Tropical Storm Erika, the Palm Beach Post editorial board, and how did PBSO get caught up in this?

My blog readers are a clever bunch. One of them did a parody of a recent editorial in the Post no doubt in response to the ever-constant drumbeat of negativity by the newspaper of Sheriff Bradshaw and our PBSO. Have fun reading this paragraph by paragraph, first from the Post editorial and then the parody:

[Post Editorial] “I don’t think that message was being conveyed,” James Franklin, chief of forecast operations of the Miami-based center, told The Post’s Kimberly Miller.

[Reader Parody] “I don’t think that message was being conveyed,” Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office (PBSO), told The Post’s Lawrence Mower.

[PE] Erika, he emphasized, was an unusually difficult storm to predict. Indeed, each forecast included plenty of caveats. But it may be human nature — or the sound-bite nature of many newscasts and news websites — to boil down news to simple messages, and for the nuances to quickly flee from mind.

[RP] Deputy shootings, he emphasized, was an unusually difficult situation to predict. Indeed, each incident included plenty of caveats. But it may be human nature — or the sound-bite nature of many newscasts and news websites — to boil down news to simple messages, and for the nuances to quickly flee from mind.

[PE] Franklin did say that the National Hurricane Center may need to do a better job of drawing attention to some of the other forecasting products they put out — such as the map that conveys the probability that an area will feel hurricane- or tropical storm-force winds.

[RP] Bradshaw did say that the PBSO may need to do a better job of drawing attention to some of the other information they put out — such as the need to obey a deputy's instructions and that an area known for crime is best avoided by the public.

[PE] That would be a welcome addition to the coverage of the next potential hurricane that seems aimed at South Florida. Because, of course, there will be a next one.

[RP] That would be a welcome addition to the coverage by The Palm Beach Post and potentially avoid another unfortunate confrontation. Unfortunately, there is crime and criminals in South Florida and there will be a next one.

[PE] What worries us about a nonevent like Erika is that the public will remember it with exaggerated clarity the next time hurricane warnings arise. If people think that meteorologists’ reports are unreliable and the media’s treatment is overly alarmist, there’s a good chance that nonchalance and cynicism will supersede preparedness.

[RP] What worries PBSO about the reporting in the Post is that the public will remember an incident with exaggerated alarmism the next time a situation arises. If people learn that PBSO’s reports are reliable and the media’s treatment is overly alarmist, there’s a good chance that ignorance and cynicism will superseded by more public awareness.

[For a parody to work it has to have an element of truth. This is a very clever piece of work.]