Dr Duck’s Comments

• May 23rd, 2016 @ 1:49pm

  Re: Bad speech, more speech

  on You're Entitled To Your Own Opinions, But Not Your Own Facts About Copyright, NY Times Edition
  Who cares? Even if the asserted facts are as clearly wrong as you seem to think, the guy got his piece published as an opinion, as an attempt to sway others to a point of view. The proper recourse is to refute, not to deny him a platform.
• Jan 7th, 2016 @ 11:39am

  Convolution

  on T-Mobile Doubles Down On Its Blatant Lies, Says Claims It's Throttling Are 'Bullshit' And That I'm A 'Jerk'
  I'm not a T-Mobile customer so I have no dog in this fight, but it seems to me that rather than repeat (and repeat) that the opt-out process is 'convoluted' you could just publish or link to the steps / method to accomplish this. Eh?
• Nov 20th, 2015 @ 6:11am

  Hair are us? C'mon...

  on A Weave Is Not A Toy: Toys R Us Opposes Hair Extension Company Trademark
  Meh. "Hair We Are" would be a much better name.
• Nov 19th, 2015 @ 9:13am

  Re: Re: Re: Re: closed captions

  on TV Industry Starts Running Fewer Ads To Combat Netflix, Cord Cutting

  >> If so, that could cause the text to no longer be visible even if they're not literally obscured by the popup.

  
  No, there's no way a pop-up can affect the position or visibility of the closed captions. Open captions (like in-program subtitles) of course can be obscured like any other program material.
  
  I know what the OP is saying, but at worst a pop-up is a distraction from the captions. It cannot cover them up.
• Nov 19th, 2015 @ 7:17am

  Re: Re:

  on TV Industry Starts Running Fewer Ads To Combat Netflix, Cord Cutting
  I don't disagree with your premise, but...
  
  Closed captions are generated and overlaid locally -- in the TV, STB, DVR etc. There's no way they can be obscured by an in-program popup.
• Feb 25th, 2015 @ 5:11am

  Not exactly new (as Doctor Duck)

  on Cable's Latest Great Idea: Speed Up Programs So They Can Stuff More Ads Into Every Hour
  This all started in the mid-1970s with the invention of the Harmonizer (Eventide Clockworks), a black box that could restore normal pitch to a sped-up videotape (which was itself made possible by the introduction of Type-C 1" VTRs). Almost all programs in syndication used this. It's far easier and cleaner now in digital, but it's still an abomination IMO.
  
  Back then a big problem was that the speedup garbled any closed captions. But there was no Disabilities Act then in the US. If that still happens, there's now a legal route (ADA suit) to fight it, or at least make it less profitable.