diff --git a/2012/hamano/Makefile b/2012/hamano/Makefile
index 56919d9d1..bcfb44f53 100644
--- a/2012/hamano/Makefile
+++ b/2012/hamano/Makefile
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ include ../../var.mk
 #
 CSILENCE= -Wno-bitwise-op-parentheses -Wno-empty-body -Wno-format \
 	-Wno-format-security -Wno-gnu-zero-variadic-macro-arguments -Wno-main \
-	-Wno-parentheses
+	-Wno-parentheses -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -Wno-strict-prototypes
 
 # Common C compiler warning flags
 #
@@ -129,11 +129,48 @@ all: data ${TARGET}
 .PHONY: all alt data everything diff_orig_prog diff_prog_orig \
 	diff_alt_prog diff_prog_alt diff_orig_alt diff_alt_orig \
 	clean clobber install love haste waste maker easter_egg \
-	sandwich supernova deep_magic magic charon pluto
+	sandwich supernova deep_magic magic charon pluto hint hint.pdf \
+	hello hello.pdf
+
 
 ${PROG}: ${PROG}.c
 	${CC} ${CFLAGS} $< -o $@ ${LDFLAGS}
 
+# hint.pdf rules to simplify use of 2012/hamano
+#
+
+# This rule generates the hint.pdf file which is the README.md obfuscated as a
+# PDF that is NOT part of the repo:
+hint.pdf: ${PROG} README.md
+	./${PROG} < README.md > hint.pdf
+	@echo
+
+# This rule, hint, depends on the hint.pdf rule. That rule generates the
+# hint.pdf file (NOT part of the repo) which is an obfuscated (as a PDF) version
+# of the README.md. This rule, in turn, COMPILES THAT PDF FILE AS C CODE!
+hint: hint.pdf
+	${CC} ${CFLAGS} -xc $< -o $@
+
+
+# hello.pdf rules to simplify use of 2012/hamano
+#
+
+# This rule generates the hello.pdf file which is a simple 'Hello World!'
+# program obfuscated as a PDF:
+hello.pdf:
+	echo 'int main(){puts("Hello World!");}' | ./${PROG} > hello.pdf
+
+# This rule, hello, depends on the hello.pdf rule. That rule generates the
+# hello.pdf file (NOT part of the repo) which is an obfuscated (as a PDF) version
+# of a simple 'Hello World!' program. This rule, in turn, COMPILES THAT PDF FILE
+# AS C CODE to hello and then pipes it to cc to compile it to hello2 which when
+# run will print 'Hello World!'.
+hello: hello.pdf
+	@echo
+	${CC} ${CFLAGS} -xc hello.pdf -o $@
+	@echo
+	./hello | ${CC} ${CFLAGS} -xc - -o hello2 
+
 # alternative executable
 #
 alt: data ${ALT_TARGET}
@@ -204,7 +241,7 @@ clean:
 	fi
 
 clobber: clean
-	${RM} -f ${TARGET} ${ALT_TARGET}
+	${RM} -f ${TARGET} ${ALT_TARGET} hint.pdf hello.pdf hello hello2
 	${RM} -rf *.dSYM
 	@-if [ -e sandwich ]; then \
 	    ${RM} -f sandwich; \
diff --git a/2012/hamano/README.md b/2012/hamano/README.md
index 3d8c90728..17d0ebf6f 100644
--- a/2012/hamano/README.md
+++ b/2012/hamano/README.md
@@ -28,16 +28,29 @@ One of the PDF files generated is this README.md file as a PDF, obfuscated, and
 the PDF file will then be compiled as C (itself!) and executed so that it shows
 README.md!
 
-Another PDF file generated is obfuscated C code. Once this is done it will
-compile the PDF as if it was C and then run it like:
+That procedure looks like:
+
+```sh
+./hamano < README.md > hint.pdf
+cc -xc hint.pdf -o hint
+./hint
+```
+
+Another PDF generated is an obfuscated `Hello World!` program (obfuscated inside
+the PDF). Once this is done it will compile the PDF as if it was C (itself!). It
+will look like:
 
 ```sh
 echo 'int main(){puts("Hello World!");}' | ./hamano > hello.pdf
-cc -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc hello.pdf -o hello2
-./hello2 | gcc -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc - -o ./hello3
-./hello3
+cc -xc hello.pdf -o hello
+./hello | cc -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc - -o ./hello2
+
+./hello2
 ```
 
+although the `CFLAGS` will be what is in the Makefile as it uses the helper
+rules `hint.pdf`, `hint`, `hello.pdf` and `hello` to do this.
+
 
 ## Judges' remarks:
 
diff --git a/2012/hamano/try.sh b/2012/hamano/try.sh
index 2f949d0e4..a7b00c88a 100755
--- a/2012/hamano/try.sh
+++ b/2012/hamano/try.sh
@@ -15,37 +15,47 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to obfuscate README.md, writing to hint.pdf: "
-echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./hamano < README.md > hint.pdf" 1>&2
-./hamano < README.md > hint.pdf
-
-echo "Now try opening it in a pdf viewer before proceeding." 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+# delete hint.pdf
+rm -f hint.pdf
 
+echo "Will obfuscate README.md like:" 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ${CC} -xc hint.pdf -o hint" 1>&2
-${CC} -xc hint.pdf -o hint
+echo "    ./hamano < README.md > hint.pdf" 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hint | less (space = next page, q = quit): "
-./hint | less
-
+echo "and then compile it as C like:" 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+echo "    ${CC} -xc hint.pdf -o hint" 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: make hint: "
+echo 1>&2
+make hint
+echo 1>&2
+echo "Now try opening hint.pdf in a pdf viewer before proceeding." 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hint (space = next page, q = quit): "
+echo 1>&2
+./hint | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 echo "Will obfuscate the following code: " 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
-echo "	    int main(){puts("Hello World!");}"
+echo "    int main(){puts("Hello World!");}"
 echo 1>&2
-echo "writing to hello.pdf" 1>&2
-echo 'int main(){puts("Hello World!");}' | ./hamano > hello.pdf
+echo "writing it to hello.pdf via:" 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
-echo "Now open hello.pdf in a pdf viewer before continuing." 1>&2
+echo "     echo 'int main(){puts("Hello World!");}' | ./hamano > hello.pdf"
 echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue to deobfuscate and compile hello.pdf: "
+echo "and then execute the following commands:" 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ${CC} -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc hello.pdf -o hello2" 1>&2
-${CC} -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc hello.pdf -o hello2
-echo "$ ./hello2 | ${CC} -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc - -o ./hello3" 1>&2
-./hello2 | ${CC} -Wno-implicit-function-declaration -xc - -o ./hello3
-echo "$ ./hello3" 1>&2
-./hello3
+echo "    ${CC} -xc hello.pdf -o hello" 1>&2
+echo "    ./hello | ${CC} -xc - -o hello2" 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: make hello: "
+echo 1>&2
+make hello
+echo 1>&2
+echo "Now open hello.pdf in a pdf viewer to see the obfuscated source." 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hello2: "
+echo 1>&2
+./hello2
diff --git a/2012/hou/try.sh b/2012/hou/try.sh
index f19b41c35..c62ad6643 100755
--- a/2012/hou/try.sh
+++ b/2012/hou/try.sh
@@ -15,14 +15,18 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less hou.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run show hou.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -X hou.c
+less -rEXFK hou.c
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hou ansi.txt hou.c | less -r (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hou ansi.txt hou.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./hou ansi.txt hou.c | less -r"
+# Note: unlike the other try.sh/try.alt.sh scripts we don't use options that
+# don't reset the terminal and that quit less(1) when it reaches EOF. This is
+# because if we do the effect will vanish the moment they reach the EOF. Also if
+# we don't have less(1) reset things the colour of the rest of the script will
+# be wrong. Thus in this script the user must hit 'q' to finish this command.
 ./hou ansi.txt hou.c | less -r
 echo 1>&2
 
diff --git a/2012/kang/README.md b/2012/kang/README.md
index a8871e42d..cf243d179 100644
--- a/2012/kang/README.md
+++ b/2012/kang/README.md
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ where the sound of 'V' is 'F' and so the program had the letter be 'F'. A
 problem, however, with changing it is that it breaks other words including in
 German. Thus there is the alternate version instead which fixes a problem for
 Germans that causes problems for Germans so if you're German you'll just have to
-deal with it :-) It is, however, good as you might be able appreciate the entry
-even more.
+deal with it :-) It also breaks other words too and this happens only for one
+letter change. With this one should hopefully be able to really appreciate the
+subtlety of this entry even more.
 
 
 ### Alternate build:
@@ -50,7 +51,10 @@ make alt
 ### Alternate use:
 
 ```sh
+echo "full spelling of an English cardinal numeral less than a quadrillion" | ./kang.alt
+
 echo vier | ./kang.alt
+
 echo uno | ./kang.alt
 ```
 
@@ -58,14 +62,17 @@ echo uno | ./kang.alt
 ### Alternate try:
 
 ```sh
-./de.alt.sh # German 0 through 13 both with and without umlaut
+./try.alt.sh # try various languages
+
 ./en.alt.sh # English 0 through 13
+
+./de.alt.sh # German 0 through 13 with both umlauts and without (additional 'e')
 ```
 
 What does it get right? What does it get wrong? How does it compare to the
 original entry without the change of `f` to `v`?
 
-Finally why does it get what it gets wrong wrong? 
+Finally why does it get wrong what it gets wrong? 
 
 
 ## Judges' remarks:
diff --git a/2012/kang/de.alt.sh b/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
index c5449d4be..b6fa1ed95 100755
--- a/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/de.alt.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ done
 j=0
 for i in Null eins zwei drei vier fünf fuenf sechs sieben acht neun zehn elf zwoelf zwölf dreizehn ; \
 do
-    echo -n "$i (${NUMBERS[$j]}): "
-	echo "$i"|"./$KANG"
-	((j++))
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo $i | ./$KANG # ${NUMBERS[$j]}: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    echo "$i" | "./$KANG"
+    ((j++))
 done
diff --git a/2012/kang/de.sh b/2012/kang/de.sh
index 75e59b99c..f31a3e9f8 100755
--- a/2012/kang/de.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/de.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ done
 j=0
 for i in Null eins zwei drei vier fünf fuenf sechs sieben acht neun zehn elf zwoelf zwölf dreizehn ; \
 do
-    echo -n "$i (${NUMBERS[$j]}): "
-	echo "$i"|"./$KANG"
-	((j++))
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo $i | ./$KANG # ${NUMBERS[$j]}: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    echo "$i" | "./$KANG"
+    ((j++))
 done
diff --git a/2012/kang/en.alt.sh b/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
index 098a0d5f3..64aee361c 100755
--- a/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/en.alt.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ done
 j=0
 for i in zero one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen ; \
 do
-    echo -n "$i (${NUMBERS[$j]}): "
-    echo "$i"|"./$KANG"
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo $i | ./$KANG # ${NUMBERS[$j]}: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    echo "$i" | "./$KANG"
     ((j++))
 done
diff --git a/2012/kang/en.sh b/2012/kang/en.sh
index 02aa3e808..dfa3c5dff 100755
--- a/2012/kang/en.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/en.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ done
 j=0
 for i in zero one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen ; \
 do
-    echo -n "$i (${NUMBERS[$j]}): "
-    echo "$i"|"./$KANG"
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo $i | ./$KANG # ${NUMBERS[$j]}: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    echo "$i" | "./$KANG"
     ((j++))
 done
diff --git a/2012/kang/try.alt.sh b/2012/kang/try.alt.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..d949038b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/2012/kang/try.alt.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+#
+# try.alt.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2012/kang alt code
+
+# make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
+# this way allows us to have the user specify a different compiler in an easy
+# way.
+if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
+    CC="cc"
+fi
+
+make CC="$CC" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+
+# clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
+clear
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang.alt # 1984: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo uno | ./kang.alt # 1: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo uno | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo trois | ./kang.alt # 3: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo trois | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo fier | ./kang.alt # 4, should be vier: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo fier | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo vier | ./kang.alt # 4: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo vier | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo \"shest'\" | ./kang.alt # 6: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo "shest'" | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo dos | ./kang.alt # 2: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo dos | ./kang.alt
+echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2012/kang/try.sh b/2012/kang/try.sh
index ce013b131..1e613994e 100755
--- a/2012/kang/try.sh
+++ b/2012/kang/try.sh
@@ -14,20 +14,40 @@ make CC="$CC" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-echo "$ echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang # 1984: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo Nineteen hundred and eighty-four | ./kang
+echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo uno | ./kang" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo uno | ./kang # 1: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo uno | ./kang
+echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo trois | ./kang" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo trois | ./kang # 3: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo trois | ./kang
+echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo fier | ./kang # notice the issue here, see alternate code instead" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo fier | ./kang # 4, should be vier: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo fier | ./kang # notice the issue here, see alternate code instead
+echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo \"shest'\" | ./kang" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo vier | ./kang # 4: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo vier | ./kang # notice the issue here, see alternate code instead
+echo 1>&2
+echo "Note: for a version that gets this one right (breaking others" 1>&2
+echo "including fier), see the alt code." 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo \"shest'\" | ./kang # 6: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo "shest'" | ./kang
+echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo dos | ./kang" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo dos | ./kang # 2: "
+echo 1>&2
 echo dos | ./kang
+echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2012/konno/README.md b/2012/konno/README.md
index c4e7916c3..8362bc69e 100644
--- a/2012/konno/README.md
+++ b/2012/konno/README.md
@@ -14,15 +14,19 @@ code](#alternate-code) below.
 ./konno N
 ```
 
-NOTE: N is an integer from 0 to 255.
-
 
 ## Try:
 
 ```sh
 ./try.sh
+
+# you can also specify numbers to try before the random and preselected ones:
+./try.sh 111 222 333 444 555 666 777 888 999
 ```
 
+Try running [try.sh](try.sh) a number of times as the first part randomly
+selects ten numbers to try.
+
 
 ## Alternate code:
 
diff --git a/2012/konno/try.sh b/2012/konno/try.sh
index 4ded663b1..c60835e21 100755
--- a/2012/konno/try.sh
+++ b/2012/konno/try.sh
@@ -15,47 +15,71 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-echo "$ ./konno 30" 1>&2
+# let user specify args to run on program too
+while [[ "$#" -ge 1 ]]; do
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno $1: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    ./konno "$1"
+    echo 1>&2
+    shift 1
+done
+
+# use ten random values (in range $((RANDOM % 101)))
+i=0
+# we do it this way to prevent the annoying shellcheck warning that 'i' appears
+# to be unused (as it would be if 'for i in {0..9}; do .. done').
+while [[ "$i" -lt 10 ]]; do
+    NUM="$((RANDOM % 101))"
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno $NUM: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    ./konno "$NUM"
+    echo 1>&2
+    ((i++))
+done
+
+
+# finally use some preselected values
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 30: "
+echo 1>&2
 ./konno 30
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 90: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 90" 1>&2
 ./konno 90
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 102: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 102" 1>&2
 ./konno 102
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 109: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 109" 1>&2
 ./konno 109
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 165: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 165" 1>&2
 ./konno 165
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 42: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 42" 1>&2
 ./konno 42 
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 37: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 37" 1>&2
 ./konno 37 
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 255: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./konno 255" 1>&2
 ./konno 255 
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 10000: "
+echo 1>&2
+./konno 10000
+echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh b/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh
index 4aaf26b65..8111748a6 100755
--- a/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh
+++ b/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 #
-# try.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2012/omoikane alternate code
+# try.alt.sh - demonstrate IOCCC winner 2012/omoikane alt code
 #
 
 # make sure CC is set so that when we do make CC="$CC" it isn't empty. Doing it
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
     CC="cc"
 fi
 
-make CC="$CC" everything >/dev/null || exit 1
+make CC="$CC" alt >/dev/null || exit 1
 
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
@@ -23,27 +23,29 @@ PERL="$(type -P perl)"
 
 echo "$ echo \"A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog\" | ./nyaruko.alt > output.c" 1>&2
 echo "A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" | ./nyaruko.alt > output.c
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -EX output.c
+less -rEXFK output.c
 
 # perl specific stuff
-if [[ -n "$PERL" ]]; then
+if [[ -n "$PERL" && -f "$PERL" && -x "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ${PERL} output.c > data.c: " 1>&2
     echo 1>&2
     "${PERL}" output.c > data.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    less -rEXFK data.c
+    echo 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc -o data data.c: "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX data.c
-    echo "$ cc -o data data.c" 1>&2
     cc -o data data.c
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./data: "
-    echo "$ ./data" 1>&2
     echo 1>&2
     ./data
 fi
 
-echo "$ cc -o output output.c" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc -o output output.c: "
+echo 1>&2
 cc -o output output.c
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output: "
 echo 1>&2
@@ -53,37 +55,41 @@ echo "$ ./output" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./nyaruko.alt < output > output.c: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./nyaruko.alt < output > output.c
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -EX output.c
+less -rEXFK output.c
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: bash output.c > key.c: "
+echo 1>&2
 bash output.c > key.c
 echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX key.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
-less -EX key.c
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: show key.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+less -rEXFK key.c
 
 # more perl stuff
-if [[ -n "${PERL}" ]]; then
+if [[ -n "${PERL}" && -f "$PERL" && -x "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ${PERL} output.c > data.c: "
     echo 1>&2
     "${PERL}" output.c > data.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX data.c
+    less -rEXFK data.c
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cat key.c data.c > output.c: "
     echo 1>&2
     cat key.c data.c > output.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    less -rEXFK output.c
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc output.c -o output: "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX output.c
-    echo "$ cc output.c -o output" 1>&2
     cc output.c -o output
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output > output.2: "
     echo 1>&2
     ./output > output.2
-    echo "$ chmod +x output.2" 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: chmod +x output.2: "
+    echo 1>&2
     chmod +x output.2
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output.2: "
+    echo 1>&2
     ./output.2
 fi
diff --git a/2012/omoikane/try.sh b/2012/omoikane/try.sh
index 6778a1faf..962e4b42b 100755
--- a/2012/omoikane/try.sh
+++ b/2012/omoikane/try.sh
@@ -23,27 +23,29 @@ PERL="$(type -P perl)"
 
 echo "$ echo \"A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog\" | ./nyaruko > output.c" 1>&2
 echo "A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" | ./nyaruko > output.c
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -EX output.c
+less -rEXFK output.c
 
 # perl specific stuff
-if [[ -n "$PERL" ]]; then
+if [[ -n "$PERL" && -f "$PERL" && -x "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ${PERL} output.c > data.c: " 1>&2
     echo 1>&2
     "${PERL}" output.c > data.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    less -rEXFK data.c
+    echo 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc -o data data.c: "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX data.c
-    echo "$ cc -o data data.c" 1>&2
     cc -o data data.c
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./data: "
-    echo "$ ./data" 1>&2
     echo 1>&2
     ./data
 fi
 
-echo "$ cc -o output output.c" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc -o output output.c: "
+echo 1>&2
 cc -o output output.c
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output: "
 echo 1>&2
@@ -53,37 +55,41 @@ echo "$ ./output" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./nyaruko < output > output.c: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./nyaruko < output > output.c
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -EX output.c
+less -rEXFK output.c
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: bash output.c > key.c: "
+echo 1>&2
 bash output.c > key.c
 echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX key.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
-less -EX key.c
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: show key.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+less -rEXFK key.c
 
 # more perl stuff
-if [[ -n "${PERL}" ]]; then
+if [[ -n "${PERL}" && -f "$PERL" && -x "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ${PERL} output.c > data.c: "
     echo 1>&2
     "${PERL}" output.c > data.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show data.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX data.c
+    less -rEXFK data.c
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cat key.c data.c > output.c: "
     echo 1>&2
     cat key.c data.c > output.c
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less -EX output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to show output.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    less -rEXFK output.c
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cc output.c -o output: "
     echo 1>&2
-    less -EX output.c
-    echo "$ cc output.c -o output" 1>&2
     cc output.c -o output
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output > output.2: "
     echo 1>&2
     ./output > output.2
-    echo "$ chmod +x output.2" 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: chmod +x output.2: "
+    echo 1>&2
     chmod +x output.2
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./output.2: "
+    echo 1>&2
     ./output.2
 fi
diff --git a/2012/tromp/try.sh b/2012/tromp/try.sh
index 1b404686b..48680afe4 100755
--- a/2012/tromp/try.sh
+++ b/2012/tromp/try.sh
@@ -15,106 +15,96 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-# ^-- SC2140 (warning): Word is of the form "A"B"C" (B indicated). Did you mean "ABC" or "A\"B\"C"?
-# shellcheck disable=SC2140 
-echo "$ (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "1") | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n \"1\") | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
 (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "1") | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-# ^-- SC2140 (warning): Word is of the form "A"B"C" (B indicated). Did you mean "ABC" or "A\"B\"C"?
-# shellcheck disable=SC2140 
-echo "$ (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "12") | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n \"12\") | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
 (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "12") | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-# ^-- SC2140 (warning): Word is of the form "A"B"C" (B indicated). Did you mean "ABC" or "A\"B\"C"?
-# shellcheck disable=SC2140 
-echo "$ (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "123") | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
-echo 1>&2
-
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence. Well okay it's also
+# because it's easier to verify that it works as this form was given by the
+# author.
 #
+# SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2002
 # shellcheck disable=SC2002
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n \"123\") | ./tromp: "
+echo 1>&2
 (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n "123") | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n 1234) | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n 1234) | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence. Well okay it's also
+# because it's easier to verify that it works as this form was given by the
+# author.
 #
+# SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2002
 # shellcheck disable=SC2002
-
 (cat hilbert.Blc; echo -n 1234) | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo " Hello, world" | ./tromp"
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo \" Hello, world\" | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
 echo " Hello, world" | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ echo "*Hello, world" | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo \"*Hello, world\" | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
 echo "*Hello, world" | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ (cat uni8.Blc; echo " Ni hao") | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: (cat uni8.Blc; echo \" Ni hao\") | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
-#
-# shellcheck disable=SC2002
 (cat uni8.Blc; echo " Ni hao") | ./tromp
 echo 1>&2
 
 echo "$ cat primes.blc | ./tromp -b | head -c 70" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
 echo 1>&2
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence. Well okay it's also
+# because it's easier to verify that it works as this form was given by the
+# author.
 #
+# SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2002
 # shellcheck disable=SC2002
 cat primes.blc | ./tromp -b | head -c 70
 echo 1>&2
 
 echo "$ (cat oddindices.Blc; echo -n " "; cat primes.blc | ./tromp -b) | ./tromp | head -c 70" 1>&2
-echo 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
 echo 1>&2
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+
+# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence. Well okay it's also
+# because it's easier to verify that it works as this form was given by the
+# author.
 #
+# SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2002
 # shellcheck disable=SC2002
 (cat oddindices.Blc; echo -n " "; cat primes.blc | ./tromp -b) | ./tromp | head -c 70
 echo 1>&2
 
-echo "$ cat hw.bf" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cat hw.bf: "
 echo 1>&2
 cat hw.bf
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ cat bf.Blc hw.bf | ./tromp" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue: "
+
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: cat bf.Blc hw.bf | ./tromp: "
 echo 1>&2
-# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence:
-#
-#   SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# There's no such thing as a useless cat so we silence. Well okay it's also
+# because it's easier to verify that it works as this form was given by the
+# author.
 #
+# SC2002 (style): Useless cat. Consider 'cmd < file | ..' or 'cmd file | ..' instead.
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2002
 # shellcheck disable=SC2002
 cat bf.Blc hw.bf | ./tromp
 
diff --git a/2012/vik/try.sh b/2012/vik/try.sh
index deb29e9fb..f46bc2e3f 100755
--- a/2012/vik/try.sh
+++ b/2012/vik/try.sh
@@ -15,18 +15,6 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to embed chocolate in chocolate-in-ioccc.png: "
-echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./vik e chocolate-in-ioccc.png \"Mmm... chocolate.\" > mmm-chocolate.png" 1>&2
-./vik e chocolate-in-ioccc.png "Mmm... chocolate." > mmm-chocolate.png
-echo 1>&2
-
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to extract chocolate from mmm-chocolate.png: "
-echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./vik d mmm-chocolate.png" 1>&2
-./vik d mmm-chocolate.png
-echo 1>&2
-
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to embed chocolate.png in ioccc.png: "
 echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./vik e ioccc.png chocolate.png > chocolate-in-ioccc.png" 1>&2
@@ -39,6 +27,18 @@ echo "$ ./vik e chocolate.png ioccc.png > ioccc-in-chocolate.png"
 ./vik e chocolate.png ioccc.png > ioccc-in-chocolate.png
 echo 1>&2
 
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to embed chocolate in chocolate-in-ioccc.png: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo "$ ./vik e chocolate-in-ioccc.png \"Mmm... chocolate.\" > mmm-chocolate.png" 1>&2
+./vik e chocolate-in-ioccc.png "Mmm... chocolate." > mmm-chocolate.png
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to extract chocolate from mmm-chocolate.png: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo "$ ./vik d mmm-chocolate.png" 1>&2
+./vik d mmm-chocolate.png
+echo 1>&2
+
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to embed a brainfuck program as a text file and decode it: "
 echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./vik e ioccc.png .+[.+] > encodedimg.png" 1>&2
diff --git a/2013/birken/try.alt.sh b/2013/birken/try.alt.sh
index 32604bcb4..c0df5856c 100755
--- a/2013/birken/try.alt.sh
+++ b/2013/birken/try.alt.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ PERL="$(type -P perl)"
 
 if [[ -n "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to try a random run: "
+    echo 1>&2
     perl -e 'map{map{print int(rand()*8);}(0..16);print chr(10);}(0..30);' | tr '[0-4]' ' '| ./birken.alt
 fi
 
@@ -30,7 +31,8 @@ for i in *.txt; do
 	-e 's/Cheepcheep/Cheep Cheep/g' -e 's/Happyface/Happy Face/g' -e 's/Paranaplant/Piranha Plant/g' \
 	-e 's/Koopaparatroopa/Koopa Paratroopa/g')"
     read -r -n1 -p "Press any key to try $NAME: "
+    echo 1>&2
     ./birken.alt < "$i"
-    echo
+    echo 1>&2
 done
 clear
diff --git a/2013/birken/try.sh b/2013/birken/try.sh
index f08c8e1e4..2f3982cac 100755
--- a/2013/birken/try.sh
+++ b/2013/birken/try.sh
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ PERL="$(type -P perl)"
 
 if [[ -n "$PERL" ]]; then
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to try a random run: "
+    echo 1>&2
     perl -e 'map{map{print int(rand()*8);}(0..16);print chr(10);}(0..30);' | tr '[0-4]' ' '| ./birken
 fi
 
@@ -29,7 +30,8 @@ for i in *.txt; do
 	-e 's/Cheepcheep/Cheep Cheep/g' -e 's/Happyface/Happy Face/g' -e 's/Paranaplant/Piranha Plant/g' \
 	-e 's/Koopaparatroopa/Koopa Paratroopa/g')"
     read -r -n1 -p "Press any key to try $NAME: "
+    echo 1>&2
     ./birken < "$i"
-    echo
+    echo 1>&2
 done
 clear
diff --git a/2013/cable2/try.sh b/2013/cable2/try.sh
index a03c6dbec..1ae4ed99a 100755
--- a/2013/cable2/try.sh
+++ b/2013/cable2/try.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to extract and compile C code by OCR: "
 echo 1>&2
 echo "$ ./cable2 hello_world.bmp | gcc -xc -o hello -" 1>&2
 ./cable2 hello_world.bmp | gcc -xc -o hello -
-echo "$ ./hello" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hello: "
+echo 1>&2
 ./hello
 echo 1>&2
 
@@ -45,7 +46,8 @@ echo "Sometimes typeset text will work if the typeset has characters that are" 1
 echo "enough to support the handwritten shapes." 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to try Menlo 160pt text: "
 echo 1>&2
-echo "$ ./cable2 typeset.bmp" 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./cable2 typeset.bmp: "
+echo 1>&2
 ./cable2 typeset.bmp
 echo 1>&2
 
diff --git a/2013/cable3/Makefile b/2013/cable3/Makefile
index 2961a0bd0..7195279c9 100644
--- a/2013/cable3/Makefile
+++ b/2013/cable3/Makefile
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ ENTRY= cable3
 PROG= ${ENTRY}
 #
 OBJ= ${PROG}.o
-DATA= bios fd.img runme sc-ioccc.terminal screenshot_autocad.png \
+DATA= bios fd.img cable3.sh sc-ioccc.terminal screenshot_autocad.png \
 	screenshot_flightsim4.png screenshot_lotus123.png screenshot_qbasic.png \
 	screenshot_simcity.png screenshot_win3_on_macosx.png
 TARGET= ${PROG}
diff --git a/2013/cable3/README.md b/2013/cable3/README.md
index 302b1cf28..910fa82e8 100644
--- a/2013/cable3/README.md
+++ b/2013/cable3/README.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ available. See the [Alternate code](#alternate-code) section below.
 ## Try:
 
 ```sh
-./runme
+./cable3.sh
 ```
 
 NOTE: to quit the program type `QUITEMU`. You might have to be at the top level
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ stty cbreak raw -echo min 0
 stty cooked echo
 ```
 
-See the [runme](runme) script.
+See the [cable3.sh](cable3.sh) script.
 
 ## To use the emulator - floppy mode only
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ the `fd.img` provided, which is a FreeDOS boot disk.
 Before running the emulator on a Unix-type system, `stty` needs to be used to
 put the keyboard into raw mode (and afterwards it needs to be put back to
 cooked). So, run the emulator using something like this script (provided as
-[runme](runme)):
+[cable3.sh](cable3.sh)):
 
 ```sh
 stty cbreak raw -echo min 0
diff --git a/2013/cable3/runme b/2013/cable3/cable3.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from 2013/cable3/runme
rename to 2013/cable3/cable3.sh
diff --git a/2013/dlowe/diff.sh b/2013/dlowe/diff.sh
index bdeb9527a..6eb49cbcf 100755
--- a/2013/dlowe/diff.sh
+++ b/2013/dlowe/diff.sh
@@ -11,12 +11,20 @@ if [[ -z "$CC" ]]; then
 fi
 make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 
-echo "$ ./try.sh | tail -n 3 > 1.txt" 1>&2
-./try.sh | tail -n 3 > 1.txt
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./try.sh | tail -n 3 | tee 1.txt: "
+./try.sh | tail -n 3 | tee 1.txt
+
 echo "$ echo 'IOCCC winning entry 2013/dlowe' > ioccc.txt" 1>&2
-echo 'IOCCC winning entry 2013/dlowe' > ioccc.txt
-echo "$ ./try.sh | tail -n 3 > 2.txt" 1>&2
-./try.sh | tail -n 3 > 2.txt
-echo "$ diff 1.txt 2.txt" 1>&2
-diff 1.txt 2.txt
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: echo 'IOCCC winning entry 2013/dlowe' | tee ioccc.txt: "
+echo 1>&2
+echo 'IOCCC winning entry 2013/dlowe' | tee ioccc.txt
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./try.sh | tail -n 3 | tee 2.txt: "
+echo 1>&2
+./try.sh | tail -n 3 | tee 2.txt
+echo 1>&2
+
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff -s 1.txt 2.txt: "
+echo 1>&2
+diff -s 1.txt 2.txt
 rm -f 1.txt 2.txt ioccc.txt
diff --git a/2013/dlowe/slflen.sh b/2013/dlowe/slflen.sh
index 399051543..7a492f246 100755
--- a/2013/dlowe/slflen.sh
+++ b/2013/dlowe/slflen.sh
@@ -15,5 +15,7 @@ make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 
 ln -sf dlowe sparkl
 ls -1 *
+echo 1>&2
 echo -n "sparkline length of above files: "
 wc -c ./* | awk '{print $1}' | xargs ./sparkl
+echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2013/endoh1/try.sh b/2013/endoh1/try.sh
index 2dbdbf189..d10254a00 100755
--- a/2013/endoh1/try.sh
+++ b/2013/endoh1/try.sh
@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: less endoh1.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-less -EXF endoh1.c
+less -rEXFK endoh1.c
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./endoh1 hello.lazy: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./endoh1 hello.lazy (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./endoh1 hello.lazy
+./endoh1 hello.lazy | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hello: "
@@ -35,12 +35,13 @@ echo 1>&2
 # ShellCheck gets this wrong, thinking ./echo is the shell built-in or system
 # command so we disable the warning.
 #
-# ^----^ SC2216 (warning): Piping to 'echo', a command that doesn't read stdin. Did you want 'cat' instead?
+# SC2216 (warning): Piping to 'echo', a command that doesn't read stdin. Did you want 'cat' instead?
+# https://www.shellcheck.net/wiki/SC2216
 # shellcheck disable=SC2216
 echo Hello | ./echo
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./tac < endoh1.c | less (space = next page, q = quit): "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./tac < endoh1.c (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./tac < endoh1.c | less -EXF
+./tac < endoh1.c | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/bugs.md b/bugs.md
index 907a7e70d..aa081950b 100644
--- a/bugs.md
+++ b/bugs.md
@@ -3019,12 +3019,12 @@ will likely dump core.
 ### Information: [2012/vik/README.md](2012/vik/README.md)
 
 The author stated that the program will crash if no argument is passed to the
-program or if invalid arguments or images of mismatching sizes or unsupported
-pixel formats though we note that your computer might also [halt and catch
+program or if invalid arguments (e.g. file does not exist) or images of
+mismatching sizes or unsupported pixel formats though we note that your computer
+might also [halt and catch
 fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halt_and_Catch_Fire_(computing)) :-)
 
 
-
 # 2013
 
 ## 2013 cable2
diff --git a/thanks-for-help.md b/thanks-for-help.md
index 62e84285f..ba05f795d 100644
--- a/thanks-for-help.md
+++ b/thanks-for-help.md
@@ -3769,7 +3769,9 @@ which the recipe file now links to.
 
 ## <a name="2012_hamano"></a>[2012/hamano](/2012/hamano/hamano.c) ([README.md](/2012/hamano/README.md]))
 
-[Cody](#cody) added the [try.sh](/2012/hamano/try.sh) script.
+[Cody](#cody) added the [try.sh](/2012/hamano/try.sh) script and the helper
+Makefile rules `hint.pdf`, `hint`, `hello.pdf` and `hello` to simplify the
+procedure for both `hint.pdf` and `hello.pdf` as well as compiling them as C. 
 
 
 ## <a name="2012_hou"></a>[2012/hou](/2012/hou/hou.c) ([README.md](/2012/hou/README.md]))
@@ -3795,7 +3797,7 @@ about it. Using both, however, allows one to experience different capabilities
 and also enjoy or appreciate the entry even more, given how simple the
 difference is.
 
-Cody also added five scripts: [en.sh](/2012/kang/en.sh),
+Cody also added six scripts: [en.sh](/2012/kang/en.sh),
 [de.sh](/2012/kang/de.sh), [en.alt.sh](/2012/kang/en.alt.sh) and
 [de.alt.sh](/2012/de.alt.sh) which count from 0 through 13 in English and German
 using the original entry and the alt version respectively.
@@ -3805,8 +3807,10 @@ In the German scripts it uses the umlaut and also does it without the umlaut
 either version but the `.alt.sh` versions default to the `alt` version whereas
 the other defaults to the submitted entry. See the README.md for details.
 
-The fifth script, [try.sh](/2012/kang/try.sh), runs a sequence of commands to
-show different languages and numbers.
+The fifth and sixth scripts, [try.sh](/2012/kang/try.sh) and
+[try.alt.sh](/2012/kang/try.alt.sh), run a sequence of commands to
+show different languages and numbers with the submitted and alternate version
+respectively. Notice how a single letter changes so much!
 
 
 ## <a name="2012_konno"></a>[2012/konno](/2012/konno/konno.c) ([README.md](/2012/konno/README.md]))
@@ -3816,17 +3820,15 @@ show different languages and numbers.
 
 ## <a name="2012_omoikane"></a>[2012/omoikane](/2012/omoikane/omoikane.c) ([README.md](/2012/omoikane/README.md]))
 
-[Cody](#cody) added the [try.sh](/2012/omoikane/try.sh) script.
-
-Cody also added the [alternate code](/2012/omoikane/README.md#alternate-code)
+[Cody](#cody) added the [alternate versions](/2012/omoikane/README.md#alternate-code)
 which will, if no arg is specified, read in the program itself, rather than
 `/dev/urandom`. This is mostly useful for those without a `/dev/urandom` device
 file (the default for the entry). The second alternate version is like the first
 except that it also sets binary mode on `stdin` and `stdout` which should
 theoretically make it work in Windows.
 
-Cody also added the [try.alt.sh](/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh) script that is like
-the `try.sh` script but which uses the (first version of the) alt code instead.
+Cody also added the [try.sh](/2012/omoikane/try.sh) and
+[try.alt.sh](/2012/omoikane/try.alt.sh) scripts.
 
 
 ## <a name="2012_tromp"></a>[2012/tromp](/2012/tromp/tromp.c) ([README.md](/2012/tromp/README.md))
@@ -3836,14 +3838,11 @@ the `try.sh` script but which uses the (first version of the) alt code instead.
 
 ## <a name="2012_vik"></a>[2012/vik](/2012/vik/vik.c) ([README.md](/2012/vik/README.md]))
 
+[Cody](#cody) added the [try.sh](/2012/vik/try.sh) script.
+
 Based on the author's description it should be able to get this entry to work
-for Windows. With his instructions Cody added the alternate version that does
-this for the few who might use Windows.
-
-We're not sure whether we want to thank Cody or not for this :-) and he's not
-sure if he wants to be thanked either :-) but we appreciate it nonetheless.
-
-Cody also added the [try.sh](/2012/vik/try.sh) script.
+for Windows. With his instructions Cody also added the alternate version that
+does this for the few who might use Windows.
 
 
 ## <a name="2012_zeitak"></a>[2012/zeitak](/2012/zeitak/zeitak.c) ([README.md](/2012/zeitak/README.md]))
@@ -3904,9 +3903,11 @@ Later on in an updated macOS (problem discovered in macOS Sonoma) the entry
 failed to compile again also due to `localtime()` so he removed the prototype
 entirely to solve the problem.
 
-Cody also slightly improved the `runme` script to not assume that the program has
-been compiled by running `make clobber all || exit 1` and he also made it pass
-`shellcheck` (using `[[ .. ]]` over `[ .. ]`).
+Cody also slightly improved the `runme` script (renamed to
+[cable3.sh](/2013/cable3/cable3.sh) for consistency with other entries that have
+wrapper scripts) to not assume that the program has been compiled by running
+`make clobber all || exit 1` and he also made it pass `shellcheck` (using `[[ ..
+]]` over `[ .. ]`).
 
 As well, based on the author's remarks, Cody added the [alternate
 code](/2013/cable3/cable3.alt.c) which should be compilable for Windows/MS Visual