diff --git a/JString.h b/JString.h
index 04dc25c..7b07b5b 100644
--- a/JString.h
+++ b/JString.h
@@ -56,17 +56,18 @@ namespace coreutils {
 	 friend std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &os, const Proxy &proxy);
 
 	 operator coreutils::ZString () {
-//	    std::cout << "operator to ZString: " << key << std::endl;
 	    return jstring.find(key);
 	 }
 
 	 operator coreutils::MString () {
-//	    std::cout << "operator to MString: " << key << std::endl;
 	    return jstring.find(key);
 	 }
 
+	 operator std::string () {
+	    return jstring.find(key).str();
+	 }
+
 	 Proxy& operator=(coreutils::ZString value) {
-//	    std::cout << "proxy operator=" << value << std::endl;
 	    jstring.set(key, value);
 	    return *this;
 	 }
@@ -77,7 +78,6 @@ namespace coreutils {
       };
 
       Proxy operator[](coreutils::ZString key) {
-//	 std::cout << "operator[" << key << "]" << std::endl;
 	 return Proxy(*this, key);
       }
       
diff --git a/MString.cpp b/MString.cpp
index 1fbb689..394de4a 100644
--- a/MString.cpp
+++ b/MString.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ namespace coreutils {
    MString &MString::operator<<(const int value) {
       std::stringstream temp;
       temp << value;
-      *this << temp.str();
+      MString temp2 = temp.str();
+      write(temp2);
       return *this;
    }
    
@@ -185,13 +186,13 @@ namespace coreutils {
       return *this;
    }
    
-   MString &MString::operator<<(std::string value) {
-      int temp = length;
-      int len = length + value.length();
-      setSize(len);
-      memcpy(data + temp, value.c_str(), value.length());
-      return *this;
-   }
+//   MString &MString::operator<<(std::string value) {
+//      int temp = length;
+//      int len = length + value.length();
+//      setSize(len);
+//      memcpy(data + temp, value.c_str(), value.length());
+//      return *this;
+//   }
 
 //   MString &MString::operator<<(std::ostream (*f)(std::ostream&)) {
    MString &MString::operator<<(std::basic_ostream<char> (*pf)(std::basic_ostream<char>&)) {
diff --git a/MString.h b/MString.h
index 2ef52d9..1d0c57f 100644
--- a/MString.h
+++ b/MString.h
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ namespace coreutils {
       ///
       ///
       
-      MString &operator<<(std::string value);
+//      MString &operator<<(std::string value);
 
       ///
       ///
diff --git a/testing/jstring_test b/testing/jstring_test
index d47fb17..edb5933 100755
Binary files a/testing/jstring_test and b/testing/jstring_test differ
diff --git a/testing/jstring_test.cpp b/testing/jstring_test.cpp
index cde5090..0c90fe6 100644
--- a/testing/jstring_test.cpp
+++ b/testing/jstring_test.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include "../JString.h"
+#include <string>
+#include <sstream>
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
@@ -45,6 +47,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
    std::cout << test1["array[1]"] << std::endl;   
    std::cout << test1["array[2]"] << std::endl;   
 
+   std::string string1 = test1["tester"];
+   std::cout << "from string: " << string1 << std::endl;
+
+   coreutils::MString testout;
+   testout << "this is a test: " << test1["comment"];
+   std::cout << testout << std::endl;
+   
    return 0;
 }