Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2017 June 9

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June 9[edit]

Batman’s Ras-a-gul’s mask[edit]

Where to buy from, and does it even function as displayed in the movie? 116.58.205.46 (talk) 05:28, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Ra's al Ghul ("Ghoul's Head" or "Demon's Head") is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Fan references: [1] [2] and a video about the character's history. A DIY guide to Ra’s Al Ghul's Costume. This rubber mask doesn't do a lot. Blooteuth (talk) 17:00, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
This reminds me of when the Star Wars toy marketers produced plastic light sabers, and some kids were upset that they didn't actually work. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:17, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Well, small kids don't know what's possible, and deceptive ads certainly encourage their misconceptions. When I was a kid I got a toy "Star Trek phaser". Now, I didn't expect it to vaporize anything, but I did expect a beam of colored light to come out, as it did in the ad. I was disappointed. StuRat (talk) 01:48, 11 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
The movie referred to is probably Batman Begins - but I don't recall Ra's al Ghul wearing a mask in that film. Perhaps the OP is thinking of Jonathan Crane ([[Scarecrow (DC Comics) or Bane (DC Comics), both of whom wore distinctive masks as part of their role in the trilogy. Given the reference to "functioning", I suspect Scarecrow, since Bane's mask doesn't really do anything visibly. MChesterMC (talk) 14:25, 14 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Glasses for reading, when making a speech[edit]

Hello. I've just been given reading glasses. I'm also a minister of religion and so often lead services, alternatiely reading from a book and looking up at the congregants. I've never worn glasses before so can anyone help me work out: what do I do with them in services? If I leave them off I struggle to read; if I put them on, when I look up I struggle to see and it's presumably bad for my eyes. What do you think? THanks 176.35.31.63 (talk) 15:00, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Three options - get bifocals, get half lenses, or let them slip down your nose so that you can look over the top of them. Wymspen (talk) 15:48, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Out of those three, the following fourth option would be best: See an optometrist. They are trained to give professional advice on exactly this problem. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 22:06, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Especially regarding the "presumably bad for my eyes" part, which may or may not be valid. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 22:15, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
The result of following the fourth option may be glasses with Progressive lenses which give the advantage of bifocals but without the distracting border line between segments. Blooteuth (talk) 23:01, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
By substituting a distracting border area. Well, that's a matter of personal preference. I don't think I'm stepping on anyone professional toes if I point out that frequently putting glasses on and off causes wear on the glasses frames, particularly if you get in the habit of doing it one-handed. --69.159.63.238 (talk) 23:44, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
As a suggestion from a fellow glasses wearer: when you look up at the congregation, don't try to focus on details/individuals, allow that view to remain blurred. I appreciate this may conflict with a natural desire in the circumstances to 'connect'. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.217.208.38 (talk) 17:07, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Another option is to put your reading glasses on to read, then take them off when not reading. This can actually be helpful, as it serves as a sign to the audience that a transition is occurring. So, you put on your glasses and they know to grab their Bibles or hymn books, and you take them off and they know to put them away. Hopefully you have room on your podium to put them down there. Now, I don't suggest you do this with every glance towards the audience between reading lines, for those you can just leave them on and not worry about the audience being blurry. StuRat (talk) 23:28, 10 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]
Yet another option is half-glasses, where you just look over the top of them. They are reading glasses but only half the lens area is used. --TammyMoet (talk) 11:42, 11 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

2nd AmTrack Battalion,[edit]

Elements of this battalion were deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lancehurley (talkcontribs) 15:30, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]

What is your question?--Jayron32 17:44, 9 June 2017 (UTC)[reply]