diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e73b7925
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# Change Log
+All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
+Please keep to the changelog format described on [keepachangelog.com](http://keepachangelog.com).
+This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
+
+## [Unreleased]
+### Added
+- Added a changelog
+
+### Changed
+- Made validation failures raise a `JSON::Schema::SchemaParseError` and data
+  loading failures a `JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError`
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ca5c4d57..1b2df766 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@ The Ruby JSON Schema library is meant to be a community effort, and as such, the
 
 All individuals that have a pull request merged will receive collaborator access to the repository. Due to the restrictions on RubyGems authentication, permissions to release a gem must be requested along with the email desired to be associated with the release credentials.
 
-Accepting changes to the JSON Schema library shall be made through the use of pull requests on GitHub. A pull request must receive at least two (2) "+1" comments from current contributors to the JSON Schema library before being accepted and merged. If a breaking issue and fix exists, please feel free to contact the project maintainer at hoxworth@gmail.com or @hoxworth for faster resolution.
+Accepting changes to the JSON Schema library shall be made through the use of pull requests on GitHub. A pull request must receive at least two (2) "+1" comments from current contributors, and include a relevant changelog entry, before being accepted and merged. If a breaking issue and fix exists, please feel free to contact the project maintainer at hoxworth@gmail.com or @hoxworth for faster resolution.
 
 Releases follow semantic versioning and may be made at a maintainer's discretion.
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date.rb b/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date.rb
index 24b21700..451f6ff1 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ def self.validate(current_schema, data, fragments, processor, validator, options
           if REGEXP.match(data)
             begin
               Date.parse(data)
-            rescue Exception
+            rescue ArgumentError => e
+              raise e unless e.message == 'invalid date'
               validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors])
             end
           else
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date_time.rb b/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date_time.rb
index b1baa15c..01987485 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date_time.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/attributes/formats/date_time.rb
@@ -14,18 +14,16 @@ def self.validate(current_schema, data, fragments, processor, validator, options
 
             begin
               Date.parse(parts[0])
-            rescue Exception
+            rescue ArgumentError => e
+              raise e unless e.message == 'invalid date'
               validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors])
               return
             end
 
-            begin
-              validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[1].to_i > 23
-              validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[2].to_i > 59
-              validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[3].to_i > 59
-            rescue Exception
-              validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors])
-            end
+            validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m.length < 4
+            validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[1].to_i > 23
+            validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[2].to_i > 59
+            validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors]) and return if m[3].to_i > 59
           else
             validation_error(processor, error_message, fragments, current_schema, self, options[:record_errors])
           end
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/attributes/not.rb b/lib/json-schema/attributes/not.rb
index 52729ef3..64fbd6e3 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/attributes/not.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/attributes/not.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def self.validate(current_schema, data, fragments, processor, validator, options
             message = "The property '#{build_fragment(fragments)}' of type #{data.class} matched the disallowed schema"
             failed = false
           end
-        rescue
+        rescue ValidationError
           # Yay, we failed validation.
         end
 
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/errors/json_load_error.rb b/lib/json-schema/errors/json_load_error.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5a74b78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/json-schema/errors/json_load_error.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+module JSON
+  class Schema
+    class JsonLoadError < StandardError
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/errors/schema_parse_error.rb b/lib/json-schema/errors/schema_parse_error.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..afdf84f1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/json-schema/errors/schema_parse_error.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+require 'json/common'
+
+module JSON
+  class Schema
+    class SchemaParseError < JSON::ParserError
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/schema/reader.rb b/lib/json-schema/schema/reader.rb
index 9b13c66b..4121bf99 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/schema/reader.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/schema/reader.rb
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ def initialize(options = {})
       # @param location [#to_s] The location from which to read the schema
       # @return [JSON::Schema]
       # @raise [JSON::Schema::ReadRefused] if +accept_uri+ or +accept_file+
-      #   indicated the schema should not be readed
-      # @raise [JSON::ParserError] if the schema was not a valid JSON object
+      #   indicated the schema could not be read
+      # @raise [JSON::Schema::ParseError] if the schema was not a valid JSON object
       def read(location)
         uri  = Addressable::URI.parse(location.to_s)
         body = if uri.scheme.nil? || uri.scheme == 'file'
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/util/uri.rb b/lib/json-schema/util/uri.rb
index eca9e6ed..951c2ce9 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/util/uri.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/util/uri.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 module JSON
   module Util
     module URI
+      SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS = %w(http https ftp tftp sftp ssh svn+ssh telnet nntp gopher wais ldap prospero)
+
       def self.normalized_uri(uri)
         uri = Addressable::URI.parse(uri) unless uri.is_a?(Addressable::URI)
         # Check for absolute path
diff --git a/lib/json-schema/validator.rb b/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
index c20971b7..0adb1e8d 100644
--- a/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
+++ b/lib/json-schema/validator.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 
 require 'json-schema/schema/reader'
 require 'json-schema/errors/schema_error'
+require 'json-schema/errors/schema_parse_error'
+require 'json-schema/errors/json_load_error'
 require 'json-schema/errors/json_parse_error'
 
 module JSON
@@ -54,17 +56,13 @@ def initialize(schema_data, data, opts={})
 
       # validate the schema, if requested
       if @options[:validate_schema]
-        begin
-          if @base_schema.schema["$schema"]
-            base_validator = JSON::Validator.validator_for_name(@base_schema.schema["$schema"])
-          end
-          metaschema = base_validator ? base_validator.metaschema : validator.metaschema
-          # Don't clear the cache during metaschema validation!
-          meta_validator = JSON::Validator.new(metaschema, @base_schema.schema, {:clear_cache => false})
-          meta_validator.validate
-        rescue JSON::Schema::ValidationError, JSON::Schema::SchemaError
-          raise $!
+        if @base_schema.schema["$schema"]
+          base_validator = JSON::Validator.validator_for_name(@base_schema.schema["$schema"])
         end
+        metaschema = base_validator ? base_validator.metaschema : validator.metaschema
+        # Don't clear the cache during metaschema validation!
+        meta_validator = JSON::Validator.new(metaschema, @base_schema.schema, {:clear_cache => false})
+        meta_validator.validate
       end
 
       # If the :fragment option is set, try and validate against the fragment
@@ -415,15 +413,27 @@ def json_backend=(backend)
 
       def parse(s)
         if defined?(MultiJson)
-          MultiJson.respond_to?(:adapter) ? MultiJson.load(s) : MultiJson.decode(s)
+          begin
+            MultiJson.respond_to?(:adapter) ? MultiJson.load(s) : MultiJson.decode(s)
+          rescue MultiJson::ParseError => e
+            raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new(e.message)
+          end
         else
           case @@json_backend.to_s
           when 'json'
-            JSON.parse(s, :quirks_mode => true)
+            begin
+              JSON.parse(s, :quirks_mode => true)
+            rescue JSON::ParserError => e
+              raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new(e.message)
+            end
           when 'yajl'
-            json = StringIO.new(s)
-            parser = Yajl::Parser.new
-            parser.parse(json) or raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new("The JSON could not be parsed by yajl")
+            begin
+              json = StringIO.new(s)
+              parser = Yajl::Parser.new
+              parser.parse(json) or raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new("The JSON could not be parsed by yajl")
+            rescue Yajl::ParseError => e
+              raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new(e.message)
+            end
           else
             raise JSON::Schema::JsonParseError.new("No supported JSON parsers found. The following parsers are suported:\n * yajl-ruby\n * json")
           end
@@ -520,7 +530,7 @@ def initialize_schema(schema)
             schema = schema.to_array_schema
           end
           Validator.add_schema(schema)
-        rescue
+        rescue JSON::Schema::JsonParseError
           # Build a uri for it
           schema_uri = Util::URI.normalized_uri(schema)
           if !self.class.schema_loaded?(schema_uri)
@@ -551,7 +561,7 @@ def initialize_schema(schema)
         end
         Validator.add_schema(schema)
       else
-        raise "Invalid schema - must be either a string or a hash"
+        raise SchemaParseError, "Invalid schema - must be either a string or a hash"
       end
 
       schema
@@ -567,12 +577,12 @@ def initialize_data(data)
         elsif data.is_a?(String)
           begin
             data = JSON::Validator.parse(data)
-          rescue
+          rescue JSON::Schema::JsonParseError
             begin
               json_uri = Util::URI.normalized_uri(data)
               data = JSON::Validator.parse(custom_open(json_uri))
-            rescue
-              # Silently discard the error - the data will not change
+            rescue JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError
+              # Silently discard the error - use the data as-is
             end
           end
         end
@@ -582,10 +592,18 @@ def initialize_data(data)
 
     def custom_open(uri)
       uri = Util::URI.normalized_uri(uri) if uri.is_a?(String)
-      if uri.absolute? && uri.scheme != 'file'
-        open(uri.to_s).read
+      if uri.absolute? && Util::URI::SUPPORTED_PROTOCOLS.include?(uri.scheme)
+        begin
+          open(uri.to_s).read
+        rescue OpenURI::HTTPError, Timeout::Error => e
+          raise JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError, e.message
+        end
       else
-        File.read(Addressable::URI.unescape(uri.path))
+        begin
+          File.read(Addressable::URI.unescape(uri.path))
+        rescue SystemCallError => e
+          raise JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError, e.message
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/test_helper.rb b/test/test_helper.rb
index e8d6aef1..14510863 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.rb
+++ b/test/test_helper.rb
@@ -34,14 +34,4 @@ def refute_valid(schema, data, options = {})
     errors = JSON::Validator.fully_validate(schema, data, options)
     refute_equal([], errors, "#{data.inspect} should be invalid for schema:\n#{schema.inspect}")
   end
-
-  def parser_error
-    if defined?(::Yajl)
-      Yajl::ParseError
-    elsif defined?(::MultiJson)
-      MultiJson::ParseError
-    else
-      JSON::ParserError
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/test/test_initialize_data.rb b/test/test_initialize_data.rb
index bf61c65f..77d6c112 100644
--- a/test/test_initialize_data.rb
+++ b/test/test_initialize_data.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,11 @@ def test_parse_character_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :parse_data => false))
 
-    assert_raises(parser_error) do
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonParseError) do
       JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true)
     end
 
-    assert_raises(Errno::ENOENT) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
   end
 
   def test_parse_integer_string
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def test_parse_integer_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true))
 
-    assert_raises(Errno::ENOENT) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
   end
 
   def test_parse_hash_string
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_parse_hash_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true))
 
-    assert_raises(Errno::ENOENT) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
   end
 
   def test_parse_json_string
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_parse_json_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true))
 
-    assert_raises(Errno::ENOENT) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
   end
 
   def test_parse_valid_uri_string
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def test_parse_valid_uri_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :parse_data => false))
 
-    assert_raises(parser_error) do
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonParseError) do
       JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true)
     end
 
@@ -83,11 +83,17 @@ def test_parse_invalid_uri_string
 
     assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :parse_data => false))
 
-    assert_raises(parser_error) do
+    stub_request(:get, "foo.bar").to_return(:status => [500, "Internal Server Error"])
+
+    assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data))
+
+    assert(JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :parse_data => false))
+
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonParseError) do
       JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :json => true)
     end
 
-    assert_raises(Timeout::Error) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonLoadError) { JSON::Validator.validate(schema, data, :uri => true) }
   end
 
   def test_parse_integer
diff --git a/test/test_schema_loader.rb b/test/test_schema_loader.rb
index b267e071..1972c830 100644
--- a/test/test_schema_loader.rb
+++ b/test/test_schema_loader.rb
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_parse_error
 
     reader = JSON::Schema::Reader.new
 
-    assert_raises(parser_error) do
+    assert_raises(JSON::Schema::JsonParseError) do
       reader.read(ADDRESS_SCHEMA_URI)
     end
   end