Farhad Manjoo truth on the internet

Psychologists and other social scientists have repeatedly shown that when confronted with diverse information choices, people rarely act like rational, civic-minded automatons. Instead, we are roiled by preconceptions and biases, and we usually do what feels easiest — we gorge on information that confirms our ideas, and we shun what does not.

The New York Times, Nov. 2, on how the Internet makes it harder to discern the truth.

KAREN ELLIOTT HOUSE saudi arabia

Gone, too, is the once pre-eminent authority of the religious establishment, for centuries ruling partners of the monarchy. Clerics who dare to criticize change are jailed and the rest are silent. With such core pillars as royal family unity and religious support shaking, Saudi citizens fear that almost anything can happen at any time.

The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 2, on reforms in Saudi society.

Ben Adler junk food

Today’s hip chefs revel in finding ways to profit from glorified junk food, from cronuts to little $8 jars of artisanal bacon mayonnaise, and the food critics cheer them on, as if this were a worthy endeavor. The current ethos is something like this: The more lowbrow a dish is, the more drenched in fat a dish is, the better.

The Washington Post, Nov. 1, on why ranch dressing is what’s wrong with America.