diff --git a/src/servo/content/content_task.rs b/src/servo/content/content_task.rs
index 1e0bd248a16..fe005db9a3c 100644
--- a/src/servo/content/content_task.rs
+++ b/src/servo/content/content_task.rs
@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@ impl Content {
         }
     }
 
-    fn handle_msg(msg: Either<ControlMsg,Event>) -> bool {
+    fn handle_msg(+msg: Either<ControlMsg,Event>) -> bool {
         match msg {
             Left(control_msg) => self.handle_control_msg(control_msg),
             Right(event) => self.handle_event(event)
         }
     }
 
-    fn handle_control_msg(control_msg: ControlMsg) -> bool {
+    fn handle_control_msg(+control_msg: ControlMsg) -> bool {
         match control_msg {
           ParseMsg(url) => {
             debug!("content: Received url `%s` to parse", url_to_str(copy url));
@@ -173,14 +173,14 @@ impl Content {
 
             let document = Document(root, self.scope, css_rules);
             let window   = Window(self.from_master);
-            self.relayout(document, &url);
+            self.relayout(&document, &url);
             self.document = Some(@document);
             self.window   = Some(@window);
             self.doc_url = Some(copy url);
 
             let compartment = option::expect(&self.compartment, ~"TODO error checking");
             compartment.define_functions(debug_fns);
-            define_bindings(*compartment,
+            define_bindings(compartment,
                             option::get(&self.document),
                             option::get(&self.window));
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ impl Content {
             //TODO: support extra args. requires passing a *jsval argv
             JS_CallFunctionValue(self.cx.ptr, thisValue, timerData.funval,
                                  0, null(), ptr::to_unsafe_ptr(&rval));
-            self.relayout(*option::get(&self.document), &option::get(&self.doc_url));
+            self.relayout(self.document.get(), &option::get(&self.doc_url));
             return true;
           }
 
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ impl Content {
        join the layout task, and then request a new layout run. It won't wait for the
        new layout computation to finish.
     */
-    fn relayout(document: Document, doc_url: &Url) {
+    fn relayout(document: &Document, doc_url: &Url) {
         debug!("content: performing relayout");
 
         // Now, join the layout so that they will see the latest
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ impl Content {
     }
 
      fn query_layout(query: layout_task::LayoutQuery) -> layout_task::LayoutQueryResponse {
-         self.relayout(*self.document.get(), &self.doc_url.get());
+         self.relayout(self.document.get(), &self.doc_url.get());
          self.join_layout();
          
          let response_port = Port();
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ impl Content {
                 }
                 Some(document) => {
                     assert self.doc_url.is_some();
-                    self.relayout(*document, &self.doc_url.get());
+                    self.relayout(document, &self.doc_url.get());
                 }
             }
             return true;
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ impl Content {
                 }
                 Some(document) => {
                     assert self.doc_url.is_some();
-                    self.relayout(*document, &self.doc_url.get());
+                    self.relayout(document, &self.doc_url.get());
                 }
             }
             return true;
diff --git a/src/servo/css/styles.rs b/src/servo/css/styles.rs
index 4df3d88003b..e7796c7b98d 100644
--- a/src/servo/css/styles.rs
+++ b/src/servo/css/styles.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl Node : StyleMethods {
             fail ~"get_style() called on a node without a style!";
         }
         // TODO: return a safe reference; don't copy!
-        return copy *self.aux(|x| copy x).style;
+        return copy *self.aux(|x| copy *x).style;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/bindings/document.rs b/src/servo/dom/bindings/document.rs
index cf63afafc3a..422763204a3 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/bindings/document.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/bindings/document.rs
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ extern fn finalize(_fop: *JSFreeOp, obj: *JSObject) {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn init(compartment: bare_compartment, doc: @Document) {
+pub fn init(compartment: &bare_compartment, doc: @Document) {
     let obj = utils::define_empty_prototype(~"Document", None, compartment);
 
     let attrs = @~[
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/bindings/element.rs b/src/servo/dom/bindings/element.rs
index 024ede2533c..62478f35358 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/bindings/element.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/bindings/element.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ extern fn finalize(_fop: *JSFreeOp, obj: *JSObject) {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn init(compartment: bare_compartment) {
+pub fn init(compartment: &bare_compartment) {
     let obj = utils::define_empty_prototype(~"Element", Some(~"Node"), compartment);
     let attrs = @~[
         {name: compartment.add_name(~"tagName"),
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ extern fn HTMLImageElement_getWidth(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsva
     let bundle = unwrap(obj);
     let node = (*bundle).payload.node;
     let scope = (*bundle).payload.scope;
-    let width = scope.write(node, |nd| {
+    let width = scope.write(&node, |nd| {
         match nd.kind {
             ~Element(ed) => {
                 match ed.kind {
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ extern fn HTMLImageElement_setWidth(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsva
     }
 
     let bundle = unwrap(obj);
-    do (*bundle).payload.scope.write((*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
+    do (*bundle).payload.scope.write(&(*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
         match nd.kind {
           ~Element(ed) => {
             match ed.kind {
@@ -131,11 +131,11 @@ extern fn getTagName(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsval)
         }
 
         let bundle = unwrap(obj);
-        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write((*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
+        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write(&(*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
             match nd.kind {
               ~Element(ed) => {
                 let s = str(copy ed.tag_name);
-                *vp = domstring_to_jsval(cx, s);
+                *vp = domstring_to_jsval(cx, &s);
               }
               _ => {
                 //XXXjdm should probably read the spec to figure out what to do here
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ extern fn getTagName(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsval)
 }
 
 pub fn create(cx: *JSContext, node: Node, scope: NodeScope) -> jsobj unsafe {
-    let proto = scope.write(node, |nd| {
+    let proto = scope.write(&node, |nd| {
         match nd.kind {
           ~Element(ed) => {
             match ed.kind {
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/bindings/node.rs b/src/servo/dom/bindings/node.rs
index 9f3a0eb86b9..f27849df520 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/bindings/node.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/bindings/node.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use utils::{rust_box, squirrel_away_unique, get_compartment, domstring_to_jsval,
 use libc::c_uint;
 use ptr::null;
 
-pub fn init(compartment: bare_compartment) {
+pub fn init(compartment: &bare_compartment) {
     let obj = utils::define_empty_prototype(~"Node", None, compartment);
 
     let attrs = @~[
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub fn init(compartment: bare_compartment) {
 }
 
 pub fn create(cx: *JSContext, node: Node, scope: NodeScope) -> jsobj unsafe {
-    do scope.write(node) |nd| {
+    do scope.write(&node) |nd| {
         match nd.kind {
             ~Element(*) => {
               element::create(cx, node, scope)
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ extern fn getFirstChild(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsval) -> JSBool
         }
 
         let bundle = unwrap(obj);
-        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write((*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
+        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write(&(*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
             match nd.tree.first_child {
               Some(n) => {
                 let obj = create(cx, n, (*bundle).payload.scope).ptr;
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ extern fn getNextSibling(cx: *JSContext, _argc: c_uint, vp: *mut jsval) -> JSBoo
         }
 
         let bundle = unwrap(obj);
-        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write((*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
+        do (*bundle).payload.scope.write(&(*bundle).payload.node) |nd| {
             match nd.tree.next_sibling {
               Some(n) => {
                 let obj = create(cx, n, (*bundle).payload.scope).ptr;
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/bindings/utils.rs b/src/servo/dom/bindings/utils.rs
index 43566c83b3e..a6ccf0dd29b 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/bindings/utils.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/bindings/utils.rs
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ fn jsval_to_str(cx: *JSContext, v: jsval) -> Result<~str, ()> {
     }
 }
 
-unsafe fn domstring_to_jsval(cx: *JSContext, str: DOMString) -> jsval {
-    match str {
+unsafe fn domstring_to_jsval(cx: *JSContext, str: &DOMString) -> jsval {
+    match *str {
       null_string => {
         JSVAL_NULL
       }
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ extern fn has_instance(_cx: *JSContext, obj: **JSObject, v: *jsval, bp: *mut JSB
     return 1;
 }
 
-pub fn prototype_jsclass(name: ~str) -> fn(+compartment: bare_compartment) -> JSClass {
-    |+compartment: bare_compartment, copy name| {
+pub fn prototype_jsclass(+name: ~str) -> fn(+compartment: bare_compartment) -> JSClass {
+    |+compartment: bare_compartment| {
         {name: compartment.add_name(name),
          flags: 0,
          addProperty: GetJSClassHookStubPointer(PROPERTY_STUB) as *u8,
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ pub fn prototype_jsclass(name: ~str) -> fn(+compartment: bare_compartment) -> JS
     }
 }
 
-pub fn instance_jsclass(name: ~str, finalize: *u8)
+pub fn instance_jsclass(+name: ~str, finalize: *u8)
     -> fn(+compartment: bare_compartment) -> JSClass {
-    |+compartment: bare_compartment, copy name| {
+    |+compartment: bare_compartment| {
         {name: compartment.add_name(name),
          flags: JSCLASS_HAS_RESERVED_SLOTS(1),
          addProperty: GetJSClassHookStubPointer(PROPERTY_STUB) as *u8,
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ pub fn instance_jsclass(name: ~str, finalize: *u8)
     }
 }
 
-pub fn define_empty_prototype(name: ~str, proto: Option<~str>, compartment: bare_compartment)
+pub fn define_empty_prototype(+name: ~str, +proto: Option<~str>, compartment: &bare_compartment)
     -> js::rust::jsobj {
     compartment.register_class(utils::prototype_jsclass(name));
 
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/bindings/window.rs b/src/servo/dom/bindings/window.rs
index ebe70ab3ecb..b2026cb9255 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/bindings/window.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/bindings/window.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ extern fn finalize(_fop: *JSFreeOp, obj: *JSObject) {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn init(compartment: bare_compartment, win: @Window) {
+pub fn init(compartment: &bare_compartment, win: @Window) {
     let proto = utils::define_empty_prototype(~"Window", None, compartment);
     compartment.register_class(utils::instance_jsclass(~"WindowInstance", finalize));
 
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/document.rs b/src/servo/dom/document.rs
index a07ae5f9c6f..fbeacf77535 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/document.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/document.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ struct Document {
     css_rules: ARC<Stylesheet>,
 }
 
-fn Document(root: Node, scope: NodeScope, -css_rules: Stylesheet) -> Document {
+fn Document(+root: Node, +scope: NodeScope, +css_rules: Stylesheet) -> Document {
     Document {
         root : root,
         scope : scope,
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/element.rs b/src/servo/dom/element.rs
index 8547d3bad19..54112eb8b12 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/element.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/element.rs
@@ -11,24 +11,24 @@ struct ElementData {
 }
 
 impl ElementData {
-    fn get_attr(name: ~str) -> Option<~str> {
-        let found = do self.attrs.find |attr| { attr.name == name };
+    fn get_attr(name: &str) -> Option<~str> {
+        let found = do self.attrs.find |attr| { name == attr.name };
         match found {
             Some(attr) => Some(copy attr.value),
             None => None
         }
     }
 
-    fn set_attr(name: ~str, value: ~str) {
-        let idx = do self.attrs.position |attr| { attr.name == name };
+    fn set_attr(name: &str, +value: ~str) {
+        let idx = do self.attrs.position |attr| { name == attr.name };
         match idx {
-            Some(idx) => self.attrs.set_elt(idx, ~Attr(name, value)),
+            Some(idx) => self.attrs.set_elt(idx, ~Attr(name.to_str(), value)),
             None => {}
         }
     }
 }
 
-fn ElementData(tag_name: ~str, kind: ~ElementKind) -> ElementData {
+fn ElementData(+tag_name: ~str, +kind: ~ElementKind) -> ElementData {
     ElementData {
         tag_name : tag_name,
         kind : kind,
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ struct Attr {
     value: ~str,
 }
 
-fn Attr(name: ~str, value: ~str) -> Attr {
+fn Attr(+name: ~str, +value: ~str) -> Attr {
     Attr {
         name : name,
         value : value,
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/node.rs b/src/servo/dom/node.rs
index 442b9d51edc..6f7f580dc00 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/node.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/node.rs
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ impl Node {
    with a generic implementation of rcu::Handle */
 impl Node : cmp::Eq {
     pure fn eq(other : &Node) -> bool unsafe {
-        let my_data : @LayoutData = @self.aux(|a| a);
-        let ot_data : @LayoutData = @other.aux(|a| a);
+        let my_data : @LayoutData = @self.aux(|a| *a);
+        let ot_data : @LayoutData = @other.aux(|a| *a);
         core::box::ptr_eq(my_data, ot_data)
     }
     pure fn ne(other : &Node) -> bool unsafe {
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ struct DoctypeData {
     force_quirks: bool
 }
 
-fn DoctypeData(name: ~str, public_id: Option<~str>,
-               system_id: Option<~str>, force_quirks: bool) -> DoctypeData {
+fn DoctypeData(+name: ~str, +public_id: Option<~str>,
+               +system_id: Option<~str>, force_quirks: bool) -> DoctypeData {
     DoctypeData {
         name : name,
         public_id : public_id,
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ fn DoctypeData(name: ~str, public_id: Option<~str>,
 
 
 
-fn define_bindings(compartment: bare_compartment, doc: @Document,
+fn define_bindings(compartment: &bare_compartment, doc: @Document,
                    win: @Window) {
     bindings::window::init(compartment, win);
     bindings::document::init(compartment, doc);
@@ -141,13 +141,13 @@ fn NodeScope() -> NodeScope {
 }
 
 trait NodeScopeExtensions {
-    fn new_node(-k: NodeKind) -> Node;
+    fn new_node(+k: NodeKind) -> Node;
 }
 
 #[allow(non_implicitly_copyable_typarams)]
 impl NodeScope : NodeScopeExtensions {
-    fn new_node(-k: NodeKind) -> Node {
-        self.handle(NodeData({tree: tree::empty(), kind: ~k}))
+    fn new_node(+k: NodeKind) -> Node {
+        self.handle(&NodeData({tree: tree::empty(), kind: ~k}))
     }
 }
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ impl NodeScope : tree::ReadMethods<Node> {
     }
 
     fn with_tree_fields<R>(node: &Node, f: fn(&tree::Tree<Node>) -> R) -> R {
-        self.read(*node, |n| f(&n.tree))
+        self.read(node, |n| f(&n.tree))
     }
 }
 
@@ -173,6 +173,6 @@ impl NodeScope : tree::WriteMethods<Node> {
     }
 
     fn with_tree_fields<R>(node: &Node, f: fn(&tree::Tree<Node>) -> R) -> R {
-        self.write(*node, |n| f(&n.tree))
+        self.write(node, |n| f(&n.tree))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/servo/dom/rcu.rs b/src/servo/dom/rcu.rs
index 5b4aef7b234..a469daf077b 100644
--- a/src/servo/dom/rcu.rs
+++ b/src/servo/dom/rcu.rs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ struct ScopeResource<T:Send,A> {
     }
 }
 
-fn ScopeResource<T:Send,A>(d : ScopeData<T,A>) -> ScopeResource<T,A> {
+fn ScopeResource<T:Send,A>(+d : ScopeData<T,A>) -> ScopeResource<T,A> {
     ScopeResource { d: d }
 }
 
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ impl<T:Send,A> Handle<T,A> {
 
 impl<T:Send,A> Handle<T,A> {
     #[doc(str = "Access the reader's view of the handle's data.")]
-    fn read<U>(f: fn(T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
-        f(*self.read_ptr())
+    fn read<U>(f: fn(&T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
+        f(&*self.read_ptr())
     }
 
     #[doc(str = "True if auxiliary data is associated with this handle.")]
@@ -117,9 +117,9 @@ impl<T:Send,A> Handle<T,A> {
     }
 
     #[doc(str = "access the auxiliary data associated with this handle.")]
-    fn aux<U>(f: fn(A) -> U) -> U unsafe {
+    fn aux<U>(f: fn(&A) -> U) -> U unsafe {
         assert self.has_aux();
-        f(*self.read_aux())
+        f(&*self.read_aux())
     }
 }
 
@@ -192,29 +192,30 @@ impl<T:Copy Send,A> Scope<T,A> {
         self.d.layout_active = false;
     }
 
-    fn read<U>(h: Handle<T,A>, f: fn(T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
+    fn read<U>(h: &Handle<T,A>, f: fn(&T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
         // Use the write_ptr, which may be more up to date than the read_ptr or may not
-        f(*h.write_ptr())
+        f(&*h.write_ptr())
     }
 
-    fn write<U>(h: Handle<T,A>, f: fn(T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
+    fn write<U>(h: &Handle<T,A>, f: fn(&T) -> U) -> U unsafe {
         let const_read_ptr = ptr::const_offset(h.read_ptr(), 0);
         let const_write_ptr = ptr::const_offset(h.write_ptr(), 0);
         if self.d.layout_active && const_read_ptr == const_write_ptr {
             #debug["marking handle %? as dirty", h];
             h.set_write_ptr(cast::reinterpret_cast(&self.clone(h.read_ptr())));
             h.set_next_dirty(self.d.first_dirty);
-            self.d.first_dirty = h;
+            self.d.first_dirty = *h;
         }
-        f(*h.write_ptr())
+        f(&*h.write_ptr())
     }
 
+    // FIXME: This could avoid a deep copy by taking ownership of `v`
     #[allow(non_implicitly_copyable_typarams)]
-    fn handle(v: T) -> Handle<T,A> unsafe {
+    fn handle(v: &T) -> Handle<T,A> unsafe {
         let d: *HandleData<T,A> =
             cast::reinterpret_cast(
                 &libc::malloc(sys::size_of::<HandleData<T,A>>() as size_t));
-        (*d).read_ptr = self.clone(ptr::to_unsafe_ptr(&v));
+        (*d).read_ptr = self.clone(ptr::to_unsafe_ptr(v));
         (*d).write_ptr = cast::reinterpret_cast(&(*d).read_ptr);
         (*d).read_aux = ptr::null();
         (*d).next_dirty = null_handle();
@@ -242,18 +243,18 @@ mod test {
     #[test]
     fn handles_get_freed() {
         let s: animal_scope = Scope();
-        s.handle({name:~"henrietta", species:chicken(~{mut eggs_per_day:22u})});
-        s.handle({name:~"ferdinand", species:bull(~{mut horns:3u})});
+        s.handle(&{name:~"henrietta", species:chicken(~{mut eggs_per_day:22u})});
+        s.handle(&{name:~"ferdinand", species:bull(~{mut horns:3u})});
     }
 
-    fn mutate(a: animal) {
+    fn mutate(a: &animal) {
         match a.species {
           chicken(c) => c.eggs_per_day += 1u,
           bull(c) => c.horns += 1u
         }
     }
 
-    fn read_characteristic(a: animal) -> uint {
+    fn read_characteristic(a: &animal) -> uint {
         match a.species {
           chicken(c) => c.eggs_per_day,
           bull(c) => c.horns
@@ -264,10 +265,10 @@ mod test {
     fn interspersed_execution() {
         let s: animal_scope = Scope();
         let henrietta =
-            s.handle({name:~"henrietta",
+            s.handle(&{name:~"henrietta",
                       species:chicken(~{mut eggs_per_day:0u})});
         let ferdinand =
-            s.handle({name:~"ferdinand",
+            s.handle(&{name:~"ferdinand",
                       species:bull(~{mut horns:0u})});
 
         let iter1 = 3u;
@@ -294,9 +295,9 @@ mod test {
 
             for uint::range(0u, iter2) |_i| {
                 assert hrc == comm::recv(read_port);
-                s.write(henrietta, mutate);
+                s.write(&henrietta, mutate);
                 assert frc == comm::recv(read_port);
-                s.write(ferdinand, mutate);
+                s.write(&ferdinand, mutate);
                 comm::send(wait_chan, ());
             }
             s.reader_joined();
diff --git a/src/servo/engine.rs b/src/servo/engine.rs
index ace4fdd900b..0965744cf02 100644
--- a/src/servo/engine.rs
+++ b/src/servo/engine.rs
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ pub struct Engine<C:Compositor Send Copy> {
     content_task: ContentTask
 }
 
-pub fn Engine<C:Compositor Send Copy>(compositor: C,
-                                      resource_task: ResourceTask,
-                                      image_cache_task: ImageCacheTask) -> Engine<C> {
+pub fn Engine<C:Compositor Send Copy>(+compositor: C,
+                                      +resource_task: ResourceTask,
+                                      +image_cache_task: ImageCacheTask) -> Engine<C> {
     let render_task = RenderTask(compositor);
     let layout_task = LayoutTask(render_task, image_cache_task);
     let content_task = ContentTask(layout_task, compositor, resource_task, image_cache_task);
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ impl<C: Compositor Copy Send> Engine<C> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn handle_request(request: Msg) -> bool {
+    fn handle_request(+request: Msg) -> bool {
         match request {
           LoadURLMsg(url) => {
             // TODO: change copy to move once we have match move
diff --git a/src/servo/layout/layout_task.rs b/src/servo/layout/layout_task.rs
index 79af4717e06..1616de10d6a 100644
--- a/src/servo/layout/layout_task.rs
+++ b/src/servo/layout/layout_task.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ impl Layout {
         match query {
             ContentBox(node) => {
                 // TODO: extract me to a method when I get sibling arms
-                let response = match node.aux(|a| a).flow {
+                let response = match node.aux(|a| *a).flow {
                     None => Err(()),
                     Some(flow) => {
                         let start_val : Option<Rect<au>> = None;