diff --git a/cement/core/command.py b/cement/core/command.py
index b5a87e1b..b74b7498 100644
--- a/cement/core/command.py
+++ b/cement/core/command.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from cement.core.exc import CementArgumentError
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
         
-# FIXME: This method is so effing ugly.
 def run_command(cmd_name=None):
     """
     Run the command or namespace-subcommand as defined by the 'expose()'
@@ -64,9 +63,10 @@ def run_command(cmd_name=None):
     if namespaces[namespace].commands.has_key(actual_cmd):
         cmd = namespaces[namespace].commands[actual_cmd]
         log.debug("executing command '%s'" % actual_cmd)
-        run_controller_command(cmd['controller_namespace'], cmd['func'], 
-                               cli_opts, cli_args)  
-
+        (res, out_txt) = run_controller_command(cmd['controller_namespace'], 
+                                                cmd['func'], 
+                                                cli_opts, cli_args)  
+        return (res, out_txt)
     else:
         raise CementArgumentError, "Unknown command '%s', see --help?" % actual_cmd
         
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cement/core/controller.py b/cement/core/controller.py
index 95bbc267..d8e08439 100644
--- a/cement/core/controller.py
+++ b/cement/core/controller.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ class CementController(object):
 def run_controller_command(namespace, func, cli_opts=None, cli_args=None, 
                            *args, **kw):
     """
-    Cleanly run a command function from a controller.
+    Cleanly run a command function from a controller.  Returns a tuple of
+    (result_dict, output_txt).
     
     Arguments:
     
@@ -56,8 +57,8 @@ def run_controller_command(namespace, func, cli_opts=None, cli_args=None,
         set_config_opts_per_cli_opts(nam, cli_opts)
         
     controller = namespaces[namespace].controller(cli_opts, cli_args)
-    res = getattr(controller, func)(*args, **kw)
-    return res
+    (res, out_txt) = getattr(controller, func)(*args, **kw)
+    return (res, out_txt)
 
 class expose(object):
     """
diff --git a/cement/core/exc.py b/cement/core/exc.py
index 519d27a4..9800d2bf 100644
--- a/cement/core/exc.py
+++ b/cement/core/exc.py
@@ -25,14 +25,8 @@ class CementRuntimeError(CementError):
         code = 1020
         CementError.__init__(self, value, code)
         
-class CementInternalServerError(CementError):
-    """Unknown or private internal errors."""
-    def __init__(self, value):
-        code = 1030
-        CementError.__init__(self, value, code)
-        
 class CementArgumentError(CementError):
     """Argument errors."""
     def __init__(self, value):
-        code = 1040
+        code = 1030
         CementError.__init__(self, value, code)
diff --git a/cement/core/handler.py b/cement/core/handler.py
index 77de89cf..5711f998 100644
--- a/cement/core/handler.py
+++ b/cement/core/handler.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from cement import handlers
 from cement.core.log import get_logger
+from cement.core.namespace import get_config
 from cement.core.exc import CementRuntimeError
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
@@ -10,8 +11,8 @@ def get_handler(handler_type, handler_name):
     if handler_type in handlers:
         if handler_name in handlers[handler_type]:
             return handlers[handler_type][handler_name]
-    raise MFRuntimeError, "The handler handlers[%s][%s] does not exist!" \
-        (handler_type, handler_name)
+    raise CementRuntimeError, "The handler handlers[%s][%s] does not exist!" \
+        % (handler_type, handler_name)
     
 def define_handler(type):
     """
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ def define_handler(type):
         define_handler('database')
     
     """
+    config = get_config()
     log.debug("defining handler type '%s'", type)
     if handlers.has_key(type):
         raise CementRuntimeError, "Handler type '%s' already defined!" % type
diff --git a/cement/core/hook.py b/cement/core/hook.py
index 35ba0421..c3d2b155 100644
--- a/cement/core/hook.py
+++ b/cement/core/hook.py
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ from cement.core.log import get_logger
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
-def clear_hooks():
-    hooks = {}
+#def clear_hooks():
+#    hooks = {}
     
 def define_hook(name):
     """
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class register_hook(object):
         log.debug("registering hook func '%s' from %s into hooks['%s']" % \
             (func.__name__, func.__module__, self.name))
         if not hooks.has_key(self.name):
-            log.warn("Hook name '%s' is not define!" % self.name)
+            log.warn("Hook name '%s' is not defined!" % self.name)
             return func
         # Hooks are as follows: (weight, name, func)
         hooks[self.name].append(
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class register_hook(object):
         )
 
 
-def run_hooks(*args, **kwargs):
+def run_hooks(name, *args, **kwargs):
     """
     Run all defined hooks in the namespace.  Yields the result of each hook
     function run.
@@ -103,13 +103,12 @@ def run_hooks(*args, **kwargs):
             # do something with result from each hook function
             ...
     """
-    name = args[0]
     if not hooks.has_key(name):
-        CementRuntimeError, "Hook name '%s' is not defined!" % name
+        raise CementRuntimeError, "Hook name '%s' is not defined!" % name
     hooks[name].sort() # Will order based on weight
     for hook in hooks[name]:
         log.debug("running hook '%s' from %s" % (name, hook[2].__module__))
-        res = hook[2](*args[1:], **kwargs)
+        res = hook[2](*args, **kwargs)
         
         # Results are yielded, so you must fun a for loop on it, you can not
         # simply call run_hooks().  
diff --git a/cement/core/log.py b/cement/core/log.py
index bdb976ca..19bc4e3e 100644
--- a/cement/core/log.py
+++ b/cement/core/log.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def setup_logging(clear_loggers=True, level=None, to_console=True):
             from logging.handlers import RotatingFileHandler
             file_handler = RotatingFileHandler(
                 config['log_file'], maxBytes=int(config['log_max_bytes']), 
-                backupCount=int(config['log_max_files'])
+                backupCount=int(config['log_max_bytes'])
                 )
         else:
             from logging import FileHandler
diff --git a/cement/core/namespace.py b/cement/core/namespace.py
index 8e619a53..a2868175 100644
--- a/cement/core/namespace.py
+++ b/cement/core/namespace.py
@@ -10,9 +10,6 @@ from cement.core.opt import init_parser
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
-def clear_namespaces():
-    namespaces = {}
-    
 def get_namespace(namespace):
     """
     Return the namespace object whose label is 'namespace'.
@@ -26,10 +23,12 @@ def get_namespace(namespace):
     if namespaces.has_key(namespace):
         return namespaces[namespace]
     else:
-        log.fatal("the namespace '%s' doesn't exist" % namespace)
+        raise CementRuntimeError, "the namespace '%s' doesn't exist" % \
+            namespace
 
 def get_config(namespace='root'):
-    """Get a namespace's config.  Returns a ConfigObj object.
+    """
+    Get a namespace's config.  Returns a ConfigObj object.
     
     Optional Arguments:
     
@@ -40,7 +39,8 @@ def get_config(namespace='root'):
     if namespaces.has_key(namespace):
         return namespaces[namespace].config
     else:
-        log.fatal("the namespace '%s' doesn't exist" % namespace)
+        raise CementRuntimeError, "the namespace '%s' doesn't exist" % \
+            namespace
     
 class CementNamespace(object):
     """
diff --git a/cement/core/plugin.py b/cement/core/plugin.py
index 676d61fc..2fd34392 100644
--- a/cement/core/plugin.py
+++ b/cement/core/plugin.py
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ from cement.core.configuration import ensure_api_compat
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
 
-class CementPlugin(CementNamespace):
-    """Wrapper for CementNamespace."""
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        CementNamespace.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
+#class CementPlugin(CementNamespace):
+#    """Wrapper for CementNamespace."""
+#    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+#        CementNamespace.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
      
 def get_enabled_plugins():
     """
diff --git a/cement/core/testing.py b/cement/core/testing.py
index a2b51b58..4b3adf6d 100644
--- a/cement/core/testing.py
+++ b/cement/core/testing.py
@@ -1,15 +1,26 @@
 """Helper functions for testing applications built on Cement."""
 
+import os
 import sys
+from shutil import rmtree
+from tempfile import mkdtemp
+
 from cement import namespaces
+from cement.core.namespace import get_config
+from cement.core.exc import CementRuntimeError
 from cement.core.controller import run_controller_command
 from cement.core.opt import parse_options
 
-def simulate():
+def simulate(args=[]):
     """
-    Simulate running a command at command line.  Requires sys.argv to have
+    Simulate running a command at command line.  Requires args to have
     the exact args set to it as would be passed at command line.
     
+    Required arguments:
+    
+        args
+            The args to pass to sys.argv
+            
     Usage:
     
     .. code-block:: python
@@ -17,14 +28,35 @@ def simulate():
         import sys
         from cement.core.testing import simulate
         
-        sys.argv = ['helloworld', 'example', 'cmd1', '--test-option']
-        res = simulate()
+        args = ['helloworld', 'example', 'cmd1', '--test-option']
+        res = simulate(args)
         
     """
+    if not len(sys.argv) >= 1:
+        raise CementRuntimeError, "args must be set properly."
+        
+    sys.argv = args
     if sys.argv[1] in namespaces:
-        (opts, args) = parse_options(sys.argv[1], ignore_conflicts=True)
-        res = run_controller_command(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2], opts, args) 
+        if not len(sys.argv) >= 3:
+            raise CementRuntimeError, "A subcommand (additional arg) is required."
+        else:
+            namespace = sys.argv[1]
+            cmd = sys.argv[2]
     else:
-        (opts, args) = parse_options('root', ignore_conflicts=True)
-        res = run_controller_command('root', sys.argv[1], opts, args) 
-    return res
\ No newline at end of file
+        namespace = 'root'
+        cmd = sys.argv[1]
+        
+    (opts, args) = parse_options(namespace, ignore_conflicts=True)
+    (res_dict, output_txt) = run_controller_command(namespace, cmd, opts, args) 
+    return (res_dict, output_txt)
+    
+def setup_func():
+    """A generic setup function for nose testing."""
+    config = get_config()
+    config['datadir'] = mkdtemp()
+    
+def teardown_func():
+    """A generic teardown function for nose testing."""
+    config = get_config()
+    if os.path.exists(config['datadir']):
+        rmtree(config['datadir'])
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cement/core/view.py b/cement/core/view.py
index 62d76d74..b5165794 100644
--- a/cement/core/view.py
+++ b/cement/core/view.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ def render_genshi_output(return_dict, template_content=None):
     from genshi.template import NewTextTemplate
     if template_content:  
         tmpl = NewTextTemplate(template_content)
-        return tmpl.generate(**return_dict).render()
+        res = tmpl.generate(**return_dict).render()
+        return res
     else:
         log.debug('template content is empty.')
         return ''
@@ -90,9 +91,17 @@ class render(object):
     
     Keywork arguments:
     
+        output_handler
+            The name of the output handler to use for rendering
+            
         template
             The module path to the template (default: None)
-                
+            
+    
+    When called, a tuple is returned consisting of (dict, output), meaning
+    the first item is the result dictionary as returned by the original
+    function, and the second is the output as rendered by the output handler.
+    
     """
     def __init__(self, output_handler, template=None):
         self.func = None
@@ -158,9 +167,10 @@ class render(object):
                     elif out and self.config['log_to_console']:
                         out.write(out_txt)
                     
-                    # return res, because we want it to be readable when
-                    # called directly from run_controller_command()
-                    return res
+                    # return res and out_txt, because we want it to be 
+                    # readable when called directly from 
+                    # run_controller_command()
+                    return (res, out_txt)
                 else:
                     raise CementRuntimeError, \
                         "Handler name '%s' " % self.output_handler + \
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/tests/core/__init__.py b/tests/core/__init__.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29b..00000000
diff --git a/tests/core/app_setup_tests.py b/tests/core/app_setup_tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 1fdd0568..00000000
--- a/tests/core/app_setup_tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-
-from configobj import ConfigObj
-from nose.tools import raises, with_setup
-
-from cement import hooks, namespaces, handlers
-from cement.core.exc import CementConfigError
-from cement.core.app_setup import lay_cement, define_default_hooks
-from cement.core.app_setup import define_default_handler_types
-from cement.core.app_setup import register_default_handlers
-
-def setup_func():
-    "set up test fixtures"
-    pass
-    
-def teardown_func():
-    "tear down test fixtures"
-    pass
-    
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_define_default_hooks():
-    global hooks
-    define_default_hooks()
-    expected_hooks = [
-        'options_hook', 'post_options_hook', 'validate_config_hook',
-        'pre_plugins_hook', 'post_plugins_hook', 'post_bootstrap_hook'
-        ]
-    for hook_name in expected_hooks:
-        yield check_hook, hook_name
-    
-def check_hook(hook_name):
-    assert hooks.has_key(hook_name)
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_define_default_handler_types():
-    global handlers
-    define_default_handler_types()
-    expected_handler_types = [
-        'output'
-        ]
-    for handler_type in expected_handler_types:
-        yield check_handler_type, handler_type
-    
-def check_handler_type(handler_type):
-    assert handlers.has_key(handler_type)
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_register_default_handlers():
-    global handlers
-    register_default_handlers()
-    expected_output = [
-        'genshi', 'json'
-        ]
-    for handler in expected_output:
-        yield check_handler, 'output', handler
-    
-def check_handler(type, name):
-    assert handlers[type].has_key(name)
-    
-# FIXME: How do you test lay_cement()?  Needs a full working (and installed)
-# application.
diff --git a/tests/core/configuration_tests.py b/tests/core/configuration_tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index a1234991..00000000
--- a/tests/core/configuration_tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,90 +0,0 @@
-
-import os
-import shutil
-from tempfile import mkdtemp
-from configobj import ConfigObj
-from nose.tools import with_setup, raises, ok_
-
-from cement.core.exc import CementRuntimeError, CementConfigError
-from cement.core.configuration import ensure_api_compat, CEMENT_API, t_f_pass
-from cement.core.configuration import validate_config
-
-tmpdir = None
-
-def setup_func():
-    "set up test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    tmpdir = mkdtemp()
-    
-def teardown_func():
-    "tear down test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    shutil.rmtree(tmpdir)
-
-@raises(CementRuntimeError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_ensure_api_compat_bad():
-    ensure_api_compat(__name__, 'xxxxx')
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_ensure_api_compat():
-    ok_(ensure_api_compat(__name__, CEMENT_API))
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_validate_config():
-    global tmpdir
-    prefix = tmpdir
-    
-    dcf = ConfigObj() # default config
-    dcf['config_source'] = ['defaults']
-    dcf['app_name'] = 'helloworld' # name for cli like /etc/<app_name>
-    dcf['app_egg_name'] = 'helloworld' # name from setup.py
-    dcf['app_module'] = 'helloworld' # name of the library dir
-
-    dcf['enabled_plugins'] = [] # no default plugins, add via the config file
-    dcf['debug'] = False
-    dcf['datadir'] = '%s/data' % prefix
-    dcf['tmpdir'] = '%s/tmp' % prefix
-    dcf['log_file'] = '%s/log/%s.log' % (prefix, dcf['app_name'])
-    dcf['plugin_config_dir'] = '%s/etc/plugins.d' % prefix
-    dcf['log_to_console'] = True
-    dcf['output_handler'] = 'genshi'
-    dcf['show_plugin_load'] = True
-
-    # By default look in /etc and ~/ for config files.  You should probably
-    # symlink /etc/<your_app> => ./etc/<your_app> for easy development.
-    dcf['config_files'] = [
-        os.path.join(prefix, 'etc', '%s.conf' % dcf['app_name']),
-        ]
-    
-    validate_config(dcf)
-
-@raises(CementConfigError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_validate_config_bad():
-    global tmpdir
-    prefix = tmpdir
-    
-    dcf = ConfigObj() # default config    
-    validate_config(dcf)
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_t_f_pass():
-    for val in ['true', 'True', True]:
-        yield check_true, val
-
-    for val in ['false', 'False', False]:
-        yield check_false, val
-    
-    for val in ['a', 'Blah Hah', 100]:
-        yield check_pass, val
-        
-def check_true(val):
-    assert t_f_pass(val) == True
-
-def check_false(val):
-    assert t_f_pass(val) == False
-
-def check_pass(val):
-    assert t_f_pass(val) == val
-    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/core/controller_tests.py b/tests/core/controller_tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 9dec3195..00000000
--- a/tests/core/controller_tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-
-import os
-import shutil
-from tempfile import mkdtemp
-from configobj import ConfigObj
-from nose.tools import with_setup, raises, ok_
-
-from cement.core.exc import CementRuntimeError, CementConfigError
-from cement.core.controller import CementController
-
-tmpdir = None
-
-def setup_func():
-    "set up test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    tmpdir = mkdtemp()
-    
-def teardown_func():
-    "tear down test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    shutil.rmtree(tmpdir)
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_controller_class():
-    # FIXME: passing bogus cause cli_opts is actually an object, but we just
-    # want to test that self.cli_opts is getting assigned
-    c = CementController(cli_opts='bogus', cli_args=['a', 'b'])
-    assert c.cli_opts == 'bogus', "self.cli_opts is not getting set."
-    assert 'a' in c.cli_args, "self.cli_opts is not getting set."
-    
-# FIX ME: rest of stuff requires a running/installed cement app    
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/core/exc_tests.py b/tests/core/exc_tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index d101c985..00000000
--- a/tests/core/exc_tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-
-import os
-import shutil
-from tempfile import mkdtemp
-from configobj import ConfigObj
-from nose.tools import with_setup, raises, eq_
-
-from cement.core.exc import CementRuntimeError, CementConfigError
-from cement.core.exc import CementArgumentError, CementError
-from cement.core.exc import CementInternalServerError
-
-from cement.core.controller import CementController
-
-tmpdir = None
-
-def setup_func():
-    "set up test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    tmpdir = mkdtemp()
-    
-def teardown_func():
-    "tear down test fixtures"
-    global tmpdir
-    shutil.rmtree(tmpdir)
-
-@raises(CementConfigError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_config_error():
-    raise CementConfigError, 'test'
-    
-@raises(CementRuntimeError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_runtime_error():
-    raise CementRuntimeError, 'test'
-
-@raises(CementInternalServerError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_internal_server_error():
-    raise CementInternalServerError, 'test'
-        
-@raises(CementArgumentError)
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_argument_error():
-    raise CementArgumentError, 'test'
-    
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_config_code():
-    try:
-        raise CementConfigError, 'test'
-    except CementConfigError, e:
-        eq_(e.code, 1010)
-        
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_runtime_code():
-    try:
-        raise CementRuntimeError, 'test'
-    except CementRuntimeError, e:
-        eq_(e.code, 1020)
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_internal_server_code():
-    try:
-        raise CementInternalServerError, 'test'
-    except CementInternalServerError, e:
-        eq_(e.code, 1030)
-            
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_exc_argument_code():
-    try:
-        raise CementArgumentError, 'test'
-    except CementArgumentError, e:
-        eq_(e.code, 1040)
-
-    
-
diff --git a/tests/core/view_tests.py b/tests/core/view_tests.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 145bed72..00000000
--- a/tests/core/view_tests.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-
-from nose.tools import raises, with_setup, eq_
-
-from cement import hooks, namespaces, handlers
-from cement.core.view import render_genshi_output, render_json_output
-
-def setup_func():
-    "set up test fixtures"
-    pass
-    
-def teardown_func():
-    "tear down test fixtures"
-    pass
-    
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_render_genshi_output():
-    fake_dict = dict(foo='String', bar=100, list=[1,2,3,4,5])
-    tmpl_content = """$foo$bar{% for i in list %}${i}{% end %}"""
-    output = render_genshi_output(fake_dict, tmpl_content)
-    eq_(output, 'String10012345')
-
-@with_setup(setup_func, teardown_func)
-def test_render_json_output():
-    fake_dict = dict(foo='String', bar=100, list=[1,2,3,4,5])
-    tmpl_content = """$foo$bar{% for i in list %}${i}{% end %}"""
-    output = render_json_output(fake_dict, tmpl_content)
-    eq_(output, '{"bar": 100, "foo": "String", "list": [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], "stderr": "", "stdout": ""}')
\ No newline at end of file