public static function parse(str:String, compactStr:Boolean = false):*
		{
			// remove spaces in front of after
			var temp:String = squeeze(str).toLowerCase();
			var num:Number = Number(temp);

			if (String(num) != "NaN")
			{
				return num;
			}
			else if(temp == "true")
			{
				return true;
			}
			else if(temp == "false")
			{
				return false;
			}
			else
			{
				return compactStr ? temp : str;
			}
		}