diff --git a/bin/gen-years.sh b/bin/gen-years.sh
index b028f4c5e..da2dbeb90 100755
--- a/bin/gen-years.sh
+++ b/bin/gen-years.sh
@@ -565,14 +565,15 @@ fi
 
 # write markdown for each IOCCC year in reverse order
 #
-export YEAR_COUNT=0
+YEAR_COUNT=$(wc -l < "$TOP_FILE" | sed -e 's/[[:space:]]//g')
+export YEAR_COUNT
 export YYYY
 for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
 
     # debug YYYY
     #
     if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 1 ]]; then
-	echo "$0: debug[1]: starting to process year: $YYYY" 1>&2
+	echo "$0: debug[1]: using: $TOP_FILE starting to process year: $YYYY" 1>&2
     fi
 
     # verify that YYYY is a readable directory
@@ -624,10 +625,6 @@ for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
 	continue
     fi
 
-    # count this year
-    #
-    ((++YEAR_COUNT))
-
     # write leading markdown for this IOCCC year
     #
     {
@@ -766,7 +763,7 @@ for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
     else
         cat > /dev/null
         if [[ $V_FLAG -ge 3 ]]; then
-            echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, $YYYY_DIR markdown data is NOT written into: $TMP_YEARS_MD" 1>&2
+            echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, markdown data is NOT written into: $TMP_YEARS_MD" 1>&2
         fi
     fi
 
@@ -784,6 +781,10 @@ for YYYY in $("$TAC_TOOL" "$TOP_FILE"); do
 	    echo "$0: debug[3]: because of -n, IOCCC year $YYYY ending markdown data is NOT written into: $TMP_YEARS_MD" 1>&2
 	fi
     fi
+
+    # count down this year
+    #
+    ((--YEAR_COUNT))
 done
 
 # use the md2html.sh tool to form a location HTML file, unless -n
diff --git a/years.html b/years.html
index aa3bc048a..3f054974a 100644
--- a/years.html
+++ b/years.html
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ href="#1990">1990</a> | <a href="#1989">1989</a> | <a
 href="#1988">1988</a> | <a href="#1987">1987</a><br><br> <a
 href="#1986">1986</a> | <a href="#1985">1985</a> | <a
 href="#1984">1984</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-1st-ioccc"><a name=2020></a>2020 - The 1st IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-27th-ioccc"><a name=2020></a>2020 - The 27th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2020/ioccc.2020.tar.bz2">2020 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ indentation</li>
 CPP</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-2nd-ioccc"><a name=2019></a>2019 - The 2nd IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-26th-ioccc"><a name=2019></a>2019 - The 26th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2019/ioccc.2019.tar.bz2">2019 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ calendrical</li>
 transparency</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-3rd-ioccc"><a name=2018></a>2018 - The 3rd IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-25th-ioccc"><a name=2018></a>2018 - The 25th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2018/ioccc.2018.tar.bz2">2018 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ stellar</li>
 <li><a href="2018/yang/index.html">2018/yang</a> - Most shifty</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-4th-ioccc"><a name=2015></a>2015 - The 4th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-24th-ioccc"><a name=2015></a>2015 - The 24th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2015/ioccc.2015.tar.bz2">2015 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ Documented</li>
 Reaction</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-5th-ioccc"><a name=2014></a>2014 - The 5th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-23rd-ioccc"><a name=2014></a>2014 - The 23rd IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2014/ioccc.2014.tar.bz2">2014 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ beeps</li>
 functional</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-6th-ioccc"><a name=2013></a>2013 - The 6th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-22nd-ioccc"><a name=2013></a>2013 - The 22nd IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2013/ioccc.2013.tar.bz2">2013 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ versatile</li>
 of strings</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-7th-ioccc"><a name=2012></a>2012 - The 7th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-21st-ioccc"><a name=2012></a>2012 - The 21st IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2012/ioccc.2012.tar.bz2">2012 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ Bronze award</li>
 obfuscation - Gold award</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-8th-ioccc"><a name=2011></a>2011 - The 8th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-20th-ioccc"><a name=2011></a>2011 - The 20th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2011/ioccc.2011.tar.bz2">2011 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ game</li>
 <li><a href="2011/zucker/index.html">2011/zucker</a> - Most shiny</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-9th-ioccc"><a name=2006></a>2006 - The 9th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-19th-ioccc"><a name=2006></a>2006 - The 19th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2006/ioccc.2006.tar.bz2">2006 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ Show</li>
 Chess Set</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-10th-ioccc"><a name=2005></a>2005 - The 10th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-18th-ioccc"><a name=2005></a>2005 - The 18th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2005/ioccc.2005.tar.bz2">2005 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ walk</li>
 visuals</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-11th-ioccc"><a name=2004></a>2004 - The 11th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-17th-ioccc"><a name=2004></a>2004 - The 17th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2004/ioccc.2004.tar.bz2">2004 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ Indentation</li>
 CPP</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-12th-ioccc"><a name=2001></a>2001 - The 12th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-16th-ioccc"><a name=2001></a>2001 - The 16th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2001/ioccc.2001.tar.bz2">2001 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ position-independent code</li>
 Game</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-13th-ioccc"><a name=2000></a>2000 - The 13th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-15th-ioccc"><a name=2000></a>2000 - The 15th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="2000/ioccc.2000.tar.bz2">2000 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ Efficient</li>
 Self-Documenting</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-15th-ioccc"><a name=1996></a>1996 - The 15th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-13th-ioccc"><a name=1996></a>1996 - The 13th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1996/ioccc.1996.tar.bz2">1996 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ Utility</li>
 Liner</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-16th-ioccc"><a name=1995></a>1995 - The 16th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-12th-ioccc"><a name=1995></a>1995 - The 12th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1995/ioccc.1995.tar.bz2">1995 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ Rules</li>
 Abuse of the C Preprocessor and Most Likely to Amaze</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-17th-ioccc"><a name=1994></a>1994 - The 17th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-11th-ioccc"><a name=1994></a>1994 - The 11th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1994/ioccc.1994.tar.bz2">1994 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ Program</li>
 the C Preprocessor</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-18th-ioccc"><a name=1993></a>1993 - The 18th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-10th-ioccc"><a name=1993></a>1993 - The 10th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1993/ioccc.1993.tar.bz2">1993 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ Intelligence Award</li>
 Expression</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-19th-ioccc"><a name=1992></a>1992 - The 19th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-9th-ioccc"><a name=1992></a>1992 - The 9th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1992/ioccc.1992.tar.bz2">1992 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ the Rules</li>
 Program</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-20th-ioccc"><a name=1991></a>1991 - The 20th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-8th-ioccc"><a name=1991></a>1991 - The 8th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1991/ioccc.1991.tar.bz2">1991 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ Graphics</li>
 Prize</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-21st-ioccc"><a name=1990></a>1990 - The 21st IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-7th-ioccc"><a name=1990></a>1990 - The 7th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1990/ioccc.1990.tar.bz2">1990 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ Show</li>
 Layout</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-22nd-ioccc"><a name=1989></a>1989 - The 22nd IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-6th-ioccc"><a name=1989></a>1989 - The 6th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1989/ioccc.1989.tar.bz2">1989 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ use of C</li>
 in one program</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-23rd-ioccc"><a name=1988></a>1988 - The 23rd IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-5th-ioccc"><a name=1988></a>1988 - The 5th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1988/ioccc.1988.tar.bz2">1988 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ of the rules</li>
 layout</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-24th-ioccc"><a name=1987></a>1987 - The 24th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-4th-ioccc"><a name=1987></a>1987 - The 4th IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1987/ioccc.1987.tar.bz2">1987 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ Obfuscation</li>
 Layout</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-25th-ioccc"><a name=1986></a>1986 - The 25th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-3rd-ioccc"><a name=1986></a>1986 - The 3rd IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1986/ioccc.1986.tar.bz2">1986 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ code</li>
 well-rounded in confusion</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-26th-ioccc"><a name=1985></a>1985 - The 26th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-2nd-ioccc"><a name=1985></a>1985 - The 2nd IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1985/ioccc.1985.tar.bz2">1985 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ most well-rounded in confusion</li>
 of the C preprocessor</li>
 </ul>
 <p> <strong>Jump to:</strong> <a href="#">top</a></p>
-<h2 id="the-27th-ioccc"><a name=1984></a>1984 - The 27th IOCCC</h2>
+<h2 id="the-1st-ioccc"><a name=1984></a>1984 - The 1st IOCCC</h2>
 <p><strong>Download IOCCC</strong> <a
 href="1984/ioccc.1984.tar.bz2">1984 entry source</a></p>
 <ul>