I get this question all the time: "How do you say your name?" And honestly, I always struggle with the answer. It's not just that Ukrainian sounds don't translate perfectly into English—many of the sounds in "Ілля Старіков" literally don't exist in English at all.
Usually I end up saying "close enough" to whatever people attempt, but that always feels like I'm losing something important. My name isn't Russian, it's not "basically like" anything else—it's distinctly Ukrainian, with its own unique sounds and rhythms.
So instead of fumbling through another awkward explanation, I put together this guide. Whether you're trying to get my name right or you're curious about how Ukrainian actually sounds, this should help us both out!

The authentic Ukrainian pronunciation
The name "Ілля Старіков" is pronounced [iˈlʲːɑ stɑˈrikɔw] in Ukrainian, with distinctive features that differ significantly from both English and Russian. For American English speakers, the most accurate representation is "ill-YAH stah-REE-kohw", though this requires understanding several Ukrainian-specific sounds that don't exist in English.
The name consists of two parts, each with its own stress pattern: "Ілля" (ill-YAH) with stress on the second syllable, and "Старіков" (stah-REE-kohw) with stress on "REE". This stress placement is crucial for authentic pronunciation and distinguishes it from common Americanized versions.
Understanding the Ukrainian-specific sounds
The palatalized double "л" in Ілля
The most distinctive feature of this name is the palatalized double "л" (represented as лл in Ukrainian). This creates a long, soft [lʲː] sound that's fundamentally different from English "l". To approximate this:
- Start with a regular "l" sound
- Raise the middle of your tongue toward your hard palate (as if preparing to say "y")
- Hold this position longer than a single "l" - it's a geminate (double) consonant
- Think of it as blending "l" with a subtle "y" quality throughout
This palatalized quality is what makes "Ілля" distinctly Ukrainian. The romanization "Illia" (with double "l") attempts to capture this length and intensity.
The Ukrainian "і" sound
The first letter "І" represents a pure [i] sound, like "ee" in "meet". This is not the Russian "и" sound (which is closer to "i" in "bit"). Ukrainian preserved this distinction from Old Slavic, making it a key marker of authentic Ukrainian pronunciation. The "і" should be crisp and front-positioned in your mouth.
The "я" after palatalized consonants
Following the palatalized "лл", the letter "я" doesn't represent "ya" as it would initially. Instead, it indicates that the preceding consonant is palatalized and is followed by an [ɑ] vowel. So rather than "il-li-ya", it's more like "il-[soft l with built-in y quality]-ah".
Where stress falls
Ukrainian stress patterns are unpredictable but crucial:
- Ілля: Stress falls on the second syllable - ill-YAH (not ILL-yah)
- Старіков: Stress falls on "рі" - stah-REE-kohw (not STAH-ree-kohw)
This differs from typical American stress patterns and is essential for authentic pronunciation.
Sounds particularly difficult for English speakers
1. The palatalized consonants
English doesn't distinguish between hard and soft (palatalized) consonants phonemically. The soft "л" in "Ілля" requires training your tongue to maintain a raised position while articulating the lateral sound.
2. The Ukrainian "р" (r)
Ukrainian "р" is an alveolar trill or tap [r]/[ɾ], not the American retroflex "r". Think Spanish "rr" but lighter. If you can't trill, a single tap (like the "tt" in American "butter") is closer than an American "r".
3. Maintaining vowel quality
Unlike Russian, Ukrainian doesn't reduce unstressed vowels. The "о" in "Старіков" remains a clear [ɔ] (like "aw" in "law"), not the schwa [ə] that English speakers might expect in unstressed positions.
4. The final "в"
Ukrainian "в" at the end of words can be pronounced as [w] (like English "w") or [f]. The [w] pronunciation is more authentically Ukrainian and distinguishes it from Russian [v].
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using Russian pronunciation
Many Americans default to Russified versions because of historical Soviet influence. Key differences:
- Say "ill-YAH" not "il-YA" (Russian lacks the geminate palatalized л)
- Use clear [i] for "і", not the Russian [ɨ] sound
- Maintain full vowel quality in unstressed syllables
Mistake 2: Ignoring palatalization
English speakers often pronounce all "l" sounds the same. Practice the difference between hard "l" (as in "look") and soft "l" (tongue raised toward palate). The name has soft/palatalized "l".
Mistake 3: Wrong stress placement
Americans often stress the first syllable of foreign names. Remember: ill-YAH stah-REE-kohw, not ILL-yah STAH-ree-kohw.
Mistake 4: Over-anglicizing
Avoid turning "Ілля" into "Ilya" (which suggests Russian) or "Elijah" (the English equivalent). Preserve the Ukrainian character.
Recommended English spelling
The official Ukrainian romanization is "Illia Starikov", which best preserves Ukrainian pronunciation for English readers. This spelling:
- Uses double "l" to suggest the geminate consonant
- Avoids Russian-influenced "Ilya"
- Follows the Ukrainian National System (2010) adopted by the UN
- Helps English speakers approximate the palatalized quality
Practical pronunciation guide for Americans
"ill-YAH stah-REE-kohw"
Breaking it down:
- "ill" - Like "ill" but with softer "l" (tongue raised)
- "YAH" - Stressed syllable, rhymes with "spa"
- "stah" - Like "stop" without the "p"
- "REE" - Stressed, like "reef" without the "f"
- "kohw" - Like "cough" but with lips rounded for "w" at the end
Practice tip: Say "million" and notice how your tongue position changes for the "lli" - that's closer to the Ukrainian palatalized "л" than a regular English "l".
Remember, this name is distinctly Ukrainian, not Russian. Using the authentic pronunciation shows cultural respect and linguistic awareness. While perfect pronunciation may be challenging, making the effort to approximate these Ukrainian-specific features - especially the palatalized consonants and correct stress - will be noticed and appreciated by Ukrainian speakers.
Background Eraser
Remove white backgrounds from your images; background be gone!
Welcome! This free tool helps you remove white backgrounds from your images in seconds, right here in your browser.
What can I use this for?
- Product photos - Perfect for online stores or portfolios
- Logos and graphics - Make them work on any background
- Profile pictures - Remove distracting backgrounds
- Design assets - Create transparent PNGs for your projects
How to use
1. Upload your image
Click the camera icon or drag your image into the upload area. We support JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP files.
2. Adjust if needed
Use the threshold slider to control how much white to remove. The default setting (30) works great for most images.
- Lower values (0-20): Only removes pure white or very close to white
- Medium values (20-50): Removes most white and light gray backgrounds
- Higher values (50-100): More aggressive, may remove light colored parts of your image
3. Download
Click "Download PNG" to save your image with a transparent background. Your new file will be ready to use anywhere!
Tips for best results
- Clean white backgrounds work best
- High contrast between your subject and background gives cleaner edges
- Adjust the threshold - move the slider left for less aggressive removal, right for more
- Preview first - you'll see the result before downloading
Good to know
- ✅ Completely free - No watermarks, no sign-ups
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Having trouble?
If the tool isn't removing the background well:
- Try adjusting the threshold slider
- Make sure your background is mostly white
- Images with shadows or gradients may need a higher threshold
Examples of what works well
- Product photos on white backgrounds
- Scanned documents or drawings
- Screenshots with white backgrounds
- Simple graphics and icons
Questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out. Happy creating! 🎨
Image Format Converter
Convert any image format with zero quality loss (i.e., where pixels go to change their clothes).
Image Format Converter
Convert any image format with zero quality loss (i.e., where pixels go to change their clothes).
Drop your image here
or click to browse • JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF, TIFF, ICO
Filename
Format
Dimensions
Size
✓ Conversion Complete!
Successfully converted to
Quick Start
- Upload - Drag & drop your image or click to browse
- Choose format - Select your desired output format
- Convert - Click the convert button
- Download - Save your converted image
Supported Formats
Input: JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF, TIFF, ICO
Output: PNG, JPEG, WebP, BMP, ICO
Features
- No installation required - Works directly in your browser
- Privacy-focused - Images are processed locally, never uploaded
- Quality control - Adjustable quality slider for JPEG/WebP formats
- File information - Shows dimensions, size, and current format
- Free to use - No limits or subscriptions
Format Guide
Format | Best For | Notes |
---|---|---|
PNG | Logos, screenshots, transparency | Larger files, lossless compression |
JPEG | Photos, web images | Smaller files, adjustable quality |
WebP | Modern websites | Best compression, not universal |
BMP | Uncompressed storage | Large files, maximum quality |
ICO | Website favicons | Multiple sizes in one file |
Quality Settings
For JPEG and WebP conversions:
- 90-100% - Best quality, larger files
- 70-90% - Balanced (recommended)
- Below 70% - Smaller files, visible quality loss
Tips
- Original files are never modified
- Converted files are saved with "_converted" suffix
- For web use, 80-85% quality is usually optimal
- WebP offers best size/quality ratio for modern browsers
Common Use Cases
- Converting PNG screenshots to JPEG for smaller email attachments
- Creating WebP versions of images for faster website loading
- Converting various formats to PNG for transparency support
- Making ICO files for website favicons
Troubleshooting
Image won't upload? Check it's under 50MB and a supported format
Blurry output? Increase quality slider above 90%
Need batch conversion? Process images one at a time using "Convert Another"
AI Trivia Game
These are today's contestants... Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini
Today at work, we got into a conversation about what was the best AI chatbot. Everyone had their own camp and their reasons for which one was best. Best is subjective, so what do you think is the best chatbot? Prompt:
We're going to be writing a web application for my personal blog: https://starikov.co. My website is a black website with white text. My website is a ghost site. This application should be self contained to a single div, it shouldn't leak design into the greater website/on the main feed. It should be very modern, clean, and sleek. It should be good all around, scaleable in every way. It should be generally accessible. It should use modern web standards, and work great in Chrome and Safari. Again, don't like into the greater sit: it should be a single div with all of it's style and such contained, injectable into a Ghost post. It should be fully text-width.
This is going to be a fully interactive trivia game. I should be able to hardcode a javascript dictionary with quiz show questions. It can be anywhere between 1 (a freebie, you get free points) to 10 options. It should keep track of how many you get correct. You should be able to specify bonus rounds, by default make the last two bonus. It should be interactive with animations, especially congrulatory messages. You should be able to click any option but only accept answers when the user clicks a submit button.
At the end please show a congratulatory messages with their final score. It should break down every question they got right or wrong through the quiz. The more questions they get right the more grandiose the congrats animation.
Preload this game show with Google trivia, heavily focusing on ChromeOS questions. Please make it scaling in difficulty. 10 questions.
It should be a modern website with modern styling. Please keep it a div self contained to a ghost site.
I choose ChromeOS in honor of my bff Stefan.
Claude Opus
ChatGPT
4o
o3
o4-mini-high
Gemini 2.5 Pro
Unicodex
Gotta glyph 'em all!
YourTube History
Like and subscribe to find out what you've subscribed to!
Like and subscribe to find out what you've subscribed to!
Drop your watch-history.html file here
or click to browse from your device
⚙️ Parameters
📈 Watch Statistics
Your YouTube journey at a glance
Download your stats as an image to share on social media
🎬 Top Videos
Rank ↕ | Video Title ↕ | Channel ↕ | Plays ↕ | First Watched ↕ |
---|---|---|---|---|
📂
Upload your watch history to see your top videos |
Processing Your Watch History
Initializing...
What This Tool Does
This parser processes your YouTube watch history to reveal:
- Your most-watched videos with play counts
- Favorite channels based on total views
- Viewing statistics (total videos watched, daily average, estimated hours)
- Peak viewing hours
- Date range of your watch history
Requirements
- A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
- Your YouTube watch history file from Google Takeout
Getting Your YouTube History
Step 1: Access Google Takeout
- Go to
https://takeout.google.com
- Sign in to your Google account if not already signed in
Step 2: Select YouTube Data
- Scroll down and find "YouTube and YouTube Music"
- Check the box next to it (if not already selected)
- Click "All YouTube data included" to customize
- Ensure "history" is selected
- Click "OK"
Step 3: Configure Export
- Click "Next step"
- Choose delivery method: "Send download link via email"
- Choose frequency: "Export once"
- Choose file type: ".zip"
- Choose file size: 2 GB should be sufficient
- Click "Create export"
Step 4: Download Your Data
- Wait for an email from Google (may take minutes to hours)
- Click the download link in the email
- Extract the ZIP file
- Navigate to:
Takeout/YouTube and YouTube Music/history/
- Locate the file named
watch-history.html
Using the Parser
Step 1: Upload Your File
- Open the YouTube History Parser webpage
- Click the upload area or drag your
watch-history.html
file onto it - The file will be validated automatically
Step 2: Configure Analysis Parameters
- Number of Top Videos: How many videos to display (default: 100)
- Minimum Play Count: Filter out videos watched fewer times
- Date Range: Analyze specific time periods (optional)
- Channel Filter: Search for specific channels
- Sort By: Choose ordering method
- Exclude YouTube Music: Toggle to filter out music content
Step 3: Analyze
- Click "Analyze History"
- Wait for processing to complete
- Review your statistics and top videos
Step 4: Export Results (Optional)
- Export CSV: Download spreadsheet-compatible file
- Export JSON: Download structured data file
Understanding Your Results
Statistics Section
- Data Period: Date range of your watch history
- Total Watch Events: Number of times you've watched any video
- Unique Videos: Different videos you've watched
- Unique Channels: Different channels you've watched
- Estimated Hours: Rough viewing time (assumes 10-minute average)
- Daily Average: Videos watched per day
- Favorite Channel: Most-watched channel by play count
- Most Rewatched: Single video with highest play count
- Peak Viewing Hour: When you watch most videos
Top Videos Table
- Rank: Position by play count
- Video Title: Name of the video with link
- Channel: Creator's channel name
- Plays: Number of times watched
- First Watched: Earliest viewing date
Privacy Notice
All processing occurs locally in your browser. Your watch history file never leaves your device. No data is uploaded to any server.
Troubleshooting
File Won't Upload
- Ensure file is named
watch-history.html
or has.html
extension - Verify file is from Google Takeout YouTube export
- Check file isn't corrupted (should open in browser)
No Data Showing
- Confirm you selected the correct date range
- Check minimum play count isn't too high
- Verify YouTube history was included in your Takeout export
Missing Videos
- Some deleted videos may not display properly
- YouTube Music content is excluded by default (toggle setting to include)
- Very old entries might have incomplete data
Tips
- Use the search box to find specific videos or channels
- Click column headers to sort differently
- Adjust date filters to analyze specific periods
- Export data for further analysis in spreadsheet software
Multiple YouTube Accounts?
The YouTube History Merger tool bleow combines multiple watch-history.html
files from different Google accounts into a single unified timeline. This is useful when you have multiple YouTube accounts (personal, work, legacy accounts) and want to analyze your complete viewing history across all accounts. The tool processes files of any size (tested up to 35MB+) and automatically removes exact duplicate entries that occur within 10 seconds of each other, while preserving legitimate re-watches of the same video at different times.
To use the merger, simply drag and drop or select multiple watch-history.html
files from your various Google Takeout exports. The tool will parse each file, extract all watch entries with their timestamps, sort them chronologically (newest first), remove duplicates, and generate a single merged watch-history.html file that maintains the exact same format as the original exports. This merged file can then be used with the YouTube History Parser above to analyze your complete viewing history across all accounts. The merger displays statistics showing total entries processed, unique entries retained, duplicates removed, and the date range of your combined history.
Drop YouTube watch-history.html files here
or
Supports large files (35MB+)
Your merged history is ready!
All videos sorted by date with duplicates removed.
Download Merged HistoryMissouri S&T Satellite Team: Mr & Mrs Satellite
Missouri made. Space grade.
In February 2015, Missouri University of Science and Technology won the Air Force's Nanosat-8 competition, beating MIT, Georgia Tech, and seven other universities. Their winning design: two satellites that would perform proximity operations in space, demonstrating inspection capabilities for non-responsive spacecraft. Nearly a decade later, these satellites are finally ready for launch.

Background
Missouri S&T hired Dr. Hank Pernicka in 2001 to establish their aerospace engineering program. By 2005, the university was competing in national satellite competitions. Dr. Pernicka set clear expectations for his students: "dealing with spacecraft, close to 100% is required for success."
The Missouri S&T Satellite Team (M-SAT) grew from a single course to a 50-person multidisciplinary team by 2015. Their competition history included third place in Nanosat-4 and second place in Nanosat-7, where they notably outperformed MIT.
The Nanosat-8 Competition
The University Nanosat Program, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, challenges universities to develop flight-ready satellites. Nanosat-8, launched in 2012, focused on proximity operations and space situational awareness – capabilities with direct military applications.
Ten universities competed over two years. The final review occurred January 18-19, 2015, at Kirtland Air Force Base. Winners would receive Air Force launch services for their satellites.
The Mr & Mrs Sat Design
Missouri S&T proposed a two-satellite system:
- MR SAT (Missouri-Rolla Satellite): The inspector satellite
- MRS SAT (Missouri-Rolla Second Satellite): Simulates an uncooperative space object
The mission addresses a practical problem. When satellites malfunction or stop responding, operators need to assess damage without risking astronaut spacewalks or expensive replacement missions. Mr & Mrs Sat demonstrates autonomous inspection at a 10-meter distance.
Key Technical Innovations
Stereoscopic Imaging: Custom dual-camera system creates real-time 3D images, allowing precise position and velocity measurements in space.
R-134a Propulsion: Instead of expensive spacecraft propellants, the team used R-134a refrigerant – the same compound found in automotive air conditioning. The cold gas system, stored in a container roughly the size of a 2-liter bottle, provides six degrees of freedom for formation flying. Cost: about $20 per bottle versus thousands for traditional propellants.
Autonomous Control: The Self-sufficient, Accelerated Spacecraft Integration Flight Control System (SASI FCS) maintains formation without ground intervention, critical for practical operations.
Development Challenges
Dr. Pernicka warned students the project would be "underfunded and due in two years – a ridiculous deadline for normal satellite design." Air Force safety requirements added complexity.
Anna Schroeter, Program Manager, coordinated 9 subsystems and 25+ personnel. Her responsibilities included budget proposals, Air Force coordination, and systems integration across multiple engineering disciplines.
The psychological toll was significant. As Dr. Pernicka noted, "Sometimes they fail spectacularly. It's part of the business." Students invested years in projects that could fail during launch or in orbit.
From Competition to Flight Hardware
Winning in 2015 guaranteed launch services but required transforming academic designs into flight-qualified hardware. This meant:
- Space qualification for every component
- Redundancy for all critical systems
- Testing for launch vibrations, thermal cycling (-100°F to +200°F), and radiation exposure
The process took nearly a decade. By Summer 2024, flight-ready satellites were delivered to the Air Force Research Laboratory. Multiple student generations contributed to the project through graduation cycles and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mission Profile
The satellites will likely launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9, possibly via the International Space Station. Once deployed, they'll demonstrate:
- Automated proximity operations
- 3D imaging and reconstruction
- Formation flying using low-cost propulsion
Primary mission duration: 4 months
Expected operational life: 2-4 years
Applications include military satellite inspection, commercial satellite diagnostics, and development of future servicing missions.
Educational Impact
The program has produced over 11,000 alumni across 25 years. Many work at NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and other aerospace companies. Students gain end-to-end spacecraft development experience unavailable in traditional academic programs.
Joseph Nguyen exemplifies the program's reach. A first-generation college student who initially found undergraduate research "a little too challenging," he became Student Director. His scholarship letter stated: "As the first male in my family to attend college, your scholarship will financially assist my family in the expenses of my attendance. I hope to make my community proud and hope to make you proud as a student who dared to change his future."
Technical Significance
The R-134a propulsion system demonstrates how cost constraints drive innovation. If university students can achieve precision formation flying with hardware store refrigerant, the approach could benefit budget-conscious small satellite operators.
The stereoscopic imaging system addresses growing needs for space situational awareness as orbit becomes more congested. Autonomous inspection capabilities have clear national security applications.
Looking Forward
Mr & Mrs Sat awaits launch within 1-2 years. The approaching milestone represents a decade of student effort, technical problem-solving, and persistence through setbacks.
When these satellites finally reach orbit, they'll prove that the greatest space achievements don't always come from billion-dollar budgets or prestigious institutions – sometimes they come from Missouri students with the audacity to make hardware store refrigerant fly. In the cold vacuum above, Mr & Mrs Sat will dance on air conditioning dreams, showing the world that innovation thrives on constraint, that ridiculous deadlines can forge real spacecraft, and that true engineering genius isn't about having the most resources but about having the nerve to reach for the stars with whatever's in your toolbox. They'll orbit as monuments to every student who dared to believe that a hardware store trip could be the first step to space – and that sometimes, the most extraordinary achievements begin with the most ordinary tools.
