Index: math.t
==================================================================
--- math.t
+++ math.t
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local m = {
-	shorthand = {maxlen = 14}
+	shorthand = {maxlen = 14};
+	ll = {
+		ctpop_u8 = terralib.intrinsic('llvm.ctpop.i8', uint8 -> uint8);
+	};
 }
 
 local pstring = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
 
 -- swap in place -- faster on little endian
@@ -54,10 +57,16 @@
 		ch = 38 + (ch - 0x61)
 	else return 0, false end
 
 	return ch, true 
 end
+
+terra m.pow(n: intptr, fac: intptr): intptr
+	var o = n
+	for i=0,fac do n = n * o end
+	return n
+end
 
 terra m.shorthand.gen(val: uint64, dest: rawstring): ptrdiff
 	var lst = "0123456789-ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ:abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"
 	var buf: int8[m.shorthand.maxlen]
 	var ptr = [&int8](buf)

Index: mgtool.t
==================================================================
--- mgtool.t
+++ mgtool.t
@@ -117,11 +117,11 @@
 		else tmppw[i] = tmppw[i] + 0x30 end
 	end
 	lib.dbg('assigning temporary password')
 	dlg:auth_attach_pw(uid, reset,
 		pstr { ptr = [rawstring](tmppw), ct = 32 },
-		lib.str.plit 'temporary password');
+		'temporary password');
 end
 
 local terra ipc_report(acks: lib.mem.ptr(lib.ipc.ack), rep: rawstring)
 	var decbuf: int8[21]
 	for i=0,acks.ct do
@@ -381,13 +381,13 @@
 					return 1
 				end
 				if cfmode.arglist.ct == 1 then
 					var am = dlg:conf_get('credential-store')
 					var mg: bool
-					if (not am) or am:cmp(lib.str.plit 'managed') then
+					if (not am) or am:cmp('managed') then
 						mg = true
-					elseif am:cmp(lib.str.plit 'unmanaged') then
+					elseif am:cmp('unmanaged') then
 						lib.warn('credential store is unmanaged; you will need to create credentials for the new root user manually!')
 						mg = false
 					else lib.bail('unknown credential store mode "',{am.ptr,am.ct},'"; should be either "managed" or "unmanaged"') end
 					var kbuf: uint8[lib.crypt.const.maxdersz]
 					var root = lib.store.actor.mk(&kbuf[0])

Index: parsav.t
==================================================================
--- parsav.t
+++ parsav.t
@@ -274,10 +274,20 @@
 		if o[val] == nil then error('value ' .. val .. ' not in set') end
 		return `bit { _v=[o[val] - 1], _set = &(obj) }
 	end)
 	terra set:sz()
 		var ct: intptr = 0
+		--for i = 0, [math.floor(#tbl/8)] do
+		--	ct = ct + lib.math.ll.ctpop_u8(self._store[i])
+		--end
+		--[(function()
+		--	if #tbl % 8 ~= 0 then
+		--		local last = #tbl-1
+		--		local msk = (2 ^ (#tbl % 8)) - 1
+		--		return quote ct = ct + lib.math.ll.ctpop_u8(self._store[last] and [uint8](msk)) end
+		--	else return {} end
+		--end)()]
 		for i = 0, [#tbl] do
 			if (self._store[i/8] and (1 << i % 8)) ~= 0 then ct = ct + 1 end
 		end
 		return ct
 	end
@@ -453,10 +463,11 @@
 	'render:docpage';
 
 	'render:conf:profile';
 	'render:conf:sec';
 	'render:conf:users';
+	'render:conf:avi';
 	'render:conf';
 	'route';
 }
 
 do

Index: render/compose.t
==================================================================
--- render/compose.t
+++ render/compose.t
@@ -17,15 +17,15 @@
 	if acc ~= nil then form:append(acc) return end 
 
 	var cotxt = form:poolstr(&co.srv.pool) -- defer cotxt:free()
 
 	var doc = [lib.srv.convo.page] {
-		title = lib.str.plit 'compose';
+		title = 'compose';
 		body = cotxt;
-		class = lib.str.plit 'compose';
+		class = 'compose';
 		cache = true;
 	}
 
 	co:stdpage(doc)
 end
 
 return render_compose

Index: render/conf.t
==================================================================
--- render/conf.t
+++ render/conf.t
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
 local pref = lib.mem.ref(int8)
 
 local mappings = {
 	{url = 'profile', title = 'account profile', render = 'profile'};
-	{url = 'avi', title = 'avatar', render = 'avatar'};
+	{url = 'avi', title = 'avatar', render = 'avi'};
 	{url = 'ui', title = 'user interface', render = 'ui'};
 	{url = 'sec', title = 'security', render = 'sec_overlay'};
 	{url = 'rel', title = 'relationships', render = 'rel'};
 	{url = 'qnt', title = 'quarantine', render = 'quarantine'};
 	{url = 'acl', title = 'access control shortcuts', render = 'acl'};
@@ -85,13 +85,13 @@
 	else pgt = pg:poolstr(&co.srv.pool) end
 	--defer pgt:free()
 
 	co:stdpage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
 		title = 'configure'; body = pgt;
-		class = lib.str.plit 'conf';
+		class = 'conf';
 		cache = false;
 	})
 
 	--if panel.ct ~= 0 then panel:free() end
 end
 
 return render_conf

ADDED   render/conf/avi.t
Index: render/conf/avi.t
==================================================================
--- render/conf/avi.t
+++ render/conf/avi.t
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+-- vim: ft=terra
+local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
+local pref = lib.mem.ref(int8)
+
+local terra 
+render_conf_avi(co: &lib.srv.convo, path: lib.mem.ptr(pref)): pstr
+	var a = co:stra(128)
+	a:lpush '<form method="post"><p>this is your current avatar. if you want to change it, you can reset it to the default, or pick a new image in your <a href="/media">media library</a> to represent yourself with.</p><img class="avatar big" src="/avi/':push(co.who.handle,0):lpush '">'
+	if co.who.avatarid ~= 0 then
+		a:lpush '<menu class="vertical choice"><button name="act" value="clear">use default avatar</button><a class="button" href="/media/a/':shpush(co.who.avatarid):lpush '">open image</a></menu>'
+	end
+	return a:finalize()
+end
+
+return render_conf_avi

Index: render/conf/sec.t
==================================================================
--- render/conf/sec.t
+++ render/conf/sec.t
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@
 				credmgr.credlist = cl:finalize()
 			end
 			credmgr:append(&a)
 			--if credmgr.credlist.ct > 0 then credmgr.credlist:free() end
 		else
-			if new:cmp(lib.str.plit'pw') then
+			if new:cmp('pw') then
 				var d: data.view.conf_sec_pwnew
 				var time = lib.osclock.time(nil)
 				var timestr: int8[26] lib.osclock.ctime_r(&time, &timestr[0])
 				var cmt = co:stra(48)
 				cmt:lpush('enrolled over http on '):push(&timestr[0],0)
@@ -48,16 +48,16 @@
 				d.comment = cmt:finalize()
 
 				var st = d:poolstr(&co.srv.pool)
 				--d.comment:free()
 				return st
-			elseif new:cmp(lib.str.plit'challenge') then
+			elseif new:cmp('challenge') then
 			-- we're going to break the rules a bit and do database munging from
 			-- the rendering code, because doing otherwise in this case would be
 			-- genuinely nightmarish
-			elseif new:cmp(lib.str.plit'otp') then
-			elseif new:cmp(lib.str.plit'api') then
+			elseif new:cmp('otp') then
+			elseif new:cmp('api') then
 			else return pstr.null() end
 		end
 	else body:append(&a) end
 
 	return a:finalize()

Index: render/conf/users.t
==================================================================
--- render/conf/users.t
+++ render/conf/users.t
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
 local pref = lib.mem.ref(int8)
-local P = lib.str.plit
 
 local terra cs(s: rawstring)
 	return pstr { ptr = s, ct = lib.str.sz(s) }
 end
 
@@ -16,76 +15,83 @@
 		case [uint16](4) then acc:lpush('🗡') end
 		case [uint16](5) then acc:lpush('🗝') end
 		else acc:lpush('🕴')
 	end
 end
+
+local splitwords = macro(function(str)
+	local words = {}
+	for w in str:asvalue():gmatch('(%g+)') do words[#words + 1] = w end
+	return `arrayof(pstr, [words])
+end)
 
 local rnd = lib.crypt.random
 local terra 
 suggest_handle(a: &lib.str.acc)
 	var start = a.sz
 	var puncts = array('.','_','-')
 	var xXx = rnd(uint8, 0, 9) == 0
 	var leet = rnd(uint8, 0, 8) == 0
-	var caps = rnd(uint8, 0, 5)
+	var caps = rnd(uint8, 0, 10)
 	var punct: rawstring = nil
 	var useadj = rnd(uint8, 0, 4) == 0
 	if rnd(uint8, 0, 4) == 0 then
 		punct = puncts[rnd(intptr,0,[puncts.type.N])]
 	end
 
-	var nouns = array(
-		'thunder','bride','blaze','doom','squad','gun','lord','blaster',
-		'fuck','hell','hound','piss','shit','killa','terror', 'horror',
-		'fear', 'slaughter','murder','general','commander', 'commissar',
-		'terrorist','infinity','slut','cunt','whore','bitch', 'bastard',
-		'cock','prince','princess','pimp','gay','cop','slayer', 'vampire',
-		'vampyre','blood','pain','brute','wolf','sword','star','sun','moon',
-		'killer','murderer','thief','arson','fire','ice','frost','hack',
-		'hacker','god','master','mistress','slave','rage','freeze','flayer',
-		'pirate','ninja','shadow','fog','mist','misery','glory','bear',
-		'king','queen','empress','emperor','majesty','space','martian',
-		'winter','fall','monk','katana','420','warrior','banana','demon',
-		'devil','ghost','wraith','cuck','legend','hero','heroine','goblin',
-		'gremlin','troll','dragon','evil','overlord','radiance'
-	)
-	var adjs = array(
-		'dark','super','supreme','ultra','ultimate','total','infinite',
-		'omnipotent','crazy','final','deathless','immortal', 'elite',
-		'leet','1337','bloody','fearless','headless','screaming','insane',
-		'brutal','legendary','space','frozen','flaming','burning',
-		'mighty','flayed','hidden','secret','lost','mystery','glorious',
-		'nude','naked','bare','first','radiant','martian','fallen',
-		'wandering','dank','demonic','satanic','invisible','based','woke',
-		'deadly','lethal','heroic','evil','majestic','luminous'
-	)
+	var nouns = splitwords [[
+		thunder bride blaze doom squad gun lord blaster
+		fuck hell hound piss shit killa terror horror
+		fear slaughter murder general commander commissar
+		terrorist infinity slut cunt whore bitch bastard
+		cock prince princess pimp gay cop slayer vampire
+		vampyre blood pain brute wolf sword star sun moon
+		killer murderer thief arson fire ice frost hack
+		hacker god master mistress slave rage freeze flayer
+		pirate ninja shadow fog mist misery glory bear
+		king queen empress emperor majesty space martian
+		winter fall monk katana 420 warrior banana demon
+		devil ghost wraith cuck legend hero heroine goblin
+		gremlin troll dragon evil overlord radiance slop
+		operator rage hog bog roach wizard
+	]]
+	var adjs = splitwords [[
+		dark super supreme ultra ultimate total infinite
+		omnipotent crazy final deathless immortal elite
+		leet 1337 bloody fearless headless screaming insane
+		brutal legendary space frozen flaming burning
+		mighty flayed hidden secret lost mystery glorious
+		nude naked bare first radiant martian fallen bog
+		wandering dank demonic satanic invisible based woke
+		deadly lethal heroic evil majestic luminous ethereal
+	]]
 
 	if xXx then a:lpush('xXx_') end
 
 	if useadj then
 		var len = rnd(uint8,1,3) 
 		for i = 0, len do
 			var sz = a.sz
-			a:push(adjs[rnd(intptr,0,[adjs.type.N])], 0)
+			a:ppush(adjs[rnd(intptr,0,[adjs.type.N])])
 			if punct ~= nil then a:push(punct, 1) end
 			if caps == 1 then
 				a.buf[sz] = lib.str.cupcase(a.buf[sz])
 			end
 		end
 	end
 	var nounct = rnd(uint8,1,3) 
 	for i = 0, nounct do
 		var sz = a.sz
-		a:push(nouns[rnd(intptr,0,[nouns.type.N])], 0)
+		a:ppush(nouns[rnd(intptr,0,[nouns.type.N])])
 		if punct ~= nil and i+1 ~= nounct then a:push(punct, 1) end
 		if caps == 1 then
 			a.buf[sz] = lib.str.cupcase(a.buf[sz])
 		end
 	end
 
-	if leet or caps == 2 then for i=start, a.sz do
-		if caps == 2 and rnd(uint8,0,5)==0 then
+	if leet or caps == 9 then for i=start, a.sz do
+		if caps == 9 and rnd(uint8,0,5)==0 then
 			a.buf[i] = lib.str.cupcase(a.buf[i])
 		end
 		if leet then 
 			switch lib.str.cdowncase(a.buf[i]) do
 				case [uint8]([string.byte('e')]) then a.buf[i] = @'3' end
@@ -99,20 +105,55 @@
 		end
 	end end
 
 	if (nounct == 1 and not useadj) or rnd(uint8, 0, 5) == 0 then
 		if punct ~= nil then a:push(punct, 1) end
-		a:ipush(rnd(uint16,0,65535))
+		a:ipush(rnd(uint32,0,lib.math.pow(10,rnd(uint8,1,4))))
 	end
 
 	if xXx then a:lpush('_xXx') end
 
 end
 
 local terra 
 suggest_domain(a: &lib.str.acc)
-	var tlds = array('tld','club','town','space','xxx')
+	var words = splitwords [[
+		flop slop hop wiggle wriggle bug snoot boop jorts horse rad
+		witch witches cum code spank grump grumps slap spoop spoopy
+		spook wobble flip jock nerd dope dork slab drug funk gay
+		hex node snack weed pot slug worm fur fuzz fuzzy game gamer
+		rock smack drank wack wild sexy hot sin cock fuck piss man
+		wank fae weird woke slurp spine skull fail elf elves mom
+		dad dog cat kitten snake troll top bottom chungus dong wang
+		420 hog lover lovers best worst love hate big bigger tiny
+		little teeny spunky jazz wrack rump kink kinky crack meth
+		whore cam live over under turbo pizza rat rats crotch crank
+		chunky funky butt grab grabber grabbers thief steal slave
+		slaves hug hugs hag hags hogs wimp thieves wizard wizards
+		pussy pansy dark doom stank spunk dumb rage
+	]]
+	var tlds = splitwords [[
+		tld club town space xxx house land ranch horse com io online
+		shop site vip ltd win men lgbt cat adult army analytics art
+		associates bar bible biz black blog broker cam camp careers
+		catering church city coop dad date dating direct diy dog
+		duck dot enterprises esq estate expert express fail farm foo
+		forsale fun fund forum foundation gay global golf gop guru
+		group hangout hot industries international info investments
+		jobs land law life limited live lol mom network now party
+		porn productions pub rehab rocks school sex sexy singles
+		social software solutions space spot store sucks supplies
+		systems university vacations ventures wang website work
+		wow wtf world xyz soy live gym park 
+	]]
+	var sub = rnd(uint8,0,10) == 0
+	if sub then a:ppush(words[rnd(intptr,0,[words.type.N])]):lpush('.') end
+	a:ppush(words[rnd(intptr,0,[words.type.N])])
+	if rnd(uint8,0,3) == 0 or not sub then
+		a:ppush(words[rnd(intptr,0,[words.type.N])])
+	end
+	a:lpush('.'):ppush(tlds[rnd(intptr,0,[tlds.type.N])])
 end
 
 local push_num_field = macro(function(acc,name,lbl,min,max,value,disable)
 	name = name:asvalue()
 	lbl = lbl:asvalue()
@@ -292,11 +333,11 @@
 			--if ctlbox.btns.ct > 0 then ctlbox.btns:free() end
 
 			return pg:finalize()
 		end
 	else
-		var modes = array(P'local', P'remote', P'staff', P'titled', P'peons', P'all')
+		var modes = arrayof(pstr,'local', 'remote', 'staff', 'titled', 'peons', 'all')
 		var idbuf: int8[lib.math.shorthand.maxlen]
 		var ulst = co:stra(256)
 		var mode: uint8 = mode_local
 		var modestr = co:pgetv('show')
 		ulst:lpush('<div style="text-align: right"><em>showing ')
@@ -347,11 +388,13 @@
 		if co.who.rights.powers.invite() or co.who.rights.invites > 0 then
 			ulst:lpush('<details><summary>create new user</summary><form method="post"><div class="elem"><label for="handle">handle</label><input type="text" name="handle" id="handle" placeholder="')
 			suggest_handle(&ulst)
 			ulst:lpush('"></div><button name="act" value="create">create</button></form></details>')
 		end
-		ulst:lpush('<details><summary>instantiate remote actor</summary><form method="post"><div class="elem"><label for="xid">xid</label><input type="text" name="xid" id="xid" placeholder="tweetlord@website.tld"></div><button name="act" value="inst">instantiate</button></form></details>')
+		ulst:lpush('<details><summary>instantiate remote actor</summary><form method="post"><div class="elem"><label for="xid">xid</label><input type="text" name="xid" id="xid" placeholder="')
+		suggest_handle(&ulst) ulst:lpush('@') suggest_domain(&ulst)
+		ulst:lpush('"></div><button name="act" value="inst">instantiate</button></form></details>')
 
 		return ulst:finalize()
 	end
 	do return pstr.null() end
 	::e404:: co:complain(404, 'not found', 'there is no user or resource by that identifier on this server') goto quit

Index: render/docpage.t
==================================================================
--- render/docpage.t
+++ render/docpage.t
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local page = lib.srv.convo.page
 local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
 local pref = lib.mem.ref(int8)
-local P = lib.str.plit
-local R = lib.str.lit
 
 local topics = lib.util.keys(data.doc)
 local topicidxt = {}
 table.sort(topics) -- because deterministic builds are good
 local branches = {}
@@ -38,18 +36,18 @@
 		for _,v in pairs(t.meta.priv) do
 			setbits = quote [setbits]; (restrict.[v] << true) end
 		end
 	end
 	allpages[i] = quote var [restrict]; [setbits] in pgpair {
-		name = R(v);
+		name = [v];
 		parent = par;
 		priv = restrict;
-		title = R(t.meta.title);
+		title = [t.meta.title];
 		content = page {
 			title = ['documentation :: ' .. t.meta.title];
 			body = [ t.text ];
-			class = P'doc article';
+			class = 'doc article';
 			cache = true;
 		};
 	} end
 end
 
@@ -109,12 +107,12 @@
 		list:lpush('</ul>')
 
 		co:stdpage(page {
 			title = 'documentation';
 			body = list:finalize();
-			class = P'doc listing';
+			class = 'doc listing';
 			cache = false;
 		})
 	else showpage(co, pg) end
 end
 
 return render_docpage

Index: render/login.t
==================================================================
--- render/login.t
+++ render/login.t
@@ -1,22 +1,21 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
-local P = lib.str.plit
 local terra 
 login_form(co: &lib.srv.convo, user: &lib.store.actor, creds: &lib.store.credset, msg: pstr)
 	var doc = [lib.srv.convo.page] {
-		title = lib.str.plit 'instance logon';
-		class = lib.str.plit 'login';
+		title = 'instance logon';
+		class = 'login';
 		cache = false;
 	}
 
 	if user == nil then
 		var form = data.view.login_username {
 			loginmsg = msg;
 		}
 		if form.loginmsg.ptr == nil then
-			form.loginmsg = lib.str.plit 'identify yourself for access to this instance.'
+			form.loginmsg = 'identify yourself for access to this instance.'
 		end
 		doc.body = form:tostr()
 	elseif creds:sz() == 0 then
 		co:complain(403,'access denied','your host is not eligible to authenticate as this user')
 		return
@@ -29,24 +28,24 @@
 		var ch = data.view.login_challenge {
 			handle = user.handle;
 			name = lib.coalesce(user.nym, user.handle);
 		}
 		if creds.pw() then
-			ch.challenge = P'enter the password associated with your account'
-			ch.label = P'password'
-			ch.method = P'pw'
-			ch.auto = P'current-password';
+			ch.challenge = 'enter the password associated with your account'
+			ch.label = 'password'
+			ch.method = 'pw'
+			ch.auto = 'current-password';
 		elseif creds.otp() then
-			ch.challenge = P'enter a valid one-time password for your account'
-			ch.label = P'OTP code'
-			ch.method = P'otp'
-			ch.auto = P'one-time-code';
+			ch.challenge = 'enter a valid one-time password for your account'
+			ch.label = 'OTP code'
+			ch.method = 'otp'
+			ch.auto = 'one-time-code';
 		elseif creds.challenge() then
-			ch.challenge = P'sign the challenge token: <code>...</code>'
-			ch.label = P'digest'
-			ch.method = P'challenge'
-			ch.auto = P'one-time-code';
+			ch.challenge = 'sign the challenge token: <code>...</code>'
+			ch.label = 'digest'
+			ch.method = 'challenge'
+			ch.auto = 'one-time-code';
 		else
 			co:complain(500,'login failure','unknown login method')
 			return
 		end
 

Index: render/media-gallery.t
==================================================================
--- render/media-gallery.t
+++ render/media-gallery.t
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local pstr = lib.str.t 
-local P = lib.str.plit
 local terra cs(s: rawstring)
 	return pstr { ptr = s, ct = lib.str.sz(s) }
 end
 
 local show_all,show_new,show_unfiled,show_files,show_vid,show_img=1,2,3,4,5,6
@@ -23,11 +22,11 @@
 			if ou(0).origin ~= 0 then pa:lpush('@') end
 			pa:push(ou(0).xid,0)
 			pfx = pa:finalize()
 		end
 
-		if path.ct >= 3 and path(1):cmp(lib.str.lit'a') then
+		if path.ct >= 3 and path(1):cmp('a') then
 			var id, idok = lib.math.shorthand.parse(path(2).ptr, path(2).ct)
 			if not idok then goto e404 end
 			var art = co.srv:artifact_fetch(uid, id)
 			if not art then goto e404 end
 			if path.ct == 3 then
@@ -47,12 +46,12 @@
 				}
 				if lib.str.ncmp(art(0).mime, 'image/', 6) == 0 then
 					var view = data.view.media_image(viewerprops)
 					var pg = view:poolstr(&co.srv.pool)
 					co:stdpage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-						title = lib.str.plit'media :: image';
-						class = lib.str.plit'media viewer img';
+						title = 'media :: image';
+						class = 'media viewer img';
 						cache = false, body = pg;
 					})
 					--pg:free()
 				elseif lib.str.cmp(art(0).mime, 'text/markdown') == 0 then
 					var view = data.view.media_text(viewerprops)
@@ -60,12 +59,12 @@
 					view.text = lib.smackdown.html(&co.srv.pool, pstr{[rawstring](text.ptr),text.ct}, false)
 					text:free()
 					var pg = view:poolstr(&co.srv.pool)
 					--view.text:free()
 					co:stdpage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-						title = lib.str.plit'media :: text';
-						class = lib.str.plit'media viewer text';
+						title = 'media :: text';
+						class = 'media viewer text';
 						cache = false, body = pg;
 					})
 					--pg:free()
 				elseif
 					lib.str.ncmp(art(0).mime, 'text/', 5) == 0          or
@@ -80,42 +79,42 @@
 					view.text = co:qstr('<pre>',san,'</pre>')
 					--san:free()
 					var pg = view:poolstr(&co.srv.pool)
 					--view.text:free()
 					co:stdpage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-						title = lib.str.plit'media :: text';
-						class = lib.str.plit'media viewer text';
+						title = 'media :: text';
+						class = 'media viewer text';
 						cache = false, body = pg;
 					})
 					--pg:free()
 				else co:complain(500,'bad file type','this file type is not supported') end
 			elseif path.ct == 4 then
 				var act = path(3)
 				var curl = co:qstr('/media/a/', path(2))
 				-- defer curl:free()
-				if act:cmp(lib.str.lit'avi') and lib.str.ncmp(art(0).mime, 'image/', 6) == 0 then
+				if act:cmp('avi') and lib.str.ncmp(art(0).mime, 'image/', 6) == 0 then
 					co:confirm('set avatar', 'are you sure you want this image to be your new avatar?',curl)
-				elseif act:cmp(lib.str.lit'del') then
+				elseif act:cmp('del') then
 					co:confirm('delete', 'are you sure you want to permanently delete this artifact?',curl)
 				else goto e404 end
 			end
 		else
 			var mode: uint8 = show_new
 			var folder: pstr
 			if path.ct == 2 then
-				if path(1):cmp(lib.str.lit'unfiled') then
+				if path(1):cmp('unfiled') then
 					mode=show_unfiled
-				elseif path(1):cmp(lib.str.lit'all') then
+				elseif path(1):cmp('all') then
 					mode=show_all
 				else goto e404 end
-			elseif path.ct == 3 and path(1):cmp(lib.str.lit'kind') then
+			elseif path.ct == 3 and path(1):cmp('kind') then
 			end
 
 			var folders = co.srv:artifact_folder_enum(uid)
 
 			if mode == show_new then
-				folder = lib.str.plit''
+				folder = ''
 			elseif mode == show_all or mode == show_unfiled then
 				folder = pstr.null()
 			end
 
 			var view = data.view.media_gallery {
@@ -144,11 +143,11 @@
 				view.folders = fa:finalize()
 				folders:free()
 			end
 
 			if owner then
-				view.menu = P'<a class="pos" href="/media/upload">upload</a><hr>'
+				view.menu = '<a class="pos" href="/media/upload">upload</a><hr>'
 			end
 
 			var md = co.srv:artifact_enum_uid(uid, folder)
 			var gallery: lib.str.acc gallery:pool(&co.srv.pool,256)
 			var files: lib.str.acc files:pool(&co.srv.pool,256) 
@@ -175,12 +174,12 @@
 			if acc ~= nil then
 				view:append(acc)
 			else
 				var pg = view:poolstr(&co.srv.pool) -- defer pg:free()
 				co:stdpage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-					title = P'media';
-					class = P'media manager';
+					title = 'media';
+					class = 'media manager';
 					cache = false;
 					body = pg;
 				})
 			end
 

Index: render/notices.t
==================================================================
--- render/notices.t
+++ render/notices.t
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 -- vim: ft=terra
 local pstr = lib.mem.ptr(int8)
-local P = lib.str.plit
 local terra cs(s: rawstring)
 	return pstr { ptr = s, ct = lib.str.sz(s) }
 end
 
 local terra 
@@ -35,25 +34,25 @@
 			pflink = pstr{ptr = pflink.buf; ct = pflink.sz};
 		}
 		var notweet, nopost = true, false
 		switch notes(i).kind do
 			case lib.store.noticetype.rt then
-				n.kind = P'rt'
-				n.act = P'retweeted your post'
+				n.kind = 'rt'
+				n.act = 'retweeted your post'
 			end
 			case lib.store.noticetype.like then
-				n.kind = P'like'
-				n.act = P'likes your post'
+				n.kind = 'like'
+				n.act = 'likes your post'
 			end
 			case lib.store.noticetype.reply then
-				n.kind = P'reply'
-				n.act = P'replied to your post'
+				n.kind = 'reply'
+				n.act = 'replied to your post'
 				notweet = false
 			end
 			case lib.store.noticetype.follow then
-				n.kind = P'follow'
-				n.act = P'followed you!'
+				n.kind = 'follow'
+				n.act = 'followed you!'
 				nopost = true
 			end
 		else goto skip end
 		if not nopost then
 			var what = co.srv:post_fetch(notes(i).what) defer what:free()
@@ -73,12 +72,12 @@
 				 body:reset()
 	end
 	--pflink:free()
 	pg:lpush('<form method="post"><button name="act" value="clear">clear all notices</button></form>')
 	co:livepage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-		title = P'notices', class = P'notices';
+		title = 'notices', class = 'notices';
 		body = pstr {ptr = pg.buf, ct = pg.sz};
 		cache = false;
 	}, latest)
 end
 
 return render_notices

Index: render/profile.t
==================================================================
--- render/profile.t
+++ render/profile.t
@@ -34,19 +34,19 @@
 	var stats = co.srv:actor_stats(actor.id)
 		var sn_posts     = cs(lib.math.decstr_friendly(stats.posts, &strfbuf[ [strfbuf.type.N - 1] ]))
 		var sn_follows   = cs(lib.math.decstr_friendly(stats.follows, sn_posts.ptr - 1))
 		var sn_followers = cs(lib.math.decstr_friendly(stats.followers, sn_follows.ptr - 1))
 		var sn_mutuals   = cs(lib.math.decstr_friendly(stats.mutuals, sn_followers.ptr - 1))
-	var bio = lib.str.plit '<em style="opacity:0.6">tall, dark, and mysterious</em>'
+	var bio = pstr '<em style="opacity:0.6">tall, dark, and mysterious</em>'
 	if actor.bio ~= nil then
 		bio = lib.smackdown.html(&co.srv.pool,cs(actor.bio),false)
 	end
 	var fullname = lib.render.nym(actor,0,nil,false) defer fullname:free()
 	var comments = co:stra(64)
 
 	if co.srv.cfg.master == actor.id then
-		var foundertxt = lib.str.plit 'founder'
+		var foundertxt = pstr 'founder'
 		if co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_founder:ref() then
 			if co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_founder.ct == 0 -- empty string, suppress field
 				then foundertxt = pstr.null()
 				else foundertxt = co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_founder
 			end
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@
 		if foundertxt:ref() then
 			comments:lpush('<li style="--co:-70">'):ppush(foundertxt):lpush('</li>')
 		end
 	end
 	if co.aid ~= 0 and actor.rights.rank ~= 0 then
-		var stafftxt = lib.str.plit 'site staff'
+		var stafftxt = pstr 'site staff'
 		if co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_staff:ref() then
 			if co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_staff.ct == 0 -- empty string, suppress field
 				then stafftxt = pstr.null()
 				else stafftxt = co.srv.cfg.ui_cue_staff
 			end
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@
 		avatar = cs(actor.avatar);
 
 		nposts = sn_posts, nfollows = sn_follows;
 		nfollowers = sn_followers, nmutuals = sn_mutuals;
 		tweetday = cs(timestr);
-		timephrase = lib.trn(actor.origin == 0, lib.str.plit'joined', lib.str.plit'known since');
+		timephrase = lib.trn(actor.origin == 0, pstr 'joined', pstr 'known since');
 
 		remarks = '';
 
 		auxbtn = auxp;
 	}

Index: render/timeline.t
==================================================================
--- render/timeline.t
+++ render/timeline.t
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@
 		})
 	elseif mode == modes.fediglobal then
 	elseif mode == modes.circle then
 	end
 
-	var acc: lib.str.acc acc:pool(&co.srv.pool,1024)
+	var acc = co:stra(1024)
 	acc:lpush('<div id="tl" data-live="10">')
 	var newest: lib.store.timepoint = 0
 	for i = 0, posts.sz do
 		lib.render.tweet(co, posts(i).ptr, &acc)
 		var t = lib.math.biggest(lib.math.biggest(posts(i).ptr.posted, posts(i).ptr.discovered),posts(i).ptr.edited)
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@
 	end
 	posts:free()
 	acc:lpush('</div>')
 
 	var doc = [lib.srv.convo.page] {
-		title = lib.str.plit'timeline';
+		title = 'timeline';
 		body = acc:finalize();
-		class = lib.str.plit'timeline';
+		class = 'timeline';
 		cache = false;
 	}
 	co:livepage(doc,newest)
 	--doc.body:free()
 end
 return render_timeline

Index: render/tweet-page.t
==================================================================
--- render/tweet-page.t
+++ render/tweet-page.t
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@
 		lib.render.compose(co, nil, &pg)
 	end
 
 	var ppg = pg:finalize() --defer ppg:free()
 	co:livepage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
-		title = lib.str.plit 'post'; cache = false;
-		class = lib.str.plit 'post'; body = ppg;
+		title = 'post'; cache = false;
+		class = 'post'; body = ppg;
 	}, livetime)
 
 	-- TODO display conversation
 	-- perhaps display descendant nodes here, and have a link to the top of the whole tree?
 end
 
 return render_tweet_page

Index: render/user-page.t
==================================================================
--- render/user-page.t
+++ render/user-page.t
@@ -36,14 +36,14 @@
 	acc:lpush('</div>')
 
 	var bdf = acc:finalize()
 	co:livepage([lib.srv.convo.page] {
 		title = tiptr; body = bdf;
-		class = lib.str.plit 'profile';
+		class = 'profile';
 		cache = false;
 	}, newest)
 
 	tiptr:free()
 	--bdf:free()
 end
 
 return render_userpage

Index: route.t
==================================================================
--- route.t
+++ route.t
@@ -453,10 +453,17 @@
 			msg = 'profile changes saved'
 			--user_refresh = true -- not really necessary here, actually
 
 		elseif path(1):cmp('sec') then
 			credsec_for_uid(co, co.who.id)
+		elseif path(1):cmp('avi') then
+			var act = co:ppostv('act')
+			if act:ref() and act:cmp('clear') then
+				co.who.avatarid = 0
+				co.who.source:actor_save(co.who)
+				msg = 'avatar reset to default'
+			else goto badop end
 		elseif path(1):cmp('users') then
 			if path.ct >= 3 then
 				var userid, ok = lib.math.shorthand.parse(path(2).ptr, path(2).ct)
 				if ok then
 					var usr = co.srv:actor_fetch_uid(userid)

Index: srv.t
==================================================================
--- srv.t
+++ srv.t
@@ -239,18 +239,18 @@
 terra convo:bytestream(mime: pstring, data: lib.mem.ptr(uint8))
 	-- TODO this is not a satisfactory solution; it's a bandaid on a gaping
 	-- chest wound. ultimately we need to compile a whitelist of safe mime
 	-- types as part of mimelib, but that is no small task. for now, this
 	-- will keep the patient from immediately bleeding out
-	if mime:cmp(lib.str.plit'text/html') or
-		mime:cmp(lib.str.plit'text/xml') or
-		mime:cmp(lib.str.plit'application/xhtml+xml') or
-		mime:cmp(lib.str.plit'application/vnd.wap.xhtml+xml')
+	if mime:cmp('text/html') or
+		mime:cmp('text/xml') or
+		mime:cmp('application/xhtml+xml') or
+		mime:cmp('application/vnd.wap.xhtml+xml')
 	then -- danger will robinson
-		mime = lib.str.plit'text/plain'
-	elseif mime:cmp(lib.str.plit'application/x-shockwave-flash') then
-		mime = lib.str.plit'application/octet-stream'
+		mime = 'text/plain'
+	elseif mime:cmp('application/x-shockwave-flash') then
+		mime = 'application/octet-stream'
 	end
 	lib.net.mg_printf(self.con, "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Type: %.*s\r\nContent-Length: %llu\r\nContent-Security-Policy: sandbox; default-src 'none'; form-action 'none'; navigate-to 'none';\r\nX-Content-Options: nosniff\r\n\r\n", mime.ct, mime.ptr, data.ct + 2)
 	lib.net.mg_send(self.con, data.ptr, data.ct)
 	lib.net.mg_send(self.con, '\r\n', 2)
 end
@@ -295,11 +295,11 @@
 	var ti: lib.str.acc ti:compose('error :: ', title)
 	var bo: lib.str.acc bo:compose('<div class="message"><img class="icon" src="/s/warn.svg"><h1>',title,'</h1><p>',msg,'</p></div>')
 	var body = [convo.page] {
 		title = ti:finalize();
 		body = bo:finalize();
-		class = lib.str.plit 'error';
+		class = 'error';
 		cache = false;
 	}
 
 	self:statpage(code, body)
 
@@ -315,11 +315,11 @@
 	}
 	var ti: lib.str.acc ti:pcompose(&self.srv.pool,'confirm :: ', title)
 	var body = conf:poolstr(&self.srv.pool) -- defer body:free()
 	var cf = [convo.page] {
 		title = ti:finalize();
-		class = lib.str.plit 'query';
+		class = 'query';
 		body = body; cache = false;
 	}
 	self:stdpage(cf)
 	--cf.title:free()
 end
@@ -631,42 +631,42 @@
 									lsent.ct = halt.ptr - lsent.ptr
 								end
 								lsr:free() end
 
 							for i=0,upmap.ct do
-								var hdrbrk = lib.str.find(upmap(i), lib.str.plit'\r\n\r\n')
+								var hdrbrk = lib.str.find(upmap(i), '\r\n\r\n')
 								if hdrbrk:ref() then
 									var hdrtxt = pstring {upmap(i).ptr,upmap(i).ct - hdrbrk.ct}
 									var hdrs = lib.str.splitmap(hdrtxt, '\r\n',6)
 									var ctt = pstring.null()
 									var ctd = pstring.null()
 									for j=0, hdrs.ct do
-										var brk = lib.str.find(hdrs(j),lib.str.plit':')
+										var brk = lib.str.find(hdrs(j),':')
 										if brk:ref() then
 											var hdr = pstring{hdrs(j).ptr,hdrs(j).ct - brk.ct}
 											var val = pstring{brk.ptr+1, brk.ct-1}:ffw()
-											if hdr:cmp(lib.str.plit'Content-Type') then
+											if hdr:cmp('Content-Type') then
 												ctt = val
-											elseif hdr:cmp(lib.str.plit'Content-Disposition') then
+											elseif hdr:cmp('Content-Disposition') then
 												ctd = val
 											end
 										end
 									end
 									if ctd:ref() then
 										var ctdvals = lib.str.splitmap(ctd, ';', 4) defer ctdvals:free()
-										if ctdvals(0):cmp(lib.str.plit'form-data') and ctdvals.ct > 1 then
+										if ctdvals(0):cmp('form-data') and ctdvals.ct > 1 then
 											var fld = pstring.null()
 											var file = pstring.null()
 											for j=1, ctdvals.ct do var v = ctdvals(j):ffw()
-												var x = lib.str.find(v,lib.str.plit'=')
+												var x = lib.str.find(v,'=')
 												if x:ref() then
 													var key = pstring{v.ptr, v.ct - x.ct}
 													var val = pstring{x.ptr + 1, x.ct - 1}
 													var decval, ofs, sp = lib.str.toknext(val,@';',true)
-													if key:cmp(lib.str.plit'name') then
+													if key:cmp('name') then
 														fld = decval
-													elseif key:cmp(lib.str.plit'filename') then
+													elseif key:cmp('filename') then
 														file = decval
 													else decval:free() end
 												end
 											end
 											if fld:ref() then
@@ -939,15 +939,15 @@
 end
 
 terra cfgcache:cfbool(name: rawstring, default: bool)
 	var str = self.overlord:conf_get(name)
 	if str.ptr ~= nil then
-		if str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'true') or str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'on') or
-		   str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'yes')  or str:cmp(lib.str.plit '1') then
+		if str:cmp('true') or str:cmp('on') or
+		   str:cmp('yes')  or str:cmp('1') then
 			default = true
-		elseif str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'false') or str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'off') or
-		       str:cmp(lib.str.plit 'no')    or str:cmp(lib.str.plit '0') then
+		elseif str:cmp('false') or str:cmp('off') or
+		       str:cmp('no')    or str:cmp('0') then
 			default = false
 		else
 			lib.warn('invalid configuration setting ',name,'="',{str.ptr,str.ct},'", expected boolean; using default value instead')
 		end
 		str:free()

Index: static/style.scss
==================================================================
--- static/style.scss
+++ static/style.scss
@@ -289,11 +289,11 @@
 		grid-template-columns: 1.1in 1fr;
 		grid-template-rows: max-content 1fr;
 		> .avatar {
 			display: block;
 			width: 1in; height: 1in;
-			object-fit: contain;
+			object-fit: cover;
 			grid-column: 1 / 2;
 			grid-row: 1 / 3;
 			border: 1px solid black;
 		}
 		> .id {
@@ -528,10 +528,11 @@
 		grid-column: 1/2; grid-row: 1/2;
 		background: linear-gradient(to bottom, tone(-53%), tone(-57%));
 		img {
 			display: block; width: 1in; height: 1in; margin:0;
 			border-right: 1px solid tone(-65%);
+			object-fit: cover;
 		}
 	}
 	>a[href].username {
 		display: block;
 		grid-column: 1/3;
@@ -667,11 +668,21 @@
 			border: 1px solid tone(-55%);
 			border-left: none;
 			text-shadow: 1px 1px 0 black;
 		}
 	}
-
+	img.avatar.big {
+		display:block;
+		width: 70%;
+		height: auto;
+		margin: 0.2in auto;
+		border: 1px solid tone(-45%);
+		border-top-color: tone(-40%);
+		border-bottom: 2px solid tone(-60%);
+		object-fit: cover;
+		border-radius: 3px;
+	}
 }
 
 hr {
 	border: none;
 	border-top: 1px solid tone(-30%);

Index: store.t
==================================================================
--- store.t
+++ store.t
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@
 	local struct pt { name:lib.mem.ptr(int8), val:set }
 	for k,v in pairs(set.members) do
 		map[#map + 1] = quote
 			var ps: set ps:clear()
 			(ps.[v] << true)
-		in pt {name = lib.str.plit(v), val = ps} end
+		in pt {name = [v], val = ps} end
 	end
 	return map
 end
 m.powmap = setmap(m.powerset)
 m.privmap = setmap(m.privset)

Index: str.t
==================================================================
--- str.t
+++ str.t
@@ -38,11 +38,10 @@
 	local byteptr = (lib.mem.ptr(uint8))
 	local function install_funcs(ty)
 		ty.metamethods.__cast = function(from,to,e)
 			local v = e:asvalue()
 			if type(v) == 'string' then
-				print('hard-coding pstr',v,#v)
 				return `ty {ptr = v, ct = [#v]}
 			elseif from == &int8 then
 				return `ty {ptr = e, ct = m.sz(e)}
 			elseif to == &int8 then
 				return e.ptr