diff --git a/app/models/configuration.rb b/app/models/configuration.rb
--- a/app/models/configuration.rb
+++ b/app/models/configuration.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     return false if mode=='analysis'
     if (mode=='contest') 
       return false if (user.site!=nil) and 
-        ((user.site.started==false) or (user.site.finished?))
+        ((user.site.started!=true) or (user.site.finished?))
     end
     return true
   end
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
   def self.show_tasks_to?(user)
     mode = get(SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY)
     if (mode=='contest') 
-      return false if (user.site!=nil) and (user.site.started==false)
+      return false if (user.site!=nil) and (user.site.started!=true)
     end
     return true
   end
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@
   def self.allow_test_request(user)
     mode = get(SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY)
     if (mode=='contest') 
-      return false if (user.site!=nil) and ((user.site.started==false) or
-                                            (user.site.time_left < 30.minutes))
+      return false if (user.site!=nil) and ((user.site.started!=true) or (user.site.time_left < 30.minutes))
     end
     return false if mode=='analysis'
     return true
diff --git a/app/models/site.rb b/app/models/site.rb
--- a/app/models/site.rb
+++ b/app/models/site.rb
@@ -14,8 +14,13 @@
     if tmatch = /(\d+):(\d+)/.match(contest_time)
       h = tmatch[1].to_i
       m = tmatch[2].to_i
-      finish_time = self.start_time + h.hour + m.minute 
+
       current_time = Time.now.gmtime
+      if self.start_time!=nil
+        finish_time = self.start_time + h.hour + m.minute 
+      else
+        finish_time = current_time + h.hour + m.minute
+      end
 
       if current_time > finish_time
         return current_time - current_time
diff --git a/app/views/main/list.html.haml b/app/views/main/list.html.haml
--- a/app/views/main/list.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/main/list.html.haml
@@ -25,8 +25,3 @@
 
 %hr/
 
-%p
-  %b Note: 
-  We currently have problems synchronizing 
-  the time stamps between grading machines.
-  You will see weird time stamps during the practice session.
diff --git a/app/views/test/index.html.erb b/app/views/test/index.html.erb
--- a/app/views/test/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/test/index.html.erb
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
         </td>
         <td>
           <small>
-            * This option works <u>only</u> for task max.
+            * This option works <u>only</u> for task beads.
             You can use this to submit <tt>questions.txt</tt>.<br/>
             The file shall be copied to the execution directory before your program runs.
           </small>