This is what happens when you're watching television with the sound nearly off, half-asleep and reading at the time. The side panel fiasco was apparantly due to the off-track adventure Michael had. Anyway, there are still 16 races left to win. Am now re-reading Hamilton's The Reality Dysfunction, the first book in his 3000+ page Night's Dawn Trilogy, saving The Years Of Rice and Salt as a treat. That trilogy is actually more than worth this first re-read. It's easier than the first slog through and just as good a read. For once the lenght is well justified, the ideas and world building good and more or less consistent. Still ill.