diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 3a4739f..a954867 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ start-all-droplets:
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=git.wit.org
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=go.wit.com
 	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=rdate.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=uptime.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=www.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=ping.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=wekan.wit.com
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=caddy.wit.org
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=immich.wit.org
+	curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=bernacchi
 	@#curl --silent http://localhost:8080/start?start=jcarr
 	@# ./virtigo --start jcarr
 
diff --git a/event.go b/event.go
index 5bc1fdf..8920bdc 100644
--- a/event.go
+++ b/event.go
@@ -25,13 +25,15 @@ func (h *HyperT) RestartDaemon() {
 	me.killcount += 1
 }
 
+var stableTimeout time.Duration = 43 * time.Second
+
 // checks if the cluster is ready and stable
 func clusterReady() (bool, string) {
 	last := time.Since(me.unstable)
-	if last > 133*time.Second {
+	if last > stableTimeout {
 		// the cluster has not been stable for 133 seconds
-		log.Warn("clusterReady() is stable for 133s")
-		return true, "clusterReady() is stable for 133s"
+		log.Warn("clusterReady() is stable for ", shell.FormatDuration(stableTimeout), " secs")
+		return true, fmt.Sprintln("clusterReady() is stable ", shell.FormatDuration(stableTimeout), " secs")
 	}
 	log.Warn("clusterReady() is unstable for", shell.FormatDuration(last))
 	return false, "clusterReady() is unstable for " + shell.FormatDuration(last)
@@ -74,19 +76,24 @@ func (h *HyperT) Start(d *DropletT) (bool, string) {
 
 func Start(name string) (bool, string) {
 	var result string
-	dur := time.Since(me.unstable) // how long has the cluster been stable?
 
-	result = fmt.Sprintln("should start droplet", name, "here. grid stable for:", shell.FormatDuration(dur))
-	if dur < 17*time.Second {
-		result += "grid is still too unstable"
-		return false, result
-	}
 	d := findDroplet(name)
 	if d == nil {
 		result += "can't start unknown droplet"
 		return false, result
 	}
 
+	if d.CurrentState == "ON" {
+		return false, "EVENT start droplet is already ON"
+	}
+
+	dur := time.Since(me.unstable) // how long has the cluster been stable?
+	result = fmt.Sprintln("should start droplet", name, "here. grid stable for:", shell.FormatDuration(dur))
+	if dur < 17*time.Second {
+		result += "grid is still too unstable"
+		return false, result
+	}
+
 	// make the list of hypervisors that are active and can start new droplets
 	var pool []*HyperT
 	for _, h := range me.hypers {