Thanks much for the reply, even if it's not the one I was hoping for.
Now my question is: refracting off what? Haha.
Comparing these two sites...they even have similar color profiles. Light gradient in header, dark menu bar...so it's apparently not based on page content? Pondering the logic.
It doesn't interfere with usability, but visually it's quite a put-off. The drop shadow is so large it makes them appear to be floating uncomfortably high. IMO browsers should get out of the way and allow the content to shine.