diff --git a/news.md b/news.md
--- a/news.md
+++ b/news.md
@@ -1,5 +1,33 @@
 % xmobar - Release notes
 
+## Version 0.23 (Mar 8, 2015)
+
+_New features_
+
+  - Xmobar can now use a (semi)transparent background: set it with the
+    new configuration option `alpha` (thanks to Edward Z. Yang, see
+    [issue #114]).
+  - Multiple fonts available by means of the new configuration
+    parameter `additionalFonts` and the template markers
+    `<fn=1>...</fn>`, by Markus Scherer.
+  - New variables in `Mem` monitor for available memory as reported by
+    Linux 3.14 and newer, by Samuli Thomasson.
+  - New configuration parameters `textOffset` and `iconOffset` (see
+    discussion in [issue #171] and [issue #201]).
+  - New template variable `flags` in `MPD` monitor, by Duncan Burke.
+
+[issue #171]: https://github.com/jaor/xmobar/issues/171
+[issue #201]: https://github.com/jaor/xmobar/issues/201
+[issue #114]: https://github.com/jaor/xmobar/issues/114
+
+_Bug fixes_
+
+  - We honour the `-S` (show suffix) monitor flag in `CpuFreq`.
+  - Better `Weather` parsing of wind direction, by Dino Morelli (see
+    [pull #212]).
+
+[pull #212]: https://github.com/jaor/xmobar/pull/212
+
 ## Version 0.22.1 (Oct 11, 2014)
 
 _Bug fixes_
diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md
--- a/readme.md
+++ b/readme.md
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 % xmobar - a minimalistic status bar
 
-About
-=====
+# About
 
 xmobar is a minimalistic, mostly text based, status bar. It was
 originally designed and implemented by Andrea Rossato to work with
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@
 features, like dynamic color management, icons, output templates, and
 extensibility through plugins.
 
-This page documents xmobar 0.22.1 (see [release notes]).
+This page documents xmobar 0.23 (see [release notes]).
 
 [This screenshot] shows xmobar running under [sawfish], with
 antialiased fonts. And [this one] is my desktop with [xmonad] and two
@@ -23,8 +22,7 @@
 [This screenshot]: http://projects.haskell.org/xmobar/xmobar-sawfish.png
 [this one]: http://projects.haskell.org/xmobar/xmobar-xmonad.png
 
-Bug Reports
-===========
+# Bug Reports
 
 To submit bug reports you can use the [bug tracker over at Github] or
 send mail to our [Mailing list].
@@ -34,8 +32,7 @@
 
 [bug tracker over at Github]: https://github.com/jaor/xmobar/issues
 
-Installation
-============
+# Installation
 
 ## Using cabal-install
 
@@ -163,8 +160,7 @@
 `all_extensions`
 :    Enables all the extensions above.
 
-Running xmobar
-==============
+# Running xmobar
 
 You can now run xmobar with:
 
@@ -186,8 +182,7 @@
 
 - After receiving SIGUSR2 xmobar repositions it self on the current screen.
 
-Configuration
-=============
+# Configuration
 
 ## Quick Start
 
@@ -203,6 +198,9 @@
 - `<fc=#FF0000>string</fc>` will print `string` with `#FF0000` color
   (red).
 
+- `<fn=1>string</fn>` will print `string` with the first font from `additionalFonts`.
+  The index `0` corresponds to the standard font.
+
 - `<icon=/path/to/icon.xbm/>` will insert the given bitmap. XPM image
   format is also supported when compiled with `--flags="with_xpm"`.
 
@@ -232,12 +230,19 @@
 `font`
 :    Name of the font to be used. Use the `xft:` prefix for XFT fonts.
 
+`additionalFonts`
+:    Haskell-style list of fonts to be used with the `fn`-template.
+     Use the `xft:` prefix for XFT fonts.
+
 `bgColor`
 :    Background color.
 
 `fgColor`
 :    Default font color.
 
+`alpha`
+:    The transparency.  0 is transparent, 255 is opaque.
+
 `position`
 :     Top, TopP, TopW, TopSize, Bottom, BottomP, BottomW, BottomSize or Static
       (with x, y, width and height).
@@ -274,6 +279,15 @@
 
 :         position = Top
 
+`textOffset`
+:     The vertical offset, in pixels, for the text baseline.  If
+      negative or not given, xmobar will try to center text
+      vertically.
+
+`iconOffset`
+:     The vertical offset, in pixels, for icons bottom line.  If negative
+      or not given, xmobar will try to center icons vertically.
+
 `lowerOnStart`
 :     When True the window is sent the bottom of the window stack initially.
 
@@ -370,6 +384,7 @@
       -f font name  --font=font name       The font name
       -B bg color   --bgcolor=bg color     The background color. Default black
       -F fg color   --fgcolor=fg color     The foreground color. Default grey
+      -A alpha      --alpha=alpha          The transparency: 0 is transparent, 255 (the default) is opaque
       -o            --top                  Place xmobar at the top of the screen
       -b            --bottom               Place xmobar at the bottom of the screen
       -d            --dock                 Try to start xmobar as a dock
@@ -412,14 +427,18 @@
             --print-reply \
             '/org/Xmobar/Control' \
             org.Xmobar.Control.SendSignal \
-            "string:Toggle"
+            "string:Toggle 0"
 
 It is also possible to send multiple signals at once:
 
         # send to another screen, reveal and toggle the persistent flag
         dbus-send [..] \
-            "string:ChangeScreen" "string:Reveal 0" "string:TogglePersistent"
+            "string:ChangeScreen 0" "string:Reveal 0" "string:TogglePersistent"
 
+The `Toggle`, `Reveal`, and `Hide` signals take an additional integer
+argument that denotes an initial delay, in tenths of a second, before
+the command takes effect.
+
 ### Example for using the DBus IPC interface with XMonad
 
 Bind the key which should {,un}map xmobar to a dummy value. This is necessary
@@ -712,6 +731,7 @@
 
 - Aliases to the Station ID: so `Weather "LIPB" []` can be used in
   template as `%LIPB%`
+- Thresholds refer to temperature in the selected units
 - Args: default monitor arguments
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `station`, `stationState`, `year`, `month`, `day`, `hour`,
@@ -725,6 +745,7 @@
 
 - Aliases to the interface name: so `Network "eth0" []` can be used as
   `%eth0%`
+- Thresholds refer to velocities expressed in Kb/s
 - Args: default monitor arguments, plus:
   - `--rx-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for reception rate in `rxipat`.
   - `--tx-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for transmission rate in `txipat`.
@@ -739,6 +760,7 @@
 
 - Active interface is detected automatically
 - Aliases to "dynnetwork"
+- Thresholds are expressed in Kb/s
 - Args: default monitor arguments, plus:
   - `--rx-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for reception rate in `rxipat`.
   - `--tx-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for transmission rate in `txipat`.
@@ -757,10 +779,11 @@
   - `--quality-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for connection quality in `qualityipat`.
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
             `essid`, `quality`, `qualitybar`, `qualityvbar`, `qualityipat`
+- Thresholds refer to link quality in a `[0, 100]` scale
 - Default template: `<essid> <quality>`
 - Requires the C library [iwlib] (part of the wireless tools suite)
   installed in your system. In addition, to activate this plugin you
-  must pass `--flags="with_iwlib"` during compilation.
+  must pass `--flags="with_iwlib"` during compilation
 
 ### `Memory Args RefreshRate`
 
@@ -768,16 +791,20 @@
 - Args: default monitor arguments, plus:
   - `--used-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for used memory ratio in `usedipat`.
   - `--free-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for free memory ratio in `freeipat`.
+  - `--available-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for available memory ratio in `availableipat`.
+- Thresholds refer to percentage of used memory
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
-             `total`, `free`, `buffer`, `cache`, `rest`, `used`,
+             `total`, `free`, `buffer`, `cache`, `available`, `used`,
              `usedratio`, `usedbar`, `usedvbar`, `usedipat`,
-             `freeratio`, `freebar`, `freevbar`, `freeipat`
+             `freeratio`, `freebar`, `freevbar`, `freeipat`,
+             `availableratio`, `availablebar`, `availablevbar`, `availableipat`
 - Default template: `Mem: <usedratio>% (<cache>M)`
 
 ### `Swap Args RefreshRate`
 
 - Aliases to `swap`
 - Args: default monitor arguments
+- Thresholds refer to percentage of used swap
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `total`, `used`, `free`, `usedratio`
 - Default template: `Swap: <usedratio>%`
@@ -786,7 +813,8 @@
 
 - Aliases to `cpu`
 - Args: default monitor arguments, plus:
-  - `--load-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for cpu load in `ipat`.
+  - `--load-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for cpu load in `ipat`
+- Thresholds refer to percentage of CPU load
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `total`, `bar`, `vbar`, `ipat`, `user`, `nice`, `system`, `idle`, `iowait`
 - Default template: `Cpu: <total>%`
@@ -799,6 +827,7 @@
   - `--load-icon-patterns`: dynamic string for each cpu load in `autoipat`, `ipat{i}`.
                               This option can be specified several times. nth option
                               corresponds to nth cpu.
+- Thresholds refer to percentage of CPU load
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `autototal`, `autobar`, `autovbar`, `autoipat`, `autouser`, `autonice`,
 	    `autosystem`, `autoidle`, `total`, `bar`, `vbar`, `ipat`, `user`, `nice`,
@@ -917,6 +946,7 @@
   `<usedp>`, `<freebar>`, `<freevbar>`, `<freeipat>`, `<usedbar>`,
   `<usedvbar>` or `<usedipat>` for total, free, used, free percentage and
   used percentage of the given file system capacity.
+- Thresholds refer to usage percentage.
 - Args: default monitor arguments. `-t`/`--template` is ignored. Plus
   - `--free-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for free disk space in `freeipat`.
   - `--used-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for used disk space in `usedipat`.
@@ -936,6 +966,7 @@
   `<totalbar>`, `<totalvbar>`, `<totalipat>`,
   `<readbar>`, `<readvbar>`, `<readipat>`,
   `<writebar>`, `<writevbar>`, and `<writeipat>`.
+- Thresholds refer to speed in b/s
 - Args: default monitor arguments. `-t`/`--template` is ignored. Plus
   - `--total-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for total disk I/O in `<totalipat>`.
   - `--write-icon-pattern`: dynamic string for write disk I/O in `<writeipat>`.
@@ -949,6 +980,7 @@
 
 - Aliases to "thermaln": so `ThermalZone 0 []` can be used in template
   as `%thermal0%`
+- Thresholds refer to temperature in degrees
 - Args: default monitor arguments
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `temp`
@@ -968,6 +1000,7 @@
 - Aliases to the Zone: so `Thermal "THRM" []` can be used in template
   as `%THRM%`
 - Args: default monitor arguments
+- Thresholds refer to temperature in degrees
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `temp`
 - Default template: `Thm: <temp>C`
@@ -981,6 +1014,7 @@
 
 - Aliases to `cpufreq`
 - Args: default monitor arguments
+- Thresholds refer to frequency in GHz
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `cpu0`, `cpu1`, ..,  `cpuN`
 - Default template: `Freq: <cpu0>GHz`
@@ -994,6 +1028,7 @@
 
 - Aliases to `coretemp`
 - Args: default monitor arguments
+- Thresholds refer to temperature in degrees
 - Variables that can be used with the `-t`/`--template` argument:
 	    `core0`, `core1`, ..,  `coreN`
 - Default template: `Temp: <core0>C`
@@ -1052,6 +1087,7 @@
              `bar`, `vbar`, `ipat`, `state`, `statei`, `volume`, `length`,
              `lapsed`, `remaining`,
              `plength` (playlist length), `ppos` (playlist position),
+             `flags` (ncmpcpp-style playback mode),
              `name`, `artist`, `composer`, `performer`,
              `album`, `title`, `track`, `file`, `genre`
 - Default template: `MPD: <state>`
@@ -1059,7 +1095,7 @@
   MPD's specific ones):
 
          Run MPD ["-t",
-                  "<composer> <title> (<album>) <track>/<plength> <statei> ",
+                  "<composer> <title> (<album>) <track>/<plength> <statei> [<flags>]",
                   "--", "-P", ">>", "-Z", "|", "-S", "><"] 10
 
 ### `Mpris1 PlayerName Args RefreshRate`
@@ -1197,9 +1233,9 @@
 
 	Run Locks
 
-### `CatInt n fn`
+### `CatInt n filename`
 
-- Reads and displays an integer from the file whose path is `fn`
+- Reads and displays an integer from the file whose path is `filename`
   (especially useful with files in `/sys`).
 - Aliases as `catn` (e.g. `Cat 0` as `cat0`, etc.) so you can
   have several.
@@ -1359,8 +1395,7 @@
           logHook = dynamicLogString myPP >>= xmonadPropLog
         }
 
-Plugins
-=======
+# Plugins
 
 ## Writing a Plugin
 
@@ -1476,24 +1511,25 @@
 
 3. rebuild xmobar.
 
-Authors and credits
-===================
+# Authors and credits
 
 Andrea Rossato originally designed and implemented xmobar up to
 version 0.11.1. Since then, it is maintained and developed by [jao],
 with the help of the greater xmobar and Haskell communities.
 
 In particular, xmobar [incorporates patches] by Axel Angel, Ben
-Boeckel, Roman Cheplyaka, Patrick Chilton, Nathaniel Wesley Filardo,
-John Goerzen, Reto Hablützel, Juraj Hercek, Tomas Janousek, Spencer
-Janssen, Jochen Keil, Lennart Kolmodin, Krzysztof Kosciuszkiewicz,
-Dmitry Kurochkin, Todd Lunter, Robert J. Macomber, Dmitry Malikov,
-David McLean, Marcin Mikołajczyk, Tony Morris, Eric Mrak, Thiago
-Negri, Edward O'Callaghan, Svein Ove, Martin Perner, Jens Petersen,
-Alexander Polakov, Petr Rockai, Andrew Sackville-West, Alexander
-Shabalin, Peter Simons, Alexander Solovyov, John Soros, Travis Staton,
-Artem Tarasov, Sergei Trofimovich, Thomas Tuegel, Jan Vornberger,
-Anton Vorontsov, Daniel Wagner, Phil Xiaojun Hu and Norbert Zeh.
+Boeckel, Duncan Burke, Roman Cheplyaka, Patrick Chilton, Nathaniel
+Wesley Filardo, John Goerzen, Reto Hablützel, Juraj Hercek, Tomas
+Janousek, Spencer Janssen, Jochen Keil, Lennart Kolmodin, Krzysztof
+Kosciuszkiewicz, Dmitry Kurochkin, Todd Lunter, Robert J. Macomber,
+Dmitry Malikov, David McLean, Marcin Mikołajczyk, Dino Morelli, Tony
+Morris, Eric Mrak, Thiago Negri, Edward O'Callaghan, Svein Ove, Martin
+Perner, Jens Petersen, Alexander Polakov, Petr Rockai, Andrew
+Sackville-West, Markus Scherer, Alexander Shabalin, Peter Simons,
+Alexander Solovyov, John Soros, Travis Staton, Artem Tarasov, Samuli
+Thomasson, Sergei Trofimovich, Thomas Tuegel, Jan Vornberger, Anton
+Vorontsov, Daniel Wagner, Phil Xiaojun Hu, Edward Z. Yang and Norbert
+Zeh.
 
 [jao]: http://jao.io
 [incorporates patches]: http://www.ohloh.net/p/xmobar/contributors
@@ -1514,8 +1550,7 @@
 Thanks to Andrea for creating xmobar in the first place, and for
 giving me the chance to contribute.
 
-Useful links
-============
+# Useful links
 
 - [Github page].
 - [Mailing list].
@@ -1531,13 +1566,12 @@
 [this tutorial]: http://www.haskell.org/haskellwiki/X_window_programming_in_Haskell
 [sawflibs]: http://github.com/jaor/sawflibs
 
-License
-=======
+# License
 
 This software is released under a BSD-style license. See [LICENSE] for
 more details.
 
-Copyright &copy; 2010-2013 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
+Copyright &copy; 2010-2014 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
 
 Copyright &copy; 2007-2010 Andrea Rossato
 
diff --git a/samples/xmobar.config b/samples/xmobar.config
--- a/samples/xmobar.config
+++ b/samples/xmobar.config
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 Config { font = "-misc-fixed-*-*-*-*-10-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"
+       , addtionalFonts = []
        , borderColor = "black"
        , border = TopB
        , bgColor = "black"
        , fgColor = "grey"
+       , alpha = 255
        , position = Top
+       , textOffset = -1
+       , iconOffset = -1
        , lowerOnStart = True
        , pickBroadest = False
        , persistent = False
diff --git a/src/Bitmap.hs b/src/Bitmap.hs
--- a/src/Bitmap.hs
+++ b/src/Bitmap.hs
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@
                      }
 
 updateCache :: Display -> Window -> Map FilePath Bitmap -> FilePath ->
-               [[(Widget, String, Maybe [Action])]] -> IO (Map FilePath Bitmap)
+               [[(Widget, String, Int, Maybe [Action])]] -> IO (Map FilePath Bitmap)
 updateCache dpy win cache iconRoot ps = do
-  let paths = map (\(Icon p, _, _) -> p) . concatMap (filter icons) $ ps
-      icons (Icon _, _, _) = True
+  let paths = map (\(Icon p, _, _, _) -> p) . concatMap (filter icons) $ ps
+      icons (Icon _, _, _, _) = True
       icons _ = False
       expandPath path@('/':_) = path
       expandPath path@('.':'/':_) = path
diff --git a/src/Config.hs b/src/Config.hs
--- a/src/Config.hs
+++ b/src/Config.hs
@@ -49,12 +49,16 @@
 -- | The configuration data type
 data Config =
     Config { font :: String         -- ^ Font
+           , additionalFonts :: [String] -- ^ List of alternative fonts
            , bgColor :: String      -- ^ Backgroud color
            , fgColor :: String      -- ^ Default font color
            , position :: XPosition  -- ^ Top Bottom or Static
+           , textOffset :: Int      -- ^ Offset from top of window for text
+           , iconOffset :: Int      -- ^ Offset from top of window for icons
            , border :: Border       -- ^ NoBorder TopB BottomB or FullB
            , borderColor :: String  -- ^ Border color
            , borderWidth :: Int     -- ^ Border width
+           , alpha :: Int           -- ^ Transparency from 0 (transparent) to 255 (opaque)
            , hideOnStart :: Bool    -- ^ Hide (Unmap) the window on
                                     --   initialization
            , allDesktops :: Bool    -- ^ Tell the WM to map to all desktops
@@ -107,12 +111,16 @@
 defaultConfig :: Config
 defaultConfig =
     Config { font = "-misc-fixed-*-*-*-*-10-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"
+           , additionalFonts = []
            , bgColor = "#000000"
            , fgColor = "#BFBFBF"
+           , alpha   = 255
            , position = Top
            , border = NoBorder
            , borderColor = "#BFBFBF"
            , borderWidth = 1
+           , textOffset = -1
+           , iconOffset = -1
            , hideOnStart = False
            , lowerOnStart = True
            , persistent = False
diff --git a/src/Main.hs b/src/Main.hs
--- a/src/Main.hs
+++ b/src/Main.hs
@@ -59,12 +59,13 @@
 
   conf  <- doOpts c o
   fs    <- initFont d (font conf)
+  fl    <- mapM (initFont d) (additionalFonts conf)
   cls   <- mapM (parseTemplate conf) (splitTemplate conf)
   sig   <- setupSignalHandler
   vars  <- mapM (mapM $ startCommand sig) cls
   (r,w) <- createWin d fs conf
   let ic = Map.empty
-  startLoop (XConf d r w fs ic conf) sig vars
+  startLoop (XConf d r w (fs:fl) ic conf) sig vars
 
 -- | Splits the template in its parts
 splitTemplate :: Config -> [String]
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@
           | Font       String
           | BgColor    String
           | FgColor    String
+          | Alpha      String
           | T
           | B
           | D
@@ -144,6 +146,8 @@
       "The foreground color. Default grey"
     , Option "i" ["iconroot"] (ReqArg IconRoot "path")
       "Root directory for icon pattern paths. Default '.'"
+    , Option "A" ["alpha"] (ReqArg Alpha "alpha")
+      "The transparency: 0 is transparent, 255 is opaque. Default: 255"
     , Option "o" ["top"] (NoArg T) "Place xmobar at the top of the screen"
     , Option "b" ["bottom"] (NoArg B)
       "Place xmobar at the bottom of the screen"
@@ -200,6 +204,7 @@
     Font s -> doOpts' (conf {font = s})
     BgColor s -> doOpts' (conf {bgColor = s})
     FgColor s -> doOpts' (conf {fgColor = s})
+    Alpha n -> doOpts' (conf {alpha = read n})
     T -> doOpts' (conf {position = Top})
     B -> doOpts' (conf {position = Bottom})
     D -> doOpts' (conf {overrideRedirect = False})
diff --git a/src/MinXft.hsc b/src/MinXft.hsc
--- a/src/MinXft.hsc
+++ b/src/MinXft.hsc
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE ForeignFunctionInterface #-}
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- |
 -- Module: MinXft
--- Copyright: (c) 2012, 2014 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
+-- Copyright: (c) 2012, 2014, 2015 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
 --            (c) Clemens Fruhwirth <clemens@endorphin.org> 2007
 -- License: BSD3-style (see LICENSE)
 --
@@ -19,6 +18,8 @@
 --
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+{-# LANGUAGE ForeignFunctionInterface, EmptyDataDecls #-}
+
 module MinXft ( AXftColor
               , AXftDraw (..)
               , AXftFont
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
               , withAXftDraw
               , drawXftString
               , drawXftString'
+              , drawBackground
               , drawXftRect
               , openAXftFont
               , closeAXftFont
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@
 import Graphics.X11
 import Graphics.X11.Xlib.Types
 import Graphics.X11.Xrender
+import Graphics.X11.Xlib.Extras (xGetWindowProperty, xFree)
 
 import Foreign
 import Foreign.C.Types
@@ -52,6 +55,8 @@
 import Codec.Binary.UTF8.String as UTF8
 import Data.Char (ord)
 
+import Control.Monad (when)
+
 #include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
 
 -- Color Handling
@@ -219,3 +224,110 @@
                AXftDraw -> AXftColor -> a -> a1 -> a2 -> a3 -> IO ()
 drawXftRect draw color x y width height =
   cXftDrawRect draw color (fi x) (fi y) (fi width) (fi height)
+
+#include <X11/extensions/Xrender.h>
+
+type Picture = XID
+type PictOp = CInt
+
+data XRenderPictFormat
+data XRenderPictureAttributes = XRenderPictureAttributes
+
+-- foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderFillRectangle"
+  -- xRenderFillRectangle :: Display -> PictOp -> Picture -> Ptr XRenderColor -> CInt -> CInt -> CUInt -> CUInt -> IO ()
+foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderComposite"
+  xRenderComposite :: Display -> PictOp -> Picture -> Picture -> Picture -> CInt -> CInt -> CInt -> CInt -> CInt -> CInt -> CUInt -> CUInt -> IO ()
+foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderCreateSolidFill"
+  xRenderCreateSolidFill :: Display -> Ptr XRenderColor -> IO Picture
+foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderFreePicture"
+  xRenderFreePicture :: Display -> Picture -> IO ()
+foreign import ccall unsafe "string.h" memset :: Ptr a -> CInt -> CSize -> IO ()
+foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderFindStandardFormat"
+  xRenderFindStandardFormat :: Display -> CInt -> IO (Ptr XRenderPictFormat)
+foreign import ccall unsafe "X11/extensions/Xrender.h XRenderCreatePicture"
+  xRenderCreatePicture :: Display -> Drawable -> Ptr XRenderPictFormat -> CULong -> Ptr XRenderPictureAttributes -> IO Picture
+
+
+-- Attributes not supported
+instance Storable XRenderPictureAttributes where
+    sizeOf _ = #{size XRenderPictureAttributes}
+    alignment _ = alignment (undefined :: CInt)
+    peek _ = return XRenderPictureAttributes
+    poke p XRenderPictureAttributes = do
+        memset p 0 #{size XRenderPictureAttributes}
+
+-- | Convenience function, gives us an XRender handle to a traditional
+-- Pixmap.  Don't let it escape.
+withRenderPicture :: Display -> Drawable -> (Picture -> IO a) -> IO ()
+withRenderPicture d p f = do
+    format <- xRenderFindStandardFormat d 1 -- PictStandardRGB24
+    alloca $ \attr -> do
+        pic <- xRenderCreatePicture d p format 0 attr
+        f pic
+        xRenderFreePicture d pic
+
+-- | Convenience function, gives us an XRender picture that is a solid
+-- fill of color 'c'.  Don't let it escape.
+withRenderFill :: Display -> XRenderColor -> (Picture -> IO a) -> IO ()
+withRenderFill d c f = do
+    pic <- with c (xRenderCreateSolidFill d)
+    f pic
+    xRenderFreePicture d pic
+
+-- | Drawing the background to a pixmap and taking into account
+-- transparency
+drawBackground ::  Display -> Drawable -> String -> Int -> Rectangle -> IO ()
+drawBackground d p bgc alpha (Rectangle x y wid ht) = do
+  let render opt bg pic m =
+        xRenderComposite d opt bg m pic
+                        (fromIntegral x) (fromIntegral y) 0 0
+                        0 0 (fromIntegral wid) (fromIntegral ht)
+  withRenderPicture d p $ \pic -> do
+    -- Handle background color
+    bgcolor <- parseRenderColor d bgc
+    withRenderFill d bgcolor $ \bgfill ->
+      withRenderFill d
+                     (XRenderColor 0 0 0 (257 * alpha))
+                     (render pictOpSrc bgfill pic)
+    -- Handle transparency
+    internAtom d "_XROOTPMAP_ID" False >>= \xid ->
+      let xroot = defaultRootWindow d in
+      alloca $ \x1 ->
+      alloca $ \x2 ->
+      alloca $ \x3 ->
+      alloca $ \x4 ->
+      alloca $ \pprop -> do
+        xGetWindowProperty d xroot xid 0 1 False 20 x1 x2 x3 x4 pprop
+        prop <- peek pprop
+        when (prop /= nullPtr) $ do
+          rootbg <- peek (castPtr prop) :: IO Pixmap
+          xFree prop
+          withRenderPicture d rootbg $ \bgpic ->
+            withRenderFill d (XRenderColor 0 0 0 (0xFFFF - 257 * alpha))
+                           (render pictOpAdd bgpic pic)
+
+-- | Parses color into XRender color (allocation not necessary!)
+parseRenderColor :: Display -> String -> IO XRenderColor
+parseRenderColor d c = do
+    let colormap = defaultColormap d (defaultScreen d)
+    Color _ red green blue _ <- parseColor d colormap c
+    return $ XRenderColor (fromIntegral red) (fromIntegral green) (fromIntegral blue) 0xFFFF
+
+pictOpSrc, pictOpAdd :: PictOp
+pictOpSrc = 1
+pictOpAdd = 12
+
+-- pictOpMinimum = 0
+-- pictOpClear = 0
+-- pictOpDst = 2
+-- pictOpOver = 3
+-- pictOpOverReverse = 4
+-- pictOpIn = 5
+-- pictOpInReverse = 6
+-- pictOpOut = 7
+-- pictOpOutReverse = 8
+-- pictOpAtop = 9
+-- pictOpAtopReverse = 10
+-- pictOpXor = 11
+-- pictOpSaturate = 13
+-- pictOpMaximum = 13
diff --git a/src/Parsers.hs b/src/Parsers.hs
--- a/src/Parsers.hs
+++ b/src/Parsers.hs
@@ -34,44 +34,50 @@
 data Widget = Icon String | Text String
 
 type ColorString = String
+type FontIndex   = Int
 
 -- | Runs the string parser
-parseString :: Config -> String -> IO [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
+parseString :: Config -> String -> IO [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
 parseString c s =
-    case parse (stringParser (fgColor c) Nothing) "" s of
+    case parse (stringParser (fgColor c) 0 Nothing) "" s of
       Left  _ -> return [(Text $ "Could not parse string: " ++ s
                           , fgColor c
+                          , 0
                           , Nothing)]
       Right x -> return (concat x)
 
 allParsers :: ColorString
+           -> FontIndex
            -> Maybe [Action]
-           -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-allParsers c a =
-        textParser c a
-  <|> try (iconParser c a)
-  <|> try (rawParser c a)
-  <|> try (actionParser c a)
-  <|> colorParser a
+           -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+allParsers c f a =
+        textParser c f a
+  <|> try (iconParser c f a)
+  <|> try (rawParser c f a)
+  <|> try (actionParser c f a)
+  <|> try (fontParser c a)
+  <|> colorParser f a
 
 -- | Gets the string and combines the needed parsers
-stringParser :: String -> Maybe [Action]
-                -> Parser [[(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]]
-stringParser c a = manyTill (allParsers c a) eof
+stringParser :: String -> FontIndex -> Maybe [Action]
+                -> Parser [[(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]]
+stringParser c f a = manyTill (allParsers c f a) eof
 
 -- | Parses a maximal string without color markup.
-textParser :: String -> Maybe [Action]
-              -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-textParser c a = do s <- many1 $
-                          noneOf "<" <|>
-                            try (notFollowedBy' (char '<')
-                                  (try (string "fc=")  <|>
-                                   try (string "action=") <|>
-                                   try (string "/action>") <|>
-                                   try (string "icon=") <|>
-                                   try (string "raw=") <|>
-                                   string "/fc>"))
-                    return [(Text s, c, a)]
+textParser :: String -> FontIndex -> Maybe [Action]
+              -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+textParser c f a = do s <- many1 $
+                            noneOf "<" <|>
+                              try (notFollowedBy' (char '<')
+                                    (try (string "fc=")  <|>
+                                     try (string "fn=")  <|>
+                                     try (string "action=") <|>
+                                     try (string "/action>") <|>
+                                     try (string "icon=") <|>
+                                     try (string "raw=") <|>
+                                     try (string "/fn>") <|>
+                                     string "/fc>"))
+                      return [(Text s, c, f, a)]
 
 -- | Parse a "raw" tag, which we use to prevent other tags from creeping in.
 -- The format here is net-string-esque: a literal "<raw=" followed by a
@@ -79,9 +85,10 @@
 -- a literal ":" as digit-string-terminator, the raw string itself, and
 -- then a literal "/>".
 rawParser :: ColorString
+          -> FontIndex
           -> Maybe [Action]
-          -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-rawParser c a = do
+          -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+rawParser c f a = do
   string "<raw="
   lenstr <- many1 digit
   char ':'
@@ -90,7 +97,7 @@
       guard ((len :: Integer) <= fromIntegral (maxBound :: Int))
       s <- count (fromIntegral len) anyChar
       string "/>"
-      return [(Text s, c, a)]
+      return [(Text s, c, f, a)]
     _ -> mzero
 
 -- | Wrapper for notFollowedBy that returns the result of the first parser.
@@ -101,15 +108,15 @@
                         notFollowedBy $ try (e >> return '*')
                         return x
 
-iconParser :: String -> Maybe [Action]
-              -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-iconParser c a = do
+iconParser :: String -> FontIndex -> Maybe [Action]
+              -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+iconParser c f a = do
   string "<icon="
   i <- manyTill (noneOf ">") (try (string "/>"))
-  return [(Icon i, c, a)]
+  return [(Icon i, c, f, a)]
 
-actionParser :: String -> Maybe [Action] -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-actionParser c act = do
+actionParser :: String -> FontIndex -> Maybe [Action] -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+actionParser c f act = do
   string "<action="
   command <- choice [between (char '`') (char '`') (many1 (noneOf "`")),
                    many1 (noneOf ">")]
@@ -119,19 +126,26 @@
       a' = case act of
         Nothing -> Just [a]
         Just act' -> Just $ a : act'
-  s <- manyTill (allParsers c a') (try $ string "</action>")
+  s <- manyTill (allParsers c f a') (try $ string "</action>")
   return (concat s)
 
 toButtons :: String -> [Button]
 toButtons = map (\x -> read [x])
 
 -- | Parsers a string wrapped in a color specification.
-colorParser :: Maybe [Action] -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, Maybe [Action])]
-colorParser a = do
+colorParser :: FontIndex -> Maybe [Action] -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+colorParser f a = do
   c <- between (string "<fc=") (string ">") colors
-  s <- manyTill (allParsers c a) (try $ string "</fc>")
+  s <- manyTill (allParsers c f a) (try $ string "</fc>")
   return (concat s)
 
+-- | Parsers a string wrapped in a font specification.
+fontParser :: ColorString -> Maybe [Action] -> Parser [(Widget, ColorString, FontIndex, Maybe [Action])]
+fontParser c a = do
+  f <- between (string "<fn=") (string ">") colors
+  s <- manyTill (allParsers c (read f) a) (try $ string "</fn>")
+  return (concat s)
+
 -- | Parses a color specification (hex or named)
 colors :: Parser String
 colors = many1 (alphaNum <|> char ',' <|> char '#')
@@ -198,21 +212,24 @@
         return (x,s)
 
       perms = permute $ Config
-              <$?> pFont <|?> pBgColor <|?> pFgColor <|?> pPosition
-              <|?> pBorder <|?> pBdColor <|?> pBdWidth <|?> pHideOnStart
+              <$?> pFont <|?> pFontList <|?> pBgColor <|?> pFgColor
+              <|?> pPosition <|?> pTextOffset <|?> pIconOffset <|?> pBorder
+              <|?> pBdColor <|?> pBdWidth <|?> pAlpha <|?> pHideOnStart
               <|?> pAllDesktops <|?> pOverrideRedirect <|?> pPickBroadest
               <|?> pLowerOnStart <|?> pPersistent <|?> pIconRoot
               <|?> pCommands <|?> pSepChar <|?> pAlignSep <|?> pTemplate
 
 
-      fields    = [ "font", "bgColor", "fgColor", "sepChar", "alignSep"
-                  , "border", "borderColor" ,"template", "position"
+      fields    = [ "font", "additionalFonts","bgColor", "fgColor", "sepChar"
+                  , "alignSep" , "border", "borderColor" ,"template"
+                  , "position" , "textOffset", "iconOffset"
                   , "allDesktops", "overrideRedirect", "pickBroadest"
                   , "hideOnStart", "lowerOnStart", "persistent", "iconRoot"
-                  , "commands"
+                  , "alpha", "commands"
                   ]
 
       pFont = strField font "font"
+      pFontList = strListField additionalFonts "additionalFonts"
       pBgColor = strField bgColor "bgColor"
       pFgColor = strField fgColor "fgColor"
       pBdColor = strField borderColor "borderColor"
@@ -220,6 +237,8 @@
       pAlignSep = strField alignSep "alignSep"
       pTemplate = strField template "template"
 
+      pTextOffset = readField textOffset "textOffset"
+      pIconOffset = readField iconOffset "iconOffset"
       pPosition = readField position "position"
       pHideOnStart = readField hideOnStart "hideOnStart"
       pLowerOnStart = readField lowerOnStart "lowerOnStart"
@@ -230,6 +249,7 @@
       pOverrideRedirect = readField overrideRedirect "overrideRedirect"
       pPickBroadest = readField pickBroadest "pickBroadest"
       pIconRoot = readField iconRoot "iconRoot"
+      pAlpha = readField alpha "alpha"
 
       pCommands = field commands "commands" readCommands
 
@@ -248,7 +268,6 @@
                       }
       readCommands = manyTill anyChar (try commandsEnd) >>=
                         read' commandsErr . flip (++) "]"
-
       strField e n = field e n strMulti
 
       strMulti = scan '"'
@@ -260,6 +279,15 @@
                 (char '"' >> return s) <|> liftM (s ++) (scan '\\')
             rowCont    = try $ char '\\' >> string "\n"
             unescQuote = lookAhead (noneOf "\\") >> lookAhead (string "\"")
+
+      strListField e n = field e n strList
+      strList = do
+        spaces
+        char '['
+        list <- sepBy (strMulti >>= \x -> spaces >> return x) (char ',')
+        spaces
+        char ']'
+        return list
 
       wrapSkip   x = many space >> x >>= \r -> many space >> return r
       sepEndSpc    = mapM_ (wrapSkip . try . string)
diff --git a/src/Plugins/Monitors/CpuFreq.hs b/src/Plugins/Monitors/CpuFreq.hs
--- a/src/Plugins/Monitors/CpuFreq.hs
+++ b/src/Plugins/Monitors/CpuFreq.hs
@@ -18,22 +18,24 @@
 import Plugins.Monitors.CoreCommon
 
 -- |
--- Cpu frequency default configuration. Default template contains only one
--- core frequency, user should specify custom template in order to get more
--- cpu frequencies.
+-- Cpu frequency default configuration. Default template contains only
+-- one core frequency, user should specify custom template in order to
+-- get more cpu frequencies.
 cpuFreqConfig :: IO MConfig
-cpuFreqConfig = mkMConfig
-       "Freq: <cpu0>" -- template
-       (map ((++) "cpu" . show) [0 :: Int ..]) -- available
-                                             -- replacements
+cpuFreqConfig =
+  mkMConfig "Freq: <cpu0>" (map ((++) "cpu" . show) [0 :: Int ..])
 
+
 -- |
--- Function retrieves monitor string holding the cpu frequency (or frequencies)
+-- Function retrieves monitor string holding the cpu frequency (or
+-- frequencies)
 runCpuFreq :: [String] -> Monitor String
 runCpuFreq _ = do
+  suffix <- getConfigValue useSuffix
   let path = ["/sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu", "/cpufreq/scaling_cur_freq"]
       divisor = 1e6 :: Double
-      fmt x | x < 1 = show (round (x * 1000) :: Integer) ++ "MHz"
-            | otherwise = show x ++ "GHz"
+      fmt x | x < 1 = show (round (x * 1000) :: Integer) ++
+                      if suffix then "MHz" else ""
+            | otherwise = show x ++ if suffix then "GHz" else ""
   failureMessage <- getConfigValue naString
   checkedDataRetrieval failureMessage [path] Nothing (/divisor) fmt
diff --git a/src/Plugins/Monitors/MPD.hs b/src/Plugins/Monitors/MPD.hs
--- a/src/Plugins/Monitors/MPD.hs
+++ b/src/Plugins/Monitors/MPD.hs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 mpdConfig :: IO MConfig
 mpdConfig = mkMConfig "MPD: <state>"
               [ "bar", "vbar", "ipat", "state", "statei", "volume", "length"
-              , "lapsed", "remaining", "plength", "ppos", "file"
+              , "lapsed", "remaining", "plength", "ppos", "flags", "file"
               , "name", "artist", "composer", "performer"
               , "album", "title", "track", "genre"
               ]
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
   bar <- showPercentBar (100 * b) b
   vbar <- showVerticalBar (100 * b) b
   ipat <- showIconPattern (mLapsedIconPattern opts) b
-  return $ [bar, vbar, ipat, ss, si, vol, len, lap, remain, plen, ppos] ++ songData
+  return $ [bar, vbar, ipat, ss, si, vol, len, lap, remain, plen, ppos, flags] ++ songData
   where s = M.stState st
         ss = show s
         si = stateGlyph s opts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@
         b = if t > 0 then realToFrac $ p / fromIntegral t else 0
         plen = int2str $ M.stPlaylistLength st
         ppos = maybe "" (int2str . (+1)) $ M.stSongPos st
+        flags = playbackMode st
 
 stateGlyph :: M.State -> MOpts -> String
 stateGlyph s o =
@@ -110,6 +111,14 @@
     M.Playing -> mPlaying o
     M.Paused -> mPaused o
     M.Stopped -> mStopped o
+
+playbackMode :: M.Status -> String
+playbackMode s =
+  concat [if p s then f else "-" |
+          (p,f) <- [(M.stRepeat,"r"),
+                    (M.stRandom,"z"),
+                    (M.stSingle,"s"),
+                    (M.stConsume,"c")]]
 
 parseSong :: M.Response (Maybe M.Song) -> Monitor [String]
 parseSong (Left _) = return $ repeat ""
diff --git a/src/Plugins/Monitors/Mem.hs b/src/Plugins/Monitors/Mem.hs
--- a/src/Plugins/Monitors/Mem.hs
+++ b/src/Plugins/Monitors/Mem.hs
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@
 data MemOpts = MemOpts
   { usedIconPattern :: Maybe IconPattern
   , freeIconPattern :: Maybe IconPattern
+  , availableIconPattern :: Maybe IconPattern
   }
 
 defaultOpts :: MemOpts
 defaultOpts = MemOpts
   { usedIconPattern = Nothing
   , freeIconPattern = Nothing
+  , availableIconPattern = Nothing
   }
 
 options :: [OptDescr (MemOpts -> MemOpts)]
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@
      o { usedIconPattern = Just $ parseIconPattern x }) "") ""
   , Option "" ["free-icon-pattern"] (ReqArg (\x o ->
      o { freeIconPattern = Just $ parseIconPattern x }) "") ""
+  , Option "" ["available-icon-pattern"] (ReqArg (\x o ->
+     o { availableIconPattern = Just $ parseIconPattern x }) "") ""
   ]
 
 parseOpts :: [String] -> IO MemOpts
@@ -46,8 +50,10 @@
 memConfig :: IO MConfig
 memConfig = mkMConfig
        "Mem: <usedratio>% (<cache>M)" -- template
-       ["usedbar", "usedvbar", "usedipat", "freebar", "freevbar", "freeipat", "usedratio", "freeratio",
-        "total", "free", "buffer", "cache", "rest", "used"] -- available replacements
+       ["usedbar", "usedvbar", "usedipat", "freebar", "freevbar", "freeipat",
+        "availablebar", "availablevbar", "availableipat",
+        "usedratio", "freeratio", "availableratio",
+        "total", "free", "buffer", "cache", "available", "used"] -- available replacements
 
 fileMEM :: IO String
 fileMEM = readFile "/proc/meminfo"
@@ -58,11 +64,12 @@
        let content = map words $ take 8 $ lines file
            info = M.fromList $ map (\line -> (head line, (read $ line !! 1 :: Float) / 1024)) content
            [total, free, buffer, cache] = map (info M.!) ["MemTotal:", "MemFree:", "Buffers:", "Cached:"]
-           rest = free + buffer + cache
-           used = total - M.findWithDefault rest "MemAvailable:" info
+           available = M.findWithDefault (free + buffer + cache) "MemAvailable:" info
+           used = total - available
            usedratio = used / total
            freeratio = free / total
-       return [usedratio, freeratio, total, free, buffer, cache, rest, used, freeratio]
+           availableratio = available / total
+       return [usedratio, freeratio, availableratio, total, free, buffer, cache, available, used]
 
 totalMem :: IO Float
 totalMem = fmap ((*1024) . (!!1)) parseMEM
@@ -71,19 +78,14 @@
 usedMem = fmap ((*1024) . (!!6)) parseMEM
 
 formatMem :: MemOpts -> [Float] -> Monitor [String]
-formatMem opts (r:fr:xs) =
+formatMem opts (r:fr:ar:xs) =
     do let f = showDigits 0
-           rr = 100 * r
-       ub <- showPercentBar rr r
-       uvb <- showVerticalBar rr r
-       uipat <- showIconPattern (usedIconPattern opts) r
-       fb <- showPercentBar (100 - rr) (1 - r)
-       fvb <- showVerticalBar (100 - rr) ( 1 - r)
-       fipat <- showIconPattern (freeIconPattern opts) (1 - r)
-       rs <- showPercentWithColors r
-       fs <- showPercentWithColors fr
-       s <- mapM (showWithColors f) xs
-       return (ub:uvb:uipat:fb:fvb:fipat:rs:fs:s)
+           mon i x = [showPercentBar (100 * x) x, showVerticalBar (100 * x) x, showIconPattern i x]
+       sequence $ mon (usedIconPattern opts) r
+           ++ mon (freeIconPattern opts) fr
+           ++ mon (availableIconPattern opts) ar
+           ++ map showPercentWithColors [r, fr, ar]
+           ++ map (showWithColors f) xs
 formatMem _ _ = replicate 10 `fmap` getConfigValue naString
 
 runMem :: [String] -> Monitor String
diff --git a/src/Plugins/Monitors/Weather.hs b/src/Plugins/Monitors/Weather.hs
--- a/src/Plugins/Monitors/Weather.hs
+++ b/src/Plugins/Monitors/Weather.hs
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@
   let tospace = manyTill anyChar (char ' ')
       wind0 = do manyTill skipRestOfLine (string "Wind: Calm:0")
                  return pWind0
+      windVar = do manyTill skipRestOfLine (string "Wind: Variable at ")
+                   mph <- tospace
+                   string "MPH ("
+                   knot <- tospace
+                   manyTill anyChar newline
+                   return ("μ", "μ", mph, knot)
       wind = do manyTill skipRestOfLine (string "Wind: from the ")
                 cardinal <- tospace
                 char '('
@@ -109,7 +115,7 @@
                 knot <- tospace
                 manyTill anyChar newline
                 return (cardinal, azimuth, mph, knot)
-  in try wind0 <|> wind
+  in try wind0 <|> try windVar <|> wind
 
 pTemp :: Parser (Int, Int)
 pTemp = do let num = digit <|> char '-' <|> char '.'
diff --git a/src/XUtil.hsc b/src/XUtil.hsc
--- a/src/XUtil.hsc
+++ b/src/XUtil.hsc
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE ForeignFunctionInterface #-}
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- |
 -- Module      :  XUtil
--- Copyright   :  (C) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
+-- Copyright   :  (C) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
 --                (C) 2007 Andrea Rossato
 -- License     :  BSD3
 --
@@ -12,6 +11,8 @@
 --
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+{-# LANGUAGE ForeignFunctionInterface, EmptyDataDecls #-}
+
 module XUtil
     ( XFont
     , initFont
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
     ) where
 
 import Control.Concurrent
+import Control.Monad (when)
 import Control.Monad.Trans
 import Control.Exception (SomeException, handle)
 import Foreign
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@
 #endif
 
 miscFixedFont :: String
-miscFixedFont = "-misc-fixed-*-*-*-*-10-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"
+miscFixedFont = "-misc-fixed-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"
 
 -- | Given a fontname returns the font structure. If the font name is
 --  not valid the default font will be loaded and returned.
@@ -162,29 +164,28 @@
 #endif
 
 printString :: Display -> Drawable -> XFont -> GC -> String -> String
-            -> Position -> Position -> String  -> IO ()
-printString d p (Core fs) gc fc bc x y s = do
+            -> Position -> Position -> String -> Int -> IO ()
+printString d p (Core fs) gc fc bc x y s a = do
     setFont d gc $ fontFromFontStruct fs
     withColors d [fc, bc] $ \[fc', bc'] -> do
       setForeground d gc fc'
-      setBackground d gc bc'
+      when (a == 255) (setBackground d gc bc')
       drawImageString d p gc x y s
 
-printString d p (Utf8 fs) gc fc bc x y s =
+printString d p (Utf8 fs) gc fc bc x y s a =
     withColors d [fc, bc] $ \[fc', bc'] -> do
       setForeground d gc fc'
-      setBackground d gc bc'
+      when (a == 255) (setBackground d gc bc')
       io $ wcDrawImageString d p fs gc x y s
 
 #ifdef XFT
-printString dpy drw fs@(Xft fonts) _ fc bc x y s = do
-  (a,d)  <- textExtents fs s
-  gi <- xftTxtExtents' dpy fonts s
-  withDrawingColors dpy drw fc bc $ \draw -> \fc' -> \bc' ->
-    (drawXftRect draw bc' (x + 1 - fi (xglyphinfo_x gi))
-                          (y - (a + d) + 1)
-                          (xglyphinfo_xOff gi)
-                          (a + d)) >>
+printString dpy drw fs@(Xft fonts) _ fc bc x y s al = do
+  withDrawingColors dpy drw fc bc $ \draw -> \fc' -> \bc' -> do
+    when (al == 255) $ do
+      (a,d)  <- textExtents fs s
+      gi <- xftTxtExtents' dpy fonts s
+      drawXftRect draw bc' (x + 1 - fi (xglyphinfo_x gi))
+                  (y - (a + d) + 1) (xglyphinfo_xOff gi) (a + d)
     (drawXftString' draw fc' fonts (toInteger x) (toInteger (y - 2)) s)
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/Xmobar.hs b/src/Xmobar.hs
--- a/src/Xmobar.hs
+++ b/src/Xmobar.hs
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- |
 -- Module      :  Xmobar
--- Copyright   :  (c) Andrea Rossato
+-- Copyright   :  (c) 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Jose Antonio Ortega Ruiz
+--                (c) 2007 Andrea Rossato
 -- License     :  BSD-style (see LICENSE)
 --
 -- Maintainer  :  Jose A. Ortega Ruiz <jao@gnu.org>
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@
 
 #ifdef XFT
 import Graphics.X11.Xft
+import MinXft (drawBackground)
 #endif
 
 #ifdef DBUS
@@ -73,12 +75,12 @@
 
 -- | The ReaderT inner component
 data XConf =
-    XConf { display :: Display
-          , rect    :: Rectangle
-          , window  :: Window
-          , fontS   :: XFont
-          , iconS   :: Map FilePath Bitmap
-          , config  :: Config
+    XConf { display   :: Display
+          , rect      :: Rectangle
+          , window    :: Window
+          , fontListS :: [XFont]
+          , iconS     :: Map FilePath Bitmap
+          , config    :: Config
           }
 
 -- | Runs the ReaderT
@@ -86,7 +88,8 @@
 runX xc f = runReaderT f xc
 
 -- | Starts the main event loop and threads
-startLoop :: XConf -> TMVar SignalType -> [[(Maybe ThreadId, TVar String)]] -> IO ()
+startLoop :: XConf -> TMVar SignalType -> [[(Maybe ThreadId, TVar String)]]
+             -> IO ()
 startLoop xcfg@(XConf _ _ w _ _ _) sig vs = do
 #ifdef XFT
     xftInitFtLibrary
@@ -109,8 +112,8 @@
     eventer signal =
       allocaXEvent $ \e -> do
         dpy <- openDisplay ""
-        xrrSelectInput    dpy (defaultRootWindow dpy) rrScreenChangeNotifyMask
-        selectInput       dpy w (exposureMask .|. structureNotifyMask .|. buttonPressMask)
+        xrrSelectInput dpy (defaultRootWindow dpy) rrScreenChangeNotifyMask
+        selectInput dpy w (exposureMask .|. structureNotifyMask .|. buttonPressMask)
 
         forever $ do
 #ifdef THREADED_RUNTIME
@@ -151,7 +154,8 @@
       case typ of
          Wakeup -> do
             str <- updateString cfg tv
-            xc' <- updateCache d w is (iconRoot cfg) str >>= \c -> return xc { iconS = c }
+            xc' <- updateCache d w is (iconRoot cfg) str >>=
+                     \c -> return xc { iconS = c }
             as' <- updateActions xc r str
             runX xc' $ drawInWin r str
             eventLoop tv xc' as' signal
@@ -198,7 +202,7 @@
             eventLoop tv xc as signal
 
         reposWindow rcfg = do
-          r' <- repositionWin d w fs rcfg
+          r' <- repositionWin d w (fs!!0) rcfg
           eventLoop tv (XConf d r' w fs is rcfg) as signal
 
         updateConfigPosition ocfg =
@@ -210,8 +214,7 @@
                         (ocfg {position = OnScreen 1 o})
                        else
                         (ocfg {position = OnScreen (n+1) o}))
-            o ->
-              return (ocfg {position = OnScreen 1 o})
+            o -> return (ocfg {position = OnScreen 1 o})
 
         action button x = do
           mapM_ runAction $
@@ -231,66 +234,74 @@
     | alias com == "" = do var <- atomically $ newTVar is
                            atomically $ writeTVar var (s ++ ss)
                            return (Nothing,var)
-    | otherwise       = do var <- atomically $ newTVar is
-                           let cb str = atomically $ writeTVar var (s ++ str ++ ss)
-                           h <- forkIO $ start com cb
-                           _ <- forkIO $ trigger com
-                                       $ maybe (return ()) (atomically . putTMVar sig)
-                           return (Just h,var)
+    | otherwise = do var <- atomically $ newTVar is
+                     let cb str = atomically $ writeTVar var (s ++ str ++ ss)
+                     h <- forkIO $ start com cb
+                     _ <- forkIO $ trigger com $ maybe (return ())
+                                                 (atomically . putTMVar sig)
+                     return (Just h,var)
     where is = s ++ "Updating..." ++ ss
 
-updateString :: Config -> TVar [String] ->
-                IO [[(Widget, String, Maybe [Action])]]
+updateString :: Config -> TVar [String]
+                -> IO [[(Widget, String, Int, Maybe [Action])]]
 updateString conf v = do
   s <- atomically $ readTVar v
   let l:c:r:_ = s ++ repeat ""
   io $ mapM (parseString conf) [l, c, r]
 
-updateActions :: XConf -> Rectangle -> [[(Widget, String, Maybe [Action])]] ->
-                 IO [([Action], Position, Position)]
+updateActions :: XConf -> Rectangle -> [[(Widget, String, Int, Maybe [Action])]]
+                 -> IO [([Action], Position, Position)]
 updateActions conf (Rectangle _ _ wid _) ~[left,center,right] = do
-  let (d,fs) = (display &&& fontS) conf
-      strLn :: [(Widget, String, Maybe [Action])] -> IO [(Maybe [Action], Position, Position)]
+  let (d,fs) = (display &&& fontListS) conf
+      strLn :: [(Widget, String, Int, Maybe [Action])] -> IO [(Maybe [Action], Position, Position)]
       strLn  = io . mapM getCoords
       iconW i = maybe 0 Bitmap.width (lookup i $ iconS conf)
-      getCoords (Text s,_,a) = textWidth d fs s >>= \tw -> return (a, 0, fi tw)
-      getCoords (Icon s,_,a) = return (a, 0, fi $ iconW s)
+      getCoords (Text s,_,i,a) = textWidth d (fs!!i) s >>= \tw -> return (a, 0, fi tw)
+      getCoords (Icon s,_,_,a) = return (a, 0, fi $ iconW s)
       partCoord off xs = map (\(a, x, x') -> (fromJust a, x, x')) $
                          filter (\(a, _,_) -> isJust a) $
-                         scanl (\(_,_,x') (a,_,w') -> (a, x', x' + w')) (Nothing, 0, off) xs
-
-      totSLen              = foldr (\(_,_,len) -> (+) len) 0
-      remWidth xs          = fi wid - totSLen xs
-      offs                 = 1
-      offset a xs          = case a of
-                               C -> (remWidth xs + offs) `div` 2
-                               R -> remWidth xs
-                               L -> offs
-
-  fmap concat $ mapM (\(a,xs) -> (\xs' -> partCoord (offset a xs') xs') <$> strLn xs) $
-                zip [L,C,R] [left,center,right]
+                         scanl (\(_,_,x') (a,_,w') -> (a, x', x' + w'))
+                               (Nothing, 0, off)
+                               xs
+      totSLen = foldr (\(_,_,len) -> (+) len) 0
+      remWidth xs = fi wid - totSLen xs
+      offs = 1
+      offset a xs = case a of
+                     C -> (remWidth xs + offs) `div` 2
+                     R -> remWidth xs
+                     L -> offs
+  fmap concat $ mapM (\(a,xs) ->
+                       (\xs' -> partCoord (offset a xs') xs') <$> strLn xs) $
+                     zip [L,C,R] [left,center,right]
 
 -- $print
 
 -- | Draws in and updates the window
-drawInWin :: Rectangle -> [[(Widget, String, Maybe [Action])]] -> X ()
-drawInWin (Rectangle _ _ wid ht) ~[left,center,right] = do
+drawInWin :: Rectangle -> [[(Widget, String, Int, Maybe [Action])]] -> X ()
+drawInWin wr@(Rectangle _ _ wid ht) ~[left,center,right] = do
   r <- ask
-  let (c,d ) = (config &&& display) r
-      (w,fs) = (window &&& fontS  ) r
-      strLn  = io . mapM getWidth
+  let (c,d) = (config &&& display) r
+      (w,fs) = (window &&& fontListS  ) r
+      strLn = io . mapM getWidth
       iconW i = maybe 0 Bitmap.width (lookup i $ iconS r)
-      getWidth (Text s,cl,_) = textWidth d fs s >>= \tw -> return (Text s,cl,fi tw)
-      getWidth (Icon s,cl,_) = return (Icon s,cl,fi $ iconW s)
+      getWidth (Text s,cl,i,_) =
+        textWidth d (fs!!i) s >>= \tw -> return (Text s,cl,i,fi tw)
+      getWidth (Icon s,cl,i,_) = return (Icon s,cl,i,fi $ iconW s)
 
+  p <- io $ createPixmap d w wid ht
+                         (defaultDepthOfScreen (defaultScreenOfDisplay d))
+#if XFT
+  when (alpha c /= 255) (io $ drawBackground d p (bgColor c) (alpha c) wr)
+#endif
   withColors d [bgColor c, borderColor c] $ \[bgcolor, bdcolor] -> do
     gc <- io $ createGC  d w
-    -- create a pixmap to write to and fill it with a rectangle
-    p <- io $ createPixmap d w wid ht
-         (defaultDepthOfScreen (defaultScreenOfDisplay d))
-    -- the fgcolor of the rectangle will be the bgcolor of the window
-    io $ setForeground d gc bgcolor
-    io $ fillRectangle d p gc 0 0 wid ht
+#if XFT
+    when (alpha c == 255) $ do
+#else
+    do
+#endif
+      io $ setForeground d gc bgcolor
+      io $ fillRectangle d p gc 0 0 wid ht
     -- write to the pixmap the new string
     printStrings p gc fs 1 L =<< strLn left
     printStrings p gc fs 1 R =<< strLn right
@@ -298,36 +309,51 @@
     -- draw 1 pixel border if requested
     io $ drawBorder (border c) (borderWidth c) d p gc bdcolor wid ht
     -- copy the pixmap with the new string to the window
-    io $ copyArea   d p w gc 0 0 wid ht 0 0
+    io $ copyArea d p w gc 0 0 wid ht 0 0
     -- free up everything (we do not want to leak memory!)
-    io $ freeGC     d gc
+    io $ freeGC d gc
     io $ freePixmap d p
     -- resync
-    io $ sync       d True
+    io $ sync d True
 
+verticalOffset ::  (Integral b, Integral a, MonadIO m) =>
+                   a -> Widget -> XFont -> Config -> m b
+verticalOffset ht (Text t) fontst conf
+  | textOffset conf > -1 = return $ fi (textOffset conf)
+  | otherwise = do
+     (as,ds) <- io $ textExtents fontst t
+     let bwidth = borderOffset (border conf) (borderWidth conf)
+         verticalMargin = fi ht - fi (as + ds) - 2 * fi (abs bwidth)
+     return $ fi ht - fi ds - (verticalMargin `div` 2) + bwidth + 1
+verticalOffset _ (Icon _) _ conf
+  | iconOffset conf > -1 = return $ fi (iconOffset conf)
+  | otherwise = do
+     let bwidth = borderOffset (border conf) (borderWidth conf)
+     return $ bwidth + 1
+
 -- | An easy way to print the stuff we need to print
-printStrings :: Drawable -> GC -> XFont -> Position
-             -> Align -> [(Widget, String, Position)] -> X ()
+printStrings :: Drawable -> GC -> [XFont] -> Position
+             -> Align -> [(Widget, String, Int, Position)] -> X ()
 printStrings _ _ _ _ _ [] = return ()
-printStrings dr gc fontst offs a sl@((s,c,l):xs) = do
+printStrings dr gc fontlist offs a sl@((s,c,i,l):xs) = do
   r <- ask
-  (as,ds) <- case s of
-               Text t -> io $ textExtents fontst t
-               Icon _ -> return (0, 0)
-  let (conf,d)             = (config &&& display) r
-      boffs                = borderOffset (border conf) (borderWidth conf)
+  let (conf,d) = (config &&& display) r
+      alph = alpha conf
       Rectangle _ _ wid ht = rect r
-      totSLen              = foldr (\(_,_,len) -> (+) len) 0 sl
-      valign               = boffs-1 + (fi ht + fi (as + ds)) `div` 2
-      remWidth             = fi wid - fi totSLen
-      offset               = case a of
-                               C -> (remWidth + offs) `div` 2
-                               R -> remWidth
-                               L -> offs
-      (fc,bc)              = case break (==',') c of
-                               (f,',':b) -> (f, b           )
-                               (f,    _) -> (f, bgColor conf)
+      totSLen = foldr (\(_,_,_,len) -> (+) len) 0 sl
+      remWidth = fi wid - fi totSLen
+      fontst = fontlist !! i
+      offset = case a of
+                 C -> (remWidth + offs) `div` 2
+                 R -> remWidth
+                 L -> offs
+      (fc,bc) = case break (==',') c of
+                 (f,',':b) -> (f, b           )
+                 (f,    _) -> (f, bgColor conf)
+  valign <- verticalOffset ht s fontst conf
   case s of
-    (Text t) -> io $ printString d dr fontst gc fc bc offset valign t
-    (Icon p) -> io $ maybe (return ()) (drawBitmap d dr gc fc bc offset valign) (lookup p (iconS r))
-  printStrings dr gc fontst (offs + l) a xs
+    (Text t) -> io $ printString d dr fontst gc fc bc offset valign t alph
+    (Icon p) -> io $ maybe (return ())
+                           (drawBitmap d dr gc fc bc offset valign)
+                           (lookup p (iconS r))
+  printStrings dr gc fontlist (offs + l) a xs
diff --git a/xmobar.cabal b/xmobar.cabal
--- a/xmobar.cabal
+++ b/xmobar.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:               xmobar
-version:            0.22.1
+version:            0.23
 homepage:           http://xmobar.org
 synopsis:           A Minimalistic Text Based Status Bar
 description: 	    Xmobar is a minimalistic text based status bar.
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 
     ghc-prof-options:   -prof -auto-all
     ghc-options: -funbox-strict-fields -Wall -fno-warn-unused-do-bind
-    extra-libraries: Xrandr
+    extra-libraries: Xrandr Xrender
 
     build-depends:
       base == 4.*,
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
       X11 >= 1.6.1,
       mtl >= 2.1 && < 2.3,
       parsec == 3.1.*,
-      HTTP >= 4000,
+      HTTP >= 4000.2.4,
       stm >= 2.3 && < 2.5
 
     if flag(with_threaded)