Pat’s Five Favorites: November 21, 2020

Every weekday morning, I spend a lot of time reading the news — newspapers, magazines, websites and apps — so I can bring you “In the Papers.” There’s so much to read and so much to share that now, every week, I want to highlight some of the best stuff I’ve seen. 

Left photo – Frank Franklin II/AP; Right photo – John Minchillo/AP

1. Why Do NYC And NY State Report Different COVID Test Positivity Rates?
Gothamist

With schools and so much else riding on the daily coronavirus test statistics, why can’t the city and state come up with numbers that match?

2. The $99,900 Studios on Billionaires’ Row
Curbed

A Midtown co-op apartment for $99,000? Yes. It’s too good to be true.

File photo

3. How the NYPD Obtains People’s Personal Data with No Oversight
New York Post

A New York Post investigation found the NYPD has been obtaining internet account, cell phone and bank records with legally-dubious subpoenas. 

4. Bots Grade Your Kids’ Schoolwork—and They’re Often Wrong
The Wall Street Journal

Robots aren’t very good at grading tests. Although, in keeping with the saying “garbage in, garbage out” some of the robot failures are because of the way their humans programmed them. 

5. A History of Late-Season Tornadoes in New York City
NY1

And how unusual (for November) was that tornado warning a few days ago? Mornings on 1 meteorologist Erick Adame dug through the New York City records back to 1950 and couldn’t find a November tornado.