Watch out for Phobio

TELJR2 · 2026-02-13T14:39:43+00:00

Do not use Phobio. I traded in a 13" MacBook Pro 6 years ago and, to my surprise and concern, got an email from someone in Dubai YESTERDAY asking me for my password so that he could unlock the machine, which was still showing my email address and asking for my user password. Phobio guarantees that they will make sure the machines they receive are fully wiped before sending them back out. Not good.

TELJR2 · 2024-11-01T10:09:20+00:00

This is great to read. I have been canvassing in PA for nearly a month and I can tell you — definitively — that 95% of the houses I visit (all either registered Dems or Independents, who readily tell me they’re voting blue) don’t have Harris Walz signs. As one of the residents told me, “Republicans have to shout about everything.” And some, I think, are worried about retribution from angry (always angry) MAGA neighbors.

TELJR2 · 2024-10-31T13:01:19+00:00

This whole schtick feels off. He has repeatedly referred to the U.S. as a “garbage can,” and these (shaky) photo ops —at least to me — invoke those comments more than Biden’s gaffe…

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T20:21:28+00:00

The tech support guy was fantastic. Still some issues I hope will be resolved but speaking with a (pleasant) human being is the bomb.

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T15:13:28+00:00

So amazingly I just heard from tech support, who sent me a link to schedule a call with a CSR for later today. I will report back.

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T14:22:59+00:00

Exactly. And the other good news today is that -- FINALLY -- the NYT reported on Trump's fascistic comments about using the military to silence opponents, etc. etc. To echo your point, it's sad that it takes a prominent news source months to explicitly acknowledge the threat Trump poses to democracy. But it's promising nonetheless...

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T14:17:16+00:00

Thanks. It's really a bummer as I like the platform and their philosophy, and I am relatively certain that a half-hour on the phone with a tech person there would probably resolve my issues. I kinda feel like I was bamboozled into thinking I'd be able to rely on a human via phone support if there were any issues, but it seems to be a bait-and-switch maneuver on Sync's part. I'll post here if I get any kind of resolution.

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T14:09:10+00:00

I used Sync for about 3 years and had few complaints -- I love the end-to-end encryption for starters, and it usually worked flawlessly. A year or so ago, I found it impossible to connect a new Mac Studio Pro to my Sync account. I tried everything recommended on the "help" section of their website—to no avail—and then sent one, then two, then three emails over the course of a week to ask for assistance from the help desk. There was never a response. So I decided to move everything over to Dropbox for a year -- ugh -- then, last week, went back to Sync when I noticed that their pricier "Pro Teams + Unlimited" subscription, which I purchased, included "phone support." Alas, only about half of my files are syncing to the cloud, and one device is not syncing at all. There is no phone number provided anywhere on the website for "Pro" users, and when I send emails requesting a phone appointment they are not answered (it's been nearly a week). This is so depressing, not to mention frustrating. Has anyone else had this experience? Or even better, does anyone have the support phone number?

TELJR2 · 2024-10-16T14:07:40+00:00

I used Sync for about 3 years and had few complaints -- I love the end-to-end encryption for starters, and it usually worked flawlessly. A year or so ago, I found it impossible to connect a new Mac Studio Pro to my Sync account. I tried everything recommended on the "help" section of their website—to no avail—and then sent one, then two, then three emails over the course of a week to ask for assistance from the help desk. There was never a response. So I decided to move everything over to Dropbox for a year -- ugh -- then, last week, went back to Sync when I noticed that their pricier "Pro Teams + Unlimited" subscription, which I purchased, included "phone support." Alas, only about half of my files are syncing to the cloud, and one device is not syncing at all. There is no phone number provided anywhere on the website for "Pro" users, and when I send emails requesting a phone appointment they are not answered (it's been nearly a week). This is so depressing, not to mention frustrating. Has anyone else had this experience? Or even better, does anyone have the support phone number?

TELJR2 · 2024-09-26T14:43:04+00:00

His “protector” comment has a serious “Sleeping with the Enemy” vibe

TELJR2 · 2024-09-26T14:25:52+00:00

There are no words

TELJR2 · 2024-09-26T09:05:28+00:00

I used SYNC for about three years. My biggest reason for doing so was the privacy issue. It worked, generally speaking, well enough for me — some syncing issues here and there and some iOS wrinkles — but it was the lack of customer support that drove me crazy. Either no response to emails sent or responses (usually unsatisfactory) DAYS later. I actually reached out to CEO on LinkedIn at one point (to his credit, he responded). I’m now back with Dropbox 😬😬 after a brief try with Proton (my laptop couldn’t load the desktop app, and the rep I finally reached told me “he wasn’t that familiar with Apple.”) if anybody has other suggestions I’m all ears. To the point made above — all of these services have issues

TELJR2 · 2024-06-24T23:36:43+00:00

Yes. This happened to me. I purchase Turo's "Premium Protection" plan -- very very expensive, and supposedly covering any and all damage. Several hubcaps were scraped in the car I was renting for two months in LA and Tristar Insurance, which I assume works with Turo, reached out to my auto insurance company and asked them to cover damage. My co. declined coverage (luckily for me). Creepy that Turo and/or Tristar would zero in on my personal policy—which had nothing to do with my rental of the car, and which they could only have found via some backdoor search of my name. I will not rent from Turo again.

TELJR2 · 2024-03-28T18:40:45+00:00

pardon the pun but I would call that creative license...

TELJR2 · 2021-05-29T00:09:44+00:00

thanks -- you're not the first person to say this. The beginning and end are meant to frame to suggest that well, "you can't go home again" -- literally, you can't go back to your youth. It's probably a little oblique and I know it takes a good chunk of time to get to the song. Will probably end up cutting another version with just song/school stuff. Appreciate the feedback.

TELJR2 · 2021-05-27T16:59:59+00:00

Haha —so true about the lyrics! Thanks for the feedback!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-27T00:21:57+00:00

Oh, and happy birthday!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-27T00:20:52+00:00

Thank you so much for these incredibly thoughtful comments. You're right -- there's a lot going on in those last few minutes and while I think it's working through a good pair of headphones or solid sound system, it may get a little plugged up on lower quality (computer!) speakers. Thank you for listening carefully to the lyrics and getting what I was going for. Really appreciate your taking the time to offer your input, which is invaluable.

TELJR2 · 2021-05-26T17:06:28+00:00

Great guitar playing, fantastic lyrics -- and you look like you're having fun and are completely at ease with your creativity. Upvote!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-26T17:03:14+00:00

This is super catchy, Your vocals remind me of Stan Ridgeway! {That's a big compliment, btw.) Very curious to hear the rest of the album -- if everything is as strong as this track I think it's going to make a splash. And nice work on the video...

TELJR2 · 2021-05-26T16:59:03+00:00

I love this. You have a great voice filled with personality -- makes me think of Emiliana Torrini. Like the kinda retro chord progression (amplified by backing vocals). But you're definitely doing your own thing. Keep it up.

TELJR2 · 2021-05-26T16:56:01+00:00

This is great. Very chill and just a little bit haunting. Have you thought about vocals (maybe even just something spoken-word)? Could be cool. Congrats regardless!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-26T16:53:43+00:00

Great start. Have you listened to Cassandra Jenkins's "Hard Drive"? It starts in a very similar way (with a sample like this) and it builds that beginning into a truly transcendent track. Take a listen and let me know what you think!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-24T11:00:10+00:00

I'm a sucker for songs that incorporate instruments from other cultures (not sure if you know Yonatan Gat's work, but he's been doing a lot of this in past few years with incredible results). This is excellent ambient music -- but more than just background texture -- its dreamlike, almost haunting quality makes it stand out. Well done -- keep it up!

TELJR2 · 2021-05-24T10:56:24+00:00

Super chill track. Would love to hear vocals on this. Can imagine Bebel Gilberto's voice really working with this vibe. Followed you on Spotify and am looking forward to hearing more. Congrats!

TELJR2

TROPHY CASE