diff --git a/lib/multi_xml.rb b/lib/multi_xml.rb
index 114e050..80526ce 100644
--- a/lib/multi_xml.rb
+++ b/lib/multi_xml.rb
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def typecast_xml_value(value)
       when Hash
         if value['type'] == 'array'
           _, entries = wrap(value.detect{|key, value| key != 'type'})
-          if entries.nil? || entries.strip.empty? || (c = value[CONTENT_ROOT] && c.blank?)
+          if entries.blank? || (c = value[CONTENT_ROOT] && c.blank?)
             []
           else
             case entries
diff --git a/lib/multi_xml/core_extensions.rb b/lib/multi_xml/core_extensions.rb
index e4f02a7..423a614 100644
--- a/lib/multi_xml/core_extensions.rb
+++ b/lib/multi_xml/core_extensions.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class Object #:nodoc:
   # Returns true if the object is nil or empty (if applicable)
   def blank?
     nil? || (respond_to?(:empty?) && empty?)
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
 
 class Numeric #:nodoc:
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class Numeric #:nodoc:
   # Numerics can't be blank
   def blank?
     false
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
 
 class NilClass #:nodoc:
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class NilClass #:nodoc:
   # Nils are always blank
   def blank?
     true
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
 
 class TrueClass #:nodoc:
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ class TrueClass #:nodoc:
   # True is not blank.  
   def blank?
     false
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
 
 class FalseClass #:nodoc:
   # False is always blank.
   def blank?
     true
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
 
 class String #:nodoc:
@@ -55,5 +55,5 @@ class String #:nodoc:
   # Strips out whitespace then tests if the string is empty.
   def blank?
     strip.empty?
-  end unless method_defined?(:blank?)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/multi_xml/parsers/rexml.rb b/lib/multi_xml/parsers/rexml.rb
index 2272c60..7a801ae 100644
--- a/lib/multi_xml/parsers/rexml.rb
+++ b/lib/multi_xml/parsers/rexml.rb
@@ -23,12 +23,10 @@ def parse(xml)
         else
           xml.ungetc(char)
           doc = REXML::Document.new(xml)
-
           if doc.root
             merge_element!({}, doc.root)
           else
-            raise REXML::ParseException,
-              "The document #{doc.to_s.inspect} does not have a valid root"
+            raise REXML::ParseException, "The document #{doc.to_s.inspect} does not have a valid root"
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/spec/multi_xml_spec.rb b/spec/multi_xml_spec.rb
index 3c64edd..36c3b73 100644
--- a/spec/multi_xml_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/multi_xml_spec.rb
@@ -461,7 +461,6 @@ def self.parse(xml)
               end
 
               it "should parse correctly" do
-                pending
                 MultiXml.parse(@xml).should == {"user"=>{"name"=>"Erik Michaels-Ober"}}
               end
             end