def make_string(seq):
    """
    Don't throw an exception when given an out of range character.
    """
    string = ''
    for c in seq:
        # Screen out non-printing characters
        try:
            if 32 <= c and c < 256:
                string += chr(c)
        except TypeError:
            pass
        # If no printing chars
    if not string:
        return str(seq)
    return string