DJ Shuffle: The Fuck is This?

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

[Since resuming programming, DJ Shuffle has been playing Christmas and winter music, from traditional to songs that he first heard listening to the Doctor Demento show back in New York. Once he's gathered his information and his thoughts, though, he cracks the mic and begins to talk, much more calmly than usual. If there was ever a chance to recognize his voice, this is it, as he sounds sedate and serious.]

So. I'm gonna assume that if you're listening to me, you've got power. Or a battery-powered radio tuned to me, and what does that say about your priorities? But if you're stranded out there and you hear this, call the studio line, I'll get help sent out to you.

See, I could be my usual flaming asshole and shit on everyone for not knowing this was coming and we weren't prepared and all that rot. But you know what? There's bigger fish to fry. We've learned a lesson from all this: the Deck's weather isn't as stable as we'd like to believe. Snowstorms in October are possible. An early spring heatwave might be possible. Town could end up flooded by massive rainfall. And we're not ready for that.

We paid for our unpreparedness in lives, ladies and gentlemen. While everyone at the castles was fine, there are reports of roofs caving in in Town, crushing people in their houses. And even those who made it out okay had dehyrdation and frostbite issues. I'm so not blaming anyone, not this time. What I want to ask the Deck is this: what can we do to prepare for next time? How can we create an effective disaster preparedness team? Can we effectively get a roster of every member of every Suit and account for them? Can we create centralized safe locations for disasters--schools, perhaps?

I know, this is probably something the High Cards are going to want to talk about. But here I am, and I'm not one. I want to know, what can we all as individuals do, next time the Deck goes weird on us all? Open forum for discussion, for everyone, rather than my usual schpiel.

Phone lines are open.

Comments

[castsalight.livejournal.com]

"You know, when disaster strikes people show their true colours and yours, Sir, are quite impressive."

This call came from someone involved in current events, someone who often listened to DJ Shuffle's shows but, until now, had not phoned in. The main reason for this is that radio transmissions are scratchy at the best of times and Margo cannot see lip movement to assist her listening. She holds her cellphone against her good ear, turning the volume up a little.

"Now, when compared with towns of a similar standing on the Outside, I agree the Deck is lacking in support structures for the most vulnerable members of society. When any kind of turmoil occurs, it is the poor, the elderly and the disabled who suffer most. This kind of Social Darwinism is going to have to be flipped on its head."

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

He's going to very loudly ignore comments about his true colors, glad no one's in his studio to see the blushing that he's doing right now.

"Well, we don't so much have poor. Everyone's a member of a Suit, and every Suit is taken care of adequately, down to the lowest servants. But the elderly and disabled--how can we help them?"

[castsalight.livejournal.com]

Margo won't embarrass him any further. She is just glad to hear that the DJ has some substance. His question came through fairly clearly so she gives it a moment's thought before answering.

"This is a place where the extent of one's welfare is determined through challenges. Those who are at a mental or physical disadvantage sometimes do not have access to the facilities provided at the castles. They may find themselves living in isolated locales such as the houses that had caved in. Perhaps more facilities could be made available at the center of Town?"

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

"That's why I thought of the schools--the gyms could fit lots of people, and there's space to store water, blankets, canned foods. But it would take people moving on it officially. Paper trails and so on."

Her point about the mental and physical disadvantages is actually a good one to address. He scrawls it down for a later date.

[mnm-gamer.livejournal.com]

Hey DJ Shuffle.

You know what? I lost my gloves, and my hands were freezing. And our acquisitions officer didn't have any on hand. She's gonna take it into account to order extras in case something like this happens again.

But we tried to help by gathering people up into warmed rooms with fireplaces and handing out blankets and stuff. I'm just wondering what other supplies would be good to have on hand, like canned stuff and bottled water.

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Lights of some sort? Flashlights with spare batteries, candles and matches. Where I got stuck, we ended up doing stuff by cell phone light for a while. Spare first aid kits. Personally, I'm betting on a heatwave coming next, but I'm talking out my ass there.

[mnm-gamer.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, that stuff would make sense. We live in castles, dude, we should have candles and matches beyond counting. At least, if this was tabletop, that would be the case.

My cellphone died shortly after we lost power. Maybe some kind of generator to power up emergency technology like cellphones or short wave radios?

Oh hey, I also totally invented sleeping bag pants to stay warm. I'd be perfectly willing to pass off my designs to someone who could produce them in quantity in case this happens again. And sleeping bags are one size fits all, so except for little kids, they'd fit anyone. [a bit distractedly, and mostly to himself] Maybe... pockets like kangaroos, on the inside... to put stuff in.

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Well, here's the question--and this is for the Deck as a whole, not just you. Do we have the resources to make that sort of generator a thing? If so, can we put emergency generators in the Castles? On the medical centers?

Just an ooc note

[houseofcardsmod.livejournal.com]

While it's entirely possible that there were multiple reports (gossip travels faster than news) of multiple houses caving in...it was actually only one house that hadn't been kept up and wasn't prepared for the weight of all the wet snow it got.

[heart-the-art.livejournal.com]

Hello, this is the Head of the Domestic Staff of Hearts. [She begins crisply.] My position means I am charge of what the caller prior spoke about.

The Hearts Department had all emergency supplies it needed to cover the crisis for both the Castle and the Refugees that came flooding in. All the supplies you suggested are in stock and I've recently sent another invoice out with acquisition staff to get two months worth of supplies we have used. We also had enough food stock and water stock and I am sure my counter part of the Kitchen Department can confirm we are also getting enough supplies to replace what we lost with the refugees we started to accept before the power came on.

I would suggest this as the first step in preparedness with my counter parts in the other Suits, and encourage emergency supplies at home. I also think we should speak about a Deck-wide drive handing out these supplies to families who might not be able to afford to stock.

[A pause.]

We also had emergency blankets as the caller noted, but I'm we never thought creatively about the gloves.

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Thank you for calling, Miz Head of the Domestic Staff of Hearts. Is there a shorter version of that? I mean, your counterparts in the other Suits may need to get ahold of you to coordinate shit.

Anyway. I wasn't at the Castle, I didn't get to see what you had going, but it sounds like it was a pretty good deal. Gold star, miss. Help everyone else get up to speed, and we'll all be okay, huh?

[heart-the-art.livejournal.com]

Ms. Adare. [How strange to say that, and how smoothly it sounds. Like she always has said it.] Though I've always thought my accent was a better calling card. [Manhattan, Mr. DJ. She's noticed the hint of yours.]

I apologize you were stuck in that. That's the one thing we Hearts did not do well on that front and sadly out of my department's hands. However it doesn't mean I cannot speak to my fellows about this nor does it mean we can't learn from our friends in other Suits. I think we'll have to have a meeting, as you suggested, between the Faces and Heads of Staff as soon as possible.

Thank you.

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

[Oh, he was trying to avoid the subject of accents. Shh, can't you pretend he's Deck-ese?]

Is there anything people can do to make the burden easier on you and your fellows? A place where last year's unfashionable mittens and sweaters could be collected?

[threecardmonty.livejournal.com]

Lessee, how 'bout you play "Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley? Seems fitting.

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Well, I could go back to my usual blaming the Monarchs for being useless, if you'd prefer that to trying to hold a conversation. Or you could turn off the fucking radio, if you've got a problem. Seriously.

[threecardmonty.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah. I forgot you don't take to anyone having a dissenting opinion, unless it's your opinion doing the dissenting. Maybe you should check your facts before spouting stuff on the radio. I was out in that storm first thing and saw people from every Suit checking in on those in town and who lived between the castles and town. I'm talking official help, not just people being neighborly.

[ishineon.livejournal.com]

"Hello. I am Säde Pekkanen-Winston, Queen of Diamonds, and you, sir, are very misinformed." Her voice is crisp and icy, just barely clear of anger. It's a good thing Leigh decided to tell her about what was going on, and she spent some time listening before calling in.

"There were far fewer deaths than you claim; only one house with its roof caved in. We've yet to discover exactly how many were inside. I don't doubt, however, that there's a high chance of finding people under the snow when it is clear. And while I cannot speak for the other Castles, we have had enough supplies to last us so far, and for perhaps a few more days." Her voice goes a bit gentler, less cold. "I admit this was largely by careful budgeting of what we had, and of course there were some individual families and Diamonds who laid by their own supplies. Several even shared what they could."

There's the distant sound of fingernails drumming on wood. "Do inform me of what I've missed, up in my 'ivory tower'." Her tone is impressively sarcastic here, then goes calm and cold again. "But do not spread rumour and distorted facts while you do so."

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

"There was no widespread signal that school was cancelled, leading to students being stranded in town unnecessarily. On the Outside, phone trees and other mass alert systems would have made it clear that no one needed to go to the school--far too many Deck parents are the sort to send their kids out no matter what the sky's doing." This, though it might have come from personal experience, was not only his complaint. And it could be solved with simple organization.

"And there was no real plan, out in Town. No clue of where were safe places to go, no centralized location. Your Royal Highness, what are those of us who don't live in a Castle supposed to do, when things like this happen?"

The tone of his voice isn't accusation. It's almost torn between frustration and pleading.

[ishineon.livejournal.com]

Her tone shifts into something gentler and kinder- for her, anyway. "My own w- My daughter goes to the Town school. When I saw the conditions the first day, I made her stay in. I'm sorry that not all students were so lucky." And that their parents had better sense next time round.

"That is one of our biggest failings, I think, in this entire incident. We were unprepared- I dare say nigh-severely unprepared, in terms of planning. For now I suggest the bigger buildings- the community centre, the school, the library and so on. If you live in town, keeping an eye out for people stuck outside would be good. Share your space and your supplies." There's a pause, and then she adds, a little dryly, "perhaps, DJ Shuffle, you could expand your operations. Radio is often used as a warning system Outside, I believe."

After Monty.

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's the King of Clubs calling from his Ivory Tower. Apologies if the reception is terrible. The husks of dead elephants conduct badly.

[At least he sounds amused.]

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Animal cruelty, Your Majesty? Tsk, and here I respected you. Are you here to berate me for how I make my points, or point out how inaccurate I was with my original statement?

[He'll keep the light tone until Elisha indicates which way to jump. Face cards are always great for listenership.]

[cipherspeak.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I wonder why you respect me but not some of the other Faces, but you can do that next week when we're - hopefully - back to our usual balmy October weather.

So I suppose I'll just point out that there's no way to be prepared for every possibility, and the only way to respond to every possibility when it occurs is to be flexible. That's what I tried to do with the Clubs. We always maintain an emergency surplus of supplies, and I'm proud that my people responded quickly and efficiently. We had people going out to check houses and bring people to safety as soon as it was safe to do so.

[Beyond that, there was really little they could do. And the same was true even if the Deck regularly got blizzards.]

Not Calling In~

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

Later, Blythe will knock at Teddy's door, almost as bundled up as Mitch, if Teddy had seen him walking by in his blankets. "Hey there, honey." She pulls the scarf away from her nose and mouth to give him a smile. "I was just wondering if you could help me out with a little something?"

Re: Not Calling In~

[dj-shuffle.livejournal.com]

Teddy's all sweatered and mittened, reading what seems to be the instruction manual for something or other electronic. There's a large box in a corner of his room, flaps open.

"Mm. Probably can, your Aceness." While he's not going out of his way to insult her title (or worse, deny her the honor of it), there's definitely no bow accompanying his words.

[somuchheart.livejournal.com]

"Blythe." She gives him a mock-stern look, then laughs. "I was just wondering - this whole blizzard thing took me by surprise, and it really sucks. I have terrible circulation, and I really wasn't expecting to be on guard from frostbite until the end of November, maybe.

"So do you have, like... any ideas for how we could be more prepared for things like this, in case it happens again? Like, a heatwave or a flash flood thanks to rainfall or something?"