houseofcards_rp | DJ Shuffle: The Fuck is This?

Skip to Main Content

Entry tags:

DJ Shuffle: The Fuck is This?

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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.

I'm not saying no one did anything. Hell, I got rescued by a Diamond with a sled. I'm just saying, hey, what more can we do? How can we prepare for next time?

But gee, I guess that conversation's only for Face Cards in Ivory Towers, not Joe Blow on the radio.

Well, bless your heart. You are a touchy one, ain't you? You implied otherwise and exaggerated what did happen. Now, I like a good yarn same as the next fellow, but in this case I believe it hurts your goal more than helps it.

About rosters. They exist. I know for a fact two Suits contacted everyone on their list one way or another. Wouldn't be surprised to learn the other two did the same thing. But maybe there needs to be folk in town proper to help townsfolk when emergencies occur.

What goal's a guy like me got beyond getting people to think and to talk? So, I'm exaggerating--isn't that the very purpose of a shock jock?

Now, I like the idea of a place in town people can go. People who actually are aware that it's their duty to step up and take charge. I don't know how to organize it. Don't know what it would take.

Can't have it both ways. You want a serious discussion, then stick to the facts. Gotta learn when to bluff, Son.

Now way I see it, townsfolk live in town for a reason. They want some independence from castle life. Who're your spokespeople out there? Reckon the med center was open. They got generators. So does the town school. Most public buildings do. Maybe you could hold a town meeting and present your suggestions to the Suits. I reckon every one of them will want to do their fair share. Those are their people over there, too. It's not Them versus Us.

You got yourself this radio, right? It should switch over to emergency information when something like this happens: warnings, what to do and what not to do, where to go if you need help, who to call. Saw a lot of blamed fool people out without proper clothing.

I'm in no place to hold a town meeting--trust me on that--but I have no problem providing information in case of emergencies. In fact, I'd have no issue giving someone I trust a key to the studio to handle that for if I get caught in the emergency, like this time.

[Nevermind that he has yet to find anyone he trusts like that, of course.]

Who's to say you have to be the one doing it? Folk are listening today. You pointed out a concern. Let them take it from there. They're adults.

It would be helpful to broadcast information for folk. They have emergency warning systems in places that have freak storms Outside. In places that don't have those, volunteers drive up and down streets with loudspeakers on telling folk to take cover. Might look into something like that, too.

There's a lot to be learned from Outside handling of emergencies. Though, there's a predictability to them--Japan and Hawaii are ready for earthquakes and tsunamis. The midwestern U.S. is braced for tornados. This storm's interesting--I don't know if we have prescedent for anything like it. We're not sure what to prepare for, exactly, next.

Aren't you jumping the gun, hoss? Freak storms happen everywhere. It ain't the end of the world. Might could be we'll have ourselves an early winter. It happens--even here. I asked around.

Emergency plans make sense, but no point in spreading gloom and doom over one storm.

I hope you're right.

[All other things being equal, that would be best.]

[So does Monty, but like he said, no sense in riling everyone up with speculation. One thing at a time.]

You brought up some decent points. For all I know there are systems in place or at least ones around that need dusting off. Think about that radio warning. Be nice if folk could tune to a certain channel and hear a recording at least about what to expect and what to do and not do in case of flood, fire or alien invasion.

So, what does one do in case of alien invasion?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only