GPT Goes Camping

While it was hard to tear myself away from sweet, sweet Tetris, I was drawn to the outdoors this weekend for a camping trip in Maryland. Luckily, the s'mores helped to ease the separation from the Best Game Ever, and it turns out a glowing campfire is almost as fun to watch as the YES Network. Last time I ventured out into Nature, I stumbled upon the Rare Tetris Flower. This time, I encountered something even better on the beach -- wild ponies!!! I'm not kidding. It was almost as awesome as the time Rachel made it to level 81. This weekend, I'm off to spend some more time in Nature, and who knows what I'll find? I'll keep you posted on my adventures when I return.

Michelle Obama for President

For any of you who missed Michelle Obama's inspirational speach at the Dem convention the other night, I highty suggest you take a 15 minute break from tetris to watch it. Michelle's warmth, passion and intelligence are a welcome relief from the lifeless Laura Bush, whose personality ranges somewhere between zombie and Disney World animatronic creature. America will be better off having Michellle Obama in Washington, and who knows? Maybe in eight years she'll pull a Hillary and run for office herself!

Enchanted: Like Elf, but With Less Green Spandex

I was watching Enchanted this weekend, and couldn't stop thinking that the movie seemed really familiar. Then I realized, I was basically watching Elf, but with more singing and fewer large men in green tights (maybe this had something to do with the fact that I'd also watched Talladega Nights that weekend, which stars Amy Adams and Will Ferrell). If I were an Olympic gymnastics judge, I would award Enchanted a bronze medal; the music and dancing are not bad (by modern movie musical standards) and Amy Adams is super adorable as the cartoon brought to life, even if she doesn't consume massive amounts of candy and make wooden toys out of furniture.

Olympic Fever!

Olympic Fever has official spread to GPT HQ. Last night, Stef stayed up all night watching gymnastics, and I've found myself straying from baseball games to watch swimming. Shocking? I think the photo below speaks for itself. Go USA!!!

LOLBush: ur Prezdent need hugz

Thank you Jezebel for finding these brilliant LOLBushes in The Guardian. Based on the immortal LOLCats, the photos feature President Bush at the Olympics (with appropriate captions). This one is my fave:

Virtual Bubble Wrap

There's less strategy involved in popping virtual bubble wrap than in playing tetris, but it's still strangely satisfying, and a good way to relieve stress at work. Try the manic mode if you're feeling really crazy. Thanks to GPT fan and dad, Alvin W., for helping us find yet another addictive slice of Internet silliness.

She's the Greatest Star

It's the middle of summer. The fans and ACs are working overtime to combat the heat, Labor Day seems years away, and to top it all off, my boy Jorge Posada is having season-ending surgery. We could all use a little pick-me-up, courtesy of the one and only Barbra Streisand. Yes, it's sort of random, and a departure from the usual tetris and baseball themed GPT subject matter, but watch this clip from Funny Girl and you'll feel instantly revived.

Posada's Shoulder Injury Causes Me to Act Shamefully on the Internet

The current flare-up of my all time number one super fave Jorge Posada's shoulder injury has left me in a pretty bad mood. Worse, it's turned me into that crazed fan in the comments section of sports blogs, valiantly defending my boy Jorgie when insensitive writers call him old. Here are some excerpts from my recent, shameful work:

"For me, Posada has always be the antidote to A-rod’s headline grabbing, diva-esque ways. Jorge is a sports hero in every sense — he leads by example, is patient with young pitchers, and most of all, stays calm in big situations."

"As fans, we've always assumed Jorge would be there, and only now that he's injured are we starting to appreciate what he means to the team."

The lessons to be learned from this? 1. Mixing the Internet with sports obsessions can lead to strange things, and 2. Jorge is the best and I will cheer for him even if he is degraded into playing first base.

Now I have to go tend to my own sore shoulder (have I been sitting at a desk for too long, or are these sympathy pains??).

Related:

Girls Eat Hotdogs

Posada's Shoulder is Injured. So is My Heart

Why I Should be the New Catcher for the Yankees

"This is Tetris, and this is Jenga": More Fun From Tim and Eric

I have to admit that the first time my little bro introduced me to Tim and Eric's "Tom Goes to the Mayor," I was confused and disturbed. But after becoming more acquainted with the duo's repitoire, I began to see their charms. Here's a hillarious and weird ad for Absolute Vodka starring Zach Galifianakis, Tim, Eric, and their dates, Tetris and Jenga.

Find more videos like this on aspecialthing


Related: Segway: The Official Vehicle of GPT

The Zohan: Like Munich, But With More Hummus Jokes

Munich was great and all, but let's be honest, it was kind of a downer. Luckily, Adam Sandler's brilliant new film, You Don't Mess With the Zohan, has come along to add a much needed dose of comedy to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As A.O. Scott of the New York Times writes, Zohan is "the finest post-Zionist action-hairdressing sex comedy I have ever seen." So imagine my delight, then, to discover on my recent trip to Israel that the movie is being heavily marketed in the Holy Land. What do actual Israelis think of Sandler's idiotic accent and obsession with hummus? The ones I've talked to thought it was pretty damn funny. I couldn't agree more.

Dear Yankees, Please Stop Losing

Why do the Yanks make it so hard on us poor fans? All we ask for is a few hits, a few runs and some halfway decent pitching. That doesn't seem out of the question, does it?
Last night's game was a true heartbreaker, with my boys losing 3-2, all because of hit off Mariano in the 9th and some questionable non-bunting by Melky with one out and a runner on first. Despite my super all time fave Jorge Posada getting two hits, those rude Ranger baserunners kept stealing off his weakened throwing arm.
At least there was one high point in the game, namely the two scoreless innings by rookie pitcher David Robertson. My Mostly Random List of Favorite Yankees is on the disabled list at the moment in solidarity with injured fave Brian Bruney, but if I were to revive such a list, David would for sure be on it. Check him out in all his nervous, bashful glory in this interview.

Segway: The Official Vehicle of GPT

Inspired by a flock of Segway riders I encountered during my recent visit to Jerusalem (see photo), I would like to make the Segway the official mode of transportation for Girls Play Tetris. We don't actually own one of these silly super gadgets, but a girl can dream, right?
For more fun, check out the video "Totally Segway" from my little bro's fave comedy duo (and the masterminds behind The Snuggler), Tim and Eric. Watch as they ride around in circles and harass innocent on-lookers. Bonus points for anyone who can find me the code thingy so that I can embed the video (Craig, that means you!). In the meantime, here's the link. Enjoy!

Related: Seltzer: The Official Beverage of GPT

Girls Play Tetris Spin-off Blogs

As part of our ongoing efforts to take over the media, here are a few of our top picks for spin-offs to the wildly successful Girls Play Tetris. Have an idea?? We'd love to hear it in the comments section!

• Boys Who Love Girls Who Play Tetris
  
• Girls Play Scrabulous
  
• Girls Watch Baseball, While Playing Tetris
  
• Dogs Play Pingpong
  
• Moms Who Wish Their Daughters Would Stop Playing Tetris and Get a Damn Job Already

Searching for Tetris in the Holy Land

Dear Tetris fans, 

GPT has returned after a three week hiatus. I know what you're thinking --  why would anyone want to take a vacation from playing tetris, and then blogging about it?? Don't fear. The time away from my couch and laptop was not wasted. 

While in Israel, I set out on a Biblical quest for the Best Game Ever, after being informed by Pesach that there was some good Tetris to be found there. My search took me through mountains and caves, but it wasn't until we traveled to the desert that I discovered what I'd been looking for. As we descended into a waterfall oasis, I heard a rustling in the brush by the trail. I approached quietly, not wanting to disturb any creatures who might be hiding. Silently lifting aside a branch, I uncovered the rare Tetris Lizard, who gets its name because the pattern on its back resembles tetris pieces. The lizard scurried away before I could get a photo, but it was a truly spiritual moment that will not soon be forgotten. 

Related: The Rare Tetris Flower

Tetris: A Deeper Meaning

Habanot Nechama: Great New Band from Israel

Girls Eat Hotdogs

Here are some photos from the Yankees game last week. The Yanks won 8-0!!

Don't worry, it's kosher.

Three girls. Three hats. One ballpark.

Ironman: Not Enough Tetris

In an attempt to hold us over until the new Indiana Jones movie comes out, my bro and I went to see Ironman yesterday. The movie was pretty entertaining, mostly because of the bizarre facial hair on Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges, but I left the theater wondering: where was the tetris?? With all those computers and robots, I was hoping that there'd at least be a little bit of tetris. How cool would it be if Ironman could take a break from killing terrorists to play some of the Best Game Ever? I guess I'll just have to wait for the sequel.

HaBanot Nechama: Great New Band from Israel

I took a break from playing tetris the other night to hear some Israeli music at the 60th birthday concert at Radio City. The standout performance of the night was from a group called HaBanot Nechama, made up of three stylish ladies (kind of like Girls Play Tetris!), each an accomplished singer and musician. Their sound is a little bit folksy and a little bit reggae with incredible harmonies and rhythms. They played the song "So Far" on Wednesday, and while the recording below gives you a good sense of HaBanot, they sound even better live. For more info, head to their MySpace page.

Baby Polar Bear!!!

This might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Stop Copying Us, New Republic!

Mainstream media is at it again! Last time, we caught the New York Times copying us, and now The New Republic has gotten in on the act. Yesterday, the TNR blog had this post about Human Tetris. Guess what? We posted about that months ago. Honestly, can't these guys keep their hands off other people's ideas? So much for journalistic integrity. 

Here's the video for anyone who missed it the first time around, or who just wants to watch it again (is there ever too much Human Tetris???).

Scrabulous Throwdown!

The battle of the English majors has begun on Scrabulous, and so far Joanie T. is beating me by an embarrassingly large margin. I could blame it on getting only As and Is, or the fact that Joanie is a librarian, but that would be the wimpy way out. Don't fear, GPT fans! I've retaliated with a 22 pointer, which appropriately is the word FAITH. Who will be crowned the champion Word Nerd? Stay tuned to find out!

Related: Scrabble v. Tetris: A Fight to the Finish
Girls Play Scrabble

Tresling: Two Great Sports Collide

There's been an exciting new advancement in the field of Tetris Reasearch. It's called Tresling, and it combines the illustrious activities of tetris and arm-wrestling. We're still not completely sure how it works, but we applaud its inventors for their creativity. If anyone's up for a tournament at GPT HQ, let us know!

Posada's Shoulder is Injured. So is My Heart.

It's been a tough week to be a Yankees fan, and I'm not talking about their pathetic pitching. First, my newly appointed second fave Brian Bruney goes on the disabled list. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, we found out yesterday that my all time number one favorite Yankee ever, Jorge Posada, is headed to the DL as well. From the NY Times:

Jorge Posada seemed to be fighting back tears Sunday in the Yankees’ clubhouse. Posada is a proud catcher, honest with his emotions, and he had never been on the disabled list in his 13-year career. The streak is over now, as Posada has given in to the pain in his damaged right shoulder.

All these injuries are making me wonder if there's a curse on all GPT faves. That is why, until Jorgie and BB recover, the mostly random list of my fave Yankees is also going on the DL. Poor, poor Jorgie. At least now he'll have more time for Tetris (I'm assuming he's a big fan).

But rather than dwell on the negative, let's take a moment to remember all the good times, and hope for a speedy recovery.

Spring Flowers!

Spring has finally arrived! The weather is warm and flowers are everywhere. I can't believe I'm saying this, but stop playing tetris and go outside! Or at the very least, take your gameboy to the park.

Here are some photos I took this week of the flowers in my neighborhood. 

Hip Hip Jorge!

Jorge Posada (my fave Yankee) may have gotten off to a slow start this season because of a shoulder injury (I'll never forgive those obnoxious base runners who ran purely because of his weak arm, btw), but he made up for it all last night during the game against the White Sox. Not only did he and Moosey put aside their creative differences and offer up some great pitching, he also hit three doubles over the course of the night. All I can say is, A-rod, eat your heart out!

Tetris: The Movie

Updates from Girls Play Tetris HQ

It's been a few weeks since Grrr....achel moved out, and things are beginning to settle down over at GPT HQ (a.k.a. our apartment). Rachel arrived safely in New Mexico, Khorshid is preparing for her Batizado, and our new roomie is slowly adapting to our way of life, and all the tetris, Tyra, and sweatgear that it entails. Though it's a bit quieter without Rachel, life has mostly gone back to normal -- the OTB channel plays softly on our extremely low-def TV, an orchid blooms on the kitchen window sill, and the sweet sounds of Mick and Keith fill in the air.

My New Second Favorite Yankee

Move over Melky, I have a new second fave! While Jorgie will always be number one, Brian Bruney is now moving up in the mostly random list of my favorite Yankees. Despite a so-so appearance last night against the White Sox, he's still managed to catch our attention. Maybe it's because he looks like a giant baby, or because of his long flowing hair. I'm not really sure why exactly, but some things are better left unexplained.

The Rare Tetris Flower

Yesterday I was going for a stroll in Central Park, when I stumbled upon a true horticultural treasure -- the rare Tetris Flower! Camera in hand, I documented my discovery to share with the world. 

Jezebel Agrees: Baseball is the Best

Check out this post on Jezebel titled "Three Reasons Why Smart Women Love Baseball." It's nice to know that there's some solid journalistic evidence to support my crazed ramblings about the Yankees. Also, I like being called smart. Here's a blurb from the article:

"What a woman will see upon careful examination of the game is that what at first seemed arbitrary is in fact, well-orchestrated: a foul ball is not an insignificant annoyance, but an expression of the battle raging between a pitcher and his prey; the left-fielder who once looked to be pacing in boredom in the outfield is not only keeping his blood pumping in the chilly October air but positioning himself to discourage the base-runner on third who is angling for home."

Now stop reading and go watch some baseball!

Why I Should Be the New Catcher for the Yankees

Yesterday I sent this article to my mom. The headline reads, "Help Wanted: Yankees Need Catcher After Failing at Fenway." She immediately emailed me back saying that since I was recently laid-off (anyone who's hiring, let me know!), I should offer to fill in until Jorgie and Jose get better. What a great idea, I thought. It's high time the Yanks had an A League of Their Own moment, and while I may not have picked up a bat since my T-ball days, I'll make up for my lack of skills with grit, moxie and team spirit! Joe Girardi, if you're reading this, call me!

Changes at Girls Play Tetris

It's springtime again. Baseball season has arrived. The daffodils are blooming. It's also a time for new beginnings. Here at Girls Play Tetris HQ (aka our apartment), things have been a little different lately. Sadly, Rachel has decided to move back to New Mexico to bring the message of tetris to the South West. We will miss her dearly, but she promises to keep contributing to GPT. Fortunately, tetris knows not the boundaries of space and time, and Rachel will always be close by when it comes to the Best Game Ever.

Now that Rachel has moved out, we have a new roommate.

Problem is, she doesn't know about the blog! We're trying to introduce her to our way of life slowly; she's already learned about the joys of sweatgear, although I've yet to see her wearing anything with an elastic waistband. She doesn't seem to mind baseball, but how will she feel about America's Next Top Model? Most importantly, does she love tetris????

The answer to these questions and more in the coming days and weeks! Stay tuned!

Waffle Tetris

This amazing photo from GPT fan Ma'ayan R. combines two of our favorite things -- tetris and breakfast! Yum!

Is It Baseball Season Yet????

It's bad enough that we're forced to wait all winter without baseball, and NY1's Pat Keirnan as our only consolation. Now opening day has been postponed until tonight because of yesterday's rain. As the guys as the bagel place around the corner aptly noted, "The Yankees played through swarms of flies. They can for sure play in the rain. They're the Yankees!"
Well it seems the weather got the best of them, and we'll have to wait for tonight to see Derek and boys in action. To hold you over until then, check out this clip from last season of GPT fave Jorge Posada getting knocked down by a ruthless Red Sock, yet still managing to hold on to the ball for the out! Hip Hip Jorge!

Mazel Tov!

Girls Play Tetris is pleased to announce a new addition to our apartment! After two years of love and care, our adopted orchid plant bloomed on Thursday morning at approximately 7:32 AM. In the photo album below, watch as the orchid grows before your very eyes!

Pat Kiernan Loves Tetris

Imagine our surprise this week to receive an anonymous letter from NY1's Pat Kiernan. See below.




I do find it a bit strange, though, that Pat's handwriting is almost identical to my mom's...

Our Giant Mick Jagger Poster, Exposed!

There's been some interest in the giant Mick Jagger poster hanging above GPT's famous couch. Well, the mystery is about to be revealed, because here is a close-up of the poster in all its glory.
Want more Mick? Check out his amazing dance moves and terrible lip-syncing (and purple leotard) in the video of "Start Me Up." Enjoy!

What does "Critical" mean to you.

Remember those days during adolescence when you'd be rocking out to a Radiohead or Ani Difranco song and suddenly some nonchalant lyric or phrase would overwhelm you with that shocking inspirational yet simple truth that, yes "someone out there understands."

Well, today, between 8:30 and 9:00pm, girlsplaytetris experienced one of these revelatory moments offered by the hit adult cartoon, 'Family Guy.'

I hope this speaks to you the way it did to us:

Tetris Tees

Do you know why the girl in that photo is so happy? Because she loves tetris!! A hearty thank you to GPT fan Jess M. for finding these tetris themed t-shirts!

Readers Respond to Girls Play Tetris

There's been some more complaints recently that GPT is straying too far from the topic of tetris, to seemingly unrelated areas such as baseball and seltzer. Unable to deal with this negative feedback, I've decided to include some glowing comments from loyal readers.

"U guys r funny!"
- Nechama Y.

"I dream of tetris also."
- Raven B.

"Love your blog, it's really well written and insightful!"
- Tasha F.

"I like how your tetris drawing has actual pieces."
- Craig L.

"Very entertaining. How much time do you spend playing tetris daily??"
- Rachel B.

"Thanks for opening my eyes to a whole new world of spiritual possibility."
- Dali L.

"Get a job."
- my mom

18 Days To Go!

The countdown to Yankees Opening Day has begun here at GPT, and after yesterday's run in between the Yanks and the Devil Rays, we're getting pretty excited! We don't consider ourselves violent people, but there's nothing quite like a good bench-clearing fight at a baseball game. Exhibit A:
See you in the Bronx!

Selzter: The Offical Beverage of GPT

There's nothing quite like a tall glass of seltzer to help you get through those critical moments in a game of tetris, which is why seltzer is the official drink of choice for Girls Play Tetris (don't worry, we recycle all the bottles). So raise your glass and help us toast the Best Drink Ever! L'chaim!

Stop Copying Us, New York Times!

The NYT is at it again, and this time they're plagiarizing none other than Girls Play Tetris. Does this photo look familiar???


In their recent article about political bloggers in DC, the Times points out how novel it is that all theses guys live together and sit around with their computers. How original. I'm pretty sure we were the first ones to come up with the idea of roommates sitting on a couch with laptops. Just replace those three nerdy blogging dudes with three cute girls in Brooklyn and you've basically got Girls Play Tetris. Plus we have a nicer couch. And a giant Mick Jagger poster.

Scrabble v. Tetris: A Fight to the Finish

I may be superior at playing Scrabble than tetris, but that doesn't change my loyalty to the Best Game Ever. Do I have a blog completely devoted to Scrabble? No. So it really hurts me when people have the audacity to say that online Scrabble is the new tetris. To begin with, Scrabble is much more fun when played in real life, while tetris can only be played in the digital world. I'm excited that all the Word Nerds out there have found a new outlet, but that doesn't mean they should overlook a video game classic just because all the cool kids are playing Scrabulous.

te·tri·cu·li·tis

te·tri·cu·li·tis (noun) : a grave condition caused by too much tetris resulting in the uncontrollable tapping of the middle and ring fingers. often found in girlswhoplaytetris.

Battle of the Blog

After reading the post about baseball yesterday, some concerns were raised that GPT had begun to veer from its original topic: all tetris, all the time. So I encouraged Rachel to start posting her own thoughts. Here is an excerpt from a gchat convo earlier today:

2:48 PM me: hey

just sent you an invite to blog

2:49 PM Rachel: yeah

me: so?

you gonna write something???

2:50 PM Rachel: maybe

I gotta go to babysit soon

though

2:51 PM me: excuses

god!

then i'm gonna post again about baseball!!!

Rachel: NOOOOOO!

2:52 PM me: hahahahahahaha

deal w/ it sister

I think it's time that the other Girls let their voices be heard...or else this blog will soon be called "Girls Play Tetris, While Watching Baseball."

Almost Baseball Season!

While tetris has helped to fill the void left by a winter without baseball, our One True Love (besides NY1's Pat Keirnan and sweatgear) is returning. It's almost baseball season! To help get in the swing of things, check out Baby Bomber Phil Hughes' entertaining blog, and recall the scene of last October when the 21-year-old pitcher had to bail out aging teammate Roger Clemens during game 3 of the ALDS. For those of you who weren't there, this photo, taken amid a sea of surly Bleacher Creatures, should help refresh your memories.

Science Confirms! Other People Dream of Tetris Too!

Guess what? We're not crazy! Turns out that according to Science, 60 per cent of people who play tetris also have dreams about the Best Game Ever. For more on this amazing phenomenon, listen to this episode of NPR's Radiolab about dreams. Also, take note that they totally copied our glowing tetris sunset artwork...

I Dream of Tetris

I've been having some pretty vivid dreams lately, but last night I had the fortune of dreaming about tetris! It was the mid 1990's and I was at a concert by an unknown pop star who started singing about tetris, surrounded by neon dancing tetris pieces. Some would say this dream means I should play less tetris; I believe it's a sign to go back in time and write a dance hit about my favorite computer game.

Rebuffed by Pat, GPT Returns to an Old Love

Pat Kiernan hasn't returned our calls or letters, and we're starting to feel the sting of a Valentine's scorn. To get over being dumped, we've decided to turn to our love of sweatgear to help heal the wound. At least sweatgear is loyal...do you hear that Pat? Loyal!!!!
PS - We still love you.

Will You Be Our Valentine, Pat Kiernan?

Dear NY1's Pat Kiernan,
We love you. We love your dry sense of humor as you tell us what's in the papers each morning. We love your Canadian accent and your perfectly parted anchorman hair.
Will you be our Valentine???
Hugs and kisses,
Girls Play Tetris

Church of Tetris

If you thought we were obsessed over at GPT, check out these guys...

Tetris: A Deeper Meaning

To the uninitiated, tetris may seem like a simple game created by repressed Soviet Russians, but to GPT, tetris means something more. It's a metaphor for community and understanding. Just as tetris blocks come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so do people. In life, things begin to come at you quickly the further along you get, and the only way to succeed is for each piece to fit together to form one community. Leave a comment and tell us what tetris means to you!

An Ode to the Humble Sweatshirt

Playing a competitive game of tetris requires the right wardrobe, and sweatgear, as it's known to Girls Play Tetris, is just right. From the sleeker loungewear, to the utilitarian men's sweatpants (they have pockets! Perfect for keeping jelly beans to snack on while playing tetris), we salute all things fleecy, stretchy, and elastic waste-band-y.

Human Tetris

This video will change your life. Seriously. 

Trying to quit

We're doing our best around here to cut down on all the tetris playing. Don't worry, we still LOVE tetris, it's just starting to monopolize a little too much of our time (and thoughts, and dreams, and conversations). To get our minds off things we started crocheting. Right now I'm working on a lovely purple scarf and Rachel's working on a hat. We also played some Scrabble. We even did some drawing, but all the pictures ended up being about tetris. Oy.

Tetris Hand: A cautionary tale

Don't let this happen to you!

Too busy

Last night I attempted to show Rachel our newly formed blog, Girls Play Tetris, and was told that she was too busy playing tetris to look. Maybe if I practiced that much, I'd be the best player in the apartment too. For now I'll have to settle for being the reigning Scrabble champion.

Girls play scrabble

Welcome to Girls Play Tetris

We're girls. We live together. We like to play tetris.