diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d0b71a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+build
+dist
diff --git a/README b/README
index 9d5b1ec..b403d80 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -6,4 +6,8 @@ client programs to join.
 When running as the server a local client is created to connect to it.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Code in this project is licensed under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
-http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt
\ No newline at end of file
+http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.txt
+
+Written by Chris Hallson and originally found here: https://github.com/DrLabman/JavaChat
+Only slight modification to suit my environment.  And handle one exception (could not run
+without whatismyip.com).
diff --git a/src/javachat/network/util/IPUtil.java b/src/javachat/network/util/IPUtil.java
index 2545011..09ddd0e 100644
--- a/src/javachat/network/util/IPUtil.java
+++ b/src/javachat/network/util/IPUtil.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public static String getExternalIPAddress(){
 			return in.readLine(); //you get the IP as a String
 		} catch (IOException ex) {
 		} finally {
-			try { in.close(); } catch (IOException ex) {}
+			try { in.close(); } catch (Exception ex) {}
 		}
 		return null;
 	}
diff --git a/start-chat.sh b/start-chat.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e37e89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/start-chat.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+#
+
+## make sure JavaChat is ready
+if [ -z "$CHAT_HOME" ]
+then
+  CHAT_HOME=`dirname $0`
+fi
+
+if [ ! -f $CHAT_HOME/dist/JavaChat.jar ]
+then
+  echo 'ERROR: JavaChat library not found (project not built?)' 1>&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+## configure java cmdline for JavaChat
+
+# classpath + no other jvm options + main class
+if [ -z "$CLASSPATH" ]
+then
+  CLASSPATH="$CHAT_HOME/dist/JavaChat.jar:$CHAT_HOME/lib/*"
+else
+  CLASSPATH="$CHAT_HOME/dist/JavaChat.jar:$CHAT_HOME/lib/*:$CLASSPATH"
+fi
+CHAT_OPTS=
+CHAT_ARGS=javachat.JavaChat
+
+#### include gumshoe?
+
+if [ "x$1" = x--gumshoe ]
+then
+  ## make sure gumshoe is ready
+  if [ -z "$GUMSHOE_HOME" ]
+  then
+    echo ERROR: GUMSHOE_HOME environment variable is not set 1>&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+  if [ ! -f $GUMSHOE_HOME/gumshoe-probes/target/gumshoe-probes-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar -o \
+       ! -f $GUMSHOE_HOME/gumshoe-tools/target/gumshoe-tools-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar  ]
+  then
+    echo 'ERROR: gumshoe libraries not found (GUMSHOE_HOME wrong value or project not built?)' 1>&2
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  ## update java cmdline for gumshoe
+
+  # add gumshoe probe (data collection/filtering) and tool (gui) libs to classpath
+  CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH:$GUMSHOE_HOME/gumshoe-probes/target/gumshoe-probes-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar"
+  CLASSPATH="$CLASSPATH:$GUMSHOE_HOME/gumshoe-tools/target/gumshoe-tools-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar"
+  # add tiny hook to JVM
+  CHAT_OPTS="$CHAT_OPTS -Xbootclasspath/p:$GUMSHOE_HOME/gumshoe-hooks/target/gumshoe-hooks-0.1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar"
+  # makes a better demo if we report faster (30s) and don't trim the stack
+  CHAT_OPTS="$CHAT_OPTS -Dgumshoe.socket-io.period=30000"
+  CHAT_OPTS="$CHAT_OPTS -Dgumshoe.socket-io.exclude="
+  # gumshoe becomes "main"
+  CHAT_ARGS="com.dell.gumshoe.tools.Gumshoe $CHAT_ARGS"
+fi
+
+## run it
+java -classpath "$CLASSPATH" $CHAT_OPTS $CHAT_ARGS