diff --git a/dr1p1m4g3.py b/dr1p1m4g3.py
index 7d986f7..25c57d5 100644
--- a/dr1p1m4g3.py
+++ b/dr1p1m4g3.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ####################################################################################################################################### SOF
+import curses
 import os
 import shutil
 import sys
 from curses import (A_REVERSE, KEY_DOWN, KEY_ENTER, KEY_LEFT, KEY_RIGHT,
                     KEY_UP, ascii, wrapper)
-import curses
 from imghdr import what as is_file_an_image
 from os import chdir, listdir, path
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -16,6 +16,66 @@ from tkinter.filedialog import askopenfile
 
 from PIL import Image, ImageTk
 
+SHOWHELP=True
+
+MOTD=[0,1]
+MOTD[0]=f"""hotkeys:
+  m: shuffle on/off
+  p: autopump on/off
+  r: cycle image-rendering modes
+  t: display text on/off
+  up: increase autopump inverval
+  down: decrease autopump interval
+  left: change image
+  right: change image
+  s: move image to _keep direcotry
+  d: move image to _drop directory
+  q: quit program
+
+Change SHOWHELP=True to SHOWHELP=False to remove this message.  
+"""
+MOTD[1]=f"""base_picture_directory:
+  ??: the directory you want to load images from
+  string: path
+  e.g. /home/user/Pictures
+  
+starting_index:
+  ??: index number you want to start from
+  integer: index
+  e.g. 3
+  
+rendering mode:
+  ??: the rendering mode you want to use to start
+  integer: index
+  0: image y screen-constrained - scales the image to the height of the screen
+  1: image x screen-constrained - scales the image to the width of the screen
+  2: image x,y screen-constrained - scales the image to the height,width of the screen
+  3: image x,y image-thumbnail - scales image within screen-resolution
+  4: image original - displays image at normal scale
+  e.g. 3
+
+pump_mode:
+  ??: this changes images automatically
+  integer: boolean
+  0: off
+  1: on
+  e.g. 1
+
+pump_interval:
+  ??: the interval in seconds between pictures changing automatically
+  float: value
+  e.g. 3.5
+
+shuffle:
+  ??: randomize order that images are loaded
+  integer: boolean
+  e.g. 1
+
+Change SHOWHELP=True to SHOWHELP=False to remove this message.
+
+command line: 
+  usage: {sys.argv[0]} base_picture_directory_path starting_index rendering_mode pump_mode pump_interval shuffle
+"""
 
 ###########################################################################################################################################
 class DR1P1M4G3():
@@ -332,30 +392,31 @@ def main(screen):
     curses.init_pair(4,3,0)
     
     ch, first, selected, paths = 0, 0, 0, [ x for x in listdir() if os.path.isdir(x) ]
-
     screen.erase()
-    try:
-      screen.addstr(0,0,'SELECT A BASE DIRECTORY',curses.color_pair(2))
-      screen.addstr(': ',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr('<< ',curses.color_pair(4))
-      screen.addstr('LEFT',curses.color_pair(3))
-      screen.addstr('/',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr('RIGHT',curses.color_pair(3))
-      screen.addstr('/',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr('ENTER',curses.color_pair(3))
-      screen.addstr(' >>',curses.color_pair(4))
-      screen.addstr(1,0,'[ ',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr("THE CURRENT DIRECTORY",curses.color_pair(2))
-      screen.addstr(': ',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr(f"{os.getcwd()}",curses.color_pair(3))
-      screen.addstr(' ]',curses.color_pair(1))
-      screen.addstr(2,0,'',curses.color_pair(1))
+    
+    if SHOWHELP:
+      try:
+        screen.addstr(0,0,'SELECT A BASE DIRECTORY',curses.color_pair(2))
+        screen.addstr(': ',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr('<< ',curses.color_pair(4))
+        screen.addstr('LEFT',curses.color_pair(3))
+        screen.addstr('/',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr('RIGHT',curses.color_pair(3))
+        screen.addstr('/',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr('ENTER',curses.color_pair(3))
+        screen.addstr(' >>',curses.color_pair(4))
+        screen.addstr(1,0,'[ ',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr("THE CURRENT DIRECTORY",curses.color_pair(2))
+        screen.addstr(': ',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr(f"{os.getcwd()}",curses.color_pair(3))
+        screen.addstr(' ]',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr(2,0,'',curses.color_pair(1))
+        screen.addstr(3,0,'Change SHOWHELP=True to SHOWHELP=False to remove this message.',curses.color_pair(3))
+      except Exception as e:
+        pass
 
-    except Exception as e:
-      pass
-
-    screen.refresh()
-    sleep(3)
+      screen.refresh()
+      sleep(6)
 
     while ch != ascii.ESC:
         height, _ = screen.getmaxyx()
@@ -387,12 +448,17 @@ def main(screen):
 ###########################################################################################################################################
 if __name__=="__main__":
   #########################################################################################################################################
-  
+  if SHOWHELP:
+    print(MOTD[0])
+    print('press enter key to continue')
+    input()
+    print(MOTD[1])
+    print('press enter key to continue')
+    input()
   #########################################################################################################################################  
-  DEBUG=True
+  DEBUG=False
   if DEBUG:
     USERPATH=str(wrapper(main))
-    
     IMGINDEX=int(0)
     RENDMODE=int(0)
     PUMPMODE=int(1)
@@ -417,7 +483,7 @@ if __name__=="__main__":
   if not DEBUG:
     try:
       IMGINDEX=int(sys.argv[2])
-      print(f'[ specified user inded: {IMGINDEX} ]')
+      print(f'[ specified user index: {IMGINDEX} ]')
     except:
       IMGINDEX=0
       print(f'[ no image index was specificed: defaulting to 0 ]')