diff --git a/bin/core.py b/bin/core.py
index 3eb7f62..6642796 100644
--- a/bin/core.py
+++ b/bin/core.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
 
 import os
+import chatter
 
 SOURCE = os.path.join("/home", "endorphant", "projects", "ttbp", "bin")
 USER = os.path.basename(os.path.expanduser("~"))
@@ -11,6 +12,10 @@ WWW = os.path.join(PATH, "www")
 CONFIG = os.path.join(PATH, "config")
 DATA = os.path.join(PATH, "entries")
 
+HEADER = ""
+FOOTER = ""
+FILES = []
+
 MONTHS = {
         "01":"january",
         "02":"february",
@@ -26,20 +31,21 @@ MONTHS = {
         "12":"december"
     }
 
-HEADER = open(os.path.join(CONFIG, "header.txt")).read()
-FOOTER = open(os.path.join(CONFIG, "footer.txt")).read()
+def load():
+    global FILES
+    global HEADER
+    global FOOTER
 
-FILES = []
+    HEADER = open(os.path.join(CONFIG, "header.txt")).read()
+    FOOTER = open(os.path.join(CONFIG, "footer.txt")).read()
 
-for file in os.listdir(DATA):
-    filename = os.path.join(DATA, file)
-    if os.path.isfile(filename) and os.path.splitext(filename)[1] == ".txt":
-        FILES.append(file)
-        #print(file)
+    for file in os.listdir(DATA):
+        filename = os.path.join(DATA, file)
+        if os.path.isfile(filename) and os.path.splitext(filename)[1] == ".txt":
+            FILES.append(file)
 
-FILES.sort()
-FILES.reverse()
-#print("found: "+str(FILES))
+    FILES.sort()
+    FILES.reverse()
 
 def write(outurl="default.html"):
     outfile = open(os.path.join(WWW, outurl), "w")
diff --git a/bin/ttbp.py b/bin/ttbp.py
index 36d4f8b..c967c08 100644
--- a/bin/ttbp.py
+++ b/bin/ttbp.py
@@ -9,23 +9,33 @@ import time
 #import core
 import chatter
 
+## system globals
 SOURCE = os.path.join("/home", "endorphant", "projects", "ttbp", "bin")
+LIVE = "http://tilde.town/~"
+FEEDBACK = os.path.join("/home", "endorphant", "ttbp-mail")
+
+## user globals
 USER = os.path.basename(os.path.expanduser("~"))
 PATH = os.path.join("/home", USER, ".ttbp")
-
-LIVE = "http://tilde.town/~"
 WWW = os.path.join(PATH, "www")
 CONFIG = os.path.join(PATH, "config")
 DATA = os.path.join(PATH, "entries")
+SETTINGS = {
+        "editor":"vim",
+        "publish dir":"blog"
+    }
 
-FEEDBACK = os.path.join("/home", "endorphant", "ttbp-mail")
+## ui globals
 BANNER = open(os.path.join(SOURCE, "config", "banner.txt")).read()
-#CLOSER = "\n\tsee you later, space cowboy..."
-
 SPACER = "\n\n\n"
 INVALID = "please pick a number from the list of options!\n\n"
 DUST = "sorry about the dust, but this part is still under construction. check back later!\n\n"
 
+## ref
+
+EDITORS = ["vim", "vi", "emacs", "pico", "nano"]
+SUBJECTS = ["bug report", "feature suggestion", "general comment"]
+
 ##
 
 def redraw(leftover=""):
@@ -46,10 +56,10 @@ def start():
     redraw()
     print(main_menu())
   except ValueError or SyntaxError:
-    redraw("\n\noh no i didn't understand that")
+    redraw("oh no i didn't understand that. let's go home and start over.")
     print(main_menu())
   except KeyboardInterrupt:
-    redraw("\n\neject button fired")
+    redraw("eject button fired! going home now.")
     print(main_menu())
 
 def stop():
@@ -57,7 +67,15 @@ def stop():
 
 def check_init():
   if os.path.exists(os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"),".ttbp")):
-      raw_input("welcome back, "+USER+".\n\npress enter to explore your feelings.\n\n")
+      print("welcome back, "+USER+".")
+      if not os.path.isfile(os.path.join(CONFIG, "ttbprc")):
+          print("\nyour ttbp configuration doesn't look right. let's make you a fresh copy.\n\n")
+          try:
+              setup()
+          except KeyboardInterrupt:
+              print("\n\nsorry, trying again.\n\n")
+              setup()
+      raw_input("\n\npress enter to explore your feelings.\n\n")
       return ""
   else:
     return init()
@@ -66,6 +84,46 @@ def init():
     raw_input("i don't recognize you, stranger. let's make friends someday.\n\npress enter to explore some options.\n\n")
     return ""
 
+def setup():
+    global SETTINGS
+
+    # editor selection
+    print_menu(EDITORS)
+    choice = raw_input("\npick your favorite text editor: ")
+    while choice  not in ['0', '1', '2', '3', '4']:
+        choice = raw_input("\nplease pick a number from the list: ")
+
+    SETTINGS["editor"] = EDITORS[int(choice)]
+    print("\ntext editor set to >"+SETTINGS["editor"])
+
+    # publish directory selection
+    choice = raw_input("\n\nwhere do you want your blog published? (leave blank to use default \"blog\") ")
+    if not choice:
+        choice = "blog"
+
+    publishing = os.path.join("/home", USER, "public_html", choice)
+    while os.path.exists(publishing):
+        second = raw_input("\n"+publishing+" already exists!\nif you're sure you want to use it, hit <enter> to confirm. otherwise, pick another location: ")
+        if second == "":
+            break
+        choice = second
+        publishing = os.path.join("/home", USER, "public_html", choice)
+
+    SETTINGS["publish dir"] = choice
+    
+    # set up publish directory
+    if not os.path.exists(publishing):
+        subprocess.call(["mkdir", publishing])
+        subprocess.call(["touch", os.path.join(publishing, "index.html")])
+        index = open(os.path.join(publishing, "index.html"), "w")
+        index.write("<h1>ttbp blog placeholder</h1>")
+        index.close()
+    subprocess.call(["rm", WWW])
+    subprocess.call(["ln", "-s", publishing, WWW])
+    print("\npublishing to "+LIVE+USER+"/"+SETTINGS["publish dir"]+"/\n\n")
+
+    return SETTINGS
+
 ## menus
 
 def print_menu(menu):
@@ -83,21 +141,34 @@ def main_menu():
     #os.system("clear")
     #print(BANNER)
     #redraw()
-    menuOptions = ["record feelings", "check out neighbors","send feedback"]
+    menuOptions = [
+            "record feelings", 
+            "check out neighbors",
+            "change settings",
+            "send feedback",
+            "see credits"]
     #print(SPACER)
     print("you're at ttbp home now. remember, you can always press ctrl-c to come back here.\n\n")
     print_menu(menuOptions)
     #print("how are you feeling today? ")
 
-    choice = raw_input("\ntell me about your feels (enter 'none' to quit): ")
+    try:
+        choice = raw_input("\ntell me about your feels (enter 'none' to quit): ")
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
+        redraw("eject button fired! going home now.")
+        return main_menu()
 
     if choice == '0':
         redraw(DUST)
     elif choice == '1':
         redraw(DUST)
     elif choice == '2':
+        redraw(DUST)
+    elif choice == '3':
         redraw()
         feedback_menu()
+    elif choice == '4':
+        redraw(DUST)
     elif choice == "none":
         return stop()
     else:
@@ -107,14 +178,13 @@ def main_menu():
 
 def feedback_menu():
     print("you're about to send mail to ~endorphant about ttbp\n\n")
-    menuOptions = ["bug report", "feature suggestion", "general comment"]
 
-    print_menu(menuOptions)
+    print_menu(SUBJECTS)
     choice = raw_input("\npick a category for your feedback: ")
 
     cat = ""
     if choice in ['0', '1', '2']:
-        cat = menuOptions[int(choice)]
+        cat = SUBJECTS[int(choice)]
         raw_input("\ncomposing a "+cat+" to ~endorphant.\n\npress enter to open an external text editor. mail will be sent once you save and quit.\n")
         redraw(send_feedback(cat))
         return
@@ -127,7 +197,7 @@ def feedback_menu():
 
 def write_entry(entry=os.path.join(DATA, "test.txt")):
 
-    subprocess.call(["vim", entry])
+    subprocess.call([SETTINGS["editor"], entry])
     return "wrote to "+entry
 
 def send_feedback(subject="none", mailbox=os.path.join(FEEDBACK, USER+"-"+str(int(time.time()))+".msg")):
@@ -135,7 +205,7 @@ def send_feedback(subject="none", mailbox=os.path.join(FEEDBACK, USER+"-"+str(in
     mail = ""
 
     temp = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile()
-    subprocess.call(['vim', temp.name])
+    subprocess.call([SETTINGS["editor"], temp.name])
     mail = open(temp.name, 'r').read()
 
     outfile = open(mailbox, 'w')