diff --git a/1992/gson/try.sh b/1992/gson/try.sh
index 5e9112572..8a4fe43ef 100755
--- a/1992/gson/try.sh
+++ b/1992/gson/try.sh
@@ -33,43 +33,30 @@ if [[ -z "$DICT" || ! -f "$DICT" || ! -r "$DICT" ]]; then
     fi
 fi
 
+ag()
+{
+    if [[ "$#" -lt 2 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: ag() requires at least two args, given: $#" 1>&2
+	return
+    fi
+
+    echo "$ ./ag ${@:2} < $1" 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    ./ag "${@:2}" < "$1" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
+
+    echo 1>&2
+}
 # safety check that DICT is not empty and is a readable file
 #
 if [[ -n "$DICT" && -f "$DICT" && -r "$DICT" ]]; then
-    echo "$ ./ag free software foundation < $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag free software foundation < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag obfuscated c contest < $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag obfuscated c contest < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag unix international	< $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag unix international	< "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag george bush < $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag george bush < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag bill clinton < $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag bill clinton < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag ross perot	< $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag ross perot	< "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-    echo "$ ./ag paul e tsongas < $DICT" 1>&2
-    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-    echo 1>&2
-    ./ag paul e tsongas < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
+    ag "$DICT" free software foundation
+    ag "$DICT" obfuscated c contest
+    ag "$DICT" unix international
+    ag "$DICT" george bush
+    ag "$DICT" bill clinton
+    ag "$DICT" ross perot
+    ag "$DICT" paul e tsongas
 fi
 
 # now try making our own dictionary with mkdict.sh:
@@ -80,38 +67,11 @@ DICT="words"
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to use our own dict from mkdict.sh: "
 echo 1>&2
+ag "$DICT" free software foundation
+ag "$DICT" obfuscated c contest
+ag "$DICT" unix international
+ag "$DICT" george bush
+ag "$DICT" bill clinton
+ag "$DICT" ross perot
+ag "$DICT" paul e tsongas
 
-echo "$ ./ag free software foundation < $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag free software foundation < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag obfuscated c contest < $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag obfuscated c contest < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag unix international	< $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag unix international	< "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag george bush < $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag george bush < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag bill clinton < $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag bill clinton < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag ross perot	< $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag ross perot	< "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
-
-echo "$ ./ag paul e tsongas < $DICT" 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
-echo 1>&2
-./ag paul e tsongas < "$DICT" 2>/dev/null | less -rEXF
diff --git a/2011/akari/try.sh b/2011/akari/try.sh
index e8a133bd6..4f5d18766 100755
--- a/2011/akari/try.sh
+++ b/2011/akari/try.sh
@@ -21,15 +21,18 @@ rm -f akari2 akari3 akari4
 clear
 
 
+echo "Before you begin you might wish to open example.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./akari < example.ppm > odd_output.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./akari < example.ppm > odd_output.ppm
 echo 1>&2
+echo "You might care to open odd_output.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./akari - - even < example.ppm > even_output.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./akari - - even < example.ppm > even_output.ppm
 echo 1>&2
+echo "You might care to open even_output.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./akari example.ppm odd_output.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2011/blakely/try.sh b/2011/blakely/try.sh
index 202a5e0de..bace2ad2c 100755
--- a/2011/blakely/try.sh
+++ b/2011/blakely/try.sh
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ echo 1>&2
 ./blakely < 3.dat | head -100
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./blakely - < 3.dat | head -40: "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./blakely - < 3.dat | head -30: "
 echo 1>&2
-./blakely - < 3.dat | head -40
+./blakely - < 3.dat | head -30
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./blakely < evolve_to_3.dat | head -55: "
diff --git a/2011/borsanyi/try.sh b/2011/borsanyi/try.sh
index 47959f731..04740c18c 100755
--- a/2011/borsanyi/try.sh
+++ b/2011/borsanyi/try.sh
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./borsanyi < data.1 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./borsanyi < data.1 | less -rEXF
+./borsanyi < data.1 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./borsanyi < data.2 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./borsanyi < data.2 | less -rEXF
+./borsanyi < data.2 | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./borsanyi < data.3 (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./borsanyi < data.3 | less -rEXF
+./borsanyi < data.3 | less -rEXFK
diff --git a/2011/hamaji/try.sh b/2011/hamaji/try.sh
index 7238fa551..6667a0b9f 100755
--- a/2011/hamaji/try.sh
+++ b/2011/hamaji/try.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ clear
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < dragon.nono (q = quit, space = next page): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < dragon.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < dragon.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 rm -f dragon dragon2
@@ -27,55 +27,55 @@ if [[ -n "$PERL" && -f "$PERL" && -x "$PERL" ]]; then
     echo 1>&2
     echo "$ $PERL c2nono.pl hamaji.c | ./hamaji | tee dragon"
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space =  next page, q = quit): "
-    "$PERL" c2nono.pl hamaji.c | ./hamaji | tee dragon | less -rEXF
+    "$PERL" c2nono.pl hamaji.c | ./hamaji | tee dragon | less -rEXFK
     echo 1>&2
     echo "$ ./hamaji < dragon.nono | tee dragon2" 1>&2
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < dragon.nono | tee dragon2 (space = next page, q = quit): "
     echo 1>&2
-    ./hamaji < dragon.nono | tee dragon2 | less -rEXF
+    ./hamaji < dragon.nono | tee dragon2 | less -rEXFK
     read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: diff -s dragon dragon2: "
     echo 1>&2
     diff -s dragon dragon2
 else
-    echo "Perl not found, will not run other steps." 1>&2
+    echo "Perl not found, will not run perl related steps." 1>&2
 fi
 rm -f dragon dragon2
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < random.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < random.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < random.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < soccer.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < soccer.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < soccer.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < codegolf.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < codegolf.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < codegolf.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < face.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < face.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < face.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < penguin.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < penguin.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < penguin.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < samurai.nono (q = quit, space = next page): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < samurai.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < samurai.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 echo "$ ./hamaji < conway-game-of-life.nono" 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to continue (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < conway-game-of-life.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < conway-game-of-life.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < no-solution.nono (no solution): "
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < plus.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < plus.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < plus.nono | less -rEXFK
 echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hamaji < smiley.nono (space = next page, q = quit): "
 echo 1>&2
-./hamaji < smiley.nono | less -rEXF
+./hamaji < smiley.nono | less -rEXFK
 
 exit 0
diff --git a/2011/hou/try.sh b/2011/hou/try.sh
index 7dc584a93..fe3d2b189 100755
--- a/2011/hou/try.sh
+++ b/2011/hou/try.sh
@@ -6,20 +6,28 @@
 # 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
+[[ -z "$CC" ]] && CC="cc"
 
 make CC="$CC" all >/dev/null || exit 1
 
 # clear screen after compilation so that only the entry is shown
 clear
 
-echo "Observe how this one is in the code, both the equation and the answer: " 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: grep #define calculator hou.c|cut -f3 -d' ': "
+echo 1>&2
+grep '#define calculator' hou.c|cut -f3 -d' '
+echo 1>&2
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: grep '11/26+222/31' hou.c: "
+echo 1>&2
+grep '11/26+222/31' hou.c
+echo 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hou '11/26+222/31': "
 echo 1>&2
 ./hou '11/26+222/31'
 echo 1>&2
+echo "What relation does the equation in the code have to do with the above" 1>&2
+echo "command?" 1>&2
+echo 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hou 'log((21701-19937)-(23209-21701))/log(2)': "
 echo 1>&2
@@ -45,4 +53,5 @@ echo 1>&2
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./hou 'a calculator expression -- see the C Code for details': "
 echo 1>&2
 ./hou 'a calculator expression -- see the C Code for details'
-echo "Now answer: what does the last one mean? Can you get it to report something else?" 1>&2
+echo "Now answer: what does the last one mean? Can you get it to report" 1>&2
+echo "something else?" 1>&2
diff --git a/2011/konno/try.sh b/2011/konno/try.sh
index 8d0f0648f..1d39abda0 100755
--- a/2011/konno/try.sh
+++ b/2011/konno/try.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ echo 1>&2
 ./konno ioccc
 echo 1>&2
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno \"the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog\": "
+read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./konno 'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog': "
 echo 1>&2
 ./konno 'the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog'
 echo 1>&2
diff --git a/2011/zucker/try.sh b/2011/zucker/try.sh
index 03e1f17fa..d8eb1eec0 100755
--- a/2011/zucker/try.sh
+++ b/2011/zucker/try.sh
@@ -22,14 +22,19 @@ read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./zucker > ioccc.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./zucker > ioccc.ppm
 echo 1>&2
+echo "Now open ioccc.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./zucker \"Hello!!!\" > hello.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./zucker "Hello\!\!\!" > hello.ppm
+echo "Now open hello.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 
 read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run: ./zucker faster\! -preview > image2.ppm: "
 echo 1>&2
 ./zucker faster\! -preview > image2.ppm
+echo "Now open image2.ppm in a graphics viewer." 1>&2
 echo 1>&2
 
 
+
+
diff --git a/2012/zeitak/test.sh b/2012/zeitak/test.sh
index 51e81a92f..81ff65b5d 100755
--- a/2012/zeitak/test.sh
+++ b/2012/zeitak/test.sh
@@ -18,144 +18,47 @@ clear
 # assume no error: set ERROR to 0
 ERROR=0
 
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test zeitak.c for nesting errors: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < zeitak.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 3 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 3: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak()
+{
+    if [[ "$#" != 2 ]]; then
+	echo "$0: zeitak() expects two args, got: $#" 1>&2
+	return
+    fi
 
-echo "$ cat anonymous.c" 1>&2
-cat anonymous.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test anonymous.c for nesting errors: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < anonymous.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 3 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 3: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to run show $1 (space = next page, q = quit): "
+    echo 1>&2
+    less -rEXFK "$1"
+    read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test $1 for nesting errors: "
+    echo 1>&2
+    ./zeitak < "$1"
+    EXIT_CODE="$?"
+    if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne "$2" ]]; then
+	echo "Error: did not get exit code $2: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
+	ERROR=1
+    fi
+    echo 1>&2
+}
 
-echo "$ cat anonymous.alt.c" 1>&2
-cat anonymous.alt.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test anonymous.alt.c for nesting errors: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < anonymous.alt.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 3 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 3: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak zeitak.c 3
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.brace.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.brace.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.brace.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.brace.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak anonymous.c 3
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.bracket.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.bracket.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.bracket.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.bracket.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak anonymous.alt.c 3
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.paren.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.paren.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.paren.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.paren.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.brace.c 10
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.quote-esc.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.quote-esc.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.quote-esc.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.quote-esc.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.bracket.c 10
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.3.quotes.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.3.quotes.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.3.quotes.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.3.quotes.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.paren.c 10
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.single.quote.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.single.quote.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.single.quote.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.single.quote.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.quote-esc.c 10
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.1.quote.c" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.1.quote.c
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.1.quote.c: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.1.quote.c
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.3.quotes.c 10
 
-echo "$ cat incorrect.txt" 1>&2
-cat incorrect.txt
-echo 1>&2
-read -r -n 1 -p "Press any key to test incorrect.txt: "
-echo 1>&2
-./zeitak < incorrect.txt
-EXIT_CODE="$?"
-if [[ "$EXIT_CODE" -ne 10 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: did not get exit code 10: $EXIT_CODE" 1>&2
-    ERROR=1
-fi
-echo 1>&2
+zeitak incorrect.single.quote.c 10
+
+zeitak incorrect.1.quote.c 10
+
+zeitak incorrect.txt 10
 
 exit "$ERROR"
diff --git a/bin/all-run.sh b/bin/all-run.sh
index 163abe3f6..628a026ec 100755
--- a/bin/all-run.sh
+++ b/bin/all-run.sh
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ for YYYY in $(< "$TOP_FILE"); do
 	continue
     fi
 
-    # process each entry directroy under YYYY
+    # process each entry directory under YYYY
     #
     export YYYY_DIR
     for YYYY_DIR in $(< "$YEAR_FILE"); do