, px, sz, imgURL, position, border,
     if(delayDisplay) {
         image.style.display = "none";
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(image, "load", 
-                      OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoad.bind(image));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind(OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoad, image));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(image, "error", 
-                      OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoadError.bind(image));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind(OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoadError, image));
         
     }
     
@@ -453,9 +453,9 @@ OpenLayers.Util.createAlphaImageDiv = function(id, px, sz, imgURL,
     if (delayDisplay) {
         img.style.display = "none";
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "load",
-                      OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoad.bind(div));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind(OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoad, div));
         OpenLayers.Event.observe(img, "error",
-                      OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoadError.bind(div));
+            OpenLayers.Function.bind(OpenLayers.Util.onImageLoadError, div));
     }
 
     OpenLayers.Util.modifyAlphaImageDiv(div, id, px, sz, imgURL, position, 
@@ -791,9 +791,10 @@ OpenLayers.Util.getParameters = function(url) {
 
     //parse out parameters portion of url string
     var paramsString = "";
-    if (url.contains('?')) {
+    if (OpenLayers.String.contains(url, '?')) {
         var start = url.indexOf('?') + 1;
-        var end = url.contains("#") ? url.indexOf('#') : url.length;
+        var end = OpenLayers.String.contains(url, "#") ?
+                    url.indexOf('#') : url.length;
         paramsString = url.substring(start, end);
     }
         
diff --git a/tests/Geometry/test_Surface.html b/tests/Geometry/test_Surface.html
index f767567793..eba6a6e521 100644
--- a/tests/Geometry/test_Surface.html
+++ b/tests/Geometry/test_Surface.html
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
         var g = new OpenLayers.Geometry.Surface();
         
         t.eq(g.CLASS_NAME, "OpenLayers.Geometry.Surface", "correct CLASS_NAME")
-        t.ok(g.id.startsWith("OpenLayers.Geometry.Surface_"), "id correctly set");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(g.id, "OpenLayers.Geometry.Surface_"),
+             "id correctly set");
     }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_BaseTypes.html b/tests/test_BaseTypes.html
index cd9ee46f4e..a0c8eb0cd9 100644
--- a/tests/test_BaseTypes.html
+++ b/tests/test_BaseTypes.html
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@
         var test1 = "chicken";
         var test2 = "beet";
 
-        t.ok(str.startsWith("chicken"), " 'chickenHead' starts with 'chicken'");
-        t.ok(!str.startsWith("Head"), " 'chickenHead' contains 'Head' but does *not* start with it");
-        t.ok(!str.startsWith("beet"), "'chickenHead' doesnt start with 'beet'");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(str, "chicken"),
+             "'chickenHead' starts with 'chicken'");
+        t.ok(!OpenLayers.String.startsWith(str, "Head"),
+             "'chickenHead' does not start with 'Head'");
+        t.ok(!OpenLayers.String.startsWith(str, "beet"),
+             "'chickenHead' doesnt start with 'beet'");
     }
     
     function test_02_String_contains(t) {
@@ -21,81 +24,84 @@
         
         var str = "chickenHead";
 
-        t.ok(str.contains("chicken"), "(beginning) 'chickenHead' contains with 'chicken'");
-        t.ok(str.contains("ick"), "(middle) 'chickenHead' contains with 'ick'");
-        t.ok(str.contains("Head"), "(end) 'chickenHead' contains with 'Head'");
-        t.ok(!str.startsWith("beet"), "'chickenHead' doesnt start with 'beet'");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.contains(str, "chicken"),
+             "(beginning) 'chickenHead' contains with 'chicken'");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.contains(str, "ick"),
+             "(middle) 'chickenHead' contains with 'ick'");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.contains(str, "Head"),
+             "(end) 'chickenHead' contains with 'Head'");
+        t.ok(!OpenLayers.String.startsWith(str, "beet"),
+             "'chickenHead' doesnt start with 'beet'");
     }
     
     function test_03_String_trim(t) {
         t.plan(5);
         
         var str = "chickenHead";
-        t.eq(str.trim(), "chickenHead", "string with no extra whitespace is left alone");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.trim(str),
+             "chickenHead", "string with no extra whitespace is left alone");
 
         str = "  chickenHead";
-        t.eq(str.trim(), "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at beginning is trimmed correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.trim(str),
+             "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at beginning is trimmed correctly");
 
         str = "chickenHead    ";
-        t.eq(str.trim(), "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at end is trimmed correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.trim(str),
+             "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at end is trimmed correctly");
 
         str = "  chickenHead    ";
-        t.eq(str.trim(), "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at beginning and end is trimmed correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.trim(str),
+             "chickenHead", "string with extra whitespace at beginning and end is trimmed correctly");
 
         str = " ";
-        t.eq(str.trim(), "", "whitespace string is trimmed correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.trim(str), "", "whitespace string is trimmed correctly");
     }
         
     function test_05_String_camelize(t) {
         t.plan(7);
         
         var str = "chickenhead";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "chickenhead", "string with no hyphens is left alone");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "chickenhead", "string with no hyphens is left alone");
 
         str = "chicken-head";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "chickenHead", "string with one middle hyphen is camelized correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "chickenHead", "string with one middle hyphen is camelized correctly");
 
         str = "chicken-head-man";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "chickenHeadMan", "string with multiple middle hyphens is camelized correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "chickenHeadMan", "string with multiple middle hyphens is camelized correctly");
 
         str = "-chickenhead";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "Chickenhead", "string with starting hyphen is camelized correctly (capitalized)");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "Chickenhead", "string with starting hyphen is camelized correctly (capitalized)");
 
         str = "-chicken-head-man";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "ChickenHeadMan", "string with starting hypen and multiple middle hyphens is camelized correctly");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "ChickenHeadMan", "string with starting hypen and multiple middle hyphens is camelized correctly");
 
         str = "chicken-";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "chicken", "string ending in hyphen is camelized correctly (hyphen dropped)");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "chicken", "string ending in hyphen is camelized correctly (hyphen dropped)");
 
         str = "chicken-head-man-";
-        t.eq(str.camelize(), "chickenHeadMan", "string with multiple middle hyphens and end hyphen is camelized correctly (end hyphen dropped)");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.String.camelize(str), "chickenHeadMan", "string with multiple middle hyphens and end hyphen is camelized correctly (end hyphen dropped)");
 
 
    }
    
     function test_06_Number_limitSigDigs(t) {
-        t.plan(10);
+        t.plan(9);
       
         var num = 123456789; 
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(), 0, "passing 'null' as sig returns 0");
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(-1), 0, "passing -1 as sig returns 0");
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(0), 0, "passing 0 as sig returns 0");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num), 0, "passing 'null' as sig returns 0");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, -1), 0, "passing -1 as sig returns 0");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 0), 0, "passing 0 as sig returns 0");
         
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(15), 123456789, "passing sig greater than num digits in number returns number unmodified");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 15), 123456789, "passing sig greater than num digits in number returns number unmodified");
         
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(1), 100000000, "passing sig 1 works");
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(3), 123000000, "passing middle sig works (rounds down)");
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(5), 123460000, "passing middle sig works (rounds up)");
-        t.eq(num.limitSigDigs(9), 123456789, "passing sig equal to num digits in number works");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 1), 100000000, "passing sig 1 works");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 3), 123000000, "passing middle sig works (rounds down)");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 5), 123460000, "passing middle sig works (rounds up)");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 9), 123456789, "passing sig equal to num digits in number works");
 
-        var temp = OpenLayers.Console.error;
-        OpenLayers.Console.error = function() {
-            t.ok(true, "error reported when run on floating point number")
-        }
         num = 1234.56789;
-        t.ok(num.limitSigDigs(5) == null, "running limSigDig() on a floating point number returns null");
+        t.eq(OpenLayers.Number.limitSigDigs(num, 5), 1234.6, "running limSigDig() on a floating point number works fine");
         
-        OpenLayers.Console.error = temp;
     }
 
     function test_07_Function_bind(t) {
@@ -115,7 +121,7 @@
             t.eq(arguments.length, 4, "correct number of arguments ((regression test for #876))");
         };
 
-        var newFoo = foo.bind(g_obj, g_Arg1, g_Arg2);
+        var newFoo = OpenLayers.Function.bind(foo, g_obj, g_Arg1, g_Arg2);
 
         newFoo(g_Arg3, g_Arg4);
         
@@ -135,7 +141,7 @@
             g_X = x;
         };
 
-        var newFoo = foo.bindAsEventListener(g_obj);
+        var newFoo = OpenLayers.Function.bindAsEventListener(foo, g_obj);
         
 
         g_X = null;
diff --git a/tests/test_Feature.html b/tests/test_Feature.html
index 7ce4d3f1c3..6023cfb29f 100644
--- a/tests/test_Feature.html
+++ b/tests/test_Feature.html
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
 
         t.ok( feature instanceof OpenLayers.Feature, "new OpenLayers.Feature returns Feature object" );
         t.eq( feature.layer, layer, "feature.layer set correctly" );
-        t.ok( feature.id.startsWith("OpenLayers.Feature_"), "feature.id set correctly" );
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(feature.id, "OpenLayers.Feature_"),
+             "feature.id set correctly");
         t.ok( feature.lonlat.equals(lonlat), "feature.lonlat set correctly" );
         t.eq( feature.data.iconURL, iconURL, "feature.data.iconURL set correctly" );
         t.ok( feature.data.iconSize.equals(iconSize), "feature.data.iconSize set correctly" );
diff --git a/tests/test_Geometry.html b/tests/test_Geometry.html
index c7af356e17..0c2d846feb 100644
--- a/tests/test_Geometry.html
+++ b/tests/test_Geometry.html
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
         var g = new OpenLayers.Geometry();
         
         t.eq(g.CLASS_NAME, "OpenLayers.Geometry", "correct CLASS_NAME")
-        t.ok(g.id.startsWith("OpenLayers.Geometry_"), "id correctly set");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(g.id, "OpenLayers.Geometry_"),
+             "id correctly set");
     }
 
 
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@
         var clone = geometry.clone();
 
         t.eq(clone.CLASS_NAME, "OpenLayers.Geometry", "correct CLASS_NAME")
-        t.ok(clone.id.startsWith("OpenLayers.Geometry_"), "id correctly set");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(clone.id, "OpenLayers.Geometry_"),
+             "id correctly set");
     }
 
     function test_02_Geometry_setBounds(t) {
diff --git a/tests/test_Popup.html b/tests/test_Popup.html
index e2484c860e..94ac5cd1df 100644
--- a/tests/test_Popup.html
+++ b/tests/test_Popup.html
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
         popup = new OpenLayers.Popup();
 
         t.ok( popup instanceof OpenLayers.Popup, "new OpenLayers.Popup returns Popup object" );
-        t.ok(popup.id.startsWith("OpenLayers.Popup"), "valid default popupid");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(popup.id, "OpenLayers.Popup"),
+             "valid default popupid");
         var firstID = popup.id;
         t.ok(popup.size.equals(size), "good default popup.size");
         t.eq(popup.contentHTML, "", "good default popup.contentHTML");
diff --git a/tests/test_Tile.html b/tests/test_Tile.html
index d7d0fe74f9..821d92d5c5 100644
--- a/tests/test_Tile.html
+++ b/tests/test_Tile.html
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
         t.ok( tile.size.equals(size), "tile.size is set correctly" );
 
         t.ok( tile.id != null, "tile is given an id");
-        t.ok( tile.id.startsWith("Tile_"), "tile's id starts correctly");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(tile.id, "Tile_"),
+             "tile's id starts correctly");
         t.ok( tile.events != null, "tile's events intitialized");
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_Util.html b/tests/test_Util.html
index faf06d9a09..8a6481b1bf 100644
--- a/tests/test_Util.html
+++ b/tests/test_Util.html
@@ -11,25 +11,6 @@
                     "getImagesLocation()" );
     }
 
-    function test_02_Util_Strings(t) {
-        t.plan(5);
-        
-        var str = "  chicken pox  ";
-
-        t.ok(str.contains("chicken"), "contains() function correctly finds an embedded string");
-        t.ok(!str.contains("marsupial"), "contains() function correctly does not finds an random string");
-        
-
-        var trimmedStr = str.trim();        
-
-        t.eq(trimmedStr, "chicken pox", "String.trim works correctly");
-
-        t.eq(trimmedStr.startsWith("chicken"), true, "String.startsWith correctly finds chicken");
-        t.eq(trimmedStr.startsWith("dolphin"), false, "String.startsWith correctly does not find turkey");
-
-
-    }
-
     function test_03_Util_Array(t) {
         t.plan( 1 );
 
@@ -423,34 +404,14 @@
         t.plan(2);
         
         var id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID();
-        t.ok( id.startsWith("id_"), "default OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID starts id correctly");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(id, "id_"),
+             "default OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID starts id correctly");
 
         var id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID("chicken");
-        t.ok( id.startsWith("chicken"), "OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID starts id correctly");
+        t.ok(OpenLayers.String.startsWith(id, "chicken"),
+             "OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID starts id correctly");
     }
-    
-    function test_12_Util_limitSigDigs(t) {
-        t.plan(7);
-
-        var x;
-
-        x = 123456;
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(3), 123000, "correctly rounds down");
-
-        x = 555555;
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(3), 556000, "correctly rounds up");
-
-        x = 66;
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(3), 66, "correctly handles number smaller than sigdig");
-
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(null), 0, "correctly handles null sigdig");
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(0), 0, "correctly handles 0 sigdig");
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(-1), 0, "correctly handles negative sigdig");
-
-        x = 0;
-        t.eq(x.limitSigDigs(2), 0, "correctly handles 0 number");
-    }
-    
+        
     function test_13_Util_normalizeScale(t) {
         t.plan(2);