diff --git a/docs/config.rst b/docs/config.rst
index fe97059..06329a4 100644
--- a/docs/config.rst
+++ b/docs/config.rst
@@ -552,6 +552,18 @@ values. The valid configuration keys are listed below.
 
     **Default:** ``[]`` (an empty list)
 
+.. _option_overlay:
+
+``overlay``
+    This specifies which renders that this render will be displayed on top of. 
+    It should be a list of renders.
+
+    .. warning::
+
+       At this time, this feature is not fully implemented.
+
+    **Default:** ``[]`` (an empty list)
+
 ``showspawn``
     This is a boolean, and defaults to ``True``. If set to ``False``, then the spawn
     icon will not be displayed on the rendered map.
@@ -636,6 +648,15 @@ Cave
     only_lit
         Only render lit caves. Default: False
 
+Hide
+    Hide blocks based on blockid. Blocks hidden in this way will be
+    treated exactly the same as air.
+
+    **Options**
+
+    minerals
+        A list of block ids, or (blockid, data) tuples to hide.
+
 DepthTinting
     Tint blocks a color according to their depth (height) from bedrock. Useful
     mainly for cave renders.
diff --git a/docs/signs.rst b/docs/signs.rst
index d10e755..415e581 100644
--- a/docs/signs.rst
+++ b/docs/signs.rst
@@ -20,51 +20,97 @@ Filter Functions
 ----------------
 
 A filter function is a python function that is used to figure out if a given POI
-should be part of a markerSet of not.  The function should accept one argument
-(a dictionary, also know as an associative array), and return a boolean::
+should be part of a markerSet of not, and to control how it is displayed.  
+The function should accept one argument (a dictionary, also know as an associative
+array), and return a string representing the text to be displayed.  For example::
 
     def signFilter(poi):
-        "All signs"
-        return poi['id'] == 'Sign'
+        if poi['id'] == 'Sign':
+            return "\n".join([poi['Text1'], poi['Text2'], poi['Text3'], poi['Text4']])
+
+If a POI doesn't match, the filter can return None (which is the default if a python 
+functions runs off the end without an explicit 'return').
 
 The single argument will either a TileEntity, or an Entity taken directly from 
-the chunk file.  In this example, this function returns true only if the type
-of entity is a sign.  For more information of TileEntities and Entities, see
+the chunk file.  It could also be a special entity representing a player's location
+or a player's spawn.  See below for more details.
+
+In this example, this function returns all 4 lines from the sign
+if the entity is a sign.
+For more information of TileEntities and Entities, see
 the `Chunk Format <http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Chunk_format>`_ page on
 the Minecraft Wiki.
 
-.. note::
-   The doc string ("All signs" in this example) is important.  It is the label
-   that appears in your rendered map
+A more complicated filter function can construct a more customized display text::
 
-A more advanced filter may also look at other entity fields, such as the sign text::
+    def chestFilter(poi):
+        if poi['id'] == "Chest":
+            return "Chest with %d items" % len(poi['Items'])
 
-    def goldFilter(poi):
-        "Gold"
-        return poi['id'] == 'Sign' and (\
-            'gold' in poi['Text1'] or
-            'gold' in poi['Text2'])
-           
-This looks for the word 'gold' in either the first or second line of the signtext.
 
 Since writing these filters can be a little tedious, a set of predefined filters
 functions are provided.  See the :ref:`predefined_filter_functions` section for
 details.
 
+
+Special POIs
+------------
+
+There are currently two special types of POIs.  They each have a special id:
+
+PlayerSpawn
+  Used to indicate the spawn location of a player.  The player's name is set
+  in the ``EntityId`` key, and the location is in the x,y,z keys
+
+Player
+  Used to indicate the last known location of a player.  The player's name is set
+  in the ``EntityId`` key, and the location is in the x,y,z keys.
+
+.. note::
+  The player location is taken from level.dat (in the case of a single-player world) 
+  or the player.dat files (in the case of a multi-player server).  The locations are 
+  only written to these files when the world is saved, so this won't give you real-time
+  player location information. 
+
+Here's an example that displays icons for each player::
+
+    def playerIcons(poi):
+        if poi['id'] == 'Player':
+            poi['icon'] = "http://overviewer.org/avatar/%s" % poi['EntityId']
+            return "Last known location for %s" % poi['EntityId']
+
+Note how each POI can get a different icon by setting ``poi['icon']``
+
 Render Dictionary Key
 ---------------------
 
 Each render can specify a list of zero or more filter functions.  Each of these
 filter functions become a selectable item in the 'Signs' drop-down menu in the
-rendered map.  For example::
+rendered map.  Previously, this used to be a list of functions.  Now it is a list
+of dictionaries.  For example::
 
     renders['myrender'] = {
             'world': 'myworld',
             'title': "Example",
-            'markers': [allFilter, anotherFilter],
+            'markers': [dict(name="All signs", filterFunction=signFilter),
+                        dict(name="Chests", filterFunction=chestFilter, icon="chest.png")]
     }
 
 
+The following keys are accepted in the marker dictionary:
+
+``name``
+    This is the text that is displayed in the 'Signs' dropdown.
+
+``filterFunction``
+    This is the filter function.  It must accept at least 1 argument (the POI to filter),
+    and it must return either None or a string.
+
+``icon``
+    Optional.  Specifies the icon to use for POIs in this group.  If omitted, it defaults
+    to a signpost icon.  Note that each POI can have different icon by setting the key 'icon'
+    on the POI itself (this can be done by modifying the POI in the filter function.  See the
+    example above)
 
 
 Generating the POI Markers
diff --git a/genPOI.py b/genPOI.py
index 66a8360..9b80a60 100755
--- a/genPOI.py
+++ b/genPOI.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ markers.js holds a list of which markerSets are attached to each tileSet
 import os
 import logging
 import json
+import sys
 from optparse import OptionParser
 
 from overviewer_core import logger
@@ -25,7 +26,8 @@ from overviewer_core import configParser, world
 
 
 def handleSigns(rset, outputdir, render, rname):
-    	
+
+    # if we're already handled the POIs for this region regionset, do nothing
     if hasattr(rset, "_pois"):
         return
 
@@ -39,10 +41,64 @@ def handleSigns(rset, outputdir, render, rname):
         rset._pois['TileEntities'] += data['TileEntities']
         rset._pois['Entities']     += data['Entities']
 
+    logging.info("Done.")
+
+def handlePlayers(rset, render, worldpath):
+    if not hasattr(rset, "_pois"):
+        rset._pois = dict(TileEntities=[], Entities=[])
+
+    # only handle this region set once
+    if 'Players' in rset._pois:
+        return
+    dimension = {'overworld': 0,
+                 'nether': -1,
+                 'end': 1,
+                 'default': 0}[render['dimension']]
+    playerdir = os.path.join(worldpath, "players")
+    if os.path.isdir(playerdir):
+        playerfiles = os.listdir(playerdir)
+        isSinglePlayer = False
+    else:
+        playerfiles = [os.path.join(worldpath, "level.dat")]
+        isSinglePlayer = True
+
+    rset._pois['Players'] = []
+    for playerfile in playerfiles:
+        try:
+            data = nbt.load(os.path.join(playerdir, playerfile))[1]
+            if isSinglePlayer:
+                data = data['Data']['Player']
+        except IOError:
+            logging.warning("Skipping bad player dat file %r", playerfile)
+            continue
+        playername = playerfile.split(".")[0]
+        if isSinglePlayer:
+            playername = 'Player'
+        if data['Dimension'] == dimension:
+            # Position at last logout
+            data['id'] = "Player"
+            data['EntityId'] = playername
+            data['x'] = int(data['Pos'][0])
+            data['y'] = int(data['Pos'][1])
+            data['z'] = int(data['Pos'][2])
+            rset._pois['Players'].append(data)
+        if "SpawnX" in data and dimension == 0:
+            # Spawn position (bed or main spawn)
+            spawn = {"id": "PlayerSpawn",
+                     "EntityId": playername,
+                     "x": data['SpawnX'],
+                     "y": data['SpawnY'],
+                     "z": data['SpawnZ']}
+            rset._pois['Players'].append(spawn)
 
 def main():
-    helptext = """genPOI
-    %prog --config=<config file>"""
+
+    if os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]) == """genPOI.py""":
+        helptext = """genPOI.py
+            %prog --config=<config file> [--quiet]"""
+    else:
+        helptext = """genPOI
+            %prog --genpoi --config=<config file> [--quiet]"""
 
     logger.configure()
 
@@ -97,26 +153,43 @@ def main():
             return 1
       
         for f in render['markers']:
-            markersets.add((f, rset))
-            name = f.__name__ + hex(hash(f))[-4:] + "_" + hex(hash(rset))[-4:]
+            d = dict(icon="signpost_icon.png")
+            d.update(f)
+            markersets.add(((d['name'], d['filterFunction']), rset))
+            name = f['name'].replace(" ","_") + hex(hash(f['filterFunction']))[-4:] + "_" + hex(hash(rset))[-4:]
             try:
                 l = markers[rname]
-                l.append(dict(groupName=name, displayName = f.__doc__))
+                l.append(dict(groupName=name, displayName = f['name'], icon=d['icon']))
             except KeyError:
-                markers[rname] = [dict(groupName=name, displayName=f.__doc__),]
+                markers[rname] = [dict(groupName=name, displayName=f['name'], icon=d['icon']),]
 
         handleSigns(rset, os.path.join(destdir, rname), render, rname)
+        handlePlayers(rset, render, worldpath)
 
     logging.info("Done scanning regions")
     logging.info("Writing out javascript files")
     markerSetDict = dict()
     for (flter, rset) in markersets:
         # generate a unique name for this markerset.  it will not be user visible
-        name = flter.__name__ + hex(hash(flter))[-4:] + "_" + hex(hash(rset))[-4:]
-        markerSetDict[name] = dict(created=False, raw=[])
+        filter_name =     flter[0]
+        filter_function = flter[1]
+
+        name = filter_name.replace(" ","_") + hex(hash(filter_function))[-4:] + "_" + hex(hash(rset))[-4:]
+        markerSetDict[name] = dict(created=False, raw=[], name=filter_name)
         for poi in rset._pois['TileEntities']:
-            if flter(poi):
-                markerSetDict[name]['raw'].append(poi)
+            result = filter_function(poi)
+            if result:
+                d = dict(x=poi['x'], y=poi['y'], z=poi['z'], text=result, createInfoWindow=True)
+                if "icon" in poi:
+                    d.update({"icon": poi['icon']})
+                markerSetDict[name]['raw'].append(d)
+        for poi in rset._pois['Players']:
+            result = filter_function(poi)
+            if result:
+                d = dict(x=poi['x'], y=poi['y'], z=poi['z'], text=result, createInfoWindow=True)
+                if "icon" in poi:
+                    d.update({"icon": poi['icon']})
+                markerSetDict[name]['raw'].append(d)
     #print markerSetDict
 
     with open(os.path.join(destdir, "markersDB.js"), "w") as output:
diff --git a/overviewer.py b/overviewer.py
index c31b51c..67193b6 100755
--- a/overviewer.py
+++ b/overviewer.py
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ def main():
             help="Print less output. You can specify this option multiple times.")
     parser.add_option("-v", "--verbose", dest="verbose", action="count", default=0,
             help="Print more output. You can specify this option multiple times.")
+    parser.add_option("--simple-output", dest="simple", action="store_true", default=False,
+            help="Use a simple output format, with no colors or progress bars")
 
     # create a group for "plugin exes" (the concept of a plugin exe is only loosly defined at this point)
     exegroup = OptionGroup(parser, "Other Scripts",
@@ -114,7 +116,8 @@ def main():
 
     # re-configure the logger now that we've processed the command line options
     logger.configure(logging.INFO + 10*options.quiet - 10*options.verbose,
-                     options.verbose > 0)
+                     verbose=options.verbose > 0,
+                     simple=options.simple)
 
     ##########################################################################
     # This section of main() runs in response to any one-time options we have,
@@ -233,7 +236,6 @@ dir but you forgot to put quotes around the directory, since it contains spaces.
             return 1
 
         # Parse the config file
-        mw_parser = configParser.MultiWorldParser()
         mw_parser.parse(options.config)
 
     # Add in the command options here, perhaps overriding values specified in
@@ -244,8 +246,12 @@ dir but you forgot to put quotes around the directory, since it contains spaces.
     # Now parse and return the validated config
     try:
         config = mw_parser.get_validated_config()
-    except Exception:
-        logging.exception("An error was encountered with your configuration. See the info below.")
+    except Exception as ex:
+        if options.verbose:
+            logging.exception("An error was encountered with your configuration. See the info below.")
+        else: # no need to print scary traceback! just
+            logging.error("An error was encountered with your configuration.")
+            logging.error(str(ex))
         return 1
 
 
@@ -302,6 +308,20 @@ dir but you forgot to put quotes around the directory, since it contains spaces.
         if render.get('forcerender', False):
             render['renderchecks'] = 2
 
+        # check if overlays are set, if so, make sure that those renders exist
+        if render.get('overlay', []) != []:
+            for x in render.get('overlay'):
+                if x != rname:
+                    try:
+                        renderLink = config['renders'][x]
+                    except KeyError:
+                        logging.error("Render %s's overlay is '%s', but I could not find a corresponding entry in the renders dictionary.",
+                                rname, x)
+                        return 1
+                else:
+                    logging.error("Render %s's overlay contains itself.", rname)
+                    return 1
+
     destdir = config['outputdir']
     if not destdir:
         logging.error("You must specify the output directory in your config file.")
@@ -401,7 +421,7 @@ dir but you forgot to put quotes around the directory, since it contains spaces.
 
         # only pass to the TileSet the options it really cares about
         render['name'] = render_name # perhaps a hack. This is stored here for the asset manager
-        tileSetOpts = util.dict_subset(render, ["name", "imgformat", "renderchecks", "rerenderprob", "bgcolor", "imgquality", "optimizeimg", "rendermode", "worldname_orig", "title", "dimension", "changelist","showspawn","base"])
+        tileSetOpts = util.dict_subset(render, ["name", "imgformat", "renderchecks", "rerenderprob", "bgcolor", "imgquality", "optimizeimg", "rendermode", "worldname_orig", "title", "dimension", "changelist","showspawn", "overlay","base"])
         tileSetOpts.update({"spawn": w.find_true_spawn()}) # TODO find a better way to do this
         tset = tileset.TileSet(rset, assetMrg, tex, tileSetOpts, tileset_dir)
         tilesets.append(tset)
diff --git a/overviewer_core/assetmanager.py b/overviewer_core/assetmanager.py
index 6407c1d..983f1e3 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/assetmanager.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/assetmanager.py
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ directory.
         dump['CONST']['image'] = {
                 'defaultMarker':    'signpost.png',
                 'signMarker':       'signpost_icon.png',
+                'bedMarker':        'bed.png',
                 'compass':          'compass_upper-left.png',
                 'spawnMarker':      'http://google-maps-icons.googlecode.com/files/home.png',
                 'queryMarker':      'http://google-maps-icons.googlecode.com/files/regroup.png'
diff --git a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/util.js b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/util.js
index 0e738da..81cc5c0 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/util.js
+++ b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/util.js
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ overviewer.util = {
             signs.registerEvents(signs);
         }
 
+        var overlayControl = new overviewer.views.OverlayControlView();
+
         var spawnmarker = new overviewer.views.SpawnIconView();
 
         // Update coords on mousemove
@@ -81,6 +83,9 @@ overviewer.util = {
             compass.render();
             spawnmarker.render();
 
+            // update list of spawn overlays
+            overlayControl.render();
+
             // re-center on the last viewport
             var currentWorldView = overviewer.mapModel.get("currentWorldView");
             if (currentWorldView.options.lastViewport) {
@@ -113,8 +118,6 @@ overviewer.util = {
 
         });
 
-        var worldSelector = new overviewer.views.WorldSelectorView({tagName:'DIV'});
-        overviewer.collections.worlds.bind("add", worldSelector.render, worldSelector);
 
         // hook up some events
 
@@ -125,6 +128,11 @@ overviewer.util = {
         // Jump to the hash if given
         overviewer.util.initHash();
 
+        // create this control after initHash so it can correctly select the current world
+        var worldSelector = new overviewer.views.WorldSelectorView({tagName:'DIV'});
+        overviewer.collections.worlds.bind("add", worldSelector.render, worldSelector);
+
+        
         overviewer.util.initializeMarkers();
 
         /*
diff --git a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
index 323c1fc..3ca20c4 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
+++ b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
@@ -4,8 +4,19 @@ overviewer.views= {}
 overviewer.views.WorldView = Backbone.View.extend({
     initialize: function(opts) {
         this.options.mapTypes = [];
+        this.options.overlayMapTypes = [];
         this.options.mapTypeIds = [];
+        this.options.overlayMapTypeIds = [];
+
+        var curTileSet = this.model.get("tileSets").at(0);
+        var spawn = curTileSet.get("spawn");
+        if (spawn == "false") {
+            var spawn = [0,64,0];
+        }
+        this.options.lastViewport = [spawn[0],spawn[1],spawn[2],curTileSet.get("defaultZoom")];
+
         this.model.get("tileSets").each(function(tset, index, list) {
+            // ignore overlays:
             var ops = {
                 getTileUrl: overviewer.gmap.getTileUrlGenerator(tset.get("path"), tset.get("base"), tset.get("imgextension")),
                 'tileSize':     new google.maps.Size(
@@ -20,11 +31,23 @@ overviewer.views.WorldView = Backbone.View.extend({
             newMapType.shortname = tset.get("name");
             newMapType.alt = "Minecraft " + tset.get("name") + " Map";
             newMapType.projection = new overviewer.classes.MapProjection();
-    
-            this.options.mapTypes.push(newMapType);
-            this.options.mapTypeIds.push(overviewerConfig.CONST.mapDivId + this.model.get("name") + tset.get("name"));
+
+            if (tset.get("isOverlay")) {
+                newMapType.tiles = tset.get("tilesets");
+                this.options.overlayMapTypes.push(newMapType);
+                this.options.overlayMapTypeIds.push(overviewerConfig.CONST.mapDivId + this.model.get("name") + tset.get("name"));
+            } else {
+                this.options.mapTypes.push(newMapType);
+                this.options.mapTypeIds.push(overviewerConfig.CONST.mapDivId + this.model.get("name") + tset.get("name"));
+            }
 
         }, this);
+
+        this.model.get("tileSets").each(function(tset, index, list) {
+            // ignore non-overlays:
+            if (!tset.get("isOverlay")) { return; };
+
+        });
     },
 });
 
@@ -33,6 +56,8 @@ overviewer.views.WorldView = Backbone.View.extend({
 overviewer.views.WorldSelectorView = Backbone.View.extend({
     initialize: function() {
         if(overviewer.collections.worldViews.length > 1) {
+            $(this.el).addClass("customControl");
+            
             // a div will have already been created for us, we just
             // need to register it with the google maps control
             var selectBox = document.createElement('select');
@@ -40,6 +65,9 @@ overviewer.views.WorldSelectorView = Backbone.View.extend({
                 var o = document.createElement("option");
                 o.value = elem.model.get("name");
                 o.innerHTML = elem.model.get("name");
+                if (elem.model == overviewer.mapModel.get("currentWorldView").model) {
+                    o.selected=true;
+                }
                 $(o).data("viewObj", elem);
                 selectBox.appendChild(o);
 
@@ -119,17 +147,16 @@ overviewer.views.GoogleMapView = Backbone.View.extend({
         var curWorld = this.model.get("currentWorldView").model;
 
         var curTset = curWorld.get("tileSets").at(0);
+        var spawn = curTset.get("spawn");
+        if (spawn == "false") {
+            var spawn = [0,64,0];
+        }
+        var mapcenter = overviewer.util.fromWorldToLatLng(
+           spawn[0],
+           spawn[1],
+           spawn[2],
+           curTset);
 
-        /*
-           var defaultCenter = overviewer.util.fromWorldToLatLng(
-           overviewerConfig.map.center[0], 
-           overviewerConfig.map.center[1],
-           overviewerConfig.map.center[2],
-           curTset.get("defaultZoom"));
-           */
-        var lat = 0.62939453125;// TODO defaultCenter.lat();
-        var lng = 0.38525390625; // TODO defaultCenter.lng();
-        var mapcenter = new google.maps.LatLng(lat, lng);
 
         this.options.mapTypes=[];
         this.options.mapTypeIds=[];
@@ -200,6 +227,114 @@ overviewer.views.GoogleMapView = Backbone.View.extend({
 });
 
 
+/**
+ * OverlayControlView
+ */
+overviewer.views.OverlayControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
+    /** OverlayControlVIew::initialize
+     */
+    initialize: function(opts) {
+        $(this.el).addClass("customControl");
+        overviewer.map.controls[google.maps.ControlPosition.TOP_RIGHT].push(this.el); 
+    },
+    registerEvents: function(me) {
+        overviewer.mapModel.bind("change:currentWorldView", me.render, me);
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * OverlayControlView::render
+     */
+    render: function() {
+        this.el.innerHTML="";
+        
+        // hide all visible overlays:
+        overviewer.map.overlayMapTypes.clear()
+
+        // if this world has no overlays, don't create this control
+        var mapTypes = overviewer.mapModel.get('currentWorldView').options.overlayMapTypes;
+        if (mapTypes.length == 0) { return; }
+
+        var controlText = document.createElement('DIV');
+        controlText.innerHTML = "Overlays";
+        
+        var controlBorder = document.createElement('DIV');
+        $(controlBorder).addClass('top');
+        this.el.appendChild(controlBorder);
+        controlBorder.appendChild(controlText);
+        
+        var dropdownDiv = document.createElement('DIV');
+        $(dropdownDiv).addClass('dropDown');
+        this.el.appendChild(dropdownDiv);
+        dropdownDiv.innerHTML='';
+        
+        $(controlText).click(function() {
+                $(controlBorder).toggleClass('top-active');
+                $(dropdownDiv).toggle();
+        });
+
+        var currentTileSetPath = overviewer.mapView.options.currentTileSet.get('path');
+        
+        for (i in mapTypes) {
+            var mt = mapTypes[i];
+            // if this overlay specifies a list of valid tilesets, then skip over any invalid tilesets 
+            if ((mt.tiles.length > 0) && (mt.tiles.indexOf(currentTileSetPath) ==-1)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            this.addItem({label: mt.name,
+                    name: mt.name,
+                    mt: mt,
+
+                    action: function(this_item, checked) {
+                        if (checked) {
+                            overviewer.map.overlayMapTypes.push(this_item.mt);
+                        } else {
+                            var idx_to_delete = -1;
+                            overviewer.map.overlayMapTypes.forEach(function(e, j) {
+                                if (e == this_item.mt) {
+                                    idx_to_delete = j;
+                                }
+                            });
+                            if (idx_to_delete >= 0) {
+                                overviewer.map.overlayMapTypes.removeAt(idx_to_delete);
+                            }
+                        }
+
+                    }
+            });
+        }
+
+
+    },
+
+    addItem: function(item) {
+        var itemDiv = document.createElement('div');
+        var itemInput = document.createElement('input');
+        itemInput.type='checkbox';
+
+        // if this overlay is already visible, set the checkbox
+        // to checked
+        overviewer.map.overlayMapTypes.forEach(function(e, j) {
+            if (e == item.mt) {
+                itemInput.checked=true;
+            }
+        });
+        
+        // give it a name
+        $(itemInput).attr("_mc_overlayname", item.name);
+        jQuery(itemInput).click((function(local_item) {
+            return function(e) {
+                item.action(local_item, e.target.checked);
+            };
+        })(item));
+
+        this.$(".dropDown")[0].appendChild(itemDiv);
+        itemDiv.appendChild(itemInput);
+        var textNode = document.createElement('text');
+        textNode.innerHTML = item.label + '<br/>';
+
+        itemDiv.appendChild(textNode);
+    }
+});
 
 
 /**
@@ -265,7 +400,7 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
         //var dataRoot = overviewer.collections.markerInfo[curMarkerSet];
         var dataRoot = markers[curMarkerSet];
 
-        this.el.innerHTML=""
+        this.el.innerHTML="";
         
         // if we have no markerSets for this tileset, do nothing:
         if (!dataRoot) { return; }
@@ -302,7 +437,6 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
             }});
         }
 
-        iconURL = overviewerConfig.CONST.image.signMarker;
         //dataRoot['markers'] = [];
         //
         for (i in dataRoot) {
@@ -310,15 +444,20 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
             if (!markersDB[groupName].created) {
                 for (j in markersDB[groupName].raw) {
                     var entity = markersDB[groupName].raw[j];
+                    if (entity['icon']) {
+                        iconURL = entity['icon'];
+                    } else {
+                        iconURL = dataRoot[i].icon;
+                    }
                     var marker = new google.maps.Marker({
                             'position': overviewer.util.fromWorldToLatLng(entity.x,
                                 entity.y, entity.z, overviewer.mapView.options.currentTileSet),
                             'map':      overviewer.map,
-                            'title':    jQuery.trim(entity.Text1 + "\n" + entity.Text2 + "\n" + entity.Text3 + "\n" + entity.Text4), 
+                            'title':    jQuery.trim(entity.text), 
                             'icon':     iconURL,
                             'visible':  false
                     }); 
-                    if (entity['id'] == 'Sign') {
+                    if (entity.createInfoWindow) {
                         overviewer.util.createMarkerInfoWindow(marker);
                     }
                     jQuery.extend(entity, {markerObj: marker});
diff --git a/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/bed.png b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/bed.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3645ac0
Binary files /dev/null and b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/bed.png differ
diff --git a/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css
index 0ae76e5..831a138 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css
+++ b/overviewer_core/data/web_assets/overviewer.css
@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ body {
     font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 }
 
+.customControl > select {
+    font-size: 12px;
+    line-height: 160%;
+    text-align: center;
+
+    border: 1px solid #A9BBDF;
+    border-radius: 2px 2px;
+    box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656) 2px 2px 3px;
+
+}
+
 .customControl > div.top {
     font-size: 12px;
     line-height: 160%;
diff --git a/overviewer_core/logger.py b/overviewer_core/logger.py
index 96850cf..4fd36a3 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/logger.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/logger.py
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class ANSIColorFormatter(HighlightingFormatter):
             # No coloring if it's not to be highlighted or colored
             return logging.Formatter.format(self, record)
 
-def configure(loglevel=logging.INFO, verbose=False):
+def configure(loglevel=logging.INFO, verbose=False, simple=False):
     """Configures the root logger to our liking
 
     For a non-standard loglevel, pass in the level with which to configure the handler.
@@ -267,15 +267,17 @@ def configure(loglevel=logging.INFO, verbose=False):
 
     logger = logging.getLogger()
 
-    outstream = sys.stderr
+    outstream = sys.stdout
+    if simple:
+        formatter = DumbFormatter(verbose)
 
-    if platform.system() == 'Windows':
+    elif platform.system() == 'Windows':
         # Our custom output stream processor knows how to deal with select ANSI
         # color escape sequences
-        outstream = WindowsOutputStream()
+        outstream = WindowsOutputStream(outstream)
         formatter = ANSIColorFormatter(verbose)
 
-    elif sys.stderr.isatty():
+    elif outstream.isatty():
         # terminal logging with ANSI color
         formatter = ANSIColorFormatter(verbose)
 
diff --git a/overviewer_core/rendermodes.py b/overviewer_core/rendermodes.py
index e1adc9c..8ea0b52 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/rendermodes.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/rendermodes.py
@@ -188,6 +188,12 @@ class MineralOverlay(Overlay):
         'minerals' : ('a list of (blockid, (r, g, b)) tuples for coloring minerals', None),
     }
 
+class Hide(RenderPrimitive):
+    name = "hide"
+    options = {
+        'blocks' : ('a list of blockids or (blockid, data) tuples of blocks to hide', []),
+    }
+
 # Built-in rendermodes for your convenience!
 normal = [Base(), EdgeLines()]
 lighting = [Base(), EdgeLines(), Lighting()]
diff --git a/overviewer_core/settingsDefinition.py b/overviewer_core/settingsDefinition.py
index 91c2e9b..caf9128 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/settingsDefinition.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/settingsDefinition.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ renders = Setting(required=True, default=util.OrderedDict(),
             "crop": Setting(required=False, validator=validateCrop, default=None),
             "changelist": Setting(required=False, validator=validateStr, default=None),
             "markers": Setting(required=False, validator=validateMarkers, default=[]),
+            "overlay": Setting(required=False, validator=validateOverlays, default=[]),
             "showspawn": Setting(required=False, validator=validateBool, default=True),
             "base": Setting(required=False, validator=validateStr, default=None),
 
@@ -99,9 +100,10 @@ processes = Setting(required=True, validator=int, default=-1)
 # ends up adding overhead and isn't worth it.
 memcached_host = Setting(required=False, validator=str, default=None)
 
-if platform.system() == 'Windows' or not sys.stderr.isatty():
+# TODO clean up this ugly in sys.argv hack
+if platform.system() == 'Windows' or not sys.stdout.isatty() or "--simple" in sys.argv:
     obs = LoggingObserver()
 else:
-    obs = ProgressBarObserver()
+    obs = ProgressBarObserver(fd=sys.stdout)
 
 observer = Setting(required=True, validator=validateObserver, default=obs)
diff --git a/overviewer_core/settingsValidators.py b/overviewer_core/settingsValidators.py
index d8846b1..0df90d1 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/settingsValidators.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/settingsValidators.py
@@ -45,12 +45,24 @@ def checkBadEscape(s):
 
 def validateMarkers(filterlist):
     if type(filterlist) != list:
-        raise ValidationException("Markers must specify a list of filters")
+        raise ValidationException("Markers must specify a list of filters.  This has recently changed, so check the docs.")
     for x in filterlist:
-        if not callable(x):
-            raise ValidationException("%r must be a function"% x)
+        if "name" not in x:
+            raise ValidationException("Must define a name")
+        if "filterFunction" not in x:
+            raise ValidationException("Must define a filter function")
+        if not callable(x['filterFunction']):
+            raise ValidationException("%r must be a function"% x['filterFunction'])
     return filterlist
 
+def validateOverlays(renderlist):
+    if type(renderlist) != list:
+        raise ValidationException("Overlay must specify a list of renders")
+    for x in renderlist:
+        if validateStr(x) == '':
+            raise ValidationException("%r must be a string"% x)
+    return renderlist
+
 def validateWorldPath(worldpath):
     _, worldpath = checkBadEscape(worldpath)
     abs_path = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(worldpath))
diff --git a/overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h b/overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h
index 1bb8f92..c9b7ae6 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/overviewer.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 // increment this value if you've made a change to the c extesion
 // and want to force users to rebuild
-#define OVERVIEWER_EXTENSION_VERSION 30
+#define OVERVIEWER_EXTENSION_VERSION 31
 
 /* Python PIL, and numpy headers */
 #include <Python.h>
diff --git a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/base.c b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/base.c
index 5a66a9a..ae93db7 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/base.c
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/base.c
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ base_draw(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *src, PyObject *mask, PyObjec
         };
             
         if (color_table) {
+            unsigned char biome;
             int dx, dz;
             unsigned char tablex, tabley;
             float temp = 0.0, rain = 0.0;
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@ base_draw(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *src, PyObject *mask, PyObjec
                 /* average over all neighbors */
                 for (dx = -1; dx <= 1; dx++) {
                     for (dz = -1; dz <= 1; dz++) {
-                        unsigned char biome = get_data(state, BIOMES, state->x + dx, state->y, state->z + dz);
+                        biome = get_data(state, BIOMES, state->x + dx, state->y, state->z + dz);
                         if (biome >= NUM_BIOMES) {
                             /* note -- biome 255 shows up on map borders.
                                who knows what it is? certainly not I.
@@ -257,6 +258,18 @@ base_draw(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *src, PyObject *mask, PyObjec
             r = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 0));
             g = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 1));
             b = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 2));
+            
+            /* swamp hack
+               All values are guessed. They are probably somewhat odd or
+               completely wrong, but this looks okay for me, and I'm male,
+               so I can only distinct about 10 different colors anyways.
+               Blame my Y-Chromosone. */
+            if(biome == 6) {
+                r = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 0)) * 0.8;
+                g = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 1)) / 2.0;
+                b = PyInt_AsLong(PyTuple_GET_ITEM(color, 2)) * 1.0;
+            }
+            
             Py_DECREF(color);
         }
         
diff --git a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/edge-lines.c b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/edge-lines.c
index dc3d1c1..00f12ae 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/edge-lines.c
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/edge-lines.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ edge_lines_draw(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *src, PyObject *mask, P
         Imaging img_i = imaging_python_to_c(state->img);
         unsigned char ink[] = {0, 0, 0, 255 * self->opacity};
         unsigned short side_block;
+        int x = state->x, y = state->y, z = state->z;
 
         int increment=0;
         if (state->block == 44 && ((state->block_data & 0x8) == 0 ))  // half-step BUT no upsidown half-step
@@ -46,15 +47,15 @@ edge_lines_draw(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *src, PyObject *mask, P
             increment=9;
         
         /* +X side */
-        side_block = get_data(state, BLOCKS, state->x+1, state->y, state->z);
-        if (side_block != state->block && is_transparent(side_block)) {
+        side_block = get_data(state, BLOCKS, x+1, y, z);
+        if (side_block != state->block && (is_transparent(side_block) || render_mode_hidden(state->rendermode, x+1, y, z))) {
             ImagingDrawLine(img_i, state->imgx+12, state->imgy+1+increment, state->imgx+22+1, state->imgy+5+1+increment, &ink, 1);
             ImagingDrawLine(img_i, state->imgx+12, state->imgy+increment, state->imgx+22+1, state->imgy+5+increment, &ink, 1);
         }
         
         /* -Z side */
-        side_block = get_data(state, BLOCKS, state->x, state->y, state->z-1);
-        if (side_block != state->block && is_transparent(side_block)) {
+        side_block = get_data(state, BLOCKS, x, y, z-1);
+        if (side_block != state->block && (is_transparent(side_block) || render_mode_hidden(state->rendermode, x, y, z-1))) {
             ImagingDrawLine(img_i, state->imgx, state->imgy+6+1+increment, state->imgx+12+1, state->imgy+1+increment, &ink, 1);
             ImagingDrawLine(img_i, state->imgx, state->imgy+6+increment, state->imgx+12+1, state->imgy+increment, &ink, 1);
         }
diff --git a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/hide.c b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/hide.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdb24e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/hide.c
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of the Minecraft Overviewer.
+ *
+ * Minecraft Overviewer is free software: you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+ * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at
+ * your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * Minecraft Overviewer is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General
+ * Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with the Overviewer.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "../overviewer.h"
+
+struct HideRule {
+    unsigned short blockid;
+    unsigned char has_data;
+    unsigned char data;
+};
+
+typedef struct {
+    struct HideRule* rules;
+} RenderPrimitiveHide;
+
+static int
+hide_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *support) {
+    PyObject *opt;
+    RenderPrimitiveHide* self = (RenderPrimitiveHide *)data;
+    self->rules = NULL;
+    
+    if (!render_mode_parse_option(support, "blocks", "O", &(opt)))
+        return 1;
+    if (opt && opt != Py_None) {
+        Py_ssize_t blocks_size = 0, i;
+        
+        if (!PyList_Check(opt)) {
+            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "'blocks' must be a list");
+            return 1;
+        }
+        
+        blocks_size = PyList_GET_SIZE(opt);
+        self->rules = calloc(blocks_size + 1, sizeof(struct HideRule));
+        if (self->rules == NULL) {
+            return 1;
+        }
+
+        for (i = 0; i < blocks_size; i++) {
+            PyObject *block = PyList_GET_ITEM(opt, i);
+            
+            if (PyInt_Check(block)) {
+                /* format 1: just a block id */
+                self->rules[i].blockid = PyInt_AsLong(block);
+                self->rules[i].has_data = 0;
+            } else if (PyArg_ParseTuple(block, "Hb", &(self->rules[i].blockid), &(self->rules[i].data))) {
+                /* format 2: (blockid, data) */
+                self->rules[i].has_data = 1;
+            } else {
+                /* format not recognized */
+                free(self->rules);
+                self->rules = NULL;
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static void
+hide_finish(void *data, RenderState *state) {
+    RenderPrimitiveHide *self = (RenderPrimitiveHide *)data;
+    
+    if (self->rules) {
+        free(self->rules);
+    }
+}
+
+static int
+hide_hidden(void *data, RenderState *state, int x, int y, int z) {
+    RenderPrimitiveHide *self = (RenderPrimitiveHide *)data;
+    unsigned int i;
+    unsigned short block;
+    
+    if (self->rules == NULL)
+        return 0;
+    
+    block = get_data(state, BLOCKS, x, y, z);
+    for (i = 0; self->rules[i].blockid != 0; i++) {
+        if (block == self->rules[i].blockid) {
+            unsigned char data;
+            
+            if (!(self->rules[i].has_data))
+                return 1;
+            
+            data = get_data(state, DATA, x, y, z);
+            if (data == self->rules[i].data)
+                return 1;
+        }
+    }
+    
+    return 0;
+}
+
+RenderPrimitiveInterface primitive_hide = {
+    "hide",
+    sizeof(RenderPrimitiveHide),
+    hide_start,
+    hide_finish,
+    NULL,
+    hide_hidden,
+    NULL,
+};
diff --git a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/overlay-mineral.c b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/overlay-mineral.c
index 5d6f22e..b658433 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/src/primitives/overlay-mineral.c
+++ b/overviewer_core/src/primitives/overlay-mineral.c
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ overlay_mineral_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *support) {
     /* now do custom initializations */
     self = (RenderPrimitiveMineral *)data;
     
+    // opt is a borrowed reference.  do not deref 
     if (!render_mode_parse_option(support, "minerals", "O", &(opt)))
         return 1;
     if (opt && opt != Py_None) {
@@ -119,7 +120,6 @@ overlay_mineral_start(void *data, RenderState *state, PyObject *support) {
     } else {
         self->minerals = default_minerals;
     }
-    Py_XDECREF(opt);
     
     /* setup custom color */
     self->parent.get_color = get_color;
diff --git a/overviewer_core/tileset.py b/overviewer_core/tileset.py
index 4fa769f..1640290 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/tileset.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/tileset.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from .util import roundrobin
 from . import nbt
 from .files import FileReplacer
 from .optimizeimages import optimize_image
+import rendermodes
 import c_overviewer
 
 """
@@ -507,6 +508,8 @@ class TileSet(object):
         """
         def bgcolorformat(color):
             return "#%02x%02x%02x" % color[0:3]
+        isOverlay = not any(isinstance(x, rendermodes.Base) for x in self.options.get("rendermode"))
+        
         d = dict(name = self.options.get('title'),
                 zoomLevels = self.treedepth,
                 minZoom = 0,
@@ -519,7 +522,11 @@ class TileSet(object):
                     (" - " + self.options.get('dimension') if self.options.get('dimension') != 'default' else ''),
                 last_rendertime = self.max_chunk_mtime,
                 imgextension = self.imgextension,
+                isOverlay = isOverlay
                 )
+        if isOverlay:
+            d.update({"tilesets": self.options.get("overlay")})
+
         if (self.regionset.get_type() == "overworld" and self.options.get("showspawn", True)):
             d.update({"spawn": self.options.get("spawn")})
         else: