diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 39b66e8..744a8f7 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ RUN node /opt/conda/lib/python3.6/site-packages/jupyterlab/staging/yarn.js insta
 RUN jupyter labextension install @yunabe/lgo_extension
 RUN jupyter labextension install @pyviz/jupyterlab_pyviz
 ADD .zshrc $HOME/.zshrc
+ADD .spacemacs-good $HOME/.spacemacs
 
 # install aws
 RUN pip install awscli --upgrade --user
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2a984d7..59cd6cd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -35,16 +35,22 @@ docker run \
 -v "$HOME/src:/home/jovyan/src" \
 aaronaddleman/jupyterlabs:latest
 #
-# or if you want to mount everything (and you might...not want to type the secret everytime...)
-# 
+#
+# or set your home dir to something you like
+#
+NB_USER=$1
+IMAGE=$2
+PORT=${3:=8888}
+
 docker run \
--p 8888:8888 \
+--user root \
+-p $PORT:8888 \
+-e NB_USER=$NB_USER \
+-e SHELL=/usr/bin/zsh \
 -e JUPYTER_ENABLE_LAB=yes \
 -e USE_SSL=yes \
 -e GEN_CERT=yes \
--v "$HOME/src:/home/jovyan/src" \
--v "$PWD/jupyter_work:/home/jovyan/work" \
--v "$PWD/jupyter_local:/home/jovyan/.local" \
+-e GRANT_SUDO=yes
 aaronaddleman/jupyterlabs:latest
 ```
 
diff --git a/scripts/ops.sh b/scripts/ops.sh
index 230e56b..d59ae48 100644
--- a/scripts/ops.sh
+++ b/scripts/ops.sh
@@ -101,8 +101,13 @@ git config --global credential.helper cache
 export EDITOR=vi
 
 # set permissions for .emacs.d and .spacemacs
-sudo chown -R "$USER":users $HOME/.emacs.d
-sudo chown -R "$USER":users $HOME/.spacemacs
+if [ -d $HOME/.emacs.d ]; then
+  sudo chown -R "$USER":users $HOME/.emacs.d
+fi
+
+if [ -f $HOME/.spacemacs ]; then
+  sudo chown -R "$USER":users $HOME/.spacemacs
+fi
 
 # set things for vault
 export VAULT_LOGIN_METHOD=ldap
@@ -123,3 +128,7 @@ if [ -f /data/resources/git/commit-message.txt ]; then
   git config --global commit.template /data/resources/git/commit-message.txt
 fi
 
+# install spacemacs if missing
+if [ ! -d ~/.emacs.d ]; then
+    git clone https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs ~/.emacs.d
+fi