diff --git a/xwords4/linux/linuxutl.c b/xwords4/linux/linuxutl.c
index 3f3cc6906..dd9e87f9b 100644
--- a/xwords4/linux/linuxutl.c
+++ b/xwords4/linux/linuxutl.c
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ linux_debugf( const char* format, ... )
     gettimeofday( &tv, &tz );
     timp = localtime( &tv.tv_sec );
 
-    size_t len = snprintf( buf, sizeof(buf), "<%d>%.2d:%.2d:%.2d:", getpid(), 
-                           timp->tm_hour, timp->tm_min, timp->tm_sec );
+    size_t len = snprintf( buf, sizeof(buf), "<%d:%lu>%.2d:%.2d:%.2d:", getpid(),
+                           pthread_self(), timp->tm_hour, timp->tm_min, timp->tm_sec );
     XP_ASSERT( len < sizeof(buf) );
 
     va_start(ap, format);
diff --git a/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh b/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..68175be81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xwords4/linux/scripts/start-pair.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+set -e -u
+
+DB_TMPLATE=_cursesdb_
+LOG_TMPLATE=_curseslog_
+ROOM_TMPLATE=cursesRoom
+
+echo "delete from msgs;" | psql xwgames
+echo "delete from games where room like '$ROOM_TMPLATE%';" | psql xwgames
+
+rm -f ${DB_TMPLATE}*.sqldb
+rm -f ${LOG_TMPLATE}*
+
+PIDS=''
+for GAME in $(seq 1); do
+	ROOM=${ROOM_TMPLATE}${GAME}
+	# for N in $(seq 2); do
+	for N in $(seq 1); do
+		DB=$DB_TMPLATE${GAME}_${N}.sqldb
+		LOG=$LOG_TMPLATE${GAME}_${N}.log
+		exec ./obj_linux_memdbg/xwords --server --curses --remote-player --name Player \
+			 --room $ROOM --game-dict dict.xwd \
+			 --skip-confirm --db $DB --close-stdin --server \
+			 >/dev/null 2>>$LOG &
+		PIDS="$PIDS $!"
+	done
+done
+echo "launched $PIDS"
+
+#			 --use-http \
+
+sleep 10
+
+for PID in $PIDS; do
+	kill $PID
+done