add next/register.html page, improve bin/gen-status.sh

Added a new `next/register.html` that is required by the mailing list server.
The `next/register.md` still contains a big **XXX - put more data here - XXX**
as a placeholder for information about the mailing list registration process.

Improved the status text for `faq.html`, `next/index.html` and `status.html`
via `faq.md`, `next/README.md` and `status.md`.  We also removed the
excessive links to IOCCC and instead use the term "contest" where applicable.

IMPORTANT CHANGE: Registration be available when the contest is both pending and open.

We made a number of changes to `faq.md`, `next/README.md` in an attempt to
reflect the above.

Changed `bin/gen-status.sh` VERSION from "1.7 2024-09-23"
to "1.8 2024-11-23".

Changed `bin/gen-top-html.sh` VERSION from "1.4.9 2024-08-11"
to "1.4.10 2024-11-23".

Perform `make www` and `make gen_status` to perform the above and test under macOS.

TODO: Change **XXX - put more data here - XXX** in `next/register.md` for information
      about how to join the mailing list.

status.html

@@ -433,8 +433,8 @@
         "no_comment" : "mandatory comment: because comments were removed from the original JSON spec",
         "IOCCC_status_version" : "1.0 2024-03-09",
         "contest_status" : "closed",
-        "news_update" : "2024-06-08T16:23:00+00:00",
-        "status_update" : "2024-04-30T22:51:32+00:00"
+        "news_update" : "2024-07-31T22:45:30+00:00",
+        "status_update" : "2024-12-24T01:52:32+00:00"
     }</code></pre>
 
 <!-- END: next line ends content generated by: bin/status2html.sh -->
@@ -457,34 +457,64 @@ than this comment. :-)</p>
 <p>The <strong>JSON</strong> member value of is a <strong>JSON</strong> quoted string the form “<em>version YYYY-MM-DD</em>”.</p>
 <p>This document describes version “<strong>1.0 2024-03-09</strong>”.</p>
 <h2 id="contest_status">contest_status</h2>
-<p>The current status of the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a>.</p>
+<p>This is the current status of the contest.</p>
 <p>The following <strong>JSON</strong> member value string may be one of the following <strong>JSON</strong> quoted strings:</p>
 <h4 id="pending">“<strong>pending</strong>”</h4>
-<p>The <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> is not yet <a href="#open">open</a>, however there is a tentative scheduled
-date and time by which the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> will open for submissions.</p>
-<p>A preliminary <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> rules, guidelines, and tools have been posted.
-Comments and suggestions on these preliminary items are welcome.
-See the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> for details including the tentative
-scheduled opening date.</p>
+<p>While the contest <strong><a href="#pending">PENDING</a></strong> the contest is not yet <a href="#open">open</a>, however there is a tentative scheduled
+date and time by which the contest will <a href="#open">open</a> for submissions.</p>
+<p>A preliminary <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a>, <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a>,
+and <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">IOCCC mkiocccentry tools</a> have
+been released.</p>
+<p>You may <a href="next/register.html">register for the IOCCC</a> while the contest is <a href="#pending">pending</a>,
+however you will <strong>NOT</strong> receive your own Email message containing your very own
+<strong>Username and Initial Password until the contest is <a href="#open">open</a></strong>. You will need these
+to be able to <a href="faq.html#upload">upload your submission</a> to the <a href="https:/submit.ioccc.org">IOCCC submit server</a>.</p>
+<p>Once contest moves from <a href="#pending%22">pending</a> to <a href="#open">open</a>, an announcement
+Email will be sent out to the mailing list of those have successfully registered for the IOCCC.
+In addition, an announcement will be made to the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> in case you miss
+that announcement Email.</p>
+<p>While you are waiting for the contest to <a href="#open">open</a>, we <strong>highly recommend</strong>
+that you review the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a>, <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a>,
+and <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">IOCCC mkiocccentry tools</a>.</p>
+<p>Should you have any comments, suggestions, and concerns about the above, and <strong>while you waiting</strong>
+for the contest to <a href="#open">open</a>, please see the
+FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#feedback">comment or make a suggestion on IOCCC rules, guidelines and tools</a>”
+as well as the
+FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#questions">best way to ask a question about the IOCCC rules, guideline and tools</a>”
+for how.</p>
+<p>See also the
+FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#submit">how to submit</a>”
+for more information on the submission process when the IOCCC <a href="#open">reopens</a>.</p>
 <h4 id="open">“<strong>open</strong>”</h4>
-<p>The <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> is <a href="#open">open</a> for submissions.</p>
+<p>While contest is <strong><a href="#open">OPEN</a></strong>, those who have <a href="next/register.html">registered for the IOCCC</a>
+may <a href="faq.html#upload">upload their submissions</a> to the <a href="https://submit.ioccc.org">IOCCC submit server</a>.</p>
 <p>See the
 FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#submit">how to submit</a>”
 for more information.</p>
-<p>See the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> page for details on rules, guidelines, tools and deadlines.</p>
-<p>Be sure to review the official <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> rules, guidelines, and tools
-for any changes that may have been made while the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> was
-“<strong><a href="#pending">pending</a></strong>”.</p>
+<p>See the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> page for details on any IOCCC related deadlines
+such as when the contest will <a href="#close">close</a>.</p>
+<p>The <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a>, <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a>,
+and <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">IOCCC mkiocccentry tools</a>
+are now official. Should you have any questions about these, please see the
+FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#questions">best way to ask a question about the IOCCC rules, guideline and tools</a>”
+for how to ask them.</p>
+<p>Be sure to review the official <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a>, <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a>,
+for any changes, as well as updating your <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">IOCCC mkiocccentry tools</a>
+as changes to them may have been made while the contest was “<strong><a href="#pending">pending</a></strong>”.</p>
+<p>See also the
+FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#submit">how to submit</a>”
+for more information on the submission process when the IOCCC <a href="#open">reopens</a>.</p>
 <h4 id="judging">“<strong>judging</strong>”</h4>
-<p>The <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> is <a href="#closed">closed</a> to new submissions. The <a href="judges.html">IOCCC judges</a>
-are in the process of judging the <a href="faq.html#how_many">submissions</a> they received while
-the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> was open.</p>
+<p>While contest is <strong>[JUDGING][#jugding]</strong>, you cannot <a href="next/register.html">register</a>
+nor can you <a href="faq.html#upload">upload submissions</a>. This is because the
+<a href="judges.html">IOCCC judges</a> are in the process of judging the <a href="faq.html#how_many">submissions</a>
+they received while the contest was <a href="#open">open</a>.</p>
 <p>Watch the <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc"><span class="citation" data-cites="IOCCC">@IOCCC</span> mastodon feed</a> for updates.</p>
-<p>Once the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> <a href="#closed">closes</a>, the judges will:</p>
+<p>Once the contest <a href="#closed">closes</a>, the judges will:</p>
 <ul>
 <li><p>Select the <a href="years.html">winning entries</a> and announce them on the <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc"><span class="citation" data-cites="IOCCC">@IOCCC</span>
 mastodon feed</a>.</p></li>
-<li><p>Notify the <a href="authors.html">authors</a> of entries that won the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a>
+<li><p>Notify the <a href="authors.html">authors</a> of entries that won the contest
 via email using their registered email address.</p></li>
 <li><p>Announce who the <a href="authors.html">authors</a> are of this year’s <a href="years.html">winning IOCCC
 entries</a> via the <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc"><span class="citation" data-cites="IOCCC">@IOCCC</span> mastodon
@@ -497,17 +527,16 @@ winning entries page</a>.</p></li>
 <li><p>Update the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> page.</p></li>
 </ul>
 <h4 id="closed">“<strong>closed</strong>”</h4>
-<p>The <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> is closed and is <strong>NOT</strong> accepting submissions.</p>
+<p>While contest is <strong>[CLOSED][#closed]</strong>, you cannot <a href="next/register.html">register</a>
+nor can you <a href="faq.html#upload">upload submissions</a>. You have to wait for the
+next contest to <a href="#open">open</a>.</p>
 <p>See the <a href="years.html">IOCCC winning entries page</a> for the entries that have won
 the <a href="index.html">IOCCC</a>.</p>
 <p><strong>NOTE</strong>: From time to time, <a href="years.html">winning IOCCC entries</a> may have their write-ups updated,
 <code>Makefiles</code> improved, source code fixed etc. See <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> for details.</p>
 <p>Watch both <a href="status.html">this IOCCC status page</a> and the <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc"><span class="citation" data-cites="IOCCC">@IOCCC</span>
 mastodon feed</a> for information about future
-<a href="index.html">IOCCC</a> <a href="#open">openings</a>.</p>
-<p>See the
-FAQ on “<a href="faq.html#submit">how to submit</a>”
-for more information on the submission process when the IOCCC reopens.</p>
+contest <a href="#open">openings</a>.</p>
 <h2 id="news_update">news_update</h2>
 <p>This shows the latest modification date for the <a href="news.html">IOCCC news</a> page.</p>
 <p>The <strong>JSON</strong> member value is a <strong>JSON</strong> quoted string obtained from the date field