diff --git a/Makefile.help b/Makefile.help
index ca0c9ef..c64a2dc 100644
--- a/Makefile.help
+++ b/Makefile.help
@@ -7,15 +7,11 @@ all:
 log:
 	journalctl -f -xeu zood.service
 
-curl-vms:
-	curl http://localhost:2520/vms
+curl-toggle-PING-output:
+	curl "http://localhost:2521/flag?flag-PING"
 
 curl-kill:
-	curl http://localhost:2520/kill
-
-curl-dumpdomain-coriolis:
-	# information about libvirt domain for vm 'coriolis':
-	curl --silent http://localhost:2520/dumpdomain?domain=coriolis
+	curl http://localhost:2521/kill
 
 status:
 	dpkg -s zood
diff --git a/argv.go b/argv.go
index 9846438..6a25aa0 100644
--- a/argv.go
+++ b/argv.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/dev/alexflint/arg"
+	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
 var argv args
@@ -29,3 +30,18 @@ func (a args) Description() string {
          this daemon talks to zookeeper
 `
 }
+
+var NOW *log.LogFlag
+var INFO *log.LogFlag
+var PING *log.LogFlag
+var WARN *log.LogFlag
+
+func init() {
+	full := "go.wit.com/apps/zood"
+	short := "zood"
+
+	NOW = log.NewFlag("NOW", true, full, short, "useful while doing debugging")
+	INFO = log.NewFlag("INFO", false, full, short, "general zood")
+	PING = log.NewFlag("PING", false, full, short, "show pings to the zookeeper")
+	WARN = log.NewFlag("WARN", true, full, short, "bad things")
+}
diff --git a/distro.go b/distro.go
index e6852b9..0269ea1 100644
--- a/distro.go
+++ b/distro.go
@@ -1,16 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2016 The go-qemu Authors.
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
+// Copyright 2024 WIT.COM Inc.
 
 package main
 
diff --git a/http.go b/http.go
index 6547f74..f97f39c 100644
--- a/http.go
+++ b/http.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	route := cleanURL(r.URL.Path)
 
 	domname := r.URL.Query().Get("domain")
+	flag := r.URL.Query().Get("flag")
 
 	msg, err := ioutil.ReadAll(r.Body) // Read the body as []byte
 	if err != nil {
@@ -54,6 +55,26 @@ func okHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// toggle logging flags
+	if route == "/flag" {
+		log.HttpMode(w)
+		defer log.HttpMode(nil)
+		log.Info("going to toggle flag:", flag)
+		switch flag {
+		case "PING":
+			if PING.Bool() {
+				log.Log(NOW, "toogle PING false")
+				PING.SetBool(false)
+			} else {
+				log.Log(NOW, "toogle PING true")
+				PING.SetBool(true)
+			}
+		default:
+			log.Info("unknown looging flag:", flag)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
 	if route == "/favicon.ico" {
 		writeFile(w, "ipv6.png")
 		return
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index d60f1e0..3b5bbba 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -1,16 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2016 The go-qemu Authors.
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
+// Copyright 2024 WIT.COM Inc.
 
 package main
 
@@ -45,9 +33,11 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	me = new(stuff)
-	me.zookeeper = "zookeeper.wit.com"
+	me.urlbase = "http://zookeeper.grid.wit.com:8080"
+
 	me.hostname, _ = os.Hostname()
 	me.pollDelay = 3 * time.Second
+	me.failcountmax = 20 // die every minute if zookeeper can't be found
 
 	// what OS?
 	me.distro = initDistro()
diff --git a/send.go b/send.go
index 045c625..ca8889b 100644
--- a/send.go
+++ b/send.go
@@ -10,14 +10,9 @@ import (
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
-var urlbase string = "http://zookeeper.grid.wit.com:8080"
-
-func send() {
-}
-
 func pingStatus() error {
 	var url string
-	url = urlbase + "/status?hostname=" + me.hostname
+	url = me.urlbase + "/status?hostname=" + me.hostname
 	msg, err := me.machine.Packages.Marshal()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Info("proto.Marshal() failed:", err)
@@ -45,7 +40,7 @@ func pingStatus() error {
 
 func sendMachine(s string) error {
 	var url string
-	url = urlbase + "/machine"
+	url = me.urlbase + "/machine"
 	msg, err := me.machine.Marshal()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Info("proto.Marshal() failed:", err)
@@ -62,6 +57,7 @@ func sendMachine(s string) error {
 	for _, line := range strings.Split(test, "\n") {
 		if line == "upgrade" {
 			log.Info(s, "zookeeper is healthy", len(msg))
+			me.failcount = 0
 		} else if line == "kill" {
 			os.Exit(0)
 		} else if strings.HasPrefix(line, "apt update") {
@@ -71,7 +67,7 @@ func sendMachine(s string) error {
 			log.Sleep(1)
 			os.Exit(0)
 		} else {
-			log.Info(urlbase, "is maybe not working GOT:", line)
+			log.Info(me.urlbase, "is maybe not working GOT:", line)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index 02e9500..7cb8a8c 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ var me *stuff
 
 // this app's variables
 type stuff struct {
-	hostname  string         // my hostname to send to zookeeper
-	zookeeper string         // the dns name for the zookeeper
-	pollDelay time.Duration  // how often to report our status
-	dog       *time.Ticker   // the watchdog timer
-	distro    string         // debian,redhat,gentoo,macos,wincrap
-	machine   *zoopb.Machine // my protobuf
+	hostname     string         // my hostname to send to zookeeper
+	urlbase      string         // the dns name for the zookeeper
+	pollDelay    time.Duration  // how often to report our status
+	dog          *time.Ticker   // the watchdog timer
+	distro       string         // debian,redhat,gentoo,macos,wincrap
+	machine      *zoopb.Machine // my protobuf
+	failcount    int            // how many times we've failed to contact the zookeeper
+	failcountmax int            // after this, exit and let systemd restart the daemon
 	// packages  *zoopb.Packages // installed packages and versions
 }
diff --git a/watchdog.go b/watchdog.go
index c490143..9db2471 100644
--- a/watchdog.go
+++ b/watchdog.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -32,7 +33,12 @@ func NewWatchdog() {
 			// log.Info("Watchdog() ticked", me.zookeeper, "Current time: ", t)
 			s := updatePackages()
 			// pingStatus()
+			me.failcount += 1
 			sendMachine(s)
+
+			if me.failcount > 20 {
+				os.Exit(0)
+			}
 			// h.pollHypervisor()
 			// h.Scan()
 		}