Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2023 September 14

= September 14 =

Idealism and pragmatism switcheroo
I just noticed something for the first time in the American political literature, and I’m curious how it happened. After the New Deal, and prior to Bush being elected in 2000, for just under a century or so, Democrats were often described as idealists, while Republicans were pragmatists. After Trump was elected, Republicans turned into idealists and Democrats became pragmatists. How did this happen from a philosophical perspective? Viriditas (talk) 01:30, 14 September 2023 (UTC)


 * It is not the first switch in history. LBJ's push for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Nixon's subsequent use of the "Southern strategy" in the 1968 election flipped the parties' traditional positions regarding the disenfranchisement of black voters. In this case, however, I don't think the Democratic Party has significantly moved on the idealism–pragmatism axis; if anything, it has become more idealistic, which does not necessarily mean less realistic. The Republican Party, on the other hand, has changed dramatically; it resembles its old self from before the Tea Party movement mainly by continuing to use the name but seems to live in an alternate reality. --Lambiam 07:31, 14 September 2023 (UTC)

Different look of Ray-Ban Aviators - in general: Lens shapes for the same type of glasses
In Top Gun, characters Maverick and Slider apparently both wear RB3025 Aviator sunglasses - see here - although Slider's look very different (smaller lenses with different shape and different bending of the frame). What is the scope of different lens shapes used for Aviators? In general: Which models of glasses and sunslasses always use the same shape of lenses, which use in contrast different lens shapes? --KnightMove (talk) 09:00, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * This website has some details. Alansplodge (talk) 10:27, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Regarding your second question, there are many tens of thousands of models of glasses and sunglasses, so you need to be a lot more specific. Shantavira|feed me 11:39, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Both actors are wearing RB3025 sunglasses. Cruise's sunglasses have a gold frame, making the frame more prominent. Rossovich's sunglasses have a black frame, making the lenses appear slightly different because the frame is not obvious. Further, facial structure can make sunglasses appear different, which is why most sunglasses are not one-size-fits-all. The exact same pair may look way too small on one person and way too big on another person. 97.82.165.112 (talk) 12:40, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * So it is just an optical illusion? I can hardly believe it, anyway thank you very much. --KnightMove (talk) 13:25, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * There is also the chance, and I know this is a wild idea, that the fan-made website you linked to, is wrong about the sunglasses Slider is wearing. I know, slim chance, but it's at least a possibility that a random website on the internet with unknown credentials and expertise on a subject may sometimes make a mistake.  -- Jayron 32 14:48, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * You are right, but a) at least this is the site of a commercial eye care office and they should know a bit about glasses, b) this other random website on the internet with unknown credentials and expertise on the subject comes to the same conclusion and c) if the website is wrong about the type of glasses, asking here would still be my best chance to get to know this. --KnightMove (talk) 14:55, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Fine, they can be right than. Your faith in the perfection of information found on the internet is probably justified.  -- Jayron 32 15:17, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Your sarcasm is not (at least not in this instance). --KnightMove (talk) 06:06, 15 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Also, speaking as a spectacles-wearer and user of clip-on sunglasses, metal frames are often susceptible to a degree of bending, so individuals can to a degree alter the configuration of their sunglasses to better suit their exact facial contours. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 51.194.81.165 (talk) 14:58, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks, this reflects my last thoughts. The vastly different appearance of Slider's glasses can probably be explained by the black instead of golden frame and a different bending. --KnightMove (talk) 06:06, 15 September 2023 (UTC)

Unknown board
I am back to ask another question. Yesterday at my workplace, this board appeared on my desk. No one knows what this is, or what it is used for. I spent a good hour trying to Google and translate and backwards search what this is to no avail. Thought I might post a picture and drop it off at this reference desk to get some possible ideas. The best answer I could come up with was a mezuzah holder when in its original case. Any thoughts? Adog ( Talk ・ Cont ) 12:50, 14 September 2023 (UTC)


 * I have absolutely zero Hebrew experience, but based purely on the letters in the Hebrew alphabet page I think it says "מזוזה", which is indeed mezuzah (e.g. see he:מזוזה) GalacticShoe (talk) 13:13, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * User:Adog does your workplace have a Lost and Found? Mysterious objects appearing on arbitrary desks seems like it might indicate someone is missing a delivery. Folly Mox (talk) 15:07, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * "Mysterious objects appearing on arbitrary desks" reminds me of "strange women lying in ponds". But I hear they only distribute swords. --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 19:57, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * What are the dimensions of the item?  Eve rgr een Fir  (talk) 15:13, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Dimensions are 13 inches in width, 9 inches in height. I believe a volunteer brought it in. From what it sounded like, it seemed like they donated or left the item for the org., and possibly created it themselves. My department was interested in what it was. We do not know which volunteer left it, so we cannot ask them. We had some mezuzah's around so I thought I take a picture with them in and out of the case. Maybe a personal project of the creator, or maybe part of the Judaic faith I am not familiar with? Adog  ( Talk ・ Cont ) 22:31, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
 * If I owned a Judaica shop, I might put some mezuzot out for display on top of that nice thing, exactly as you show in the second picture. I don't know of any Jewish lore regarding displaying multiples; that's not what they are for. --jpgordon&#x1d122;&#x1d106;&#x1D110;&#x1d107; 04:05, 15 September 2023 (UTC)