Actually means: actions taken solely for the feeling (or the appearance) of doing something about an unavoidable situation; actions that not only accomplish nothing but *blatantly* accomplish nothing.
"Oh, look, now GM is trying to fire Wagoner. It's like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic."
In theory it is possible that whilst 'shuffling' a deck of cards, that the cards could be set into certain favourable positions; this expression is based upon such a premise.
Said when there is a suspicion that an outcome has been obtained in a prearranged fashion, usually by a specific person, directly involved.
Bob was an expert at shuffleing the deck; he got the two hot chicks on his team, again!
comment: Hey bro, the NZ Labour party managed to get elected again in 2008 for a 4th term with their infamous tax rebate.
response: shuffleing the deck man
Cigarette: Northern slang for a cigarette, used oft by mashed up mancunian ravers becasue of the resemblance of a hot(electric)stove to the end of a lit cigarette. Originated circa 1991 in the early halcyon days of the rave culture; we speculate during a drug fuelled hallucination by said manc.
'fuck me noel, i am bolloxed, is that a ciggy in your mouth, or the stove from me 'nans kitchen'/
General use: 'Give us a stove you cunt'