diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 7a93881..3574a29 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ if(WIN32)
       endif()
    endforeach()
 
-   message("openssl_libraries=${OPENSSL_LIBRARIES}")
+   # message(STATUS "openssl_libraries=${OPENSSL_LIBRARIES}")
    foreach(lib ${OPENSSL_LIBRARIES})
       get_filename_component(lib_name ${lib} NAME_WE)
       if (${lib_name} STREQUAL "libeay32")
diff --git a/include/fc/asio.hpp b/include/fc/asio.hpp
index 4eac5da..9310774 100644
--- a/include/fc/asio.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/asio.hpp
@@ -28,12 +28,14 @@ namespace asio {
           promise<size_t>::ptr _completion_promise;
         };
 
-        class read_write_handler_with_buffer : public read_write_handler
+        class read_write_handler_with_buffer
         {
         public:
           read_write_handler_with_buffer(const promise<size_t>::ptr& p, 
                                          const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer);
+          void operator()(const boost::system::error_code& ec, size_t bytes_transferred);
         private:
+          promise<size_t>::ptr _completion_promise;
           std::shared_ptr<const char> _buffer;
         };
 
@@ -105,19 +107,19 @@ namespace asio {
     }
 
     template<typename AsyncReadStream>
-    future<size_t> read_some(AsyncReadStream& s, char* buffer, size_t length)
+    future<size_t> read_some(AsyncReadStream& s, char* buffer, size_t length, size_t offset = 0)
     {
       promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise(new promise<size_t>("fc::asio::async_read_some"));
-      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer, length), 
+      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer + offset, length), 
                         detail::read_write_handler(completion_promise));
       return completion_promise;//->wait();
     }
 
     template<typename AsyncReadStream>
-    future<size_t> read_some(AsyncReadStream& s, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length)
+    future<size_t> read_some(AsyncReadStream& s, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
     {
       promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise(new promise<size_t>("fc::asio::async_read_some"));
-      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get(), length), 
+      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get() + offset, length), 
                         detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(completion_promise, buffer));
       return completion_promise;//->wait();
     }
@@ -137,9 +139,9 @@ namespace asio {
 
     template<typename AsyncReadStream>
     void async_read_some(AsyncReadStream& s, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer,
-                         size_t length, promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise)
+                         size_t length, size_t offset, promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise)
     {
-      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get(), length), detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(completion_promise, buffer));
+      s.async_read_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get() + offset, length), detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(completion_promise, buffer));
     }
 
     template<typename AsyncReadStream>
@@ -175,17 +177,17 @@ namespace asio {
 
     template<typename AsyncWriteStream>
     future<size_t> write_some( AsyncWriteStream& s, const char* buffer, 
-                               size_t length ) {
+                               size_t length, size_t offset = 0) {
         promise<size_t>::ptr p(new promise<size_t>("fc::asio::write_some"));
-        s.async_write_some( boost::asio::buffer(buffer, length), detail::read_write_handler(p));
+        s.async_write_some( boost::asio::buffer(buffer + offset, length), detail::read_write_handler(p));
         return p; //->wait();
     }
 
     template<typename AsyncWriteStream>
     future<size_t> write_some( AsyncWriteStream& s, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, 
-                               size_t length ) {
+                               size_t length, size_t offset ) {
         promise<size_t>::ptr p(new promise<size_t>("fc::asio::write_some"));
-        s.async_write_some( boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get(), length), detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(p, buffer));
+        s.async_write_some( boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get() + offset, length), detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(p, buffer));
         return p; //->wait();
     }
 
@@ -208,8 +210,8 @@ namespace asio {
 
     template<typename AsyncWriteStream>
     void async_write_some(AsyncWriteStream& s, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, 
-                          size_t length, promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) {
-      s.async_write_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get(), length), 
+                          size_t length, size_t offset, promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) {
+      s.async_write_some(boost::asio::buffer(buffer.get() + offset, length), 
                          detail::read_write_handler_with_buffer(completion_promise, buffer));
     }
 
@@ -263,8 +265,11 @@ namespace asio {
 
           virtual size_t readsome( char* buf, size_t len )
           {
-             auto r = fc::asio::read_some(*_stream, boost::asio::buffer(buf, len) ).wait();
-             return r;
+             return fc::asio::read_some(*_stream, buf, len).wait();
+          }
+          virtual size_t readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+          {
+             return fc::asio::read_some(*_stream, buf, len, offset).wait();
           }
     
        private:
@@ -280,7 +285,12 @@ namespace asio {
 
           virtual size_t writesome( const char* buf, size_t len )
           {
-             return fc::asio::write_some(*_stream, boost::asio::const_buffers_1(buf, len) ).wait();
+             return fc::asio::write_some(*_stream, buf, len).wait();
+          }
+    
+          virtual size_t     writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+          {
+             return fc::asio::write_some(*_stream, buf, len, offset).wait();
           }
     
           virtual void       close(){ _stream->close(); }
diff --git a/include/fc/io/buffered_iostream.hpp b/include/fc/io/buffered_iostream.hpp
index 5ebb566..f1803eb 100644
--- a/include/fc/io/buffered_iostream.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/io/buffered_iostream.hpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ namespace fc
          *  @throws fc::eof if at least 1 byte cannot be read
          **/
         virtual std::size_t     readsome( char* buf, std::size_t len );
+        virtual size_t          readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
 
         /**
          *  This method may block until at least 1 character is
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ namespace fc
          *  is full, in which case it will flush which may block.
          */
         virtual size_t  writesome( const char* buf, size_t len );
+        virtual size_t  writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
 
         virtual void close();
         virtual void flush();
diff --git a/include/fc/io/fstream.hpp b/include/fc/io/fstream.hpp
index a11f915..6389c79 100644
--- a/include/fc/io/fstream.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/io/fstream.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace fc {
 
       void open( const fc::path& file, int m = binary );
       size_t writesome( const char* buf, size_t len );
+      size_t writesome(const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t len, size_t offset);
       void   put( char c );
       void   close();
       void   flush();
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ namespace fc {
 
       void      open( const fc::path& file, int m );
       size_t    readsome( char* buf, size_t len );
+      size_t    readsome(const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t max, size_t offset);
       ifstream& read( char* buf, size_t len );
       ifstream& seekg( size_t p, seekdir d = beg );
       void      get( char& c ) { read( &c, 1 ); }
diff --git a/include/fc/io/iostream.hpp b/include/fc/io/iostream.hpp
index f743048..582797f 100644
--- a/include/fc/io/iostream.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/io/iostream.hpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ namespace fc {
        *  @throws fc::eof if at least 1 byte cannot be read
        **/
       virtual size_t     readsome( char* buf, size_t len ) = 0;
+      virtual size_t     readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) = 0;
 
       /** read len bytes or throw, this method is implemented
        *  in terms of readsome.
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ namespace fc {
        *  @throws fc::eof_exception if len bytes cannot be read
        **/
       istream&   read( char* buf, size_t len ); 
-      istream&   read( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len ); 
+      istream&   read( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset = 0 ); 
       char       get();
   };
   typedef std::shared_ptr<istream> istream_ptr;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ namespace fc {
      public:
        virtual ~ostream(){};
        virtual size_t     writesome( const char* buf, size_t len ) = 0;
+       virtual size_t     writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) = 0;
        virtual void       close() = 0;
        virtual void       flush() = 0;
 
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ namespace fc {
         * but not flushed. 
         **/
        ostream&   write( const char* buf, size_t len );
-       ostream&   write( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len );
+       ostream&   write( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset = 0 );
   };
 
   typedef std::shared_ptr<ostream> ostream_ptr;
diff --git a/include/fc/io/sstream.hpp b/include/fc/io/sstream.hpp
index 0aacb7a..9010bfe 100644
--- a/include/fc/io/sstream.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/io/sstream.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ namespace fc {
 
       virtual bool     eof()const;
       virtual size_t   writesome( const char* buf, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t   writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
       virtual size_t   readsome( char* buf, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t   readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
       virtual void     close();
       virtual void     flush();
               char     peek();
diff --git a/include/fc/io/stdio.hpp b/include/fc/io/stdio.hpp
index 63d6e17..36ba091 100644
--- a/include/fc/io/stdio.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/io/stdio.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ namespace fc
   class cout_t : virtual public ostream { 
      public:
       virtual size_t writesome( const char* buf, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
       virtual void   close();
       virtual void   flush();
   };
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ namespace fc
   class cerr_t : virtual public ostream { 
      public:
       virtual size_t writesome( const char* buf, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
       virtual void   close();
       virtual void   flush();
   };
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ namespace fc
      public:
       ~cin_t();
       virtual size_t readsome( char* buf, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
       virtual istream& read( char* buf, size_t len );
       virtual bool eof()const;
   };
diff --git a/include/fc/network/tcp_socket.hpp b/include/fc/network/tcp_socket.hpp
index 33ca221..cc8c158 100644
--- a/include/fc/network/tcp_socket.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/network/tcp_socket.hpp
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ namespace fc {
       /// istream interface
       /// @{
       virtual size_t   readsome( char* buffer, size_t max );
-      virtual size_t   readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t max );
+      virtual size_t   readsome(const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t max, size_t offset);
       virtual bool     eof()const;
       /// @}
 
       /// ostream interface
       /// @{
       virtual size_t   writesome( const char* buffer, size_t len );
-      virtual size_t   writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t len );
+      virtual size_t   writesome(const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t len, size_t offset);
       virtual void     flush();
       virtual void     close();
       /// @}
diff --git a/include/fc/network/tcp_socket_io_hooks.hpp b/include/fc/network/tcp_socket_io_hooks.hpp
index e3d98dd..0d373a7 100644
--- a/include/fc/network/tcp_socket_io_hooks.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/network/tcp_socket_io_hooks.hpp
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ namespace fc
   public:
     virtual ~tcp_socket_io_hooks() {}
     virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, char* buffer, size_t length) = 0;
-    virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length) = 0;
+    virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) = 0;
     virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const char* buffer, size_t length) = 0;
-    virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length) = 0;
+    virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) = 0;
   };
 } // namesapce fc
diff --git a/include/fc/network/udt_socket.hpp b/include/fc/network/udt_socket.hpp
index aa1dd49..ea17f77 100644
--- a/include/fc/network/udt_socket.hpp
+++ b/include/fc/network/udt_socket.hpp
@@ -29,12 +29,14 @@ namespace fc {
        /// istream interface
        /// @{
        virtual size_t   readsome( char* buffer, size_t max );
+       virtual size_t   readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
        virtual bool     eof()const;
        /// @}
    
        /// ostream interface
        /// @{
        virtual size_t   writesome( const char* buffer, size_t len );
+       virtual size_t   writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset );
        virtual void     flush();
        virtual void     close();
        /// @}
diff --git a/src/asio.cpp b/src/asio.cpp
index 48e2855..8f6bff0 100644
--- a/src/asio.cpp
+++ b/src/asio.cpp
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@ namespace fc {
 
       read_write_handler::read_write_handler(const promise<size_t>::ptr& completion_promise) :
         _completion_promise(completion_promise)
-      {}
+      {
+        // assert(false); // to detect anywhere we're not passing in a shared buffer
+      }
       void read_write_handler::operator()(const boost::system::error_code& ec, size_t bytes_transferred)
       {
+        // assert(false); // to detect anywhere we're not passing in a shared buffer
         if( !ec ) 
           _completion_promise->set_value(bytes_transferred);
         else if( ec == boost::asio::error::eof  )
@@ -21,10 +24,18 @@ namespace fc {
       }
       read_write_handler_with_buffer::read_write_handler_with_buffer(const promise<size_t>::ptr& completion_promise, 
                                                                      const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer) :
-        read_write_handler(completion_promise),
+        _completion_promise(completion_promise),
         _buffer(buffer)
       {}
-
+      void read_write_handler_with_buffer::operator()(const boost::system::error_code& ec, size_t bytes_transferred)
+      {
+        if( !ec ) 
+          _completion_promise->set_value(bytes_transferred);
+        else if( ec == boost::asio::error::eof  )
+          _completion_promise->set_exception( fc::exception_ptr( new fc::eof_exception( FC_LOG_MESSAGE( error, "${message} ", ("message", boost::system::system_error(ec).what())) ) ) );
+        else
+          _completion_promise->set_exception( fc::exception_ptr( new fc::exception( FC_LOG_MESSAGE( error, "${message} ", ("message", boost::system::system_error(ec).what())) ) ) );
+      }
 
         void read_write_handler_ec( promise<size_t>* p, boost::system::error_code* oec, const boost::system::error_code& ec, size_t bytes_transferred ) {
             p->set_value(bytes_transferred);
diff --git a/src/io/buffered_iostream.cpp b/src/io/buffered_iostream.cpp
index d6cf1f9..0760621 100644
--- a/src/io/buffered_iostream.cpp
+++ b/src/io/buffered_iostream.cpp
@@ -12,11 +12,19 @@ namespace fc
        class buffered_istream_impl
        {
           public:
-             buffered_istream_impl( istream_ptr is )
-             :_istr(fc::move(is)){}
+             buffered_istream_impl( istream_ptr is ) :
+               _istr(fc::move(is))
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+               ,_shared_read_buffer_in_use(false)
+#endif
+               {}
 
              istream_ptr            _istr;
              boost::asio::streambuf _rdbuf;
+             std::shared_ptr<char>  _shared_read_buffer;
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+             bool                   _shared_read_buffer_in_use;
+#endif
        };
        static const size_t minimum_read_size = 1024;
     }
@@ -64,6 +72,43 @@ namespace fc
         return bytes_to_deliver_immediately;
     }
 
+    size_t buffered_istream::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+    {
+        size_t bytes_from_rdbuf = static_cast<size_t>(my->_rdbuf.sgetn(buf.get() + offset, len));
+        if (bytes_from_rdbuf)
+           return bytes_from_rdbuf;
+
+
+        if( len > detail::minimum_read_size ) 
+           return my->_istr->readsome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+        // This code was written with the assumption that you'd only be making one call to readsome 
+        // at a time so it reuses _shared_read_buffer.  If you really need to make concurrent calls to 
+        // readsome(), you'll need to prevent reusing _shared_read_buffer here
+        struct check_buffer_in_use {
+          bool& _buffer_in_use;
+          check_buffer_in_use(bool& buffer_in_use) : _buffer_in_use(buffer_in_use) { assert(!_buffer_in_use); _buffer_in_use = true; }
+          ~check_buffer_in_use() { assert(_buffer_in_use); _buffer_in_use = false; }
+        } buffer_in_use_checker(my->_shared_read_buffer_in_use);
+#endif
+
+        if (!my->_shared_read_buffer)
+          my->_shared_read_buffer.reset(new char[detail::minimum_read_size], [](char* p){ delete[] p; });
+        size_t bytes_read = my->_istr->readsome( my->_shared_read_buffer, detail::minimum_read_size, 0 );
+
+        size_t bytes_to_deliver_immediately = std::min<size_t>(bytes_read,len);
+
+        memcpy( buf.get() + offset, my->_shared_read_buffer.get(), bytes_to_deliver_immediately );
+        
+        if( bytes_read > len )
+        {
+           my->_rdbuf.sputn( my->_shared_read_buffer.get() + len, bytes_read - len );
+        }
+
+        return bytes_to_deliver_immediately;
+    }
+
     char  buffered_istream::peek()const
     {
        if( my->_rdbuf.size() )
@@ -89,11 +134,19 @@ namespace fc
        class buffered_ostream_impl
        {
           public:
-             buffered_ostream_impl( ostream_ptr os )
-             :_ostr(fc::move(os)){}
+             buffered_ostream_impl( ostream_ptr os ) :
+               _ostr(fc::move(os))
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+               ,_shared_write_buffer_in_use(false)
+#endif
+             {}
 
              ostream_ptr            _ostr;
              boost::asio::streambuf _rdbuf;
+             std::shared_ptr<char>  _shared_write_buffer;
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+             bool                   _shared_write_buffer_in_use;
+#endif
        };
     }
 
@@ -120,11 +173,29 @@ namespace fc
         return written + static_cast<size_t>(my->_rdbuf.sputn( buf+written, len-written ));
     }
 
+    size_t buffered_ostream::writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+    {
+      return writesome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+    }
+
     void  buffered_ostream::flush()
     {
-        char buffer[2048];    
-        while( size_t bytes_from_rdbuf = static_cast<size_t>(my->_rdbuf.sgetn(buffer,sizeof(buffer))) )
-           my->_ostr->write( buffer, bytes_from_rdbuf );
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+        // This code was written with the assumption that you'd only be making one call to flush 
+        // at a time so it reuses _shared_write_buffer.  If you really need to make concurrent calls to 
+        // flush(), you'll need to prevent reusing _shared_write_buffer here
+        struct check_buffer_in_use {
+          bool& _buffer_in_use;
+          check_buffer_in_use(bool& buffer_in_use) : _buffer_in_use(buffer_in_use) { assert(!_buffer_in_use); _buffer_in_use = true; }
+          ~check_buffer_in_use() { assert(_buffer_in_use); _buffer_in_use = false; }
+        } buffer_in_use_checker(my->_shared_write_buffer_in_use);
+#endif
+        const size_t write_buffer_size = 2048;
+        if (!my->_shared_write_buffer)
+          my->_shared_write_buffer.reset(new char[write_buffer_size], [](char* p){ delete[] p; });
+
+        while( size_t bytes_from_rdbuf = static_cast<size_t>(my->_rdbuf.sgetn(my->_shared_write_buffer.get(), write_buffer_size)) )
+           my->_ostr->write( my->_shared_write_buffer, bytes_from_rdbuf );
         my->_ostr->flush();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/io/fstream.cpp b/src/io/fstream.cpp
index 8107f42..824e44e 100644
--- a/src/io/fstream.cpp
+++ b/src/io/fstream.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ namespace fc {
         my->ofs.write(buf,len);
         return len;
    }
+   size_t ofstream::writesome(const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t len, size_t offset)
+   {
+     return writesome(buffer.get() + offset, len);
+   }
+
    void   ofstream::put( char c ) {
         my->ofs.put(c);
    }
@@ -62,6 +67,11 @@ namespace fc {
       }
       return s;
    }
+   size_t ifstream::readsome(const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t max, size_t offset)
+   {
+     return readsome(buffer.get() + offset, max);
+   }
+
    ifstream& ifstream::read( char* buf, size_t len ) {
       if( eof() ) FC_THROW_EXCEPTION( eof_exception , "");
       my->ifs.read(buf,len);
diff --git a/src/io/iostream.cpp b/src/io/iostream.cpp
index ddb370e..02acafb 100644
--- a/src/io/iostream.cpp
+++ b/src/io/iostream.cpp
@@ -96,10 +96,12 @@ namespace fc {
 
 
   size_t cout_t::writesome( const char* buf, size_t len ) { std::cout.write(buf,len); return len; }
+  size_t cout_t::writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) { return writesome(buf.get() + offset, len); }
   void   cout_t::close() {}
   void   cout_t::flush() { std::cout.flush(); }
 
   size_t cerr_t::writesome( const char* buf, size_t len ) { std::cerr.write(buf,len); return len; }
+  size_t cerr_t::writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) { return writesome(buf.get() + offset, len); }
   void   cerr_t::close() {};
   void   cerr_t::flush() { std::cerr.flush(); }
 
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ namespace fc {
     }
     return size_t(u);
   }
+  size_t cin_t::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) { return readsome(buf.get() + offset, len); }
 
   cin_t::~cin_t() {
     /*
@@ -358,12 +361,12 @@ namespace fc {
       return *this;
   }
 
-  istream& istream::read( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len )
+  istream& istream::read( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
   {
-      char* pos = buf.get();
-      while( size_t(pos-buf.get()) < len )
-         pos += readsome( pos, len - (pos - buf.get()) );
-      return *this;
+    size_t bytes_read = 0;
+    while( bytes_read < len )
+      bytes_read += readsome(buf, len - bytes_read, bytes_read + offset);
+    return *this;
   }
 
   ostream& ostream::write( const char* buf, size_t len )
@@ -374,12 +377,12 @@ namespace fc {
       return *this;
   }
 
-  ostream& ostream::write( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len )
+  ostream& ostream::write( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
   {
-      const char* pos = buf.get();
-      while( size_t(pos-buf.get()) < len )
-         pos += writesome( pos, len - (pos - buf.get()) );
-      return *this;
+    size_t bytes_written = 0;
+    while( bytes_written < len )
+      bytes_written += writesome(buf, len - bytes_written, bytes_written + offset);
+    return *this;
   }
 
 } // namespace fc
diff --git a/src/io/sstream.cpp b/src/io/sstream.cpp
index aed1575..9c4739e 100644
--- a/src/io/sstream.cpp
+++ b/src/io/sstream.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ namespace fc {
     }
     return len;
   }
+  size_t stringstream::writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+  {
+    return writesome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+  }
+
   size_t   stringstream::readsome( char* buf, size_t len ) {
     size_t r = static_cast<size_t>(my->ss.readsome(buf,len));
     if( my->ss.eof() || r == 0 )
@@ -62,6 +67,12 @@ namespace fc {
     }
     return r;
   }
+  size_t   stringstream::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+  {
+    return readsome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+  }
+
+
   void     stringstream::close(){ my->ss.flush(); };
   void     stringstream::flush(){ my->ss.flush(); };
 
diff --git a/src/network/rate_limiting.cpp b/src/network/rate_limiting.cpp
index 2647ca4..1c15af1 100644
--- a/src/network/rate_limiting.cpp
+++ b/src/network/rate_limiting.cpp
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ namespace fc
     {
     public:
       size_t                        length;
+      size_t                        offset;
       size_t                        permitted_length;
       promise<size_t>::ptr          completion_promise;
 
       rate_limited_operation(size_t length,
+                             size_t offset,
                              promise<size_t>::ptr&& completion_promise) :
         length(length),
+        offset(offset),
         permitted_length(0),
         completion_promise(completion_promise)
       {}
@@ -44,16 +47,20 @@ namespace fc
       rate_limited_tcp_write_operation(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket,
                                        const char* buffer,
                                        size_t length,
+                                       size_t offset,
                                        promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) :
-        rate_limited_operation(length, std::move(completion_promise)),
+        rate_limited_operation(length, offset, std::move(completion_promise)),
         socket(socket),
         raw_buffer(buffer)
-      {}
+      {
+        assert(false);
+      }
       rate_limited_tcp_write_operation(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket,
                                        const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer,
                                        size_t length,
+                                       size_t offset,
                                        promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) :
-        rate_limited_operation(length, std::move(completion_promise)),
+        rate_limited_operation(length, offset, std::move(completion_promise)),
         socket(socket),
         raw_buffer(nullptr),
         shared_buffer(buffer)
@@ -66,7 +73,7 @@ namespace fc
                                  completion_promise);
         else
           asio::async_write_some(socket,
-                                 shared_buffer, permitted_length,
+                                 shared_buffer, permitted_length, offset, 
                                  completion_promise);          
       }
     };
@@ -81,16 +88,18 @@ namespace fc
       rate_limited_tcp_read_operation(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket,
                                       char* buffer,
                                       size_t length,
+                                      size_t offset, 
                                       promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) :
-        rate_limited_operation(length, std::move(completion_promise)),
+        rate_limited_operation(length, offset, std::move(completion_promise)),
         socket(socket),
         raw_buffer(buffer)
       {}
       rate_limited_tcp_read_operation(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket,
                                       const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer,
                                       size_t length,
+                                      size_t offset,
                                       promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise) :
-        rate_limited_operation(length, std::move(completion_promise)),
+        rate_limited_operation(length, offset, std::move(completion_promise)),
         socket(socket),
         raw_buffer(nullptr),
         shared_buffer(buffer)
@@ -103,7 +112,7 @@ namespace fc
                                 completion_promise);
         else
           asio::async_read_some(socket,
-                                shared_buffer, permitted_length,
+                                shared_buffer, permitted_length, offset,
                                 completion_promise);
           
       }
@@ -209,13 +218,13 @@ namespace fc
                                uint32_t burstiness_in_seconds = 1);
 
       virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, char* buffer, size_t length) override;
-      virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length) override;
+      virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) override;
       template <typename BufferType>
-      size_t readsome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length);
+      size_t readsome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset);
       virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const char* buffer, size_t length) override;
-      virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length) override;
+      virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) override;
       template <typename BufferType>
-      size_t writesome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length);
+      size_t writesome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset);
 
       void process_pending_reads();
       void process_pending_writes();
@@ -240,24 +249,24 @@ namespace fc
     {
     }
 
-    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length)
+    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
     {
-      return readsome_impl(socket, buffer, length);
+      return readsome_impl(socket, buffer, length, offset);
     }
 
     size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, char* buffer, size_t length)
     {
-      return readsome_impl(socket, buffer, length);
+      return readsome_impl(socket, buffer, length, 0);
     }
 
     template <typename BufferType>
-    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length)
+    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
     {
       size_t bytes_read;
       if (_download_bytes_per_second)
       {
         promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise(new promise<size_t>("rate_limiting_group_impl::readsome"));
-        rate_limited_tcp_read_operation read_operation(socket, buffer, length, completion_promise);
+        rate_limited_tcp_read_operation read_operation(socket, buffer, length, offset, completion_promise);
         _read_operations_for_next_iteration.push_back(&read_operation);
 
         // launch the read processing loop it if isn't running, or signal it to resume if it's paused.
@@ -279,7 +288,7 @@ namespace fc
         _unused_read_tokens += read_operation.permitted_length - bytes_read;
       }
       else
-        bytes_read = asio::read_some(socket, buffer, length);
+        bytes_read = asio::read_some(socket, buffer, length, offset);
       
       _actual_download_rate.update(bytes_read);
       
@@ -288,22 +297,22 @@ namespace fc
 
     size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const char* buffer, size_t length)
     {
-      return writesome_impl(socket, buffer, length);
+      return writesome_impl(socket, buffer, length, 0);
     }
 
-    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length)
+    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
     {
-      return writesome_impl(socket, buffer, length);
+      return writesome_impl(socket, buffer, length, offset);
     }
 
     template <typename BufferType>
-    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length)
+    size_t rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome_impl(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const BufferType& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
     {
       size_t bytes_written;
       if (_upload_bytes_per_second)
       {
         promise<size_t>::ptr completion_promise(new promise<size_t>("rate_limiting_group_impl::writesome"));
-        rate_limited_tcp_write_operation write_operation(socket, buffer, length, completion_promise);
+        rate_limited_tcp_write_operation write_operation(socket, buffer, length, offset, completion_promise);
         _write_operations_for_next_iteration.push_back(&write_operation);
 
         // launch the write processing loop it if isn't running, or signal it to resume if it's paused.
@@ -325,7 +334,7 @@ namespace fc
         _unused_write_tokens += write_operation.permitted_length - bytes_written;
       }
       else
-        bytes_written = asio::write_some(socket, buffer, length);
+        bytes_written = asio::write_some(socket, buffer, length, offset);
       
       _actual_upload_rate.update(bytes_written);
       
diff --git a/src/network/tcp_socket.cpp b/src/network/tcp_socket.cpp
index 1d67897..f5a3617 100644
--- a/src/network/tcp_socket.cpp
+++ b/src/network/tcp_socket.cpp
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ namespace fc {
           }
       }
       virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, char* buffer, size_t length) override;
-      virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length) override;
+      virtual size_t readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) override;
       virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const char* buffer, size_t length) override;
-      virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length) override;
+      virtual size_t writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset) override;
 
       fc::future<size_t> _write_in_progress;
       fc::future<size_t> _read_in_progress;
@@ -55,17 +55,17 @@ namespace fc {
   {
     return (_read_in_progress = fc::asio::read_some(socket, buffer, length)).wait();
   }
-  size_t tcp_socket::impl::readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length)
+  size_t tcp_socket::impl::readsome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
   {
-    return (_read_in_progress = fc::asio::read_some(socket, buffer, length)).wait();
+    return (_read_in_progress = fc::asio::read_some(socket, buffer, length, offset)).wait();
   }
   size_t tcp_socket::impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const char* buffer, size_t length)
   {
     return (_write_in_progress = fc::asio::write_some(socket, buffer, length)).wait();
   }
-  size_t tcp_socket::impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length)
+  size_t tcp_socket::impl::writesome(boost::asio::ip::tcp::socket& socket, const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buffer, size_t length, size_t offset)
   {
-    return (_write_in_progress = fc::asio::write_some(socket, buffer, length)).wait();
+    return (_write_in_progress = fc::asio::write_some(socket, buffer, length, offset)).wait();
   }
 
 
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ namespace fc {
     return my->_io_hooks->writesome(my->_sock, buf, len);
   }
 
-  size_t tcp_socket::writesome(const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len) 
+  size_t tcp_socket::writesome(const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset) 
   {
-    return my->_io_hooks->writesome(my->_sock, buf, len);
+    return my->_io_hooks->writesome(my->_sock, buf, len, offset);
   }
 
   fc::ip::endpoint tcp_socket::remote_endpoint()const
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ namespace fc {
     return my->_io_hooks->readsome(my->_sock, buf, len);
   }
 
-  size_t tcp_socket::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len ) {
-    return my->_io_hooks->readsome(my->_sock, buf, len);
+  size_t tcp_socket::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset ) {
+    return my->_io_hooks->readsome(my->_sock, buf, len, offset);
   }
 
   void tcp_socket::connect_to( const fc::ip::endpoint& remote_endpoint ) {
diff --git a/src/network/udt_socket.cpp b/src/network/udt_socket.cpp
index 3ac14a6..655e16c 100644
--- a/src/network/udt_socket.cpp
+++ b/src/network/udt_socket.cpp
@@ -244,6 +244,11 @@ namespace fc {
       return bytes_read;
    } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (max) ) }
 
+   size_t udt_socket::readsome( const std::shared_ptr<char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+   {
+     return readsome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+   }
+
    bool     udt_socket::eof()const
    {
       // TODO... 
@@ -274,6 +279,11 @@ namespace fc {
       return bytes_sent;
    } FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW( (len) ) }
 
+   size_t udt_socket::writesome( const std::shared_ptr<const char>& buf, size_t len, size_t offset )
+   {
+     return writesome(buf.get() + offset, len);
+   }
+
    void     udt_socket::flush(){}
 
    void     udt_socket::close()