diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index eba27bd9a..653866415 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ path = "rmdir/rmdir.rs"
 name = "seq"
 path = "seq/seq.rs"
 
+[[bin]]
+name = "shuf"
+path = "shuf/shuf.rs"
+
 [[bin]]
 name = "sleep"
 path = "sleep/sleep.rs"
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8c90727ba..250a4c108 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ PROGS       := \
   sleep \
   split \
   seq \
+  shuf \
   sum \
   sync \
   tac \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f1b0bf028..335496c63 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -153,7 +153,6 @@ To do
 - runcon
 - setuidgid
 - shred
-- shuf
 - sort
 - split
 - stat
diff --git a/base64/base64.rs b/base64/base64.rs
index fe20cfeb1..36e9ec796 100644
--- a/base64/base64.rs
+++ b/base64/base64.rs
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
 }
 
 fn decode(input: &mut Reader, ignore_garbage: bool) {
-    let mut to_decode = match input.read_to_str() {
+    let mut to_decode = match input.read_to_string() {
         Ok(m) => m,
-        Err(f) => fail!(f.to_str())
+        Err(f) => fail!(f.to_string())
     };
 
     to_decode = str::replace(to_decode.as_slice(), "\n", "");
@@ -112,15 +112,15 @@ fn decode(input: &mut Reader, ignore_garbage: bool) {
 
             match out.write(bytes.as_slice()) {
                 Ok(_) => {}
-                Err(f) => { crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str()); }
+                Err(f) => { crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string()); }
             }
             match out.flush() {
                 Ok(_) => {}
-                Err(f) => { crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str()); }
+                Err(f) => { crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string()); }
             }
         }
         Err(s) => {
-            error!("error: {}", s.to_str());
+            error!("error: {}", s.to_string());
             fail!()
         }
     }
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ fn encode(input: &mut Reader, line_wrap: uint) {
     };
     let to_encode = match input.read_to_end() {
         Ok(m) => m,
-        Err(f) => fail!(f.to_str())
+        Err(f) => fail!(f.to_string())
     };
     let encoded = to_encode.as_slice().to_base64(b64_conf);
 
diff --git a/cat/cat.rs b/cat/cat.rs
index 01395bf55..26a81c6f4 100644
--- a/cat/cat.rs
+++ b/cat/cat.rs
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ fn open(path: &str) -> Option<(Box<Reader>, bool)> {
     match File::open(&std::path::Path::new(path)) {
         Ok(f) => Some((box f as Box<Reader>, false)),
         Err(e) => {
-            (writeln!(stderr(), "cat: {0:s}: {1:s}", path, e.to_str())).unwrap();
+            (writeln!(stderr(), "cat: {0:s}: {1:s}", path, e.to_string())).unwrap();
             None
         },
     }
diff --git a/common/util.rs b/common/util.rs
index ffd10be80..90deafb80 100644
--- a/common/util.rs
+++ b/common/util.rs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ macro_rules! crash_if_err(
     ($exitcode:expr, $exp:expr) => (
         match $exp {
             Ok(m) => m,
-            Err(f) => crash!($exitcode, "{}", f.to_str())
+            Err(f) => crash!($exitcode, "{}", f.to_string())
         }
     )
 )
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ macro_rules! safe_write(
     ($fd:expr, $($args:expr),+) => (
         match write!($fd, $($args),+) {
             Ok(_) => {}
-            Err(f) => { fail!(f.to_str()); }
+            Err(f) => { fail!(f.to_string()); }
         }
     )
 )
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ macro_rules! safe_writeln(
     ($fd:expr, $($args:expr),+) => (
         match writeln!($fd, $($args),+) {
             Ok(_) => {}
-            Err(f) => { fail!(f.to_str()); }
+            Err(f) => { fail!(f.to_string()); }
         }
     )
 )
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ macro_rules! safe_unwrap(
     ($exp:expr) => (
         match $exp {
             Ok(m) => m,
-            Err(f) => crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str())
+            Err(f) => crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string())
         }
     )
 )
diff --git a/cp/cp.rs b/cp/cp.rs
index 52912feac..43848adc6 100644
--- a/cp/cp.rs
+++ b/cp/cp.rs
@@ -102,15 +102,15 @@ fn copy(matches: getopts::Matches) {
             Err(e) => if e.kind == io::FileNotFound {
                 false
             } else {
-                error!("error: {:s}", e.to_str());
+                error!("error: {:s}", e.to_string());
                 fail!()
             }
         };
 
         if same_file {
             error!("error: \"{:s}\" and \"{:s}\" are the same file",
-                source.display().to_str(),
-                dest.display().to_str());
+                source.display().to_string(),
+                dest.display().to_string());
             fail!();
         }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ fn copy(matches: getopts::Matches) {
 
         if io_result.is_err() {
             let err = io_result.unwrap_err();
-            error!("error: {:s}", err.to_str());
+            error!("error: {:s}", err.to_string());
             fail!();
         }
     } else {
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ fn copy(matches: getopts::Matches) {
 
         for source in sources.iter() {
             if fs::stat(source).unwrap().kind != io::TypeFile {
-                error!("error: \"{:s}\" is not a file", source.display().to_str());
+                error!("error: \"{:s}\" is not a file", source.display().to_string());
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -137,13 +137,13 @@ fn copy(matches: getopts::Matches) {
 
             full_dest.push(source.filename_str().unwrap());
 
-            println!("{:s}", full_dest.display().to_str());
+            println!("{:s}", full_dest.display().to_string());
 
             let io_result = fs::copy(source, &full_dest);
 
             if io_result.is_err() {
                 let err = io_result.unwrap_err();
-                error!("error: {:s}", err.to_str());
+                error!("error: {:s}", err.to_string());
                 fail!()
             }
         }
diff --git a/cut/buffer.rs b/cut/buffer.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fe691c3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cut/buffer.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+use std;
+use std::io::{IoResult, IoError};
+
+pub struct BufReader<R> {
+    reader: R,
+    buffer: [u8, ..4096],
+    start: uint,
+    end: uint,  // exclusive
+}
+
+pub mod Bytes {
+    pub trait Select {
+        fn select<'a>(&'a mut self, bytes: uint) -> Selected<'a>;
+    }
+
+    pub enum Selected<'a> {
+        NewlineFound(&'a [u8]),
+        Complete(&'a [u8]),
+        Partial(&'a [u8]),
+        EndOfFile,
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Reader> BufReader<R> {
+    pub fn new(reader: R) -> BufReader<R> {
+        let empty_buffer = unsafe {
+            std::mem::uninitialized::<[u8, ..4096]>()
+        };
+
+        BufReader {
+            reader: reader,
+            buffer: empty_buffer,
+            start: 0,
+            end: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn read(&mut self) -> IoResult<uint> {
+        let buf_len = self.buffer.len();
+        let buffer_fill = self.buffer.mut_slice(self.end, buf_len);
+
+        match self.reader.read(buffer_fill) {
+            Ok(nread) => {
+                self.end += nread;
+                Ok(nread)
+            }
+            error => error
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn maybe_fill_buf(&mut self) -> IoResult<uint> {
+        if self.end == self.start {
+            self.start = 0;
+            self.end = 0;
+        }
+
+        if self.end <= 2048 { self.read() } else { Ok(0) }
+    }
+
+    pub fn consume_line(&mut self) -> uint {
+        let mut bytes_consumed = 0;
+
+        loop {
+            match self.maybe_fill_buf() {
+                Err(IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => (),
+                Err(err) => fail!("read error: {}", err.desc),
+                _ => ()
+            }
+
+            let buffer_used = self.end - self.start;
+
+            if buffer_used == 0 { return bytes_consumed; }
+
+            for idx in range(self.start, self.end) {
+                if self.buffer[idx] == b'\n' {
+                    self.start = idx + 1;
+                    return bytes_consumed + idx + 1;
+                }
+            }
+
+            bytes_consumed += buffer_used;
+
+            self.start = 0;
+            self.end = 0;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: Reader> Bytes::Select for BufReader<R> {
+    fn select<'a>(&'a mut self, bytes: uint) -> Bytes::Selected<'a> {
+        match self.maybe_fill_buf() {
+            Err(IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => (),
+            Err(err) => fail!("read error: {}", err.desc),
+            _ => ()
+        }
+
+        let buffer_used = self.end - self.start;
+
+        if buffer_used == 0 { return Bytes::EndOfFile; }
+
+        let (complete, max_segment_len) = {
+            if bytes < buffer_used {
+                (true, bytes + 1)
+            } else {
+                (false, buffer_used)
+            }
+        };
+
+        for idx in range(self.start, self.start + max_segment_len) {
+            if self.buffer[idx] == b'\n' {
+                let segment = self.buffer.slice(self.start, idx + 1);
+
+                self.start = idx + 1;
+
+                return Bytes::NewlineFound(segment);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if complete {
+            let segment = self.buffer.slice(self.start,
+                                            self.start + bytes);
+
+            self.start += bytes;
+            Bytes::Complete(segment)
+        } else {
+            let segment = self.buffer.slice(self.start, self.end);
+
+            self.start = 0;
+            self.end = 0;
+            Bytes::Partial(segment)
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/cut/cut.rs b/cut/cut.rs
index 1addd7a04..dce917473 100644
--- a/cut/cut.rs
+++ b/cut/cut.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 extern crate getopts;
 extern crate libc;
 
-use std::io::{File, BufferedWriter, BufferedReader, stdin, print};
+use std::io::{stdio, File, BufferedWriter, BufferedReader, print};
 use getopts::{optopt, optflag, getopts, usage};
 
 use ranges::Range;
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ use ranges::Range;
 #[path = "../common/util.rs"]
 mod util;
 mod ranges;
+mod buffer;
 
 static NAME: &'static str = "cut";
 static VERSION: &'static str = "1.0.0";
@@ -50,67 +51,94 @@ fn list_to_ranges(list: &str, complement: bool) -> Result<Vec<Range>, String> {
     }
 }
 
-fn cut_bytes<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
+fn cut_bytes<R: Reader>(reader: R,
                         ranges: &Vec<Range>,
                         opts: &Options) -> int {
-    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(std::io::stdio::stdout_raw());
-    let (use_delim, out_delim) = match opts.out_delim.clone() {
-        Some(delim) => (true, delim),
-        None => (false, "".to_str())
-    };
+    use buffer::Bytes::{Select, NewlineFound, Complete, Partial, EndOfFile};
+
+    let mut buf_read = buffer::BufReader::new(reader);
+    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(stdio::stdout_raw());
 
     'newline: loop {
-        let line = match reader.read_until(b'\n') {
-            Ok(line) => line,
-            Err(std::io::IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => break,
-            _ => fail!(),
-        };
-
-        let line_len = line.len();
+        let mut cur_pos = 1;
         let mut print_delim = false;
 
         for &Range { low: low, high: high } in ranges.iter() {
-            if low > line_len { break; }
+            // skip upto low
+            let orig_pos = cur_pos;
+            loop {
+                match buf_read.select(low - cur_pos) {
+                    NewlineFound(_) => {
+                        out.write(&[b'\n']).unwrap();
+                        continue 'newline
+                    }
+                    Complete(bytes) => {
+                        cur_pos += bytes.len();
+                        break
+                    }
+                    Partial(bytes) => cur_pos += bytes.len(),
+                    EndOfFile => {
+                        if orig_pos != cur_pos {
+                            out.write(&[b'\n']).unwrap();
+                        }
 
-            if use_delim {
-                if print_delim {
-                    out.write_str(out_delim.as_slice()).unwrap();
+                        break 'newline
+                    }
                 }
-                print_delim = true;
             }
 
-            if high >= line_len {
-                let segment = line.slice(low - 1, line_len);
-
-                out.write(segment).unwrap();
-
-                if *line.get(line_len - 1) == b'\n' {
-                    continue 'newline
+            match opts.out_delim {
+                Some(ref delim) => {
+                    if print_delim {
+                        out.write(delim.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+                    }
+                    print_delim = true;
                 }
-            } else {
-                let segment = line.slice(low - 1, high);
+                None => ()
+            }
 
-                out.write(segment).unwrap();
+            // write out from low to high
+            loop {
+                match buf_read.select(high - cur_pos + 1) {
+                    NewlineFound(bytes) => {
+                        out.write(bytes).unwrap();
+                        continue 'newline
+                    }
+                    Complete(bytes) => {
+                        out.write(bytes).unwrap();
+                        cur_pos = high + 1;
+                        break
+                    }
+                    Partial(bytes) => {
+                        cur_pos += bytes.len();
+                        out.write(bytes).unwrap();
+                    }
+                    EndOfFile => {
+                        if cur_pos != low || low == high {
+                            out.write(&[b'\n']).unwrap();
+                        }
+
+                        break 'newline
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
 
-        out.write(&[b'\n']).unwrap();
+        buf_read.consume_line();
+        out.write([b'\n']).unwrap();
     }
 
     0
 }
 
-fn cut_characters<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
+fn cut_characters<R: Reader>(reader: R,
                              ranges: &Vec<Range>,
                              opts: &Options) -> int {
-    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(std::io::stdio::stdout_raw());
-    let (use_delim, out_delim) = match opts.out_delim.clone() {
-        Some(delim) => (true, delim),
-        None => (false, "".to_str())
-    };
+    let mut buf_in = BufferedReader::new(reader);
+    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(stdio::stdout_raw());
 
     'newline: loop {
-        let line = match reader.read_line() {
+        let line = match buf_in.read_line() {
             Ok(line) => line,
             Err(std::io::IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => break,
             _ => fail!(),
@@ -126,11 +154,14 @@ fn cut_characters<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
                 None => break
             };
 
-            if use_delim {
-                if print_delim {
-                    out.write_str(out_delim.as_slice()).unwrap();
+            match opts.out_delim {
+                Some(ref delim) => {
+                    if print_delim {
+                        out.write(delim.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+                    }
+                    print_delim = true;
                 }
-                print_delim = true;
+                None => ()
             }
 
             match char_indices.nth(high - low) {
@@ -204,15 +235,16 @@ impl<'a> Iterator<(uint, uint)> for Searcher<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-fn cut_fields_delimiter<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
+fn cut_fields_delimiter<R: Reader>(reader: R,
                                    ranges: &Vec<Range>,
                                    delim: &String,
                                    only_delimited: bool,
                                    out_delim: &String) -> int {
-    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(std::io::stdio::stdout_raw());
+    let mut buf_in = BufferedReader::new(reader);
+    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(stdio::stdout_raw());
 
     'newline: loop {
-        let line = match reader.read_until(b'\n') {
+        let line = match buf_in.read_until(b'\n') {
             Ok(line) => line,
             Err(std::io::IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => break,
             _ => fail!(),
@@ -279,7 +311,7 @@ fn cut_fields_delimiter<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
     0
 }
 
-fn cut_fields<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
+fn cut_fields<R: Reader>(reader: R,
                          ranges: &Vec<Range>,
                          opts: &FieldOptions) -> int {
     match opts.out_delimeter {
@@ -290,10 +322,11 @@ fn cut_fields<T: Reader>(mut reader: BufferedReader<T>,
         None => ()
     }
 
-    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(std::io::stdio::stdout_raw());
+    let mut buf_in = BufferedReader::new(reader);
+    let mut out = BufferedWriter::new(stdio::stdout_raw());
 
     'newline: loop {
-        let line = match reader.read_until(b'\n') {
+        let line = match buf_in.read_until(b'\n') {
             Ok(line) => line,
             Err(std::io::IoError { kind: std::io::EndOfFile, .. }) => break,
             _ => fail!(),
@@ -363,21 +396,21 @@ fn cut_files(mut filenames: Vec<String>, mode: Mode) -> int {
     let mut stdin_read = false;
     let mut exit_code = 0;
 
-    if filenames.len() == 0 { filenames.push("-".to_str()); }
+    if filenames.len() == 0 { filenames.push("-".to_string()); }
 
     for filename in filenames.iter() {
         if filename.as_slice() == "-" {
-            if stdin_read { continue; }
+            if stdin_read { continue }
 
             exit_code |= match mode {
                 Bytes(ref ranges, ref opts) => {
-                    cut_bytes(stdin(), ranges, opts)
+                    cut_bytes(stdio::stdin_raw(), ranges, opts)
                 }
                 Characters(ref ranges, ref opts) => {
-                    cut_characters(stdin(), ranges, opts)
+                    cut_characters(stdio::stdin_raw(), ranges, opts)
                 }
                 Fields(ref ranges, ref opts) => {
-                    cut_fields(stdin(), ranges, opts)
+                    cut_fields(stdio::stdin_raw(), ranges, opts)
                 }
             };
 
@@ -387,11 +420,11 @@ fn cut_files(mut filenames: Vec<String>, mode: Mode) -> int {
 
             if ! path.exists() {
                 show_error!("{}: No such file or directory", filename);
-                continue;
+                continue
             }
 
-            let buf_file = match File::open(&path) {
-                Ok(file) => BufferedReader::new(file),
+            let file = match File::open(&path) {
+                Ok(f) => f,
                 Err(e) => {
                     show_error!("{}: {}", filename, e.desc);
                     continue
@@ -399,13 +432,11 @@ fn cut_files(mut filenames: Vec<String>, mode: Mode) -> int {
             };
 
             exit_code |= match mode {
-                Bytes(ref ranges, ref opts) => cut_bytes(buf_file, ranges, opts),
+                Bytes(ref ranges, ref opts) => cut_bytes(file, ranges, opts),
                 Characters(ref ranges, ref opts) => {
-                    cut_characters(buf_file, ranges, opts)
-                }
-                Fields(ref ranges, ref opts) => {
-                    cut_fields(buf_file, ranges, opts)
+                    cut_characters(file, ranges, opts)
                 }
+                Fields(ref ranges, ref opts) => cut_fields(file, ranges, opts)
             };
         }
     }
@@ -486,7 +517,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
                     match matches.opt_str("delimiter") {
                         Some(delim) => {
                             if delim.as_slice().char_len() != 1 {
-                                Err("the delimiter must be a single character".to_str())
+                                Err("the delimiter must be a single character".to_string())
                             } else {
                                 Ok(Fields(ranges,
                                           FieldOptions {
@@ -498,7 +529,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
                         }
                         None => Ok(Fields(ranges,
                                           FieldOptions {
-                                              delimiter: "\t".to_str(),
+                                              delimiter: "\t".to_string(),
                                               out_delimeter: out_delim,
                                               only_delimited: only_delimited
                                           }))
@@ -507,9 +538,9 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
             )
         }
         (ref b, ref c, ref f) if b.is_some() || c.is_some() || f.is_some() => {
-            Err("only one type of list may be specified".to_str())
+            Err("only one type of list may be specified".to_string())
         }
-        _ => Err("you must specify a list of bytes, characters, or fields".to_str())
+        _ => Err("you must specify a list of bytes, characters, or fields".to_string())
     };
 
     match mode_parse {
diff --git a/kill/kill.rs b/kill/kill.rs
index 663d07718..fd3dd5df4 100644
--- a/kill/kill.rs
+++ b/kill/kill.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ pub enum Mode {
 }
 
 pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
-
     let opts = [
         optflag("h", "help", "display this help and exit"),
         optflag("V", "version", "output version information and exit"),
@@ -63,6 +62,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
 
     let usage = usage("[options] <pid> [...]", opts);
 
+    let (args, obs_signal) = handle_obsolete(args);
 
     let matches = match getopts(args.tail(), opts) {
         Ok(m) => m,
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
         },
     };
 
-
     let mode = if matches.opt_present("version") {
         Version
     } else if matches.opt_present("help") {
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
     };
 
     match mode {
-        Kill    => kill(matches.opt_str("signal").unwrap_or("9".to_string()).as_slice(), matches.free),
+        Kill    => return kill(matches.opt_str("signal").unwrap_or(obs_signal.unwrap_or("9".to_string())).as_slice(), matches.free),
         Table   => table(),
         List    => list(matches.opt_str("list")),
         Help    => help(NAME, usage.as_slice()),
@@ -100,8 +99,29 @@ fn version() {
     println!("{} {}", NAME, VERSION);
 }
 
-fn table() {
+fn handle_obsolete(mut args: Vec<String>) -> (Vec<String>, Option<String>) {
+    let mut i = 0;
+    while i < args.len() {
+        // this is safe because slice is valid when it is referenced
+        let slice: &str = unsafe { std::mem::transmute(args.get(i).as_slice()) };
+        if slice.char_at(0) == '-' && slice.len() > 1 && slice.char_at(1).is_digit() {
+            let val = slice.slice_from(1);
+            match from_str(val) {
+                Some(num) => {
+                    if signals::is_signal(num) {
+                        args.remove(i);
+                        return (args, Some(val.to_string()));
+                    }
+                }
+                None => break  /* getopts will error out for us */
+            }
+        }
+        i += 1;
+    }
+    (args, None)
+}
 
+fn table() {
     let mut name_width = 0;
     /* Compute the maximum width of a signal name. */
     for s in ALL_SIGNALS.iter() {
@@ -113,7 +133,7 @@ fn table() {
     for (idx, signal) in ALL_SIGNALS.iter().enumerate() {
         print!("{0: >#2} {1: <#8}", idx+1, signal.name);
         //TODO: obtain max signal width here
-        
+
         if (idx+1) % 7 == 0 {
             println!("");
         }
@@ -125,7 +145,7 @@ fn print_signal(signal_name_or_value: &str) {
         if signal.name == signal_name_or_value  || (format!("SIG{}", signal.name).as_slice()) == signal_name_or_value {
             println!("{}", signal.value)
             exit!(EXIT_OK as i32)
-        } else if signal_name_or_value == signal.value.to_str().as_slice() {
+        } else if signal_name_or_value == signal.value.to_string().as_slice() {
             println!("{}", signal.name);
             exit!(EXIT_OK as i32)
         }
@@ -144,7 +164,7 @@ fn print_signals() {
         } else {
             pos += 1;
             print!(" ");
-        } 
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -169,14 +189,15 @@ fn signal_by_name_or_value(signal_name_or_value: &str) -> Option<uint> {
     }
     for signal in ALL_SIGNALS.iter() {
         let long_name = format!("SIG{}", signal.name);
-        if signal.name == signal_name_or_value  || (signal_name_or_value == signal.value.to_str().as_slice()) || (long_name.as_slice() == signal_name_or_value) {
+        if signal.name == signal_name_or_value  || (signal_name_or_value == signal.value.to_string().as_slice()) || (long_name.as_slice() == signal_name_or_value) {
             return Some(signal.value);
         }
     }
     None
 }
 
-fn kill(signalname: &str, pids: std::vec::Vec<String>) {
+fn kill(signalname: &str, pids: std::vec::Vec<String>) -> int {
+    let mut status = 0;
     let optional_signal_value = signal_by_name_or_value(signalname);
     let signal_value = match optional_signal_value {
         Some(x) => x,
@@ -187,11 +208,15 @@ fn kill(signalname: &str, pids: std::vec::Vec<String>) {
             Some(x) => {
                 let result = Process::kill(x, signal_value as int);
                 match result {
-                  Ok(_) => (),
-                  Err(_) => ()
+                    Ok(_) => (),
+                    Err(f) => {
+                        show_error!("{}", f);
+                        status = 1;
+                    }
                 };
             },
-            None => crash!(EXIT_ERR, "failed to parse argument {}", signalname)
+            None => crash!(EXIT_ERR, "failed to parse argument {}", pid)
         };
     }
+    status
 }
diff --git a/kill/signals.rs b/kill/signals.rs
index 519f4ece8..70b7a55d1 100644
--- a/kill/signals.rs
+++ b/kill/signals.rs
@@ -138,3 +138,8 @@ pub static ALL_SIGNALS:[Signal<'static>, ..31] = [
     Signal{ name: "USR1",   value:30 },
     Signal{ name: "USR2",   value:31 },
 ];
+
+#[inline(always)]
+pub fn is_signal(num: uint) -> bool {
+    num < ALL_SIGNALS.len()
+}
diff --git a/mkdir/mkdir.rs b/mkdir/mkdir.rs
index 0ec032538..a0c1966de 100644
--- a/mkdir/mkdir.rs
+++ b/mkdir/mkdir.rs
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ fn mkdir(path: &Path, mode: FilePermission) {
     match fs::mkdir(path, mode) {
         Ok(_) => {},
         Err(e) => {
-            crash!(1, "test {}", e.to_str());
+            crash!(1, "test {}", e.to_string());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/mkuutils.rs b/mkuutils.rs
index 67b7ca15c..78b35303b 100644
--- a/mkuutils.rs
+++ b/mkuutils.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ fn main() {
     // XXX: this all just assumes that the IO works correctly
     let mut out = File::open_mode(&Path::new(outfile), Truncate, Write).unwrap();
     let mut input = File::open(&Path::new("uutils/uutils.rs")).unwrap();
-    let main = input.read_to_str().unwrap().replace("@CRATES@", crates.as_slice()).replace("@UTIL_MAP@", util_map.as_slice());
+    let main = input.read_to_string().unwrap().replace("@CRATES@", crates.as_slice()).replace("@UTIL_MAP@", util_map.as_slice());
 
     match out.write(main.as_bytes()) {
         Err(e) => fail!("{}", e),
diff --git a/nl/nl.rs b/nl/nl.rs
index 3c72e8bba..8e45bdae6 100644
--- a/nl/nl.rs
+++ b/nl/nl.rs
@@ -158,9 +158,9 @@ pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
 // nl implements the main functionality for an individual buffer.
 fn nl<T: Reader> (reader: &mut BufferedReader<T>, settings: &Settings) {
     let mut line_no = settings.starting_line_number;
-    // The current line number's width as a string. Using to_str is inefficient
+    // The current line number's width as a string. Using to_string is inefficient
     // but since we only do it once, it should not hurt.
-    let mut line_no_width = line_no.to_str().len();
+    let mut line_no_width = line_no.to_string().len();
     let line_no_width_initial = line_no_width;
     // Stores the smallest integer with one more digit than line_no, so that
     // when line_no >= line_no_threshold, we need to use one more digit.
diff --git a/paste/paste.rs b/paste/paste.rs
index fa3b6b353..0ee655a6e 100644
--- a/paste/paste.rs
+++ b/paste/paste.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ fn paste(filenames: Vec<String>, serial: bool, delimiters: &str) {
             }
         )
     ).collect();
-    let delimiters: Vec<String> = delimiters.chars().map(|x| x.to_str()).collect();
+    let delimiters: Vec<String> = delimiters.chars().map(|x| x.to_string()).collect();
     let mut delim_count = 0;
     if serial {
         for file in files.mut_iter() {
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ fn paste(filenames: Vec<String>, serial: bool, delimiters: &str) {
                     Err(f) => if f.kind == io::EndOfFile {
                         break
                     } else {
-                        crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str())
+                        crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string())
                     }
                 }
                 delim_count += 1;
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn paste(filenames: Vec<String>, serial: bool, delimiters: &str) {
                             *eof.get_mut(i) = true;
                             eof_count += 1;
                         } else {
-                            crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str());
+                            crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string());
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/rm/rm.rs b/rm/rm.rs
index 203cfc870..396bbb18d 100644
--- a/rm/rm.rs
+++ b/rm/rm.rs
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ fn remove(files: Vec<String>, force: bool, interactive: InteractiveMode, one_fs:
                     let walk_dir = match fs::walk_dir(&file) {
                         Ok(m) => m,
                         Err(f) => {
-                            crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str());
+                            crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string());
                         }
                     };
                     r = remove(walk_dir.map(|x| x.as_str().unwrap().to_string()).collect(), force, interactive, one_fs, preserve_root, recursive, dir, verbose).and(r);
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ fn remove_dir(path: &Path, name: &str, interactive: InteractiveMode, verbose: bo
         match fs::rmdir(path) {
             Ok(_) => if verbose { println!("Removed '{}'", name); },
             Err(f) => {
-                show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                 return Err(1);
             }
         }
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ fn remove_file(path: &Path, name: &str, interactive: InteractiveMode, verbose: b
         match fs::unlink(path) {
             Ok(_) => if verbose { println!("Removed '{}'", name); },
             Err(f) => {
-                show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                 return Err(1);
             }
         }
diff --git a/rmdir/rmdir.rs b/rmdir/rmdir.rs
index 5976ff66d..2f48c3472 100644
--- a/rmdir/rmdir.rs
+++ b/rmdir/rmdir.rs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ fn remove_dir(path: &Path, dir: &str, ignore: bool, parents: bool, verbose: bool
     let mut walk_dir = match fs::walk_dir(path) {
         Ok(m) => m,
         Err(f) => {
-            show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+            show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
             return Err(1);
         }
     };
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ fn remove_dir(path: &Path, dir: &str, ignore: bool, parents: bool, verbose: bool
                 }
             }
             Err(f) => {
-                show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                 r = Err(1);
             }
         }
diff --git a/seq/seq.rs b/seq/seq.rs
index 34ea1efd6..da33e9c2c 100644
--- a/seq/seq.rs
+++ b/seq/seq.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ macro_rules! pipe_write(
                 if f.kind == io::BrokenPipe {
                     return
                 } else {
-                    fail!("{}", f.to_str())
+                    fail!("{}", f.to_string())
                 }
         }
     )
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ fn print_seq(first: f64, step: f64, last: f64, largest_dec: uint, separator: Str
     let mut i = 0i;
     let mut value = first + i as f64 * step;
     while !done_printing(value, step, last) {
-        let istr = value.to_str();
+        let istr = value.to_string();
         let ilen = istr.len();
         let before_dec = istr.as_slice().find('.').unwrap_or(ilen);
         if pad && before_dec < padding {
diff --git a/shuf/shuf.rs b/shuf/shuf.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..62c31e046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shuf/shuf.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+#![crate_name = "shuf"]
+
+/*
+ * This file is part of the uutils coreutils package.
+ *
+ * (c) Arcterus <arcterus@mail.com>
+ *
+ * For the full copyright and license information, please view the LICENSE
+ * file that was distributed with this source code.
+ */
+
+#![feature(macro_rules)]
+
+extern crate getopts;
+extern crate libc;
+
+use std::cmp;
+use std::from_str::from_str;
+use std::io;
+use std::io::IoResult;
+use std::iter::{range_inclusive, RangeInclusive};
+use std::rand;
+use std::uint;
+
+#[path = "../common/util.rs"]
+mod util;
+
+enum Mode {
+    Default,
+    Echo,
+    InputRange(RangeInclusive<uint>)
+}
+
+static NAME: &'static str = "shuf";
+static VERSION: &'static str = "0.0.1";
+
+pub fn uumain(args: Vec<String>) -> int {
+    let program = args.get(0).clone();
+
+    let opts = [
+        getopts::optflag("e", "echo", "treat each ARG as an input line"),
+        getopts::optopt("i", "input-range", "treat each number LO through HI as an input line", "LO-HI"),
+        getopts::optopt("n", "head-count", "output at most COUNT lines", "COUNT"),
+        getopts::optopt("o", "output", "write result to FILE instead of standard output", "FILE"),
+        getopts::optopt("", "random-source", "get random bytes from FILE", "FILE"),
+        getopts::optflag("r", "repeat", "output lines can be repeated"),
+        getopts::optflag("z", "zero-terminated", "end lines with 0 byte, not newline"),
+        getopts::optflag("h", "help", "display this help and exit"),
+        getopts::optflag("V", "version", "output version information and exit")
+    ];
+    let mut matches = match getopts::getopts(args.tail(), opts) {
+        Ok(m) => m,
+        Err(f) => {
+            crash!(1, "{}", f)
+        }
+    };
+    if matches.opt_present("help") {
+        println!("{name} v{version}
+
+Usage:
+  {prog} [OPTION]... [FILE]
+  {prog} -e [OPTION]... [ARG]...
+  {prog} -i LO-HI [OPTION]...\n
+{usage}
+With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.",
+                 name = NAME, version = VERSION, prog = program,
+                 usage = getopts::usage("Write a random permutation of the input lines to standard output.", opts));
+    } else if matches.opt_present("version") {
+        println!("{} v{}", NAME, VERSION);
+    } else {
+        let echo = matches.opt_present("echo");
+        let mode = match matches.opt_str("input-range") {
+            Some(range) => {
+                if echo {
+                    show_error!("cannot specify more than one mode");
+                    return 1;
+                }
+                match parse_range(range) {
+                    Ok(m) => InputRange(m),
+                    Err((msg, code)) => {
+                        show_error!("{}", msg);
+                        return code;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            None => {
+                if echo {
+                    Echo
+                } else {
+                    if matches.free.len() == 0 {
+                        matches.free.push("-".to_string());
+                    }
+                    Default
+                }
+            }
+        };
+        let repeat = matches.opt_present("repeat");
+        let zero = matches.opt_present("zero-terminated");
+        let count = match matches.opt_str("head-count") {
+            Some(cnt) => match from_str::<uint>(cnt.as_slice()) {
+                Some(val) => val,
+                None => {
+                    show_error!("'{}' is not a valid count", cnt);
+                    return 1;
+                }
+            },
+            None => uint::MAX
+        };
+        let output = matches.opt_str("output");
+        let random = matches.opt_str("random-source");
+        match shuf(matches.free, mode, repeat, zero, count, output, random) {
+            Err(f) => {
+                show_error!("{}", f);
+                return 1;
+            },
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    0
+}
+
+fn shuf(input: Vec<String>, mode: Mode, repeat: bool, zero: bool, count: uint, output: Option<String>, random: Option<String>) -> IoResult<()> {
+    match mode {
+        Echo => shuf_lines(input, repeat, zero, count, output, random),
+        InputRange(range) => shuf_lines(range.map(|num| num.to_string()).collect(), repeat, zero, count, output, random),
+        Default => {
+            let lines: Vec<String> = input.move_iter().flat_map(|filename| {
+                let slice = filename.as_slice();
+                let mut file_buf;
+                let mut stdin_buf;
+                let mut file = io::BufferedReader::new(
+                    if slice == "-" {
+                        stdin_buf = io::stdio::stdin_raw();
+                        &mut stdin_buf as &mut Reader
+                    } else {
+                        file_buf = crash_if_err!(1, io::File::open(&Path::new(slice)));
+                        &mut file_buf as &mut Reader
+                    }
+                );
+                let mut lines = vec!();
+                for line in file.lines() {
+                    let mut line = crash_if_err!(1, line);
+                    line.pop_char();
+                    lines.push(line);
+                }
+                lines.move_iter()
+            }).collect();
+            shuf_lines(lines, repeat, zero, count, output, random)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn shuf_lines(mut lines: Vec<String>, repeat: bool, zero: bool, count: uint, outname: Option<String>, random: Option<String>) -> IoResult<()> {
+    let mut output = match outname {
+        Some(name) => box io::BufferedWriter::new(try!(io::File::create(&Path::new(name)))) as Box<Writer>,
+        None => box io::stdout() as Box<Writer>
+    };
+    let mut rng = match random {
+        Some(name) => box rand::reader::ReaderRng::new(try!(io::File::open(&Path::new(name)))) as Box<rand::Rng>,
+        None => box rand::task_rng() as Box<rand::Rng>
+    };
+    let mut len = lines.len();
+    let max = if repeat { count } else { cmp::min(count, len) };
+    for _ in range(0, max) {
+        let idx = rng.next_u32() as uint % len;
+        try!(write!(output, "{}{}", lines.get(idx), if zero { '\0' } else { '\n' }));
+        if !repeat {
+            lines.remove(idx);
+            len -= 1;
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn parse_range(input_range: String) -> Result<RangeInclusive<uint>, (String, int)> {
+    let split: Vec<&str> = input_range.as_slice().split('-').collect();
+    if split.len() != 2 {
+        Err(("invalid range format".to_string(), 1))
+    } else {
+        let begin = match from_str::<uint>(*split.get(0)) {
+            Some(m) => m,
+            None => return Err((format!("{} is not a valid number", split.get(0)), 1))
+        };
+        let end = match from_str::<uint>(*split.get(1)) {
+            Some(m) => m,
+            None => return Err((format!("{} is not a valid number", split.get(1)), 1))
+        };
+        Ok(range_inclusive(begin, end))
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/tac/tac.rs b/tac/tac.rs
index 001bf1fea..670704e73 100644
--- a/tac/tac.rs
+++ b/tac/tac.rs
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ fn tac(filenames: Vec<String>, before: bool, _: bool, separator: &str) {
                 box crash_if_err!(1, io::File::open(&Path::new(filename))) as Box<Reader>
             }
         );
-        let mut data = crash_if_err!(1, file.read_to_str());
+        let mut data = crash_if_err!(1, file.read_to_string());
         if data.as_slice().ends_with("\n") {
             // removes blank line that is inserted otherwise
             let mut buf = data.into_string();
diff --git a/tee/tee.rs b/tee/tee.rs
index b63eb868b..77ebbc598 100644
--- a/tee/tee.rs
+++ b/tee/tee.rs
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ impl Reader for NamedReader {
 
 fn with_path<T>(path: &Path, cb: || -> IoResult<T>) -> IoResult<T> {
     match cb() {
-        Err(f) => { warn(format!("{}: {}", path.display(), f.to_str()).as_slice()); Err(f) }
+        Err(f) => { warn(format!("{}: {}", path.display(), f.to_string()).as_slice()); Err(f) }
         okay => okay
     }
 }
diff --git a/truncate/truncate.rs b/truncate/truncate.rs
index 1698b616f..141a97cbe 100644
--- a/truncate/truncate.rs
+++ b/truncate/truncate.rs
@@ -105,13 +105,13 @@ fn truncate(no_create: bool, _: bool, reference: Option<String>, size: Option<St
             let rfile = match File::open(&Path::new(rfilename.clone())) {
                 Ok(m) => m,
                 Err(f) => {
-                    crash!(1, "{}", f.to_str())
+                    crash!(1, "{}", f.to_string())
                 }
             };
             match fs::stat(rfile.path()) {
                 Ok(stat) => (stat.size, Reference),
                 Err(f) => {
-                    show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                    show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                     return Err(1);
                 }
             }
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ fn truncate(no_create: bool, _: bool, reference: Option<String>, size: Option<St
                     let fsize = match fs::stat(file.path()) {
                         Ok(stat) => stat.size,
                         Err(f) => {
-                            show_warning!("{}", f.to_str());
+                            show_warning!("{}", f.to_string());
                             continue;
                         }
                     };
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ fn truncate(no_create: bool, _: bool, reference: Option<String>, size: Option<St
                     match file.truncate(tsize as i64) {
                         Ok(_) => {}
                         Err(f) => {
-                            show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                            show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                             return Err(1);
                         }
                     }
                 }
                 Err(f) => {
-                    show_error!("{}", f.to_str());
+                    show_error!("{}", f.to_string());
                     return Err(1);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/uptime/uptime.rs b/uptime/uptime.rs
index 774d46e78..cdd1b82c2 100644
--- a/uptime/uptime.rs
+++ b/uptime/uptime.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ fn print_time() {
 
 fn get_uptime(boot_time: Option<time_t>) -> i64 {
     let proc_uptime = File::open(&Path::new("/proc/uptime"))
-                            .read_to_str();
+                            .read_to_string();
 
     let uptime_text = match proc_uptime {
         Ok(s) => s,
diff --git a/wc/wc.rs b/wc/wc.rs
index a3f01ca3c..6d6fa5547 100644
--- a/wc/wc.rs
+++ b/wc/wc.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ extern crate getopts;
 extern crate libc;
 
 use std::str::from_utf8;
-use std::io::{print, stdin, File, BufferedReader};
+use std::io::{print, File, BufferedReader};
+use std::io::stdio::stdin_raw;
 use StdResult = std::result::Result;
 use getopts::Matches;
 
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ static TAB: u8 = '\t' as u8;
 static SYN: u8 = 0x16 as u8;
 static FF: u8 = 0x0C as u8;
 
+#[inline(always)]
 fn is_word_seperator(byte: u8) -> bool {
     byte == SPACE || byte == TAB || byte == CR || byte == SYN || byte == FF
 }
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ pub fn wc(files: Vec<String>, matches: &Matches) -> StdResult<(), int> {
         }
 
         // used for formatting
-        max_str_len = total_byte_count.to_str().len();
+        max_str_len = total_byte_count.to_string().len();
     }
 
     for result in results.iter() {
@@ -230,7 +232,7 @@ fn print_stats(filename: &str, line_count: uint, word_count: uint, char_count: u
 
 fn open(path: String) -> StdResult<BufferedReader<Box<Reader>>, int> {
     if "-" == path.as_slice() {
-        let reader = box stdin() as Box<Reader>;
+        let reader = box stdin_raw() as Box<Reader>;
         return Ok(BufferedReader::new(reader));
     }
 
@@ -240,7 +242,7 @@ fn open(path: String) -> StdResult<BufferedReader<Box<Reader>>, int> {
             Ok(BufferedReader::new(reader))
         },
         Err(e) => {
-            show_error!("wc: {0:s}: {1:s}", path, e.desc.to_str());
+            show_error!("wc: {0:s}: {1:s}", path, e.desc.to_string());
             Err(1)
         }
     }