This is the bi-weekly visible open thread. There are hidden threads every few days here. Post about anything you want, ask random questions, whatever. Also:

1. Registration with a real email is now required to post comments. You can find the registration link on the top of the right sidebar. If there’s a problem, let me know. If there’s so much of a problem that you can’t post here, you can message me at @slatestarcodex on Twitter or email me or something.

2. Interesting people you may know who now have Patreons: The Unit of Caring, sinesalvatorem. If you don’t like their Patreon, don’t donate. If you’re a jerk to them here, I’ll ban you – and now I’ll be able to sort of enforce it!

3. The Social Sciences Replication Project is hosting a prediction market on which social sciences experiments will replicate. Due date to join is October 31. Note that they’re kind of missing the point of this whole prediction market thing and so you have to be an official social scientist with (or getting) a PhD or something to join.

4. Comment of the week is Anonymous Bosch on Richard Tol’s analysis of global warming costs.