diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1ec5796..c211a29 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 2.4) # For all I know, 2.0 works too...
 # The new behavior seems preferable, though it shouldn't affect us either way.
 
 if(COMMAND cmake_policy)
-  cmake_policy(SET CMP0014 OLD)  ## This breaks builds on older cmake...
+#  cmake_policy(SET CMP0014 OLD)  ## This breaks builds on older cmake...
   cmake_policy(SET CMP0003 NEW)
 endif(COMMAND cmake_policy)
 
diff --git a/src/stasis/flags.c b/src/stasis/flags.c
index a2d2aad..c165d83 100644
--- a/src/stasis/flags.c
+++ b/src/stasis/flags.c
@@ -55,14 +55,14 @@ stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_factory)() =
 #else
   stasis_handle_default_factory;
 #endif
-stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_file_factory)(lsn_t logical_offset, const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms) =
+stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_file_factory)(const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms) =
 #ifdef STASIS_FILE_HANDLE_FACTORY
   STASIS_FILE_HANDLE_FACTORY
 #else
   stasis_handle_open_pfile;
 #endif
 
-stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_non_blocking_handle_file_factory)(lsn_t logical_offset, const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms) =
+stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_non_blocking_handle_file_factory)(const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms) =
 #ifdef STASIS_NON_BLOCKING_HANDLE_FILE_FACTORY
   STASIS_NON_BLOCKING_HANDLE_FILE_FACTORY
 #else
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/debug.c b/src/stasis/io/debug.c
index 9dadfb0..69ff3f1 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/debug.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/debug.c
@@ -48,14 +48,6 @@ static void debug_enable_sequential_optimizations(struct stasis_handle_t *h) {
   hh->enable_sequential_optimizations(hh);
   printf("tid=%9ld retn enable_sequential_optimizations(%lx)\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh); fflush(stdout);
 }
-
-static lsn_t debug_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
-  printf("tid=%9ld call start_position(%lx)\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh); fflush(stdout);
-  int ret = hh->start_position(hh);
-  printf("tid=%9ld retn start_position(%lx) = %d\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, ret); fflush(stdout);
-  return ret;
-}
 static lsn_t debug_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
   printf("tid=%9ld call end_position(%lx)\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh); fflush(stdout);
@@ -77,21 +69,6 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * debug_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
          (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, off, len, (unsigned long)retWrap); fflush(stdout);
   return retWrap;
 }
-static stasis_write_buffer_t * debug_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
-						   lsn_t len) {
-  stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
-  printf("tid=%9ld call append_buffer(%lx, %lld)\n",
-         (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, len); fflush(stdout);
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * ret = hh->append_buffer(hh,len);
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * retWrap = malloc(sizeof(stasis_write_buffer_t));
-  *retWrap = *ret;
-  retWrap->h = h;
-  retWrap->impl = ret;
-  printf("tid=%9ld retn append_buffer(%lx, %lld) = %lx (off=%lld)\n",
-         (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, len, (unsigned long)retWrap, ret->off); fflush(stdout);
-  return retWrap;
-
-}
 static int debug_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t * w_wrap) {
   stasis_write_buffer_t * w = (stasis_write_buffer_t*)w_wrap->impl;
   stasis_handle_t * hh = w->h;
@@ -137,19 +114,6 @@ static int debug_write(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
   printf("tid=%9ld retn write(%lx) = %d\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, ret); fflush(stdout);
   return ret;
 }
-static int debug_append(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off,
-		      const byte * dat, lsn_t len) {
-  stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
-  printf("tid=%9ld call append(%lx, ??, %lx, %lld)\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, (unsigned long)dat, len); fflush(stdout);
-  lsn_t tmpOff;
-  if(!off) {
-    off = &tmpOff;
-  }
-  int ret = hh->append(hh, off, dat, len);
-  printf("tid=%9ld retn append(%lx, %lld, %lx, %lld) = %d\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, *off, (unsigned long) dat, len, ret); fflush(stdout);
-  return ret;
-
-}
 static int debug_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
 		    lsn_t off, byte * buf, lsn_t len) {
   stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
@@ -172,33 +136,21 @@ static int debug_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
   printf("tid=%9ld retn force(%lx) = %d\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, ret); fflush(stdout);
   return ret;
 }
-static int debug_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  stasis_handle_t * hh = ((debug_impl*)h->impl)->h;
-  printf("tid=%9ld call truncate_start(%lx, %lld)\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, new_start); fflush(stdout);
-  int ret = hh->truncate_start(hh, new_start);
-  printf("tid=%9ld retn truncate_start(%lx) = %d\n", (long)(intptr_t)pthread_self(), (unsigned long)hh, ret); fflush(stdout);
-  return ret;
-}
-
 struct stasis_handle_t debug_func = {
   .num_copies = debug_num_copies,
   .num_copies_buffer = debug_num_copies_buffer,
   .close = debug_close,
   .dup = debug_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = debug_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = debug_start_position,
   .end_position = debug_end_position,
   .write = debug_write,
-  .append = debug_append,
   .write_buffer = debug_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = debug_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = debug_release_write_buffer,
   .read = debug_read,
   .read_buffer = debug_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = debug_release_read_buffer,
   .force = debug_force,
   .force_range = debug_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = debug_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/file.c b/src/stasis/io/file.c
index fafb322..266302d 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/file.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/file.c
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 typedef struct file_impl {
   pthread_mutex_t mut;
-  lsn_t start_pos;
   lsn_t end_pos;
   int fd;
   int file_flags;
@@ -24,7 +23,7 @@ static int updateEOF(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   if(pos == (off_t)-1) {
     return errno;
   } else {
-    impl->end_pos = impl->start_pos + pos;
+    impl->end_pos = pos;
     return 0;
   }
 }
@@ -48,19 +47,11 @@ static int file_close(stasis_handle_t * h) {
 }
 static stasis_handle_t* file_dup(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   file_impl * impl = h->impl;
-  return stasis_handle_open_file(impl->start_pos, impl->filename, impl->file_flags, impl->file_mode);
+  return stasis_handle_open_file(impl->filename, impl->file_flags, impl->file_mode);
 }
 static void file_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   // TODO enable_sequential_optimizations is a no-op in file.c
 }
-static lsn_t file_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)h->impl;
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
-  lsn_t ret = impl->start_pos;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&(impl->mut));
-  return ret;
-}
-
 static lsn_t file_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)h->impl;
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
@@ -82,12 +73,12 @@ inline static int file_write_unlocked(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
   int error = 0;
 
   // These should have been checked by the caller.
-  assert(impl->start_pos <= off);
+  assert(0 <= off);
   assert(impl->end_pos >= off+len);
 
   // @todo need a test harness that gets read(), write() and lseek() to misbehave.
 
-  off_t lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off - impl->start_pos, SEEK_SET);
+  off_t lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off, SEEK_SET);
 
   if(lseek_offset == (off_t)-1) {
     error = errno;
@@ -114,7 +105,7 @@ inline static int file_write_unlocked(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
 
 	  // Try again.
 
-	  lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off + bytes_written - impl->start_pos, SEEK_SET);
+	  lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off + bytes_written, SEEK_SET);
 	  if(lseek_offset == (off_t)-1) {
 	    error = errno;
 	    if(error == EBADF || error == ESPIPE) {
@@ -155,7 +146,7 @@ static int file_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
   file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)(h->impl);
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
   int error = 0;
-  if(off < impl->start_pos) {
+  if(off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   } else if(off + len > impl->end_pos) {
     error = updateEOF(h);
@@ -165,7 +156,7 @@ static int file_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
   }
 
   if(!error) {
-    off_t lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off - impl->start_pos, SEEK_SET);
+    off_t lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off, SEEK_SET);
 
     if(lseek_offset == (off_t)-1) {
       error = errno;
@@ -193,7 +184,7 @@ static int file_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
 	    // Try again.
 
-	    lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off + bytes_written - impl->start_pos, SEEK_SET);
+	    lseek_offset = lseek(impl->fd, off + bytes_written, SEEK_SET);
 	    if(lseek_offset == (off_t)-1) {
 	      error = errno;
 	      if(error == EBADF || error == ESPIPE) {
@@ -237,7 +228,7 @@ static int file_write(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, const byte * dat, lsn_t len
   file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)(h->impl);
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
   int error = 0;
-  if(impl->start_pos > off) {
+  if(off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   }
 
@@ -251,19 +242,6 @@ static int file_write(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, const byte * dat, lsn_t len
   return error;
 }
 
-static int file_append(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off, const byte * dat, lsn_t len) {
-  file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)(h->impl);
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  updateEOF(h);
-  *off = impl->end_pos;
-  impl->end_pos += len;
-  int error = file_write_unlocked(h, *off, dat, len);
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-  return error;
-}
-
-
-
 static stasis_write_buffer_t * file_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 						lsn_t off, lsn_t len) {
   // Allocate the handle
@@ -275,7 +253,7 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * file_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
 
-  if(impl->start_pos > off) {
+  if(off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   }
   if(off + len > impl->end_pos) {
@@ -311,46 +289,6 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * file_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
   return ret;
 }
 
-static stasis_write_buffer_t * file_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
-						 lsn_t len) {
-  // Allocate the handle
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_write_buffer_t));
-  if(!ret) { return NULL; }
-
-  file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)h->impl;
-
-  // Obtain an appropriate offset
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
-  updateEOF(h);
-  off_t off = impl->end_pos;
-  impl->end_pos += len;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&(impl->mut));
-
-  // Allocate the buffer
-  byte * buf = malloc(len);
-  int error = 0;
-  if(!buf) {
-    error = ENOMEM;
-  }
-
-  if(error) {
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = 0;
-    ret->buf = 0;
-    ret->len = 0;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = error;
-  } else {
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = off;
-    ret->buf = buf;
-    ret->len = len;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = 0;
-  }
-  return ret;
-
-}
 static int file_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t * w) {
 
   file_impl * impl = (file_impl*)(w->h->impl);
@@ -358,7 +296,7 @@ static int file_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t * w) {
   pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
   int error = 0;
   if(impl->end_pos < w->off + w->len ||
-     impl->start_pos > w->off) {
+     0 > w->off) {
     error = EDOM;
   }
 
@@ -413,20 +351,7 @@ static int file_force(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   file_impl * impl = h->impl;
 
   if(!(impl->file_flags & O_SYNC)) {
-    pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);  // must latch because of truncate... :(
     int fd = impl->fd;
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-    {
-      static int warned = 0;
-      if(!warned) {
-	printf("Warning: There is a race condition between force() and "
-	       " truncate() in file.c (This shouldn't matter in practice, "
-	       "as the logger hasn't moved over to use file.c yet.\n");
-	warned = 1;
-      }
-    }
-    // XXX there is a race here; the file handle could have been invalidated
-    // by truncate.
 #ifdef HAVE_FDATASYNC
     DEBUG("file_force() is calling fdatasync()\n");
     fdatasync(fd);
@@ -446,8 +371,6 @@ static int file_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
     // not opened synchronously; we need to explicitly sync.
     pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
     int fd = impl->fd;
-    lsn_t off = impl->start_pos;
-    (void)off;
     pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
     {
       static int warned = 0;
@@ -487,69 +410,6 @@ static int file_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
   }
   return ret;
 }
-static int file_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  file_impl * impl = h->impl;
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  int error = 0;
-
-  if(new_start > impl->end_pos) {
-    updateEOF(h);
-    if(!error && new_start > impl->end_pos) {
-      error = EDOM;
-    }
-  }
-
-  if(!error && new_start > impl->start_pos) {
-    char * tmpfile = malloc(strlen(impl->filename)+2);
-    strcpy(tmpfile, impl->filename);
-    tmpfile[strlen(tmpfile)+1] = '\0';
-    tmpfile[strlen(tmpfile)]   = '~';
-
-    int fd = open(tmpfile, impl->file_flags, impl->file_mode);
-
-    lseek(fd, 0, SEEK_SET);
-    lseek(impl->fd, new_start-impl->start_pos, SEEK_SET);
-    int count;
-    int buf_size = 1024 * 1024;
-    char * buf = malloc(buf_size);
-    while((count = read(impl->fd, buf, buf_size))) {
-      if(count == -1) {
-	error = errno;
-	perror("truncate failed to read");
-      }
-      ssize_t bytes_written = 0;
-      while(bytes_written < count) {
-	ssize_t write_ret = write(fd, buf+bytes_written, count-bytes_written);
-	if(write_ret == -1) {
-	  error = errno;
-	  perror("truncate failed to write");
-	  break;
-	}
-	bytes_written += write_ret;
-      }
-      if(error) break;
-    }
-    free(buf);
-    if(!error) {
-      if(-1 == close(impl->fd)) {
-	error = errno;
-      }
-      impl->fd = fd;
-      impl->start_pos = new_start;
-      fsync(impl->fd);
-      int rename_ret = rename(tmpfile, impl->filename);
-      if(rename_ret) {
-	error = errno;
-      }
-      free(tmpfile);
-    } else {
-      close(fd);
-    }
-  }
-
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-  return error;
-}
 
 struct stasis_handle_t file_func = {
   .num_copies = file_num_copies,
@@ -557,23 +417,19 @@ struct stasis_handle_t file_func = {
   .close = file_close,
   .dup = file_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = file_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = file_start_position,
   .end_position = file_end_position,
   .write = file_write,
-  .append = file_append,
   .write_buffer = file_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = file_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = file_release_write_buffer,
   .read = file_read,
   .read_buffer = file_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = file_release_read_buffer,
   .force = file_force,
   .force_range = file_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = file_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
-stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)(lsn_t start_offset, const char * filename, int flags, int mode) {
+stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)(const char * filename, int flags, int mode) {
   stasis_handle_t * ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_handle_t));
   if(!ret) { return NULL; }
   *ret = file_func;
@@ -581,8 +437,6 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)(lsn_t start_offset, const char * file
   file_impl * impl = malloc(sizeof(file_impl));
   ret->impl = impl;
   pthread_mutex_init(&(impl->mut), 0);
-  impl->start_pos = start_offset;
-  impl->end_pos = start_offset;
   assert(sizeof(off_t) >= (64/8));
   impl->fd = open(filename, flags, mode);
   if(impl->fd == -1) {
@@ -591,5 +445,6 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)(lsn_t start_offset, const char * file
   impl->filename = strdup(filename);
   impl->file_flags = flags;
   impl->file_mode = mode;
+  updateEOF(ret);
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/handle.c b/src/stasis/io/handle.c
index e233c71..211eb6f 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/handle.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/handle.c
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 stasis_handle_t* stasis_handle_default_factory() {
-  return stasis_handle_file_factory(0, stasis_store_file_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
+  return stasis_handle_file_factory(stasis_store_file_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
 }
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/memory.c b/src/stasis/io/memory.c
index dd52ff1..0d76a80 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/memory.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/memory.c
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 typedef struct mem_impl {
   pthread_mutex_t mut;
-  lsn_t start_pos;
   lsn_t end_pos;
   byte * buf;
   int refcount;
@@ -32,16 +31,6 @@ static void mem_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   // No-op
 }
 
-static lsn_t mem_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  lsn_t ret;
-  mem_impl* impl = (mem_impl*)(h->impl);
-
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  ret = impl->start_pos;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-
-  return ret;
-}
 static lsn_t mem_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   lsn_t ret;
   mem_impl* impl = (mem_impl*)(h->impl);
@@ -63,14 +52,14 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * mem_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
   int error = 0;
 
-  if(impl->start_pos > off) {
+  if(off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   } else if(impl->end_pos > off+len) {
     // Just need to return buffer; h's state is unchanged.
   } else {
     byte * newbuf;
-    if(off+len-impl->start_pos) {
-      newbuf = realloc(impl->buf, off+len - impl->start_pos);
+    if(off+len) {
+      newbuf = realloc(impl->buf, off+len);
     } else {
       free(impl->buf);
       newbuf = malloc(0);
@@ -93,7 +82,7 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * mem_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
   } else {
     ret->h = h;
     ret->off = off;
-    ret->buf = &(impl->buf[off-impl->start_pos]);
+    ret->buf = &(impl->buf[off]);
     ret->len = len;
     ret->impl = 0;
     ret->error = 0;
@@ -101,46 +90,6 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * mem_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
   return ret;
 }
-
-static stasis_write_buffer_t * mem_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
-						 lsn_t len) {
-  mem_impl * impl = (mem_impl*)(h->impl);
-
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_write_buffer_t));
-  if(!ret) { return 0; }
-
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
-
-  lsn_t off = impl->end_pos;
-  impl->end_pos += len;
-  size_t newlen = impl->end_pos - impl->start_pos;
-  byte * newbuf;
-  if(newlen == 0) {
-    free(impl->buf);
-    newbuf = malloc(0);
-  } else {
-    newbuf = realloc(impl->buf, impl->end_pos - impl->start_pos);
-  }
-  if(newbuf) {
-    impl->buf = newbuf;
-
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = off;
-    ret->buf = &(impl->buf[off-impl->start_pos]);
-    ret->len = len;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = 0;
-  } else {
-    // if we requested a zero length buffer, this is OK.
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = 0;
-    ret->buf = 0;
-    ret->len = 0;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = ENOMEM;
-  }
-  return ret;
-}
 static int mem_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t * w) {
   mem_impl * impl = (mem_impl*)(w->h->impl);
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&(impl->mut));
@@ -156,7 +105,7 @@ static stasis_read_buffer_t * mem_read_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
   stasis_read_buffer_t * ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_read_buffer_t));
   if(!ret) { return NULL; }
 
-  if(off < impl->start_pos || off + len > impl->end_pos) {
+  if(off < 0 || off + len > impl->end_pos) {
     ret->h = h;
     ret->buf = 0;
     ret->len = 0;
@@ -165,7 +114,7 @@ static stasis_read_buffer_t * mem_read_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
     ret->error = EDOM;
   } else {
     ret->h = h;
-    ret->buf = &(impl->buf[off-impl->start_pos]);
+    ret->buf = &(impl->buf[off]);
     ret->off = off;
     ret->len = len;
     ret->impl = 0;
@@ -195,20 +144,6 @@ static int mem_write(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
   return ret;
 }
 
-static int mem_append(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off, const byte * dat, lsn_t len) {
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * w = mem_append_buffer(h, len);
-  int ret;
-  if(w->error) {
-    ret = w->error;
-  } else {
-    memcpy(w->buf, dat, len);
-    ret = 0;
-  }
-  *off = w->off;
-  mem_release_write_buffer(w);
-  return ret;
-}
-
 static int mem_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
 		    lsn_t off, byte * buf, lsn_t len) {
   stasis_read_buffer_t * r = mem_read_buffer(h, off, len);
@@ -228,30 +163,6 @@ static int mem_force(stasis_handle_t *h) {
 static int mem_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h,lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
   return 0;
 }
-static int mem_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  mem_impl* impl = (mem_impl*) h->impl;
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&(impl->mut));
-  if(new_start < impl->start_pos) {
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-    return 0;
-  }
-  if(new_start > impl->end_pos) {
-    pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-    return EDOM;
-  }
-
-  byte * new_buf = malloc(impl->end_pos -new_start);
-
-  memcpy(new_buf, &(impl->buf[new_start - impl->start_pos]), impl->end_pos - new_start);
-
-  free(impl->buf);
-
-  impl->buf = new_buf;
-  impl->start_pos = new_start;
-
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&(impl->mut));
-  return 0;
-}
 
 struct stasis_handle_t mem_func = {
   .num_copies = mem_num_copies,
@@ -259,23 +170,19 @@ struct stasis_handle_t mem_func = {
   .close = mem_close,
   .dup = mem_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = mem_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = mem_start_position,
   .end_position = mem_end_position,
   .write = mem_write,
-  .append = mem_append,
   .write_buffer = mem_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = mem_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = mem_release_write_buffer,
   .read = mem_read,
   .read_buffer = mem_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = mem_release_read_buffer,
   .force = mem_force,
   .force_range = mem_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = mem_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
-stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)(lsn_t start_offset) {
+stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)() {
   stasis_handle_t * ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_handle_t));
   if(!ret) { return NULL; }
   *ret = mem_func;
@@ -283,8 +190,7 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)(lsn_t start_offset) {
   mem_impl * impl = malloc(sizeof(mem_impl));
   ret->impl = impl;
   pthread_mutex_init(&(impl->mut), 0);
-  impl->start_pos = start_offset;
-  impl->end_pos = start_offset;
+  impl->end_pos = 0;
   impl->buf = malloc(0);
   impl->refcount = 1;
 
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/non_blocking.c b/src/stasis/io/non_blocking.c
index 1151d33..4f7d38c 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/non_blocking.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/non_blocking.c
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ typedef struct nbw_impl {
   pthread_mutex_t mut;
 
   // Handle state
-  lsn_t start_pos;
   lsn_t end_pos;
 
   // Fields to manage slow handles
@@ -396,13 +395,6 @@ static stasis_handle_t * nbw_dup(stasis_handle_t *h) {
 static void nbw_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   // TODO non blocking should pass sequential optimizations down to underlying handles.
 }
-static lsn_t nbw_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  lsn_t ret = impl->start_pos;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-  return ret;
-}
 static lsn_t nbw_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
   pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
@@ -430,8 +422,8 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * nbw_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
   if(!ret->error) {
     pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-    assert(impl->start_pos <= impl->end_pos);
-    if(off < impl->start_pos) {
+    assert(0 <= impl->end_pos);
+    if(off < 0) {
       // Note: We're returning a valid write buffer to space before
       // the handle's truncation point.  Spooky.
       ret->error = EDOM;
@@ -444,18 +436,6 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * nbw_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
 
   return ret;
 }
-static stasis_write_buffer_t * nbw_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t * h,
-                                                 lsn_t len) {
-  nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
-
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  lsn_t off = impl->end_pos;
-  impl->end_pos += len;
-  impl->requested_bytes_written += len;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-
-  return nbw_write_buffer(h, off, len);
-}
 static int nbw_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t * w) {
   nbw_impl * impl = w->h->impl;
   write_buffer_impl * w_impl = w->impl;
@@ -514,8 +494,8 @@ static int nbw_write(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
   releaseFastHandle(impl, n, DIRTY);
   if(!ret) {
     pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-    assert(impl->start_pos <= impl->end_pos);
-    if(off < impl->start_pos) {
+    assert(0 <= impl->end_pos);
+    if(off < 0) {
       ret = EDOM;
     } else if(off + len > impl->end_pos) {
       impl->end_pos = off+len;
@@ -525,19 +505,6 @@ static int nbw_write(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
   }
   return ret;
 }
-static int nbw_append(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off,
-                      const byte * dat, lsn_t len) {
-  nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
-
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  *off = impl->end_pos;
-  impl->end_pos+= len;
-  impl->requested_bytes_written += len;
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-
-  int ret = nbw_write(h, *off, dat, len);
-  return ret;
-}
 static int nbw_read(stasis_handle_t * h,
                     lsn_t off, byte * buf, lsn_t len) {
   nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
@@ -603,7 +570,7 @@ static int nbw_force_range_impl(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
 static int nbw_force(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
   pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  int ret = nbw_force_range_impl(h, impl->start_pos, impl->end_pos);
+  int ret = nbw_force_range_impl(h, 0, impl->end_pos);
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
   return ret;
 }
@@ -616,21 +583,6 @@ static int nbw_force_range(stasis_handle_t * h,
   pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
   return ret;
 }
-static int nbw_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  nbw_impl * impl = h->impl;
-  int error = 0;
-  pthread_mutex_lock(&impl->mut);
-  if(new_start <= impl->end_pos && new_start > impl->start_pos) {
-    impl->start_pos = new_start;
-  } else {
-    error = EDOM;
-  }
-  pthread_mutex_unlock(&impl->mut);
-  if(!error) {
-    // @todo close all slow handles; truncate them. (ie: implement truncate)
-  }
-  return error;
-}
 
 struct stasis_handle_t nbw_func = {
   .num_copies = nbw_num_copies,
@@ -638,19 +590,15 @@ struct stasis_handle_t nbw_func = {
   .close = nbw_close,
   .dup = nbw_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = nbw_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = nbw_start_position,
   .end_position = nbw_end_position,
   .write = nbw_write,
-  .append = nbw_append,
   .write_buffer = nbw_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = nbw_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = nbw_release_write_buffer,
   .read = nbw_read,
   .read_buffer = nbw_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = nbw_release_read_buffer,
   .force = nbw_force,
   .force_range = nbw_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = nbw_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
@@ -691,7 +639,7 @@ static void * nbw_worker(void * handle) {
         writes++;
 
         stasis_handle_t * fast = node->h;
-        lsn_t off = fast->start_position(fast);
+        lsn_t off = 0;
         lsn_t len = fast->end_position(fast) - off;
         stasis_read_buffer_t * r = fast->read_buffer(fast, off, len);
 
@@ -829,7 +777,6 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_non_blocking)
   nbw_impl * impl = malloc(sizeof(nbw_impl));
   pthread_mutex_init(&impl->mut, 0);
 
-  impl->start_pos = 0;
   impl->end_pos = 0;
 
   impl->slow_factory = slow_factory;
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/pfile.c b/src/stasis/io/pfile.c
index 2cfde23..5d392d8 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/pfile.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/pfile.c
@@ -36,11 +36,6 @@ DECLARE_HISTOGRAM_64(force_range_hist)
    Per-handle information for pfile
 */
 typedef struct pfile_impl {
-  /**
-    The logical offset of the file.  Once the file is open, this will
-    never change, as pfile doesn't support truncation.
-  */
-  lsn_t start_pos;
   /**
     File descriptor
   */
@@ -86,7 +81,7 @@ static int pfile_close(stasis_handle_t *h) {
 
 static stasis_handle_t * pfile_dup(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   pfile_impl *impl = h->impl;
-  return stasis_handle_open_pfile(impl->start_pos, impl->filename, impl->file_flags, impl->file_mode);
+  return stasis_handle_open_pfile(impl->filename, impl->file_flags, impl->file_mode);
 }
 static void pfile_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   pfile_impl *impl = h->impl;
@@ -94,11 +89,6 @@ static void pfile_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   int err = posix_fadvise(impl->fd, 0, 0, POSIX_FADV_SEQUENTIAL);
   if(err) perror("Attempt to pass POSIX_FADV_SEQUENTIAL to kernel failed");
 }
-static lsn_t pfile_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)h->impl;
-  return impl->start_pos;
-}
-
 static lsn_t pfile_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)h->impl;
   lsn_t ret = lseek(impl->fd, 0, SEEK_END);
@@ -144,7 +134,7 @@ static int pfile_read(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, byte *buf, lsn_t len) {
   pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)(h->impl);
   int error = 0;
 
-  if (off < impl->start_pos) {
+  if (off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   } else {
     ssize_t bytes_read = 0;
@@ -153,7 +143,7 @@ static int pfile_read(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, byte *buf, lsn_t len) {
       ssize_t count = pread(impl->fd,
                             buf + bytes_read,
                             len - bytes_read,
-                            off + bytes_read - impl->start_pos);
+                            off + bytes_read);
       if (count == -1) {
         if (errno == EAGAIN || errno == EINTR) {
           count = 0;
@@ -162,10 +152,12 @@ static int pfile_read(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, byte *buf, lsn_t len) {
             h->error = EBADF;
           } else {
             int err = errno;
-            // XXX Why is sys_errlist[] is unavailable here?
+            // The other errors either involve memory bugs (EFAULT), logic bugs
+            // (EISDIR, EFIFO, EOVERFLOW), or bad hardware (EIO), so print
+            // something to console, and uncleanly crash.
             perror("pfile_read encountered an unknown error code.");
             fprintf(stderr, "pread() returned -1; errno is %d\n",err);
-            abort(); // XXX other errors?
+            abort();
           }
           error = errno;
           break;
@@ -194,24 +186,14 @@ static int pfile_write(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, const byte *dat,
                        lsn_t len) {
   pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)(h->impl);
   int error = 0;
-  lsn_t phys_off;
-  if (impl->start_pos > off) {
+  if (off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   } else {
-    phys_off = off - impl->start_pos;
-    error = pfile_write_unlocked(impl->fd, phys_off, dat, len);
+    error = pfile_write_unlocked(impl->fd, off, dat, len);
   }
   return error;
 }
 
-static int pfile_append(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t *off, const byte *dat,
-                        lsn_t len) {
-  pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)(h->impl);
-  lsn_t phys_off = *off - impl->start_pos;
-  abort(); // xxx o append is harder than I thought.  Should support via distinct API.
-  return pfile_write_unlocked(impl->fd, phys_off, dat,len);
-}
-
 static stasis_write_buffer_t * pfile_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h,
                                                  lsn_t off, lsn_t len) {
   stasis_write_buffer_t *ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_write_buffer_t));
@@ -221,11 +203,9 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * pfile_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h,
     return NULL;
   }
 
-  pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)h->impl;
-
   int error = 0;
 
-  if (impl->start_pos > off) {
+  if (off < 0) {
     error = EDOM;
   }
 
@@ -252,44 +232,10 @@ static stasis_write_buffer_t * pfile_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h,
   return ret;
 }
 
-static stasis_write_buffer_t *pfile_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h,
-						 lsn_t len) {
-   // Allocate the handle
-  stasis_write_buffer_t *ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_write_buffer_t));
-  if (!ret) { return NULL; }
-
-  // Obtain an appropriate offset
-  off_t off; abort(); // XXX need O_APPEND handle.
-
-  // Allocate the buffer
-  byte *buf = malloc(len);
-  int error = 0;
-  if (!buf) {
-    error = ENOMEM;
-  }
-
-  if (error) {
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = 0;
-    ret->buf = 0;
-    ret->len = 0;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = error;
-  } else {
-    ret->h = h;
-    ret->off = off;
-    ret->buf = buf;
-    ret->len = len;
-    ret->impl = 0;
-    ret->error = 0;
-  }
-  return ret;
-}
-
 static int pfile_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t *w) {
   pfile_impl *impl = (pfile_impl*)(w->h->impl);
 
-  int error = pfile_write_unlocked(impl->fd, w->off-impl->start_pos, w->buf,
+  int error = pfile_write_unlocked(impl->fd, w->off, w->buf,
                                  w->len);
 
   if (w->buf) {
@@ -390,21 +336,12 @@ static int pfile_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
   int ret = 0;
 #endif
   if(impl->sequential) {
-    int err = posix_fadvise(impl->fd, start-impl->start_pos, stop-start, POSIX_FADV_DONTNEED);
+    int err = posix_fadvise(impl->fd, start, stop-start, POSIX_FADV_DONTNEED);
     if(err) perror("Attempt to pass POSIX_FADV_SEQUENTIAL (for a range of a file) to kernel failed");
   }
   TOCK(force_range_hist);
   return ret;
 }
-static int pfile_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  static int truncate_warned = 0;
-  if (!truncate_warned) {
-    printf("\nWarning: pfile doesn't support truncation; "
-           "ignoring truncation request\n");
-    truncate_warned = 1;
-  }
-  return 0;
-}
 
 static struct stasis_handle_t pfile_func = {
   .num_copies = pfile_num_copies,
@@ -412,25 +349,20 @@ static struct stasis_handle_t pfile_func = {
   .close = pfile_close,
   .dup = pfile_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = pfile_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = pfile_start_position,
   .end_position = pfile_end_position,
   .write = pfile_write,
-  .append = pfile_append,
   .write_buffer = pfile_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = pfile_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = pfile_release_write_buffer,
   .read = pfile_read,
   .read_buffer = pfile_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = pfile_release_read_buffer,
   .force = pfile_force,
   .force_range = pfile_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = pfile_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
-stasis_handle_t *stasis_handle(open_pfile)(lsn_t start_offset,
-                                            const char *filename,
-                                            int flags, int mode) {
+stasis_handle_t *stasis_handle(open_pfile)(const char *filename,
+                                           int flags, int mode) {
   stasis_handle_t *ret = malloc(sizeof(stasis_handle_t));
   if (!ret) { return NULL; }
   *ret = pfile_func;
@@ -445,8 +377,6 @@ stasis_handle_t *stasis_handle(open_pfile)(lsn_t start_offset,
     ret->error = errno;
   }
 
-  impl->start_pos = start_offset;
-
   impl->filename = strdup(filename);
   impl->file_flags = flags;
   impl->file_mode = mode;
diff --git a/src/stasis/io/raid1.c b/src/stasis/io/raid1.c
index c4a6003..1cb9f43 100644
--- a/src/stasis/io/raid1.c
+++ b/src/stasis/io/raid1.c
@@ -52,10 +52,6 @@ static void raid1_enable_sequential_optimizations(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   i->a->enable_sequential_optimizations(i->a);
   i->b->enable_sequential_optimizations(i->b);
 }
-static lsn_t raid1_start_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
-  raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
-  return i->a->start_position(i->a);
-}
 static lsn_t raid1_end_position(stasis_handle_t *h) {
   raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
   return i->a->end_position(i->a);
@@ -77,25 +73,12 @@ static int raid1_write(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, const byte *dat, lsn_t len
   int retB = i->b->write(i->b, off, dat, len);
   return retA ? retA : retB;
 }
-static int raid1_append(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t *off, const byte *dat, lsn_t len) {
-  raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
-  int retA = i->a->append(i->a, off, dat, len);
-  int retB = i->b->write (i->b, *off, dat, len);
-  assert((retA && retB) || !(retA || retB));
-  return retA ? retA : retB;
-}
 static stasis_write_buffer_t * raid1_write_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t off, lsn_t len) {
   raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
   stasis_write_buffer_t * ret = i->a->write_buffer(i->a, off, len);
   ret->h = h;
   return ret;
 }
-static stasis_write_buffer_t * raid1_append_buffer(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t len) {
-  raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
-  stasis_write_buffer_t * ret = i->a->append_buffer(i->a, len);
-  ret->h = h;
-  return ret;
-}
 static int raid1_release_write_buffer(stasis_write_buffer_t *w) {
   raid1_impl *i = w->h->impl;
   w->h = i->a;
@@ -132,31 +115,21 @@ static int raid1_force_range(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop) {
   int retB = i->b->force_range(i->b, start, stop);
   return retA ? retA : retB;
 }
-static int raid1_truncate_start(stasis_handle_t *h, lsn_t new_start) {
-  raid1_impl *i = h->impl;
-  int retA = i->a->truncate_start(i->a, new_start);
-  int retB = i->b->truncate_start(i->b, new_start);
-  return retA ? retA : retB;
-}
 struct stasis_handle_t raid1_func = {
   .num_copies = raid1_num_copies,
   .num_copies_buffer = raid1_num_copies_buffer,
   .close = raid1_close,
   .dup = raid1_dup,
   .enable_sequential_optimizations = raid1_enable_sequential_optimizations,
-  .start_position = raid1_start_position,
   .end_position = raid1_end_position,
   .write = raid1_write,
-  .append = raid1_append,
   .write_buffer = raid1_write_buffer,
-  .append_buffer = raid1_append_buffer,
   .release_write_buffer = raid1_release_write_buffer,
   .read = raid1_read,
   .read_buffer = raid1_read_buffer,
   .release_read_buffer = raid1_release_read_buffer,
   .force = raid1_force,
   .force_range = raid1_force_range,
-  .truncate_start = raid1_truncate_start,
   .error = 0
 };
 
@@ -170,8 +143,8 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle_open_raid1(stasis_handle_t* a, stasis_handle_t*
 }
 
 stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle_raid1_factory() {
-  stasis_handle_t * a = stasis_handle_file_factory(0, stasis_store_file_1_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
-  stasis_handle_t * b = stasis_handle_file_factory(0, stasis_store_file_2_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
+  stasis_handle_t * a = stasis_handle_file_factory(stasis_store_file_1_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
+  stasis_handle_t * b = stasis_handle_file_factory(stasis_store_file_2_name, O_CREAT | O_RDWR | stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_flags, FILE_PERM);
   return stasis_handle_open_raid1(a, b);
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/stasis/flags.h b/stasis/flags.h
index 579a608..f08b416 100644
--- a/stasis/flags.h
+++ b/stasis/flags.h
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ extern stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_factory)();
 
    Valid options: stasis_handle_open_file(), stasis_handle_open_pfile(), and stasis_handle_non_blocking_factory.
  */
-extern stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_file_factory)(lsn_t logical_offset, const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms);
+extern stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_handle_file_factory)(const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms);
 /**
    The factory that non_blocking handles will use for slow handles.  (Only
    used if stasis_buffer_manager_io_handle_default_factory is set to
    stasis_non_blocking_factory.)
 
 */
-extern stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_non_blocking_handle_file_factory)(lsn_t logical_offset, const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms);
+extern stasis_handle_t* (*stasis_non_blocking_handle_file_factory)(const char* filename, int open_mode, int creat_perms);
 
 /**
    If true, the buffer manager will use O_DIRECT, O_SYNC and so on (Mandatory
diff --git a/stasis/io/handle.h b/stasis/io/handle.h
index b091897..7f72afa 100644
--- a/stasis/io/handle.h
+++ b/stasis/io/handle.h
@@ -117,8 +117,6 @@ typedef struct stasis_handle_t {
    * Optimize the handle for sequential reads and writes.
    */
   void (*enable_sequential_optimizations)(struct stasis_handle_t *h);
-  /** The offset of the handle's first byte */
-  lsn_t (*start_position)(struct stasis_handle_t * h);
 
   /** The offset of the byte after the end of the handle's data. */
   lsn_t (*end_position)(struct stasis_handle_t * h);
@@ -134,20 +132,20 @@ typedef struct stasis_handle_t {
   */
   struct stasis_write_buffer_t * (*write_buffer)(struct stasis_handle_t * h,
 					  lsn_t off, lsn_t len);
-  /**
-     Increase the size of the file, and obtain a write buffer at the
-     beginning of the new space.
-
-     The behavior of calls that attempt to access this region before
-     release_write_buffer() returns is undefined.  Calls to append
-     that are made before the buffer is released are legal, and will
-     append data starting at the new end of file.
-
-     @param h   The handle
-     @param len The length, in bytes, of the write buffer.
-  */
-  struct stasis_write_buffer_t * (*append_buffer)(struct stasis_handle_t * h,
-					   lsn_t len);
+//  /**
+//     Increase the size of the file, and obtain a write buffer at the
+//     beginning of the new space.
+//
+//     The behavior of calls that attempt to access this region before
+//     release_write_buffer() returns is undefined.  Calls to append
+//     that are made before the buffer is released are legal, and will
+//     append data starting at the new end of file.
+//
+//     @param h   The handle
+//     @param len The length, in bytes, of the write buffer.
+//  */
+//  struct stasis_write_buffer_t * (*append_buffer)(struct stasis_handle_t * h,
+//					   lsn_t len);
   /**
      Release a write buffer and associated resources.
   */
@@ -182,17 +180,17 @@ typedef struct stasis_handle_t {
   */
   int (*write)(struct stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t off,
 	       const byte * dat, lsn_t len);
-  /**
-     Append data to the end of the file.  Once append returns, future
-     calls to the handle will reflect the update.
-
-     @param h The handle
-     @param off The position of the first byte to be written
-     @param dat A buffer containin the data to be written
-     @param len The number of bytes to be written
-  */
-  int (*append)(struct stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off, const byte * dat,
-                lsn_t len);
+//  /**
+//     Append data to the end of the file.  Once append returns, future
+//     calls to the handle will reflect the update.
+//
+//     @param h The handle
+//     @param off The position of the first byte to be written
+//     @param dat A buffer containin the data to be written
+//     @param len The number of bytes to be written
+//  */
+//  int (*append)(struct stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t * off, const byte * dat,
+//                lsn_t len);
   /**
      Read data from the file.  The region may be safely written to
      once read returns.
@@ -211,17 +209,6 @@ typedef struct stasis_handle_t {
   */
   int (*force)(struct stasis_handle_t * h);
   int (*force_range)(struct stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t start, lsn_t stop);
-  /**
-     Truncate bytes from the beginning of the file.  This is needed by
-     the log manager.
-
-     @param h The handle
-
-     @param new_start The offest of the first byte in the handle that
-            must be preserved.  Bytes before this point may or may not
-            be retained after this function returns.
-  */
-  int (*truncate_start)(struct stasis_handle_t * h, lsn_t new_start);
   /**
      The handle's error flag; this passes errors to the caller when
      they can't be returned directly.
@@ -257,7 +244,7 @@ typedef struct stasis_read_buffer_t {
 
    @param start_offset The logical offset of the first byte in the handle
 */
-stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)(lsn_t start_offset);
+stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)(void);
 /**
    Open a handle that is backed by a file.  This handle uses the unix
    read(),write() I/O interfaces.  Due to limitations in read() and
@@ -274,7 +261,7 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_memory)(lsn_t start_offset);
    @param perm The file permissions to be passed to open()
 */
 stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)
-    (lsn_t start_offset, const char * path, int flags, int perm);
+    (const char * path, int flags, int perm);
 /**
    Open a handle that is backed by a file.  This handle uses pread()
    and pwrite().  It never holds a mutex while perfoming I/O.
@@ -289,7 +276,7 @@ stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_file)
    @param perm The file permissions to be passed to open()
 */
 stasis_handle_t * stasis_handle(open_pfile)
-     (lsn_t start_offset, const char * path, int flags, int perm);
+     (const char * path, int flags, int perm);
 /**
    Given a factory for creating "fast" and "slow" handles, provide a
    handle that never makes callers wait for write requests to
diff --git a/test/stasis/check_io.c b/test/stasis/check_io.c
index 75ecb46..27c1619 100644
--- a/test/stasis/check_io.c
+++ b/test/stasis/check_io.c
@@ -51,24 +51,13 @@ terms specified in this license.
 
 #define LOG_NAME   "check_io.log"
 
-int handle_truncate_is_supported = 1;
-
 void handle_smoketest(stasis_handle_t * h) {
 
   const int one   = 0x11111111;
   const int two   = 0x22222222;
-  const int three = 0x33333333;
-  const int four  = 0x44444444;
-
-  lsn_t off;
-  h->append(h, &off, 0, 0);
-  assert(off == 0);
 
   assert((!h->num_copies(h)) || (!h->num_copies_buffer(h)));
 
-  assert(0 == h->start_position(h) ||
-	 0 == h->end_position(h));
-
   assert(! h->write(h, 0, (byte*)&one, sizeof(int)));
 
   int one_read = 0;
@@ -88,26 +77,6 @@ void handle_smoketest(stasis_handle_t * h) {
   assert(! h->read(h, sizeof(int), (byte*)&two_read, sizeof(int)));
   assert(two == two_read);
 
-  assert(! h->append(h, &off, (byte*)&three, sizeof(int)));
-
-  w = h->append_buffer(h, sizeof(int));
-  memcpy(w->buf, &four, sizeof(int));
-  w->h->release_write_buffer(w);
-  if(handle_truncate_is_supported) {
-    h->truncate_start(h, 2 * sizeof(int));
-  }
-  int three_read = 0;
-  int four_read = 0;
-  ret = h->read(h, 2*sizeof(int), (byte*)&three_read, sizeof(int));
-  assert(!ret);
-
-  r = h->read_buffer(h, 3*sizeof(int), sizeof(int));
-  memcpy(&four_read, r->buf, sizeof(int));
-  r->h->release_read_buffer(r);
-
-  assert(three == three_read);
-  assert(four == four_read);
-
 }
 
 
@@ -123,20 +92,13 @@ typedef struct {
 
 lsn_t trunc_val;
 pthread_mutex_t trunc_mut = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
-
 void load_handle(thread_arg* t) {
   lsn_t * offsets = malloc(t->count * sizeof(lsn_t));
 
   stasis_handle_t * h = t->h;
 
-  if(handle_truncate_is_supported) {
-    for(int i = 0; i < t->count; i++) {
-      offsets[i] = -1;
-    }
-  } else {
-    for(int i = 0; i < t->count; i++) {
-      offsets[i] = i * sizeof(int);
-    }
+  for(int i = 0; i < t->count; i++) {
+    offsets[i] = i * sizeof(int);
   }
   for(int i = 0; i < OPS_PER_THREAD; i++) {
     int val = myrandom(t->count);
@@ -144,67 +106,46 @@ void load_handle(thread_arg* t) {
     if(offsets[val] == -1) {
       // Need to write it somewhere.
 
-      long choice = myrandom(4);
+      long choice = myrandom(2);
 
       switch(choice) {
       case 0: {	  // overwrite old entry with write()
-	long val2 = myrandom(t->count);
-	offsets[val] = offsets[val2];
-	offsets[val2] = -1;
-	if(offsets[val] != -1) {
-	  int ret = h->write(h, offsets[val], (const byte*)&(t->values[val]), sizeof(int));
-	  if(ret) {
-	    assert(ret == EDOM);
-	    offsets[val] = -1;
-	    i--;
-	  }
-	} else {
-	  i--;
-	}
-      } break;
-      case 1: {	  // overwrite old entry with write_buffer()
-	long val2 = myrandom(t->count);
-	offsets[val] = offsets[val2];
-	offsets[val2] = -1;
-	if(offsets[val] != -1) {
-	  stasis_write_buffer_t * w = h->write_buffer(h, offsets[val], sizeof(int));
-	  if(!w->error) {
-	    *((int*)w->buf) = t->values[val];
-	    assert(w->len == sizeof(int));
-	    assert(w->off == offsets[val]);
-	  } else {
-	    assert(w->error == EDOM);
-	    offsets[val] = -1;
-	    i--;
-	  }
-	  w->h->release_write_buffer(w);
-	} else {
-	  i--;
-	}
-      } break;
-      case 2: {	  // append
-        if(handle_truncate_is_supported) {
-          lsn_t oldend = h->end_position(h);
-          int ret = h->append(h, &(offsets[val]), (const byte*)&(t->values[val]), sizeof(int));
-          assert(!ret || oldend < h->start_position(h));
+        long val2 = myrandom(t->count);
+        offsets[val] = offsets[val2];
+        offsets[val2] = -1;
+        if(offsets[val] != -1) {
+          int ret = h->write(h, offsets[val], (const byte*)&(t->values[val]), sizeof(int));
+          if(ret) {
+            assert(ret == EDOM);
+            offsets[val] = -1;
+            i--;
+          }
+        } else {
+          i--;
         }
       } break;
-      case 3: {	  // append_buffer
-        if(handle_truncate_is_supported) {
-          lsn_t oldend = h->end_position(h);
-          stasis_write_buffer_t * w = h->append_buffer(h, sizeof(int));
+      case 1: {	  // overwrite old entry with write_buffer()
+        long val2 = myrandom(t->count);
+        offsets[val] = offsets[val2];
+        offsets[val2] = -1;
+        if(offsets[val] != -1) {
+          stasis_write_buffer_t * w = h->write_buffer(h, offsets[val], sizeof(int));
           if(!w->error) {
             *((int*)w->buf) = t->values[val];
             assert(w->len == sizeof(int));
-            offsets[val] = w->off;
+            assert(w->off == offsets[val]);
           } else {
-            assert(oldend < h->start_position(h));
+            assert(w->error == EDOM);
+            offsets[val] = -1;
+            i--;
           }
           w->h->release_write_buffer(w);
+        } else {
+          i--;
         }
       } break;
       default: {
-	abort();
+        abort();
       }
       }
 
@@ -228,8 +169,6 @@ void load_handle(thread_arg* t) {
 	  assert(j == t->values[val]);
 	} else {
 	  assert(ret == EDOM);
-	  if(handle_truncate_is_supported)
-	    assert(h->start_position(h) > offsets[val]);
 	}
       } break;
       case 1: {   // read_buffer
@@ -241,8 +180,6 @@ void load_handle(thread_arg* t) {
 	} else {
 	  assert(r->error == EDOM);
 	  r->h->release_read_buffer(r);
-      if(handle_truncate_is_supported)
-        assert(h->start_position(h) > offsets[val]);
 	}
       } break;
       default:
@@ -254,26 +191,6 @@ void load_handle(thread_arg* t) {
     if(!myrandom(100)) {
       h->force(h);
     }
-
-    // Truncate 1% of the time.
-    if(!myrandom(100) && handle_truncate_is_supported) {
-      lsn_t pre_start = h->start_position(h);
-
-      pthread_mutex_lock(&trunc_mut);
-      lsn_t start = trunc_val;
-      lsn_t stop   = start - 100 + myrandom(200);
-      if(stop > trunc_val) {
-	trunc_val = stop;
-      }
-      pthread_mutex_unlock(&trunc_mut);
-
-      assert(pre_start <= start);
-      int ret = h->truncate_start(h, stop);
-      if(!ret) {
-	lsn_t post_stop = h->start_position(h);
-	assert(stop <= post_stop);
-      }
-    }
   }
   free(offsets);
 }
@@ -341,15 +258,15 @@ void handle_concurrencytest(stasis_handle_t * h) {
 START_TEST(io_memoryTest) {
   printf("io_memoryTest\n"); fflush(stdout);
   stasis_handle_t * h;
-  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)(0);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)();
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_smoketest(h);
   h->close(h);
-  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)(0);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)();
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_sequentialtest(h);
   h->close(h);
-  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)(0);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_memory)();
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_concurrencytest(h);
   h->close(h);
@@ -358,21 +275,21 @@ START_TEST(io_memoryTest) {
 START_TEST(io_fileTest) {
   printf("io_fileTest\n"); fflush(stdout);
   stasis_handle_t * h;
-  h = stasis_handle(open_file)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_file)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_smoketest(h);
   h->close(h);
 
   remove("logfile.txt");
 
-  h = stasis_handle(open_file)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_file)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   //h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_sequentialtest(h);
   h->close(h);
 
   remove("logfile.txt");
 
-  h = stasis_handle(open_file)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_file)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
 //  handle_concurrencytest(h);  // fails by design
   h->close(h);
 
@@ -382,35 +299,32 @@ START_TEST(io_fileTest) {
 
 START_TEST(io_pfileTest) {
   printf("io_pfileTest\n"); fflush(stdout);
-  handle_truncate_is_supported = 0;
 
   stasis_handle_t * h;
-  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_smoketest(h);
   h->close(h);
 
   remove("logfile.txt");
 
-  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   //h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
   handle_sequentialtest(h);
   h->close(h);
 
   remove("logfile.txt");
 
-  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, "logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  h = stasis_handle(open_pfile)("logfile.txt", O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   handle_concurrencytest(h);
   h->close(h);
 
   remove("logfile.txt");
 
-  handle_truncate_is_supported = 1;
 } END_TEST
 
 START_TEST(io_raid1pfileTest) {
   printf("io_raid1pfileTest\n"); fflush(stdout);
-  handle_truncate_is_supported = 0;
 
   const char * A = "vol1.txt";
   const char * B = "vol2.txt";
@@ -419,8 +333,8 @@ START_TEST(io_raid1pfileTest) {
   remove(B);
 
   stasis_handle_t *h, *a, *b;
-  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
-  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   h = stasis_handle_open_raid1(a, b);
 
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
@@ -430,8 +344,8 @@ START_TEST(io_raid1pfileTest) {
   remove(A);
   remove(B);
 
-  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
-  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   h = stasis_handle_open_raid1(a, b);
 
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
@@ -441,8 +355,8 @@ START_TEST(io_raid1pfileTest) {
   remove(A);
   remove(B);
 
-  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
-  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(0, B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  a = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(A, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
+  b = stasis_handle(open_pfile)(B, O_CREAT | O_RDWR, FILE_PERM);
   h = stasis_handle_open_raid1(a, b);
 
   //  h = stasis_handle(open_debug)(h);
@@ -452,8 +366,6 @@ START_TEST(io_raid1pfileTest) {
   remove(A);
   remove(B);
 
-
-  handle_truncate_is_supported = 1;
 } END_TEST
   /*
 static stasis_handle_t * fast_factory(lsn_t off, lsn_t len, void * ignored) {
diff --git a/utilities/logfile_dump.c b/utilities/logfile_dump.c
index f1aaf51..a766550 100644
--- a/utilities/logfile_dump.c
+++ b/utilities/logfile_dump.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 static char * logEntryToString(const LogEntry * le) {
   char * ret = NULL;
-  int err;
+  int err = -1;
   switch(le->type) {
   case UPDATELOG:
     {