update to docs and removed some redundant information

INSTALL

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 
 The axiom project is built using maven2, and requires Java >= 1.5 to compile. In
-order to run the jtestr tests on unix based operating systems, it is necessary to
-use Java 1.6. I've made this the default source and JDK level in the pom
-build section, as we never build anything without also testing it.
+order to run the jtestr tests on os-x, it is necessary to use Java 1.6. 
+I've therefore made this the default source and JDK level in the pom
+build section.
 
 Install:
 
@@ -11,9 +11,7 @@ You should be able to accomplish this by running the command:
     $ mvn clean install
 
 Note that you may need to edit your personal ~/.m2/settings.xml file in order to
-access some of the repositories in which dependencies are being installed. You 
-may also need to configure your mirror/proxy servers (nexus, for example) if 
-trying to build from inside the corporate firewall for the first time.
+access some of the repositories in which dependencies are being installed. 
 
 Testing:
 
@@ -30,12 +28,12 @@ Notes:
 Installing on OSX
 
 There are some *special* problems when installing on OSX, not the least of which 
-is that Java 1.6 is still not fully supported (at the time of writing) therefore
-you should take some additional steps to ensure that both maven and its plugins
+is that Java 1.6 is still not the default JDK on Leopard, therefore you should 
+probably take some additional steps to ensure that both maven and its plugins
 use the correct JDK (1.6).
 
-Export the following environment variables into the bash session in which you're
-launching maven:
+One way to do this is by exporting the following environment variables into the 
+bash session in which you're launching maven:
 
 export JAVA_HOME=/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6/Home
 export JAVA_VERSION=1.6

LICENSE

@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
 GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
 HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
-OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+

README

@@ -1,5 +1,47 @@
+
+Introduction
+-------------
+
 An axiom is a proposition not proved or demonstrated, but taken for granted, 
 to serve as a starting point for deducing and inferring other truths.
 
-For details on build/install please read the relevant INSTALL document.
+This particular axiom, is a framework for testing integration scenarios and
+validating expectations about routing/rules and business logic executed in 
+a variety of systems integration landscapes.
+
+The projects aims are:
+
+ - Make testing integration scenarios simple(r)
+   - Simple to understand
+   - Simple to configure, deploy and run axiom itself
+   - Simple to hook up to your existing infrastructure
+ - Facilitate instrumenting/debugging complex integration architectures (simply)
+ - Provide a set of (simple) mechanisms for verifying rules/constraints 
+ - Provide immediate feedback in useful formats (surefire reports, rss feeds, email, etc) 
+
+Axiom is distributed under a BSD-style license (please see the LICENSE document for details).
+
+Overview
+---------
+
+Axiom is a java application with embedded jruby. It uses the apache camel 
+routing/mediation engine to interact with your integration stack (messaging
+systems, web servers, service brokers, ESBs, etc). Camel not only integrates 
+well with a variety of different transports/protocols, it also provides a rich
+routing DSL (in java, scala or spring-xml dialects) which makes for simple configuration.
+
+The camel libraries also provide a lot of the Enterprise Integration Patterns 
+as components of the framework, making it simpler and easier to reason about your 
+design using well trodden techniques.
+
+Status
+-------
+
+Axiom is in the Alpha::Prototyping stage and is not yet fit for purpose 
+(and certainly isn't ready for use in a real environment, test or otherwise). 
+
+Getting Started
+----------------
+
+For details on how to build and/or install please read the relevant INSTALL document.