diff --git a/anki/groups.py b/anki/groups.py
index a652fe7c5..b59358059 100644
--- a/anki/groups.py
+++ b/anki/groups.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from anki.consts import *
 from anki.lang import _
 
 # fixmes:
+# - make sure users can't set grad interval < 1
 # - make sure lists like new[delays] are  not being shared by multiple groups
 # - make sure all children have parents (create as necessary)
 # - when renaming a group, top level properties should be added or removed as
diff --git a/anki/sync.py b/anki/sync.py
index 7d6637028..7d5137c19 100644
--- a/anki/sync.py
+++ b/anki/sync.py
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ SYNC_PORT = int(os.environ.get("SYNC_PORT") or 80)
 SYNC_URL = "http://%s:%d/sync/" % (SYNC_HOST, SYNC_PORT)
 SYNC_VER = 0
 
+# - 64 bit guid will be munged in js; need to escape or rethink
+
 # - make sure /sync/download is compressed
 # - status() should be using the hooks instead
 
diff --git a/tests/test_sync.py b/tests/test_sync.py
index 429b8363d..9dc20c98e 100644
--- a/tests/test_sync.py
+++ b/tests/test_sync.py
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ anki.sync.SYNC_URL = "http://localhost:8001/sync/"
 TEST_USER = "synctest@ichi2.net"
 TEST_PASS = "synctest"
 TEST_HKEY = "k14LvSaEtXFITCJz"
+TEST_REMOTE = True
 
 def setup_remote():
     global server
@@ -267,7 +268,14 @@ def setup_remote():
 
 @nose.with_setup(setup_remote)
 def test_meta():
-    (mod, scm, usn, ts) = server.meta()
+    global TEST_REMOTE
+    try:
+        (mod, scm, usn, ts) = server.meta()
+    except Exception, e:
+        if e.errno == 61:
+            TEST_REMOTE = False
+            print "aborting; server offline"
+            return
     assert mod
     assert scm
     assert mod != client.deck.mod
@@ -275,6 +283,8 @@ def test_meta():
 
 @nose.with_setup(setup_remote)
 def test_hkey():
+    if not TEST_REMOTE:
+        return
     assertException(Exception, lambda: server.hostKey("wrongpass"))
     server.hkey = "abc"
     k = server.hostKey(TEST_PASS)
@@ -282,6 +292,8 @@ def test_hkey():
 
 @nose.with_setup(setup_remote)
 def test_download():
+    if not TEST_REMOTE:
+        return
     f = FullSyncer(client.deck, "abc")
     assertException(Exception, f.download)
     f.hkey = TEST_HKEY
@@ -289,6 +301,8 @@ def test_download():
 
 @nose.with_setup(setup_remote)
 def test_remoteSync():
+    if not TEST_REMOTE:
+        return
     # not yet associated, so will require a full sync
     assert client.sync() == "fullSync"
     # upload