Tetris L-Shaped Block

La 8-bita Socialista Respubliko de Tetrisa Loforma Bloko
The 8-Bit Socialist Republic of Tetris L-Shaped Block
Tем 8-Бит Cоциалист Республика от Тетрис L-Фигурад Блок

Flag and Coat of Arms of Tetris L-Shaped Block
Motto: Lets Play some Tetris Motherf**ker
Anthem: Коробе́йники
Capital	Gameboy City
Spoken languages  - Official  - Semi-Official	Esperanto English,Russian
Government	Socialist Republic
Population  - Total (2006)	2,430,000,000
National Religion	Floydism
GDP (FY2006/07)   - Total (TLT)   - GDP/capita (TLT)   - Total (USD)   - GDP/capita (USD)	11,718,806,298,290.00 4,783.19 2,851,291,070,143.55 1163.79
Currency	1 Tetrad (TLT) = 1200 Points (TLP)
Exchange Rate   - From USD   - From TLT	1 USD = 4.11 TLT 1 TLT = 0.2433 USD
Time Zone	-06 DUT
International abbreviations	TLSB TLB
Internet TLD	.tet
Calling code	+274
Stats: NSEconomy Pipian XML NStracker

The 8-bit Socialist Republic of Tetris L-Shaped Block (Esperanto: La 8-bita Socialista Respubliko de Tetrisa Loforma Bloko, Russian: Tем 8-Бит Cоциалист Республика от Тетрис L-Фигурад Блок) is a nation located in the Democratic Union. It is a practicaly unarmed but tightly controlled socialist democracy. The L-Shaped Block is ruled by a parliment and a "Player" who serves as both Head of Government and Head of State. Tetris L-Shaped Block has traditionaly been called an "8-bit Socialist Republic", but the U.N. has considered it a "Civil Rights Lovefest" despite the nation's dissaproval of this label.

Founding and History

The Tetris L-Shaped block was created when the population of an unstable nation called "The Federal Peoples Republic of the Red Free States" demanded the rights to govern themselves. Naturaly the leaders of the free state showed much scorn to the rebels, causeing a civil war. The civil war ended several years later with the so called Tetris Rebels fleeing the country and setting up their own provisionary government. The Red Free States and the People's Republic of the Tetris L-Shaped Block remained at peace for several years, untill an economic crisis in the Red Free States. When crisis came, the L-Shaped Block took the opportunity to unite their lands, and created the current 8-bit Socialist Republic. They moved the capital from Moskvo to Gameboy City.

A black-and-white photo of Gameboy City's beautiful Skyline

A few years after reuniting, a war with the nations of "Tetris R-Shaped Block" and ""Led Zeppeiln" was created. After being provoked into the war, the three nations were deadlocked until the two enemies of the Block caved in upon themselves. After the war, The L-Shaped Block experienced an economic boom. Throught the war, the Block recieved aid from their good ally, Philanchez.

One day, in a historic date, the Player of Tetris L-Shaped Block had a revelation. Upon meeting with Sean Phillips of Philanchez, Acco Spoot of Spooty and Kevin Niennmen of Palixia, Floydism was born. With a newfound faith and strong ifluence in the Block, converted the peoples by means of making it the national religion. After stepping down as Player, he would assume the name ThrashdParanoid and become a High Inquisitor for the Church of Floyd.

In the First DU War, the Tetris L-Shaped Block would play a small, but important part in defeating The Glorious Empire. It was the Block's Regional United Nations delegate that put forth the resolution that made the U.N. invade the hostile TGE. The Block would also put forth the resolution to break up TGE after the war and helped form The Glorious Federal Republic

In The Crusade of the Glorious Empire (called the Second DU War in the Block), the Tetris L-Shaped Block would side with the International League of Liberation against The Glorious Empire and the Axis Powers of the Democratic Union. First they would lose 15 million men fighting in the TGFR, but would later send an unprecedented 40 Million men into southern Philanchez in order to keep the Axis powers out of allied lands.

Education

Everyone is Tetris L-Shaped block gets a free government paid education. All Schools (from kindergarden to University) are owned by the government. It is manditory to attend school from 4 years old to 12 years old. From then on it is completely optional. Schools in the Tetris L-Shaped Block are distinct in that they don't use gradeing systems and don't teach or encourage competition. When being taught language, students get 3 years (from 1st grade - 3rd grade) of Esperanto, and from then on can take 3 language classes a year (the most popular choices being "advanced Literature (in esperanto), Russian, and English). Due to learning esperanto, the students tend to catch on to language mechanics very easily.

Another distict feature about the Tetris L-Shaped Block education system is that homework is completely optional. Students who complete homework or do extensive study are praised, and those who don't are not scolded. Testing takes place once every 6 months of class (students get 4 months of summer off, and go to school monday-saturday), and students with high scores are often not cared for (the idea is that they are self motivated), with those below average getting high amounts of attention.

Tetris L-Shaped Block students have a very rigorous math program (with many studetns being marked as below average within the first few years of Testing). The state has set up personal tutors, and group lessons for those who need less special attention. Test scores have indicated that students usualy hit the National Average by the 7th grade, with about 93% within the projected scoring range.

Several types of learning procedures have been outlawed in all block schools, the most notable examples being:

• Intellegent design
• Whole Language
• Reading recovery
• New Math
• Abacus logic

Election of 2003

The Tetris L-Shaped Block elections saw the highest voter turn out since the 1922 elections, with a Turn out of 35.7% (up from the 1995 election's 9.4%). Politicaly not many seats in the Parliment changed, with the 8-Bit socialist party maintaining the leadership position. Some think the reason for the increase of voters is due to the sense of patriotism caused by increased tensions with The Glorious Empire. The main topics for debate were The Floydism's place in society, dealing with the The Glorious Empire, international activity, and lowering the dropout age. The "Player" was not changed, and the policits continue to be very apathic.

The Player

The player is both the Head of Government and Head of State. Players are not elected, but instead chosen by the majority party in the Parliment. The identity of the Player is a heavily guarded secret, and people on average know extremely little about the player. Once a player steps down though, all documentation reguarding the player is released. The most famous former Player is High Inquisitor ThrashedParanoid, who helped form the Church of Floyd while he was still young. In the early days of the Block, the Player would be referenced everywhere. Messages from him flooded the news, audio speeches by him flooded the airwaves, and his iniciatives were the talk of politics. In recent years, however, the player has been in a sence phased out. With more checks and balances and a stronger parliment, the Player is rarely even remembered by citizens. Many in the Block see this as a plan to phase the player out of the political system, instead giving all power to the parliment. Others, however, suggest that after Player ThrashedParanoid steped down that the seat remained empty and was eradicated from the political machine.

Millitary

The Tetris L-Shaped Block War Ensign, often called the LLF Flag

The military in the Tetris L-Shaped Block is called the Liberigaj kaj Liberecaj Fortoj (English: Liberation and Freedom Forces), abbreviated LLF. In order to enlist in the LLF, one must be 25 years of age (gender regardless). There is a 2 year minimum enlistment, and a 10 year maximum. After 6 months of Basic and Advanced training, the remainder of the enlistment is taken at a state-owned university. At the university, enlistees will take classes for their future, as well as classes on guerilla tactics and Basiĝo tactics. After graduation from the university, all enlistees are given a choice to join as permanent conscripts, making the active-duty ranks an all-volunteer force. Numbers of the exact size of the LLF are unknown, but it is estimated that there are at least 120,000,000 soldiers. In the recent Crusade of the Glorious Empire (called the Second DU War in the Block), 15,000,000 LLF soldiers lost their lives fighting in the TGFR with guerilla tactics, only to be defeated. Another 40,000,000 are currently fighting in Southern Philanchez using Basiĝo warfare.

Basiĝo Warfare

Aside from Guerilla warfare, a Tetris L-Shaped Block-specific type of warfare is used, called Basiĝo Warfare. Basiĝo, an esperantization of the Persian word بسيج (Basij), is a type of warfare based on numbers rather than tactics. Since the Tetris L-Shaped Block has virtualy no defence budget, Basiĝo warfare attempts to solve the problem of every soldier not getting a weapon or armor. The basic tactic is to amass an extremely large amount of forces, and have them rush into a battle without pause, until the enemies are overtaken by numbers. It is most preferable that there is a battle taking place beween two other forces when the LLF Basiĝo fighters begin to swarm. "Like ants fighting a spider" was how it was described when first thought up by Block tacticians. Due to the fact that it is so new, it has currently only been employed in the Second DU War in Southern Philanchez to fight the Axis powers.

World Factbook Entry

GEOGRAPHY

Terrain: The south portion is dense jungle with pockets of big cities, while the north half is fertile costal lands.

Climate: Extremely humid and hot in all areas in the block, but especialy in the south.

Natural Resources: Extensive iron, nickel, gold, aluminum, coal, and titanium mines. The mines cost a large fortune of the tax payers money, because the government cares so much about their "Fragile environment"

Territorail Waters: No Claims

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population: 2 Billion +

Age Structure: 0-14 years: 17%; 14-64 years: 73%; 65 years and over: 10%

Life Expectancy at birth: total population: 89; female: 94; male: 85

Nationality: noun: Tetris L-Shaped Block Citizen/Block

Ethnic Groups: Mixed: 45%, Hispanic: 18%, White: 14%, Black: 13%

Religions: Government is officially Followers of the Church of Floyd, but people are free to worship how they wish. Church Of FLoyd: 79%, Christianity (various sects): 6%, Solism 6%, Other: 1%, None: 5%

Languages: Official language is Esperanto, spoken by everyone, but everyone in the nation must speak at least 3 languages. Second Languages are as follow Russian: 98% English: 87% Japanese: 60%, Chinese(various dialects): 55% German: 49%, Spanish: 42%

Literacy Rate: total population: 78% (Literacy in the TLSB is defined as "Proficiency in a native language and two learned languages")

GOVERNMENT

Conventional long form: The 8-bit Socialist Republic of Tetris L-Shaped Block

Conventional short form: Tetris L-Shaped Block

Government Type: Civil Rights Lovefest

Capital: Gameboy City

Administrative Divisions: 4 "Squares"

Independence:

As a part of the Federal Peoples Republic of The Red Free States:

None, Officialy Declared and recognized as a state August 1793

As the 8-bit Socialist Republic of Tetris L-Shaped Block:

March 1922 from the Red Free States

Suffrage: Citizens 15 and older

Chief of State: The Player

Elections: Called when approval ratings drop below 10%

Terms: Untill an election is called for

Political Parties: 8-bit Socialist Party, Esperantists Party, Floydian Theocratic Party, and Conservative Party.

Allys: Philanchez, Palixia, Spooty, and Socialist Freemen

ECONOMY

Trade: Extensive shipping trade with Philanchez, Palixia, and Spooty and other nearby countries

Primary Exports: Information Technology

Primary Imports: Textiles, Lumber, Meat, Dairy Products

Currency: Tetrad. 1200 Points = 1 Tetrad

Currency Code: TLT

MILLITARY

Military Age: 25 (Universal Conscription)

Term of Service: 10 years of government/military service Max. After 6 months of intensive Basic and Advanced Training, the remainder of the 2-year enlistment is taken up with training in a State-provided University. After graduation from University, selected personnel (chosen for proven aptitude and skill) are offered full-time positions in the military services (making the active-duty ranks an All-Volunteer force). One third of active-duty military personnel act as cadre for training and administration of Reservists, and form the professional core of the Reserve ranks in the event of Mobilization.

Total Population of Military Age: Approximately 500,000,000

Actual Active-Duty military population: Classified, estimated at 120,000,000