diff --git a/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp b/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
index 25dcfcdd95..b5199e87e8 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/Agent.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ void Agent::run() {
     ThreadedAssignment::commonInit(AGENT_LOGGING_NAME, NodeType::Agent);
     
     NodeList* nodeList = NodeList::getInstance();
-    nodeList->addSetOfNodeTypesToNodeInterestSet(NodeSet() << NodeType::AudioMixer << NodeType::AvatarMixer);
+    nodeList->addSetOfNodeTypesToNodeInterestSet(NodeSet()
+                                                 << NodeType::AudioMixer
+                                                 << NodeType::AvatarMixer
+                                                 << NodeType::VoxelServer
+                                                 << NodeType::ParticleServer);
     
     // figure out the URL for the script for this agent assignment
     QString scriptURLString("http://%1:8080/assignment/%2");
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.cpp b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.cpp
index e0ff29effd..984ce42631 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.cpp
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ void OctreeQueryNode::deleteLater() {
 }
 
 
-void OctreeQueryNode::initializeOctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* octreeServer, const QUuid& nodeUUID) {
+void OctreeQueryNode::initializeOctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* octreeServer, SharedNodePointer node) {
     // Create octree sending thread...
-    _octreeSendThread = new OctreeSendThread(nodeUUID, octreeServer);
+    _octreeSendThread = new OctreeSendThread(octreeServer, node);
     _octreeSendThread->initialize(true);
 }
 
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.h b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.h
index b7e68e805d..17d6f6337c 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeQueryNode.h
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public:
     
     OctreeSceneStats stats;
     
-    void initializeOctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* octreeServer, const QUuid& nodeUUID);
+    void initializeOctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* octreeServer, SharedNodePointer node);
     bool isOctreeSendThreadInitalized() { return _octreeSendThread; }
     
     void dumpOutOfView();
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.cpp b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.cpp
index 2fa6397ac5..4105b21eb8 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.cpp
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 quint64 startSceneSleepTime = 0;
 quint64 endSceneSleepTime = 0;
 
-OctreeSendThread::OctreeSendThread(const QUuid& nodeUUID, OctreeServer* myServer) :
-    _nodeUUID(nodeUUID),
+OctreeSendThread::OctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* myServer, SharedNodePointer node) :
     _myServer(myServer),
+    _nodeUUID(node->getUUID()),
     _packetData(),
     _nodeMissingCount(0),
     _processLock(),
@@ -44,51 +44,40 @@ OctreeSendThread::~OctreeSendThread() {
     }
     qDebug() << qPrintable(safeServerName)  << "server [" << _myServer << "]: client disconnected "
                                             "- ending sending thread [" << this << "]";
-    OctreeServer::clientDisconnected(); 
+    OctreeServer::clientDisconnected();
 }
 
 void OctreeSendThread::setIsShuttingDown() {
-    QMutexLocker locker(&_processLock); // this will cause us to wait till the process loop is complete
     _isShuttingDown = true;
     OctreeServer::stopTrackingThread(this);
+    
+    // this will cause us to wait till the process loop is complete, we do this after we change _isShuttingDown
+    QMutexLocker locker(&_processLock); 
 }
 
 
 bool OctreeSendThread::process() {
+    if (_isShuttingDown) {
+        return false; // exit early if we're shutting down
+    }
+
     OctreeServer::didProcess(this);
 
     float lockWaitElapsedUsec = OctreeServer::SKIP_TIME;
     quint64 lockWaitStart = usecTimestampNow();
-    QMutexLocker locker(&_processLock);
+    _processLock.lock();
     quint64 lockWaitEnd = usecTimestampNow();
     lockWaitElapsedUsec = (float)(lockWaitEnd - lockWaitStart);
     OctreeServer::trackProcessWaitTime(lockWaitElapsedUsec);
     
-    if (_isShuttingDown) {
-        return false; // exit early if we're shutting down
-    }
-    
-    const int MAX_NODE_MISSING_CHECKS = 10;
-    if (_nodeMissingCount > MAX_NODE_MISSING_CHECKS) {
-        qDebug() << "our target node:" << _nodeUUID << "has been missing the last" << _nodeMissingCount 
-                        << "times we checked, we are going to stop attempting to send.";
-        return false; // stop processing and shutdown, our node no longer exists
-    }
-
     quint64  start = usecTimestampNow();
 
     // don't do any send processing until the initial load of the octree is complete...
     if (_myServer->isInitialLoadComplete()) {
-    
-        // see if we can get access to our node, but don't wait on the lock, if the nodeList is busy
-        // it might not return a node that is known, but that's ok we can handle that case.
         SharedNodePointer node = NodeList::getInstance()->nodeWithUUID(_nodeUUID, false);
-
         if (node) {
             _nodeMissingCount = 0;
-            OctreeQueryNode* nodeData = NULL;
-
-            nodeData = (OctreeQueryNode*) node->getLinkedData();
+            OctreeQueryNode* nodeData = static_cast<OctreeQueryNode*>(node->getLinkedData());
 
             // Sometimes the node data has not yet been linked, in which case we can't really do anything
             if (nodeData && !nodeData->isShuttingDown()) {
@@ -97,9 +86,26 @@ bool OctreeSendThread::process() {
             }
         } else {
             _nodeMissingCount++;
+            const int MANY_FAILED_LOCKS = 1;
+            if (_nodeMissingCount >= MANY_FAILED_LOCKS) {
+
+                QString safeServerName("Octree");
+                if (_myServer) {
+                    safeServerName = _myServer->getMyServerName();
+                }
+                
+                qDebug() << qPrintable(safeServerName)  << "server: sending thread [" << this << "]"
+                        << "failed to get nodeWithUUID() " << _nodeUUID <<". Failed:" << _nodeMissingCount << "times";
+            }
         }
     }
 
+    _processLock.unlock();
+    
+    if (_isShuttingDown) {
+        return false; // exit early if we're shutting down
+    }
+
     // Only sleep if we're still running and we got the lock last time we tried, otherwise try to get the lock asap
     if (isStillRunning()) {
         // dynamically sleep until we need to fire off the next set of octree elements
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.h b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.h
index ab88121ee8..4b1b6d8c92 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeSendThread.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 class OctreeSendThread : public GenericThread {
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
-    OctreeSendThread(const QUuid& nodeUUID, OctreeServer* myServer);
+    OctreeSendThread(OctreeServer* myServer, SharedNodePointer node);
     virtual ~OctreeSendThread();
     
     void setIsShuttingDown();
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ protected:
     virtual bool process();
 
 private:
-    QUuid _nodeUUID;
     OctreeServer* _myServer;
+    QUuid _nodeUUID;
 
     int handlePacketSend(const SharedNodePointer& node, OctreeQueryNode* nodeData, int& trueBytesSent, int& truePacketsSent);
     int packetDistributor(const SharedNodePointer& node, OctreeQueryNode* nodeData, bool viewFrustumChanged);
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
index fc01b1d04a..fd3f9e6cb7 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.cpp
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ void OctreeServer::readPendingDatagrams() {
                         if (debug) {
                             qDebug() << "calling initializeOctreeSendThread()... node:" << *matchingNode;
                         }
-                        nodeData->initializeOctreeSendThread(this, matchingNode->getUUID());
+                        nodeData->initializeOctreeSendThread(this, matchingNode);
                     }
                 }
             } else if (packetType == PacketTypeJurisdictionRequest) {
@@ -852,7 +852,9 @@ void OctreeServer::readPendingDatagrams() {
 
 void OctreeServer::run() {
     _safeServerName = getMyServerName();
+    
     // Before we do anything else, create our tree...
+    OctreeElement::resetPopulationStatistics();
     _tree = createTree();
     
     // use common init to setup common timers and logging
@@ -1158,7 +1160,6 @@ QString OctreeServer::getStatusLink() {
 }
 
 void OctreeServer::sendStatsPacket() {
-
     // TODO: we have too many stats to fit in a single MTU... so for now, we break it into multiple JSON objects and
     // send them separately. What we really should do is change the NodeList::sendStatsToDomainServer() to handle the
     // the following features:
@@ -1239,59 +1240,78 @@ QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64> OctreeServer::_threadsDidPacketDistributor;
 QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64> OctreeServer::_threadsDidHandlePacketSend;
 QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64> OctreeServer::_threadsDidCallWriteDatagram;
 
+QMutex OctreeServer::_threadsDidProcessMutex;
+QMutex OctreeServer::_threadsDidPacketDistributorMutex;
+QMutex OctreeServer::_threadsDidHandlePacketSendMutex;
+QMutex OctreeServer::_threadsDidCallWriteDatagramMutex;
+
 
 void OctreeServer::didProcess(OctreeSendThread* thread) {
+    QMutexLocker locker(&_threadsDidProcessMutex);
     _threadsDidProcess[thread] = usecTimestampNow();
 }
 
 void OctreeServer::didPacketDistributor(OctreeSendThread* thread) {
+    QMutexLocker locker(&_threadsDidPacketDistributorMutex);
     _threadsDidPacketDistributor[thread] = usecTimestampNow();
 }
 
 void OctreeServer::didHandlePacketSend(OctreeSendThread* thread) {
+    QMutexLocker locker(&_threadsDidHandlePacketSendMutex);
     _threadsDidHandlePacketSend[thread] = usecTimestampNow();
 }
 
 void OctreeServer::didCallWriteDatagram(OctreeSendThread* thread) {
+    QMutexLocker locker(&_threadsDidCallWriteDatagramMutex);
     _threadsDidCallWriteDatagram[thread] = usecTimestampNow();
 }
 
 
 void OctreeServer::stopTrackingThread(OctreeSendThread* thread) {
+    QMutexLocker lockerA(&_threadsDidProcessMutex);
+    QMutexLocker lockerB(&_threadsDidPacketDistributorMutex);
+    QMutexLocker lockerC(&_threadsDidHandlePacketSendMutex);
+    QMutexLocker lockerD(&_threadsDidCallWriteDatagramMutex);
+
     _threadsDidProcess.remove(thread);
     _threadsDidPacketDistributor.remove(thread);
     _threadsDidHandlePacketSend.remove(thread);
+    _threadsDidCallWriteDatagram.remove(thread);
 }
 
-int howManyThreadsDidSomething(QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64>& something, quint64 since) {
-    if (since == 0) {
-        return something.size();
-    }
+int howManyThreadsDidSomething(QMutex& mutex, QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64>& something, quint64 since) {
     int count = 0;
-    QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64>::const_iterator i = something.constBegin();
-    while (i != something.constEnd()) {
-        if (i.value() > since) {
-            count++;
+    if (mutex.tryLock()) {
+        if (since == 0) {
+            count = something.size();
+        } else {
+            QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64>::const_iterator i = something.constBegin();
+            while (i != something.constEnd()) {
+                if (i.value() > since) {
+                    count++;
+                }
+                ++i;
+            }
         }
-        ++i;
+        mutex.unlock();
     }
     return count;
 }
 
 
 int OctreeServer::howManyThreadsDidProcess(quint64 since) {
-    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidProcess, since);
+    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidProcessMutex, _threadsDidProcess, since);
 }
 
 int OctreeServer::howManyThreadsDidPacketDistributor(quint64 since) {
-    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidPacketDistributor, since);
+    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidPacketDistributorMutex, _threadsDidPacketDistributor, since);
 }
 
 int OctreeServer::howManyThreadsDidHandlePacketSend(quint64 since) {
-    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidHandlePacketSend, since);
+    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidHandlePacketSendMutex, _threadsDidHandlePacketSend, since);
 }
 
 int OctreeServer::howManyThreadsDidCallWriteDatagram(quint64 since) {
-    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidCallWriteDatagram, since);
+    return howManyThreadsDidSomething(_threadsDidCallWriteDatagramMutex, _threadsDidCallWriteDatagram, since);
 }
 
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
index 3dac42709f..63d43b6634 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/octree/OctreeServer.h
@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ protected:
     static QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64> _threadsDidHandlePacketSend;
     static QMap<OctreeSendThread*, quint64> _threadsDidCallWriteDatagram;
 
+    static QMutex _threadsDidProcessMutex;
+    static QMutex _threadsDidPacketDistributorMutex;
+    static QMutex _threadsDidHandlePacketSendMutex;
+    static QMutex _threadsDidCallWriteDatagramMutex;
 };
 
 #endif // __octree_server__OctreeServer__
diff --git a/interface/interface_en.ts b/interface/interface_en.ts
index f5c7f225df..8ca6f7d269 100644
--- a/interface/interface_en.ts
+++ b/interface/interface_en.ts
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
     <message>
-        <location filename="src/Application.cpp" line="3597"/>
+        <location filename="src/Application.cpp" line="3610"/>
         <source>Open Script</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
     <message>
-        <location filename="src/Application.cpp" line="3598"/>
+        <location filename="src/Application.cpp" line="3611"/>
         <source>JavaScript Files (*.js)</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
@@ -113,18 +113,18 @@
 <context>
     <name>Menu</name>
     <message>
-        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="457"/>
+        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="456"/>
         <source>Open .ini config file</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
     <message>
-        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="459"/>
-        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="471"/>
+        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="458"/>
+        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="470"/>
         <source>Text files (*.ini)</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
     <message>
-        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="469"/>
+        <location filename="src/Menu.cpp" line="468"/>
         <source>Save .ini config file</source>
         <translation type="unfinished"></translation>
     </message>
diff --git a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
index 4bd8b8b768..b683ed5af2 100644
--- a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
+++ b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.frag
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 
 uniform sampler2DShadow shadowMap;
 
+varying vec4 shadowColor;
+
 void main(void) {
-    gl_FragColor = gl_Color * mix(vec4(0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 1.0), vec4(1.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0),
-        shadow2D(shadowMap, gl_TexCoord[0].stp));
+    gl_FragColor = mix(shadowColor, gl_Color, shadow2D(shadowMap, gl_TexCoord[0].stp));
 }
diff --git a/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6809ca6e2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/interface/resources/shaders/shadow_map.vert
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#version 120
+
+//
+//  shadow_map.vert
+//  vertex shader
+//
+//  Created by Andrzej Kapolka on 3/27/14.
+//  Copyright (c) 2014 High Fidelity, Inc. All rights reserved.
+//
+
+varying vec4 shadowColor;
+
+void main(void) {
+    // the shadow color includes only the ambient terms
+    shadowColor = gl_Color * (gl_LightModel.ambient + gl_LightSource[0].ambient);
+    
+    // the normal color includes diffuse
+    vec4 normal = normalize(gl_ModelViewMatrix * vec4(gl_Normal, 0.0));
+    gl_FrontColor = shadowColor + gl_Color * (gl_LightSource[0].diffuse * max(0.0, dot(normal, gl_LightSource[0].position)));
+    
+    // generate the shadow texture coordinate using the eye position
+    vec4 eyePosition = gl_ModelViewMatrix * gl_Vertex;
+    gl_TexCoord[0] = vec4(dot(gl_EyePlaneS[0], eyePosition), dot(gl_EyePlaneT[0], eyePosition),
+        dot(gl_EyePlaneR[0], eyePosition), 1.0); 
+    
+    // use the fixed function transform
+    gl_Position = ftransform();
+}
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 13c05fa702..5b08997b7c 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -1636,6 +1636,8 @@ void Application::updateLOD() {
     // adjust it unless we were asked to disable this feature, or if we're currently in throttleRendering mode
     if (!Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::DisableAutoAdjustLOD) && !isThrottleRendering()) {
         Menu::getInstance()->autoAdjustLOD(_fps);
+    } else {
+        Menu::getInstance()->resetLODAdjust();
     }
 }
 
@@ -2676,7 +2678,7 @@ void Application::displayStats() {
 
     glm::vec3 avatarPos = _myAvatar->getPosition();
 
-    lines = _statsExpanded ? 4 : 3;
+    lines = _statsExpanded ? 5 : 3;
     displayStatsBackground(backgroundColor, horizontalOffset, 0, _glWidget->width() - (mirrorEnabled ? 301 : 411) - horizontalOffset, lines * STATS_PELS_PER_LINE + 10);
     horizontalOffset += 5;
 
@@ -2713,12 +2715,23 @@ void Application::displayStats() {
 
         verticalOffset += STATS_PELS_PER_LINE;
         drawText(horizontalOffset, verticalOffset, 0.10f, 0.f, 2.f, avatarMixerStats, WHITE_TEXT);
+        
+        stringstream downloadStats;
+        downloadStats << "Downloads: ";
+        foreach (Resource* resource, ResourceCache::getLoadingRequests()) {
+            const float MAXIMUM_PERCENTAGE = 100.0f;
+            downloadStats << roundf(resource->getProgress() * MAXIMUM_PERCENTAGE) << "% ";
+        }
+        downloadStats << "(" << ResourceCache::getPendingRequestCount() << " pending)";
+        
+        verticalOffset += STATS_PELS_PER_LINE;
+        drawText(horizontalOffset, verticalOffset, 0.10f, 0.f, 2.f, downloadStats.str().c_str(), WHITE_TEXT);
     }
 
     verticalOffset = 0;
     horizontalOffset = _glWidget->width() - (mirrorEnabled ? 300 : 410);
 
-    lines = _statsExpanded ? 11 : 3;
+    lines = _statsExpanded ? 12 : 3;
     displayStatsBackground(backgroundColor, horizontalOffset, 0, _glWidget->width() - horizontalOffset, lines * STATS_PELS_PER_LINE + 10);
     horizontalOffset += 5;
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Audio.cpp b/interface/src/Audio.cpp
index c2d5f535a7..67f2e2caec 100644
--- a/interface/src/Audio.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Audio.cpp
@@ -143,6 +143,28 @@ QAudioDeviceInfo defaultAudioDeviceForMode(QAudio::Mode mode) {
         }
     }
 #endif
+#ifdef WIN32
+    QString deviceName;
+    if (mode == QAudio::AudioInput) {
+        WAVEINCAPS wic;
+        // first use WAVE_MAPPER to get the default devices manufacturer ID
+        waveInGetDevCaps(WAVE_MAPPER, &wic, sizeof(wic));
+        //Use the received manufacturer id to get the device's real name
+        waveInGetDevCaps(wic.wMid, &wic, sizeof(wic));
+        qDebug() << "input device:" << wic.szPname;
+        deviceName = wic.szPname;
+    } else {
+        WAVEOUTCAPS woc;
+        // first use WAVE_MAPPER to get the default devices manufacturer ID
+        waveOutGetDevCaps(WAVE_MAPPER, &woc, sizeof(woc));
+        //Use the received manufacturer id to get the device's real name
+        waveOutGetDevCaps(woc.wMid, &woc, sizeof(woc));
+        qDebug() << "output device:" << woc.szPname;
+        deviceName = woc.szPname;
+    }
+    return getNamedAudioDeviceForMode(mode, deviceName);
+#endif
+
 
     // fallback for failed lookup is the default device
     return (mode == QAudio::AudioInput) ? QAudioDeviceInfo::defaultInputDevice() : QAudioDeviceInfo::defaultOutputDevice();
@@ -500,7 +522,7 @@ void Audio::handleAudioInput() {
         if (audioMixer && audioMixer->getActiveSocket()) {
             MyAvatar* interfaceAvatar = Application::getInstance()->getAvatar();
             glm::vec3 headPosition = interfaceAvatar->getHead()->getPosition();
-            glm::quat headOrientation = interfaceAvatar->getHead()->getOrientation();
+            glm::quat headOrientation = interfaceAvatar->getHead()->getTweakedOrientation();
 
             // we need the amount of bytes in the buffer + 1 for type
             // + 12 for 3 floats for position + float for bearing + 1 attenuation byte
@@ -840,7 +862,6 @@ bool Audio::switchOutputToAudioDevice(const QAudioDeviceInfo& outputDeviceInfo)
     // cleanup any previously initialized device
     if (_audioOutput) {
         _audioOutput->stop();
-        disconnect(_outputDevice, 0, 0, 0);
         _outputDevice = NULL;
         
         delete _audioOutput;
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.cpp b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
index 30be26ee96..e1764374ea 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ Menu* Menu::getInstance() {
 const ViewFrustumOffset DEFAULT_FRUSTUM_OFFSET = {-135.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, 25.0f, 0.0f};
 const float DEFAULT_FACESHIFT_EYE_DEFLECTION = 0.25f;
 const float DEFAULT_AVATAR_LOD_DISTANCE_MULTIPLIER = 1.0f;
-const int FIVE_SECONDS_OF_FRAMES = 5 * 60;
+const int ONE_SECOND_OF_FRAMES = 60;
+const int FIVE_SECONDS_OF_FRAMES = 5 * ONE_SECOND_OF_FRAMES;
 
 Menu::Menu() :
     _actionHash(),
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ Menu::Menu() :
     _lastAdjust(usecTimestampNow()),
     _lastAvatarDetailDrop(usecTimestampNow()),
     _fpsAverage(FIVE_SECONDS_OF_FRAMES),
+    _fastFPSAverage(ONE_SECOND_OF_FRAMES),
     _loginAction(NULL)
 {
     Application *appInstance = Application::getInstance();
@@ -391,8 +393,6 @@ void Menu::loadSettings(QSettings* settings) {
     _maxVoxels = loadSetting(settings, "maxVoxels", DEFAULT_MAX_VOXELS_PER_SYSTEM);
     _maxVoxelPacketsPerSecond = loadSetting(settings, "maxVoxelsPPS", DEFAULT_MAX_VOXEL_PPS);
     _voxelSizeScale = loadSetting(settings, "voxelSizeScale", DEFAULT_OCTREE_SIZE_SCALE);
-    _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier = loadSetting(settings, "avatarLODDistanceMultiplier",
-        DEFAULT_AVATAR_LOD_DISTANCE_MULTIPLIER);
     _boundaryLevelAdjust = loadSetting(settings, "boundaryLevelAdjust", 0);
 
     settings->beginGroup("View Frustum Offset Camera");
@@ -432,7 +432,6 @@ void Menu::saveSettings(QSettings* settings) {
     settings->setValue("maxVoxels", _maxVoxels);
     settings->setValue("maxVoxelsPPS", _maxVoxelPacketsPerSecond);
     settings->setValue("voxelSizeScale", _voxelSizeScale);
-    settings->setValue("avatarLODDistanceMultiplier", _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier);
     settings->setValue("boundaryLevelAdjust", _boundaryLevelAdjust);
     settings->beginGroup("View Frustum Offset Camera");
     settings->setValue("viewFrustumOffsetYaw", _viewFrustumOffset.yaw);
@@ -1192,19 +1191,24 @@ void Menu::autoAdjustLOD(float currentFPS) {
         currentFPS = ASSUMED_FPS;
     }
     _fpsAverage.updateAverage(currentFPS);
+    _fastFPSAverage.updateAverage(currentFPS);
 
     quint64 now = usecTimestampNow();
     
-    if (_fpsAverage.getAverage() < ADJUST_LOD_DOWN_FPS) {
-        if (now - _lastAvatarDetailDrop > ADJUST_LOD_DOWN_DELAY) {
+    const quint64 ADJUST_AVATAR_LOD_DOWN_DELAY = 1000 * 1000;
+    if (_fastFPSAverage.getAverage() < ADJUST_LOD_DOWN_FPS) {
+        if (now - _lastAvatarDetailDrop > ADJUST_AVATAR_LOD_DOWN_DELAY) {
             // attempt to lower the detail in proportion to the fps difference
             float targetFps = (ADJUST_LOD_DOWN_FPS + ADJUST_LOD_UP_FPS) * 0.5f;
-            _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier *= (targetFps / _fpsAverage.getAverage()); 
+            float averageFps = _fastFPSAverage.getAverage();
+            const float MAXIMUM_MULTIPLIER_SCALE = 2.0f;
+            _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier *= (averageFps < EPSILON) ? MAXIMUM_MULTIPLIER_SCALE :
+                qMin(MAXIMUM_MULTIPLIER_SCALE, targetFps / averageFps);
             _lastAvatarDetailDrop = now;
         }
-    } else if (_fpsAverage.getAverage() > ADJUST_LOD_UP_FPS) {
+    } else if (_fastFPSAverage.getAverage() > ADJUST_LOD_UP_FPS) {
         // let the detail level creep slowly upwards
-        const float DISTANCE_DECREASE_RATE = 0.01f;
+        const float DISTANCE_DECREASE_RATE = 0.02f;
         const float MINIMUM_DISTANCE_MULTIPLIER = 0.1f;
         _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier = qMax(MINIMUM_DISTANCE_MULTIPLIER,
             _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier - DISTANCE_DECREASE_RATE);
@@ -1245,6 +1249,12 @@ void Menu::autoAdjustLOD(float currentFPS) {
     }
 }
 
+void Menu::resetLODAdjust() {
+    _fpsAverage.reset();
+    _fastFPSAverage.reset();
+    _lastAvatarDetailDrop = _lastAdjust = usecTimestampNow();
+}
+
 void Menu::setVoxelSizeScale(float sizeScale) {
     _voxelSizeScale = sizeScale;
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.h b/interface/src/Menu.h
index 9452ba220d..6b41430eaf 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.h
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.h
@@ -66,8 +66,6 @@ public:
     static Menu* getInstance();
     ~Menu();
 
-    bool isOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption);
-    void setIsOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption, bool isChecked);
     void triggerOption(const QString& menuOption);
     QAction* getActionForOption(const QString& menuOption);
 
@@ -87,6 +85,7 @@ public:
     // User Tweakable LOD Items
     QString getLODFeedbackText();
     void autoAdjustLOD(float currentFPS);
+    void resetLODAdjust();
     void setVoxelSizeScale(float sizeScale);
     float getVoxelSizeScale() const { return _voxelSizeScale; }
     float getAvatarLODDistanceMultiplier() const { return _avatarLODDistanceMultiplier; }
@@ -133,6 +132,8 @@ public slots:
     void removeSeparator(const QString& menuName, const QString& separatorName);
     void addMenuItem(const MenuItemProperties& properties);
     void removeMenuItem(const QString& menuName, const QString& menuitem);
+    bool isOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption);
+    void setIsOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption, bool isChecked);
 
 private slots:
     void aboutApp();
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ private:
     quint64 _lastAdjust;
     quint64 _lastAvatarDetailDrop;
     SimpleMovingAverage _fpsAverage;
+    SimpleMovingAverage _fastFPSAverage;
     QAction* _loginAction;
     QAction* _chatAction;
 };
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
index de9b33d9c7..94e1416e68 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Avatar.cpp
@@ -397,9 +397,13 @@ void Avatar::renderDisplayName() {
     
     glPushMatrix();
     glm::vec3 textPosition;
-    getSkeletonModel().getNeckPosition(textPosition);
-    textPosition += getBodyUpDirection() * getHeadHeight() * 1.1f;
-
+    if (getSkeletonModel().getNeckPosition(textPosition)) {
+        textPosition += getBodyUpDirection() * getHeadHeight() * 1.1f;
+    } else {    
+        const float HEAD_PROPORTION = 0.75f;
+        textPosition = _position + getBodyUpDirection() * (getBillboardSize() * HEAD_PROPORTION); 
+    }
+    
     glTranslatef(textPosition.x, textPosition.y, textPosition.z); 
 
     // we need "always facing camera": we must remove the camera rotation from the stack
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
index b1265a1e51..fc18eed885 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Head.cpp
@@ -55,9 +55,6 @@ void Head::reset() {
     _faceModel.reset();
 }
 
-
-
-
 void Head::simulate(float deltaTime, bool isMine, bool billboard) {
     
     //  Update audio trailing average for rendering facial animations
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
index 618cda1199..350b4fb2be 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/MyAvatar.cpp
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ void MyAvatar::reset() {
     // TODO? resurrect headMouse stuff?
     //_headMouseX = _glWidget->width() / 2;
     //_headMouseY = _glWidget->height() / 2;
+    _skeletonModel.reset();
     getHead()->reset();
     getHand()->reset();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/FBXReader.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/FBXReader.cpp
index 53f4e04b0b..6846f79825 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/FBXReader.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/FBXReader.cpp
@@ -1259,7 +1259,13 @@ FBXGeometry extractFBXGeometry(const FBXNode& node, const QVariantHash& mapping)
         remainingModels.insert(model.key());
     }
     while (!remainingModels.isEmpty()) {
-        QString topID = getTopModelID(parentMap, models, *remainingModels.constBegin());
+        QString first = *remainingModels.constBegin();
+        foreach (const QString& id, remainingModels) {
+            if (id < first) {
+                first = id;
+            }
+        }
+        QString topID = getTopModelID(parentMap, models, first);
         appendModelIDs(parentMap.value(topID), childMap, models, remainingModels, modelIDs);
     }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
index df5560a4b1..36ac6bec99 100644
--- a/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/renderer/Model.cpp
@@ -130,9 +130,16 @@ void Model::init() {
 }
 
 void Model::reset() {
+    if (_jointStates.isEmpty()) {
+        return;
+    }
     foreach (Model* attachment, _attachments) {
         attachment->reset();
     }
+    const FBXGeometry& geometry = _geometry->getFBXGeometry();
+    for (int i = 0; i < _jointStates.size(); i++) {
+        _jointStates[i].rotation = geometry.joints.at(i).rotation;
+    }
 }
 
 void Model::clearShapes() {
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/MenuScriptingInterface.cpp b/interface/src/scripting/MenuScriptingInterface.cpp
index ccb3fe5eb9..4f9003b288 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/MenuScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/MenuScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -65,9 +65,15 @@ void MenuScriptingInterface::removeMenuItem(const QString& menu, const QString&
 };
 
 bool MenuScriptingInterface::isOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption) {
-    return Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(menuOption);
+    bool result;
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Menu::getInstance(), "isOptionChecked", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                Q_RETURN_ARG(bool, result), 
+                Q_ARG(const QString&, menuOption));
+    return result;
 }
 
 void MenuScriptingInterface::setIsOptionChecked(const QString& menuOption, bool isChecked) {
-    return Menu::getInstance()->setIsOptionChecked(menuOption, isChecked);
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Menu::getInstance(), "setIsOptionChecked", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                Q_ARG(const QString&, menuOption),
+                Q_ARG(bool, isChecked));
 }
diff --git a/interface/src/voxels/VoxelSystem.cpp b/interface/src/voxels/VoxelSystem.cpp
index 4db5af3c04..5c68485436 100644
--- a/interface/src/voxels/VoxelSystem.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/voxels/VoxelSystem.cpp
@@ -506,8 +506,10 @@ void VoxelSystem::initVoxelMemory() {
             _perlinModulateProgram.setUniformValue("permutationNormalTexture", 0);
             _perlinModulateProgram.release();
 
-            _shadowMapProgram.addShaderFromSourceFile(QGLShader::Fragment, Application::resourcesPath()
-                                                      + "shaders/shadow_map.frag");
+            _shadowMapProgram.addShaderFromSourceFile(QGLShader::Vertex,
+                Application::resourcesPath() + "shaders/shadow_map.vert");
+            _shadowMapProgram.addShaderFromSourceFile(QGLShader::Fragment,
+                Application::resourcesPath() + "shaders/shadow_map.frag");
             _shadowMapProgram.link();
 
             _shadowMapProgram.bind();
@@ -1471,10 +1473,6 @@ void VoxelSystem::applyScaleAndBindProgram(bool texture) {
     if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Shadows)) {
         _shadowMapProgram.bind();
         glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, Application::getInstance()->getTextureCache()->getShadowDepthTextureID());
-        glEnable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_S);
-        glEnable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_T);
-        glEnable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_R);
-        glEnable(GL_TEXTURE_2D);
 
         glTexGenfv(GL_S, GL_EYE_PLANE, (const GLfloat*)&Application::getInstance()->getShadowMatrix()[0]);
         glTexGenfv(GL_T, GL_EYE_PLANE, (const GLfloat*)&Application::getInstance()->getShadowMatrix()[1]);
@@ -1496,10 +1494,7 @@ void VoxelSystem::removeScaleAndReleaseProgram(bool texture) {
     if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Shadows)) {
         _shadowMapProgram.release();
         glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0);
-        glDisable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_S);
-        glDisable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_T);
-        glDisable(GL_TEXTURE_GEN_R);
-        glDisable(GL_TEXTURE_2D);
+        
 
     } else if (texture) {
         _perlinModulateProgram.release();
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
index cdc4f419c0..7697338a28 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ quint64 OctreeElement::_externalChildrenMemoryUsage = 0;
 quint64 OctreeElement::_voxelNodeCount = 0;
 quint64 OctreeElement::_voxelNodeLeafCount = 0;
 
+void OctreeElement::resetPopulationStatistics() {
+    _voxelNodeCount = 0;
+    _voxelNodeLeafCount = 0;
+}
+
 OctreeElement::OctreeElement() {
     // Note: you must call init() from your subclass, otherwise the OctreeElement will not be properly
     // initialized. You will see DEADBEEF in your memory debugger if you have not properly called init()
diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
index ca2fa0b540..a37866bdbe 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.h
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ public:
     static void addUpdateHook(OctreeElementUpdateHook* hook);
     static void removeUpdateHook(OctreeElementUpdateHook* hook);
     
+    static void resetPopulationStatistics();
     static unsigned long getNodeCount() { return _voxelNodeCount; }
     static unsigned long getInternalNodeCount() { return _voxelNodeCount - _voxelNodeLeafCount; }
     static unsigned long getLeafNodeCount() { return _voxelNodeLeafCount; }
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
index c0834aad9d..1f1eab6baf 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/src/ScriptEngine.cpp
@@ -463,7 +463,6 @@ void ScriptEngine::timerFired() {
     
     if (!callingTimer->isActive()) {
         // this timer is done, we can kill it
-        qDebug() << "Deleting a single shot timer";
         delete callingTimer;
     }
 }
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.cpp
index 6eb6eb77d8..761ea40d55 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.cpp
@@ -358,18 +358,19 @@ int NodeList::findNodeAndUpdateWithDataFromPacket(const QByteArray& packet) {
 }
 
 SharedNodePointer NodeList::nodeWithUUID(const QUuid& nodeUUID, bool blockingLock) {
+    const int WAIT_TIME = 10; // wait up to 10ms in the try lock case
     SharedNodePointer node;
     // if caller wants us to block and guarantee the correct answer, then honor that request
     if (blockingLock) {
         // this will block till we can get access
         QMutexLocker locker(&_nodeHashMutex);
         node = _nodeHash.value(nodeUUID);
-    } else if (_nodeHashMutex.tryLock()) { // some callers are willing to get wrong answers but not block
+    } else if (_nodeHashMutex.tryLock(WAIT_TIME)) { // some callers are willing to get wrong answers but not block
         node = _nodeHash.value(nodeUUID);
         _nodeHashMutex.unlock();
     }
     return node;
-}
+ }
 
 SharedNodePointer NodeList::sendingNodeForPacket(const QByteArray& packet) {
     QUuid nodeUUID = uuidFromPacketHeader(packet);
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.h b/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.h
index 0a59537a46..d05d6a2fbc 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/NodeList.h
@@ -103,7 +103,6 @@ public:
     QByteArray constructPingReplyPacket(const QByteArray& pingPacket);
     void pingPublicAndLocalSocketsForInactiveNode(const SharedNodePointer& node);
 
-    /// passing false for blockingLock, will tryLock, and may return NULL when a node with the UUID actually does exist
     SharedNodePointer nodeWithUUID(const QUuid& nodeUUID, bool blockingLock = true);
     SharedNodePointer sendingNodeForPacket(const QByteArray& packet);
     
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index 6cca856b78..c7858e6e20 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -63,10 +63,12 @@ void ResourceCache::attemptRequest(Resource* resource) {
         return;
     }
     _requestLimit--;
+    _loadingRequests.append(resource);
     resource->makeRequest();
 }
 
-void ResourceCache::requestCompleted() {
+void ResourceCache::requestCompleted(Resource* resource) {
+    _loadingRequests.removeOne(resource);
     _requestLimit++;
     
     // look for the highest priority pending request
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ const int DEFAULT_REQUEST_LIMIT = 10;
 int ResourceCache::_requestLimit = DEFAULT_REQUEST_LIMIT;
 
 QList<QPointer<Resource> > ResourceCache::_pendingRequests;
+QList<Resource*> ResourceCache::_loadingRequests;
 
 Resource::Resource(const QUrl& url, bool delayLoad) :
     _url(url),
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ Resource::Resource(const QUrl& url, bool delayLoad) :
 
 Resource::~Resource() {
     if (_reply) {
-        ResourceCache::requestCompleted();
+        ResourceCache::requestCompleted(this);
         delete _reply;
     }
 }
@@ -215,7 +218,7 @@ void Resource::handleDownloadProgress(qint64 bytesReceived, qint64 bytesTotal) {
     _replyTimer->disconnect(this);
     _replyTimer->deleteLater();
     _replyTimer = NULL;
-    ResourceCache::requestCompleted();
+    ResourceCache::requestCompleted(this);
     
     downloadFinished(reply);
 }
@@ -250,7 +253,7 @@ void Resource::handleReplyError(QNetworkReply::NetworkError error, QDebug debug)
     _replyTimer->disconnect(this);
     _replyTimer->deleteLater();
     _replyTimer = NULL;
-    ResourceCache::requestCompleted();
+    ResourceCache::requestCompleted(this);
     
     // retry for certain types of failures
     switch (error) {
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.h b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.h
index a544f43731..2fcda0bb98 100644
--- a/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.h
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/ResourceCache.h
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@ public:
     static void setRequestLimit(int limit) { _requestLimit = limit; }
     static int getRequestLimit() { return _requestLimit; }
 
+    static const QList<Resource*>& getLoadingRequests() { return _loadingRequests; }
+
+    static int getPendingRequestCount() { return _pendingRequests.size(); }
+
     ResourceCache(QObject* parent = NULL);
     virtual ~ResourceCache();
 
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ protected:
     void addUnusedResource(const QSharedPointer<Resource>& resource);
     
     static void attemptRequest(Resource* resource);
-    static void requestCompleted();
+    static void requestCompleted(Resource* resource);
 
 private:
     
@@ -70,6 +74,7 @@ private:
     static QNetworkAccessManager* _networkAccessManager;
     static int _requestLimit;
     static QList<QPointer<Resource> > _pendingRequests;
+    static QList<Resource*> _loadingRequests;
 };
 
 /// Base class for resources.
@@ -102,6 +107,15 @@ public:
     /// Checks whether the resource has loaded.
     bool isLoaded() const { return _loaded; }
 
+    /// For loading resources, returns the number of bytes received.
+    qint64 getBytesReceived() const { return _bytesReceived; }
+    
+    /// For loading resources, returns the number of total bytes (or zero if unknown).
+    qint64 getBytesTotal() const { return _bytesTotal; }
+
+    /// For loading resources, returns the load progress.
+    float getProgress() const { return (_bytesTotal == 0) ? 0.0f : (float)_bytesReceived / _bytesTotal; }
+
     void setSelf(const QWeakPointer<Resource>& self) { _self = self; }
 
     void setCache(ResourceCache* cache) { _cache = cache; }
@@ -152,6 +166,7 @@ private:
     int _lruKey;
     QNetworkReply* _reply;
     QTimer* _replyTimer;
+    int _index;
     qint64 _bytesReceived;
     qint64 _bytesTotal;
     int _attempts;