diff --git a/_utils.sh b/_utils.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5ad1d3bde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_utils.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+
+declare RED='\033[0;31m'
+declare GR='\033[0;32m'
+declare NC='\033[0m'
+
+# Output functions. Colorize various types of messages. 
+message () { echo -e "$@" 1>&2; }
+confirmation () { message $GR$@$NC; }
+warn () { message $RED$@$NC; }
+error () { message $RED$@$NC; exit 1; }
+
+# Check for and exit if file dependancies are not met. Takes a list of full or
+# relative paths.
+check_file_deps () {
+  for filereq in $@
+  do
+    if [ ! -f "${filereq}" ] && [ ! -L "${filereq}" ]; then error "${filereq}  not found. Quiting."; exit 1; fi
+  done
+}
+
+# Check for and exit if command dependancies are not met. Takes a list of 
+# executables.
+check_util_deps () {
+  for dep in $@
+  do
+    if ! hash $dep 2>/dev/null; then
+      error >&2 "... $dep dependency not met. Please install."
+      exit 1
+    fi
+  done
+}
+
+# Creates an rST  title over/underscore string of the same length
+# as the argument. Section strings are not supported. Returned output
+# is a sequence of equal signs (=).
+make_strike () {
+  local _title="$1"
+  local _strike
+  _strike=$(for ((i=1; i<=${#_title}; i++)); do
+    printf '=%.0s' "$i"
+  done)
+  echo $_strike
+}
+
+# Trim leading and trailing whitespaces from string.
+trimspaces () {
+  local _s=$1
+
+  _s="${_s#"${_s%%[![:space:]]*}"}"
+  _s="${_s#"${_s%%[![:space:]]*}"}"
+
+  echo $_s
+}
+
+declare utils_loaded=1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/dirtyCheck.sh b/dirtyCheck.sh
index 334a27930..d35c93e59 100755
--- a/dirtyCheck.sh
+++ b/dirtyCheck.sh
@@ -1,22 +1,23 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-RED='\033[0;31m'
-NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+. $(pwd)/_utils.sh
+if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
 
 declare -a dirtyFiles
 
 dirtyFiles=( $(git status --porcelain doc/source 2>/dev/null) )
 
-echo "Checking status of doc/source"
+message "Checking status of doc/source"
 
 if [ ${#dirtyFiles[@]} -ne 0 ]; then
-    echo -e "${RED}Repo is dirty. Please stash, add or manually delete the following files:${NC}"
+    warn "Repo is dirty. Please stash, add or manually delete the following files:\n"
     for file in ${dirtyFiles[@]};
     do
         if [[ ${file} == "??" ]]; then continue; fi
-        echo -e "${RED}$file${NC}"
+        if [[ ${file} == "M" ]]; then continue; fi
+        warn "$file"
     done
     exit 1
 else
-    echo "... OK"
+    confirmation "... OK"
 fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/htmlChecks.sh b/htmlChecks.sh
index a15de00f0..815c4f6a5 100755
--- a/htmlChecks.sh
+++ b/htmlChecks.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 if [ -z ${1+x} ]; then echo "Usage: ./htmlChecks.sh <htmlPath>" && exit 0; fi
 
+. $(pwd)/_utils.sh
+if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
+
 htmlPath=$1
 
 RED='\033[0;31m'
@@ -14,33 +17,33 @@ cd ${htmlPath} || { echo "Can't change to ${htmlPath}" && exit 0; }
 echo "Checking for \"grey bar\" formatting errors in output ..."
 GREY_FILES=( $(grep -rl --include="*.html" "blockquote" .) )
 if [ ${#GREY_FILES[@]} != 0 ]; then
-    echo "Found ${#GREY_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) with greybar formatting issues:"
+    warn "Found ${#GREY_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) with greybar formatting issues:"
     for FILE in ${GREY_FILES[@]};
     do
-        echo -e "${RED}$FILE${NC}"
+        warn "$FILE"
     done
-    echo "Using a browser, locate vertical grey bars in the left margin of the above file(s), then correct the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s)."
+    warn "Using a browser, locate vertical grey bars in the left margin of the above file(s), then correct the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s)."
     error=1
 fi
 
 echo "Checking for \".. include::\" errors in output ..."
 INCLUDE_FILES=( $(grep -rl --include="*.html" -e "start-after" -e "end-before" .) )
 if [ ${#INCLUDE_FILES[@]} != 0 ]; then
-    echo "Found ${#INCLUDE_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) with exposed \"start-after\" and \"end-before\" _include argument(s):"
+    warn "Found ${#INCLUDE_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) with exposed \"start-after\" and \"end-before\" _include argument(s):"
     for FILE in ${INCLUDE_FILES[@]};
     do
-        echo -e "${RED}$FILE${NC}"
+        warn "$FILE"
     done
-    echo "Correct the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s)."
+    warn "Correct the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s)."
     error=1
 fi
 
 echo "Checking for unexpanded substitution errors in output ..."
 SUBS_FILES=( $(grep -rlo --include="*.html" --exclude="doc_contribute_guide.html" '[>\s]|\S\+|[<\s]' .) )
 if [ ${#SUBS_FILES[@]} != 0 ]; then
-    echo -e "Found ${#SUBS_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) that may have unexpanded substitution(s):\n${RED}"
+    warn "Found ${#SUBS_FILES[@]} HTML file(s) that may have unexpanded substitution(s):\n${RED}"
     grep -ro --include="*.html" --exclude="doc_contribute_guide.html" '[>\s]|\S\+|[<\s]' . | awk -F: '{if(f!=$1)print ""; f=$1; print $0;}'
-    echo -e "${NC}\nCorrect the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s).\nHINT: Substitions are not allowed in code blocks, :ref:s,\n:doc:s, or with in rST markup such as **, \`\`, and so on."
+    warn "\nCorrect the issue(s) in the corresponding rST file(s).\nHINT: Substitions are not allowed in code blocks, :ref:s,\n:doc:s, or with in rST markup such as **, \`\`, and so on."
     error=1
 fi
 
@@ -48,5 +51,5 @@ fi
 if [[ $2 == "-W" ]] && [[ ${error} -eq 1 ]]; then
     exit 1
 elif [[ ${error} -ne 1 ]]; then
-    echo "... OK"
+    confirmation "... OK"
 fi
diff --git a/new-topic.sh b/new-topic.sh
index 1de95e478..7f89ef2af 100644
--- a/new-topic.sh
+++ b/new-topic.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-if ! hash uuidgen 2>/dev/null; then
-  echo >&2 "... uuidgen dependency not met. Please install."
-  exit 1
-fi
+. $(pwd)/_utils.sh
+if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
+
+check_util_deps uuidgen
 
 INCLUDEDIR="$2/doc/source/_includes"
 
@@ -18,14 +18,12 @@ charReplacements=(
 
 ask_name () {
 
-   echo -e "`cat <<EOF
+   message "`cat <<EOF
 
    You are about to create a new reStructuredText file in
 
    ${WD}
 
-   or a content fragment file in doc/source/_includes
-
    If this is not what you want, press CTL-C to quit and change to the directory
    you want to create the file in.
 
@@ -36,7 +34,7 @@ ask_name () {
 EOF`"
 
 
-    while read -e -p 'Topic title: ' title ; do
+    while read -e -p 'Topic title: ' title ; do    
       if [[ -z $title ]]; then
          continue
       else
@@ -50,7 +48,7 @@ EOF`"
 
 ask_type () {
 
-  echo -e "`cat <<EOF
+  message "`cat <<EOF
 
   Thanks. Now choose a topic type. Enter one of the following characters:
 
@@ -62,7 +60,7 @@ ask_type () {
 
 EOF`"
 
-    while read -p 'Topic type: ' -n1 input; do
+    while read -p 'Topic type: ' -n1 input; do    
 
        case $input in
 
@@ -71,7 +69,7 @@ EOF`"
              ;;
 
            *)
-             echo -e "Enter a valid value"
+             warn "\nEnter a valid value"
              continue
              ;;
 
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ write_stub () {
 
    echo "$1" > "${outdir}/${filename}.${ext}"
    if [[ -f ${outdir}/${filename}.${ext} ]]; then
-     echo -e "\nCreated ${outdir}/${filename}.${ext}"
+     confirmation "\nCreated ${outdir}/${filename}.${ext}"
      exit 0
    else
      exit 1
@@ -114,10 +112,7 @@ myuuid="${myuuid:24:35}"
 
 ask_name
 
-strike=$(for ((i=1; i<=${#title}; i++)); do
-  printf '=%.0s' "$i"
-done)
-
+strike=$(make_strike "${title}")
 
 ask_type
 
diff --git a/normalize-includes.sh b/normalize-includes.sh
index 361bd1882..40849b704 100755
--- a/normalize-includes.sh
+++ b/normalize-includes.sh
@@ -1,38 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+. $(pwd)/_utils.sh
+if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
+
 directive='pre-include::'
 d_begin=':start-after:'
 d_end=':end-before:'
 inc_base='doc/source'
 
-RED='\033[0;31m'
-NC='\033[0m'
-
-message () { echo -e "$@" 1>&2; }
-
-error () { message $RED$@$NC; }
 
 OIFS=$IFS; IFS=$'\n'
 parents=( $(grep -Rl '.. pre-include:: ' --exclude-dir=docs/build --include="*.r*st" --exclude-dir='.*' doc/*) )
 IFS=$OIFS
 
-check_file_deps () {
-  for filereq in $@
-  do
-    if [ ! -f "${filereq}" ] && [ ! -L "${filereq}" ]; then error "${filereq}  not found. Quiting."; exit 1; fi
-  done
-}
-
-check_util_deps () {
-  for dep in $@
-  do
-    if ! hash $dep 2>/dev/null; then
-      error >&2 "... $dep dependency not met. Please install."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  done
-}
-
 get_substr () {
 
   local _str=${1//\//\\/}
@@ -49,15 +29,6 @@ get_substr () {
   fi
 }
 
-trimspaces () {
-  local _s=$1
-
-  _s=${_s##*( )}
-  _s=${_s%%*( )}
-
-  echo $_s
-}
-
 get_inc_path () {
   local _ppath=$1
   local _inc=$2
diff --git a/pickCompare.sh b/pickCompare.sh
index 37ddea336..063439c33 100755
--- a/pickCompare.sh
+++ b/pickCompare.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-RED='\033[0;31m'
-GR='\033[0;32m'
-NC='\033[0m' # No color
+. $(pwd)/_utils.sh
+if [[ -z ${utils_loaded+x} ]]; then echo "Could not load utilities"; exit 1; fi
 
 today=$(date '+%Y-%m-%d')
-default_start="2020-01-01"
+default_start=$(date --date='-9 month' '+%Y-%m-%d')
 
 config_file=".pickOptions.sh"
 
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ get_branches () {
 
   local refs="refs\/remotes"
 
-  echo -e "Select the two branches you want to compare:\n"
+  message "Select the two branches you want to compare:\n"
 
   for branch in br1 br2
   do
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ get_branches () {
       case $br in
 
         "")
-          echo "Invalid entry"
+          warn "Invalid entry"
           continue
         ;;
         *)
@@ -63,14 +62,14 @@ get_branches () {
     done
   done
   if [[ "$br1" == "$br2" ]]; then
-     echo -e "\n${RED}Comparing $br1 with itself makes no sense. Please pick two branches.${NC}\n"
+     warn "Comparing $br1 with itself makes no sense. Please pick two branches.\n"
      get_branches
   fi
 }
 
 get_dates () {
 
-  echo -e "Select a date range\n"
+  message "Select a date range\n"
 
   for date in begin end
   do
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ get_dates () {
         ;;
         *)
           if ! date -d $edate > /dev/null; then
-             echo -e "${RED}$edate is not valid. Try again.${NC}"
+             warn "$edate is not valid. Try again."
              continue
           else          
              declare -g ${date}=$edate
@@ -109,7 +108,7 @@ get_dates () {
 
 get_users () {
 
-  echo -e "Select users\n"
+  message "Select users\n"
 
   for auth in auth1 auth2
   do
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ get_users () {
        repo=$br2
     fi
 
-    echo -e "Optionally, select a ${GR}$repo${NC} author to filter by:\n"
+    message "Optionally, select a ${GR}$repo${NC} author to filter by:\n"
 
     select os in $(git log --pretty=format:%an --after="$begin" --before="$end" $repo  | sort | uniq; echo "None")
     do
@@ -128,7 +127,7 @@ get_users () {
       case $os in
 
         None)
-          echo "No author selected, will show all authors."
+          warn "No author selected, will show all authors."
           declare -g ${auth}=""
           break
         ;;
@@ -158,7 +157,7 @@ confirm_options () {
 compare_branches () {
 
   for pick in $({ git log --pretty=format:%s%n --after="$begin" --before="$end" --author="$auth1" $br1 & git log --pretty=format:%s%n --after="$begin" --before="$end" --author="$auth2" $br2; } | grep "(.*$str.*)$" | sort | uniq -u); do
-    echo -e "${RED}" $(git log --grep=$pick --date=format:'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S' --pretty=format:"%cd, %s [ %h ]" --after=$begin --before=$end --author=$auth1 --author=$auth2 $br1 $br2) "${NC}"
+    confirmation $(git log --grep=$pick --date=format:'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S' --pretty=format:"%cd, %s [ %h ]" --after=$begin --before=$end --author=$auth1 --author=$auth2 $br1 $br2) "${NC}"
   done
 
 }
@@ -194,12 +193,12 @@ str="$str"
 
 EOF`" > $config_file
 
-    echo " ... saved"
+    confirmation " ... saved"
 
   ;;
 
   *)
-     echo " ... not saved"
+     warn " ... not saved"
   ;;
 
   esac
@@ -210,7 +209,7 @@ read_settings () {
 
   if [[ -f ${config_file} ]]; then
 
-    echo -e "\nFound saved options:\n"
+    message "\nFound saved options:\n"
 
     values=$(<$config_file)
 
@@ -222,7 +221,7 @@ read_settings () {
     values=${values/end=/"End Date: "}
     values=${values/str=/"Pick Search String: "}
 
-    echo -e "$values\n"
+    message "$values\n"
 
     read -p 'Reuse these options now? [y/n]: ' -n1 read_opts;
 
@@ -232,10 +231,10 @@ read_settings () {
        CONTEXT_DIR="${BASH_SOURCE%/*}"
        if [[ ! -d "$CONTEXT_DIR" ]]; then CONTEXT_DIR="$PWD"; fi
        . "$CONTEXT_DIR/$config_file"
-        echo " ... read"
+        confirmation " ... read"
     ;;
     *)
-        echo " ... not read"
+        warn " ... not read"
     ;;
     esac