diff --git a/update_from_db.py b/update_from_db.py
index 3eceba3..10166c4 100755
--- a/update_from_db.py
+++ b/update_from_db.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
-from http.client import HTTPConnection,HTTPException
+from http.client import HTTPConnection,HTTPException,BadStatusLine
 import json
 import base64
 from contextlib import closing
-import sys,os,shutil
+import sys,os,shutil,time
 
 def die(message,code=23):
         print(message,file=sys.stderr)
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ def die(message,code=23):
 server = "minetest.fensta.bplaced.net"
 skinsdir = "u_skins/textures/"
 metadir = "u_skins/meta/"
-curskin = 0
+curskin = 580
+curpage = 59
 pages = None
 
 def replace(location,base,encoding=None,path=None):
@@ -34,69 +35,127 @@ def maybeReplace(location,base,encoding=None):
         return replace(location,base,encoding=encoding,path=path)(handle)
     return deco
 
-c = HTTPConnection(server)
-def addpage(page):
-    global curskin, pages
-    print("Page: " + str(page))
-    r = 0
-    try:
-        c.request("GET", "/api/get.json.php?getlist&page=" + str(page) + "&outformat=base64")
-        r = c.getresponse()
-    except Exception:
-        if r != 0:
-            if r.status != 200:
-                die("Error", r.status)
-        return
-    
-    data = r.read().decode()
-    l = json.loads(data)
-    if not l["success"]:
-        die("Success != True")
-    r = 0
-    pages = int(l["pages"])
-    foundOne = False
-    for s in l["skins"]:
-        # make sure to increment this, even if the preview exists!
-        curskin = curskin + 1
-        previewbase = "character_" + str(curskin) + "_preview.png"
-        preview = os.path.join(skinsdir, previewbase)
-        if os.path.exists(preview):
-            print('skin',curskin,'already retrieved')
-            continue
-        print('updating skin',curskin)
-        foundOne = True
-        @maybeReplace(skinsdir, "character_" + str(curskin) + ".png")
-        def go(f):
-            f.write(base64.b64decode(bytes(s["img"], 'utf-8')))
-            f.close()
-            
-        @maybeReplace(metadir, "character_" + str(curskin) + ".txt",
-                      encoding='utf-8')
-        def go(f):
-            f.write(str(s["name"]) + '\n')
-            f.write(str(s["author"]) + '\n')
-            f.write(str(s["license"]))
-        url = "/skins/1/" + str(s["id"]) + ".png"
+class Pipeline(list):
+    "Gawd why am I being so elaborate?"
+    def __init__(self, threshold=10):
+        "threshold is how many requests in parallel to pipeline"
+        self.threshold = threshold
+        self.sent = True
+    def __enter__(self,*a):
+        self.reopen()
+    def __exit__(self):
+        self.drain()
+    def reopen(self):
+        self.c = HTTPConnection(server)
+        self.send()
+    def append(self,url,recv,diemessage):
+        super().append((url,recv,diemessage))
+        if len(self) > self.threshold:			
+            self.send()
+            self.drain()
+    def trydrain(self):		
+        for url,recv,diemessage in self:
+            try:
+                recv(self.c)
+            except BadStatusLine as e:
+                return False			
+            except HTTPException as e:
+                die(diemessage+' (url='+url+')')
+            self.clear()
+            return True
+    def drain(self):
+        print('draining pipeline...')
+        assert self.sent, "Can't drain without sending the requests!"
+        self.sent = False
+        while trydrain() is not True:
+            self.c.close()
+            print('derped requesting',url)
+            print('drain failed, trying again')
+            time.sleep(1)
+            self.reopen()
+    def trysend(self):
+        for url,_,diemessage in pipeline:
+            try:
+                self.c.request("GET", url)
+            except BadStatusLine:
+                return False
+            except HTTPException as e:
+                die(diemessage)
+        return True
+    def send(self):
+        if self.sent: return
+        print('filling pipeline...')
+        while self.tryresend() is not True:
+            self.c.close()
+            print('derped resending')
+            time.sleep(1)
+            self.reopen()
+        self.sent = True
+        
+with Pipeline() as pipeline:
+    # two connections is okay, right? one for json, one for preview images
+    c = HTTPConnection(server)
+    def addpage(page):
+        global curskin, pages
+        print("Page: " + str(page))
+        r = 0
         try:
-            c.request("GET", url)
-            with closing(c.getresponse()) as r:
+            c.request("GET", "/api/get.json.php?getlist&page=" + str(page) + "&outformat=base64")
+            r = c.getresponse()
+        except Exception:
+            if r != 0:
                 if r.status != 200:
-                    print("Error", r.status)
-                    continue
-                @replace(skinsdir,previewbase,path=preview)
-                def go(f):
-                    shutil.copyfileobj(r,f)
-        except HTTPException as e:
-            die("Couldn't get {} because of a {} (url={})".format(
-                s["id"],
-                e,
-                url))
-    if not foundOne:
-        print("No skins updated on this page. Seems we're done?")
-        raise SystemExit
-addpage(1)
-curpage = 1
-while pages > curpage:
-    curpage = curpage + 1
-    addpage(curpage)
-print("Skins have been updated!")
+                    die("Error", r.status)
+            return
+        
+        data = r.read().decode()
+        l = json.loads(data)
+        if not l["success"]:
+            die("Success != True")
+        r = 0
+        pages = int(l["pages"])
+        foundOne = False
+        for s in l["skins"]:
+            # make sure to increment this, even if the preview exists!
+            curskin = curskin + 1
+            previewbase = "character_" + str(curskin) + "_preview.png"
+            preview = os.path.join(skinsdir, previewbase)
+            if os.path.exists(preview):
+                print('skin',curskin,'already retrieved')
+                continue
+            print('updating skin',curskin,'id',s["id"])
+            foundOne = True
+            @maybeReplace(skinsdir, "character_" + str(curskin) + ".png")
+            def go(f):
+                f.write(base64.b64decode(bytes(s["img"], 'utf-8')))
+                f.close()
+                
+            @maybeReplace(metadir, "character_" + str(curskin) + ".txt",
+                          encoding='utf-8')
+            def go(f):
+                f.write(str(s["name"]) + '\n')
+                f.write(str(s["author"]) + '\n')
+                f.write(str(s["license"]))
+            url = "/skins/1/" + str(s["id"]) + ".png"
+            def tryget(c):			
+                with closing(c.getresponse()) as r:
+                    if r.status != 200:
+                        print("Error", r.status)
+                        return
+                    @replace(skinsdir,previewbase,path=preview)
+                    def go(f):
+                        shutil.copyfileobj(r,f)
+                
+            pipeline.append(url,tryget,
+                            "Couldn't get {} because of a {}".format(
+                                s["id"],
+                                e))
+        if not foundOne:
+            print("No skins updated on this page. Seems we're done?")
+            #raise SystemExit
+    addpage(1)
+    while pages > curpage:
+        curpage = curpage + 1
+        addpage(curpage)
+    print("Skins have been updated!")
+