sub make_log{
	# make a log file 
        my $log = shift;
	
	# open the log and stamp it
	open (my $log_file, '>>', $log) || die "Failed to open $log:\n$!";
	print $log_file "\n------> log for $0\n------> ".scalar(localtime)."\n\n";
	
	# make sure errors are put into the logfile
	# i.e. print STDERR "weird" ~ not in logfile
	# 		warn "freaky"		~ in logfile (and the screen)
	#		die "AAaaarrrrrgh!" ~ in logfile
	$SIG{__WARN__} = sub {print $log_file @_;print STDOUT @_};
	$SIG{__DIE__} = sub {print $log_file @_;print STDOUT @_;exit 1};
	
	# return complete
	return $log_file;
}