In the big survey, political views are divided into large categories so that statistics are possible. This article is an attempt to supply a text field so that we can get a little better view of the range of beliefs.

My political views aren't adequately expressed by "libertarian". I call myself a liberal-flavored libertarian, by which I mean that I want the government to hurt people less. The possibility that the government is giving too much to poor people is low on my list of concerns. I also believe that harm-causing processes should be shut down before support systems

So, what political beliefs do you have that don't match the usual meaning of your preferred label?

Since it turns out that it isn't feasible to include check as many as apply questions in the big survey, I'm asking about supplements here. I've got a bunch of questions, and I don't mind at all if you just answer some of them.

What supplements do you take? At what dosages? Are there other considerations, like with/without food or time of day?

Are there supplements you've stopped using?

How did you decide to take the supplements you're using? How do you decide whether to continue taking them?

Do you have preferred suppliers? How did you choose them?

I reread  Are Wireheads Happy?[1], which is about the difference between liking and wanting.

I've noticed that too much simple carbs (not terribly much-- three twenty ounce Cokes on consecutive days will do it) severely damages my desire to do much of anything, and the effects take approximately two low-simple carbs days to clear out.

This is obviously something physiological, even though it looks like an emotional problem. Failing to remember clue to avoid simple carbs (a dessert once a week might not be a problem) might be an emotional issue. Too much sugar used to lead to an internal voice saying "I don't care". This time, it didn't, but if I thought of something I might do, there was a clear feeling of "no reward there" and a sense that it was too much effort. I was capable of enjoying things, but not of anticipating that I would like them.

I'm wondering if anything is known about simple carbs, motivation, and/or serotonin/dopamine.

[1]Recommended here.

Ferrets and styrofoam peanuts.

Some animal species play when young and pretty drop it as adults. Some continue well past maturity. I assume there's a physical basis, but I have no idea what it might be. Thoughts?

I've seen a recent claim that adding a summary to links is enough of an inconvenience that the links may not be getting posted. I suppose people aren't checking out the media threads for links.

As an experiment, I'm posting this as a place for links. Summaries/excerpts are optional-- please don't downvote links just for not having excerpts/summaries.

I suggested  recently that part of the problem with with LW was a lock of discussion posts which was caused by people not thinking of much to post about.

When I ask myself "what might be a good topic for a post?", my mind goes blank, but surely not everything that's worth saying that's related to rationality has been said.

So, is there something at the back of your mind which might be interesting? A topic which got some discussion in an open thread that could be worth pursuing?

If you've found anything which helps you generate useable ideas, please comment about it-- or possibly write a post on the subject.

You know the drill - If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.

And, while this is an accidental exception, future open threads should start on Mondays until further notice.

A high school student with an interest in math asks whether he's obligated on utilitarian grounds to become a doctor.

The commenters pretty much say that he isn't, but now I'm wondering-- if you go into reasonably pure math, what areas or specific problems would be most likely to contribute the most towards saving lives?

Philadelphia, PA: Goal Factoring Exercise