 
     /**
      *  @private
-     *  Static point for use in transformPointToParent
-     */
-    private static var xformPt:Point;
-
-    /**
-     *  @private
      *  Initializes the implementation and storage of some of the less
      *  frequently used advanced layout features of a component.
      *  Call this function before attempting to use any of the
      *  features implemented by the AdvancedLayoutFeatures object.
      */
-    private function initAdvancedLayoutFeatures():void
+    private function initAdvancedLayoutFeatures():AdvancedLayoutFeatures
     {
         var features:AdvancedLayoutFeatures = new AdvancedLayoutFeatures();
 

import mx.graphics.shaderClasses.SoftLightShader;
import mx.managers.ILayoutManagerClient;
import mx.utils.MatrixUtil;

import spark.components.ResizeMode;
import spark.utils.MaskUtil;

                                           position:Vector3D,
                                           postLayoutPosition:Vector3D):void
    {
        TransformUtil.transformPointToParent(this,
                                             localPosition,
                                             position,
                                             postLayoutPosition,
                                             _layoutFeatures);
    }

    /**
