diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7ffeff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,216 @@
+#################
+## Eclipse
+#################
+
+*.pydevproject
+.project
+.metadata
+bin/
+tmp/
+*.tmp
+*.bak
+*.swp
+*~.nib
+local.properties
+.classpath
+.settings/
+.loadpath
+
+# External tool builders
+.externalToolBuilders/
+
+# Locally stored "Eclipse launch configurations"
+*.launch
+
+# CDT-specific
+.cproject
+
+# PDT-specific
+.buildpath
+
+
+#################
+## Visual Studio
+#################
+
+## Ignore Visual Studio temporary files, build results, and
+## files generated by popular Visual Studio add-ons.
+
+# User-specific files
+*.suo
+*.user
+*.sln.docstates
+
+# Build results
+
+[Dd]ebug/
+[Rr]elease/
+x64/
+build/
+[Bb]in/
+[Oo]bj/
+
+# MSTest test Results
+[Tt]est[Rr]esult*/
+[Bb]uild[Ll]og.*
+
+*_i.c
+*_p.c
+*.ilk
+*.meta
+*.obj
+*.pch
+*.pdb
+*.pgc
+*.pgd
+*.rsp
+*.sbr
+*.tlb
+*.tli
+*.tlh
+*.tmp
+*.tmp_proj
+*.log
+*.vspscc
+*.vssscc
+.builds
+*.pidb
+*.log
+*.scc
+
+# Visual C++ cache files
+ipch/
+*.aps
+*.ncb
+*.opensdf
+*.sdf
+*.cachefile
+
+# Visual Studio profiler
+*.psess
+*.vsp
+*.vspx
+
+# Guidance Automation Toolkit
+*.gpState
+
+# ReSharper is a .NET coding add-in
+_ReSharper*/
+*.[Rr]e[Ss]harper
+
+# TeamCity is a build add-in
+_TeamCity*
+
+# DotCover is a Code Coverage Tool
+*.dotCover
+
+# NCrunch
+*.ncrunch*
+.*crunch*.local.xml
+
+# Installshield output folder
+[Ee]xpress/
+
+# DocProject is a documentation generator add-in
+DocProject/buildhelp/
+DocProject/Help/*.HxT
+DocProject/Help/*.HxC
+DocProject/Help/*.hhc
+DocProject/Help/*.hhk
+DocProject/Help/*.hhp
+DocProject/Help/Html2
+DocProject/Help/html
+
+# Click-Once directory
+publish/
+
+# Publish Web Output
+*.Publish.xml
+*.pubxml
+
+# NuGet Packages Directory
+## TODO: If you have NuGet Package Restore enabled, uncomment the next line
+#packages/
+
+# Windows Azure Build Output
+csx
+*.build.csdef
+
+# Windows Store app package directory
+AppPackages/
+
+# Others
+sql/
+*.Cache
+ClientBin/
+[Ss]tyle[Cc]op.*
+~$*
+*~
+*.dbmdl
+*.[Pp]ublish.xml
+*.pfx
+*.publishsettings
+
+# RIA/Silverlight projects
+Generated_Code/
+
+# Backup & report files from converting an old project file to a newer
+# Visual Studio version. Backup files are not needed, because we have git ;-)
+_UpgradeReport_Files/
+Backup*/
+UpgradeLog*.XML
+UpgradeLog*.htm
+
+# SQL Server files
+App_Data/*.mdf
+App_Data/*.ldf
+
+#############
+## Windows detritus
+#############
+
+# Windows image file caches
+Thumbs.db
+ehthumbs.db
+
+# Folder config file
+Desktop.ini
+
+# Recycle Bin used on file shares
+$RECYCLE.BIN/
+
+# Mac crap
+.DS_Store
+
+
+#############
+## Python
+#############
+
+*.py[co]
+
+# Packages
+*.egg
+*.egg-info
+dist/
+build/
+eggs/
+parts/
+var/
+sdist/
+develop-eggs/
+__private__/
+.installed.cfg
+
+# Installer logs
+pip-log.txt
+
+# Unit test / coverage reports
+.coverage
+.tox
+
+#Translations
+*.mo
+
+#Mr Developer
+.mr.developer.cfg
diff --git a/pyncf.py b/pyncf.py
index 5b9b97d..230931e 100644
--- a/pyncf.py
+++ b/pyncf.py
@@ -597,6 +597,11 @@ def read_2d_data(self, varname, xdim="longitude", ydim="latitude", **extradims):
         # TODO: allow extradims to reference the actual dimension values by looking it up in its coordinate variable values
         # ...
 
+        # TODO OPTIMIZATION: alternatively find the byte interval between every value to be read,
+        # and instead batch read all values at once using a slice with a step value,
+        # potentially implemented via a memoryview for optimal efficiency.
+        # ...
+
         # find each value one at a time by computing offsets
         # TODO: calculate number of records if numrecs is STREAMING
         begin = varinfo["begin"]
@@ -651,7 +656,7 @@ def read_2d_data(self, varname, xdim="longitude", ydim="latitude", **extradims):
                 elif dtype == "NC_DOUBLE":
                     value = self.read_double(n)
 
-                # TODO: handle fill values
+                # TODO: handle fill values?
                 # ...
 
                 # apply transformations to value if given in attributes
@@ -667,11 +672,6 @@ def read_2d_data(self, varname, xdim="longitude", ydim="latitude", **extradims):
                 row.append(value)
 
             rows.append(row)
-            
-        # OPTIMIZATION: alternatively find the byte interval between every value to be read,
-        # and instead batch read all values at once using a slice with a step value,
-        # potentially implemented via a memoryview for optimal efficiency.
-        # ...
 
         return rows
 
@@ -696,6 +696,7 @@ def calc_recsize(self):
         recvars = self.get_record_variables()
         recsize = sum((self.calc_vsize(varinfo["name"]) for varinfo in recvars))
         recsize = self.round_nearest_4byte_boundary(recsize)
+        recsize += 4 # "it always includes padding to the next multiple of 4 bytes"
         return recsize
 
     def calc_vsize(self, varname):
@@ -796,7 +797,7 @@ def get_coordinate_variables(self):
 
     print "----inspecting data:"
     pprint.pprint(varinfo)
-    rows = obj.read_2d_data(varname, time=10) # temperature kalvin
+    rows = obj.read_2d_data(varname, time=10)
     print repr(rows)[:900]
     print repr(rows[::50])[:900]
     print repr(rows)[-900:]