About TOFINA

Kalau yang sudah nyimak blog ini (entah ngerti atau enggak, abisan bahasanya labil) tentu sedikit-sedikit menemukan kata "physics quarantine" atau apalah yang saya tulis di masa lalu... (sudah lupa, dasar pikun)

Intinya, saya memang sudah mengikuti masa karantina selama kurang lebih delapan bulan di daerah Tangerang sekitar dua tahun lalu, dimulai dari Bulan September 2009 hingga Agustus 2010 (minus dua bulan pulang dulu)... dan mungkin kalian cukup menyimak (walau kemungkinannya kecil) kalau saya banyak mengeluh di blog ini selama menjalani pelatihan tersebut. Sekarang saya ingin sedikit berbagi tentang TOFINA... Karena saya bukan memperkenalkan atau mempresentasikan sistem ini secara formal, saya akan menceritakan berdasarkan apa yang saya ketahui.

Tim yang saya ikuti dinamai TOFINA, kepanjangan dari Tim Olimpiade Fisika Pertamina. Pada dasarnya, Tofina ini adalah sebuah tim olimpiade fisika (duh) yang anggotanya berasal dari daerah-daerah yang terdapat kilang minyak Pertamina. Kenapa Pertamina? Sebab, tim olimpiade ini diatur untuk dibimbing oleh Yohannes Surya Institute yang notabene pembiayaan akomodasi dan bimbingannya tidak sedikit. Khusus Tofina, hal-hal materi semacam ini ditangani oleh pihak Pertamina, karena itu tim ini menyandang embel-embel "Pertamina".

Daerah-daerah "berkilang" yang menjadi target pencarian bibit-bibit unggul di bidang yang telah banyak berkontribusi dalam mempermudah kehidupan manusia ini (tsahhh) antara lain Balikpapan, Sorong, Palembang, Bontang, Bekasi, Merauke, Cilacap, dan Indramayu. Yups. Ada 8 daerah, otomatis menghasilkan 8 hasil pencarian, seperti yang sebelum-sebelumnya pernah saya singgung di blog ini.

Tim Tofina ini pada awalnya 'didesain' untuk dibimbing secara intensif selama setahun itu untuk langsung mewakili Indonesia mengikuti APhO tahun 2010. Normalnya yang akan mewakili Indonesia adalah mereka yang memenangkan Olimpiade Sains Nasional dan terpilih masuk TOFI (Tim Olimpiade Fisika Indonesia), tim yang lebih 'resmi' hehe. Tetapi setelah beberapa bulan pelatihan Tofina dimulai, ternyata karena beberapa sebab, diputuskan bahwa kami harus juga mengikuti OSK, OSP, dan OSN berturut-turut sebelum akhirnya lulus seleksi untuk mewakili Indonesia menuju APhO 2010.

Jadi, singkatnya, Tofina ini Tim Olimpiade Fisika yang dibiayai oleh Pertamina seluruhnya. Jadi akomodasi kami di Tangerang, duit makan, honor tutornya, serta biaya institusinya semuanya ditanggung oleh perusahaan minyak ini (aseeeek). Tim kami belajar di semacam "sekolah" setiap hari Senin-Jumat mulai dari jam 8 pagi hingga jam 4 sore (dengan istirahat 1 jam dan dua sesi snack time :D) dan kami juga harus belajar malam mulai pukul 7 hingga 10 di semacam "asrama".

Sebenarnya dibilang asrama juga kurang tepat, karena sistemnya lebih seperti kos-kosan, hanya saja lebih luxury hehe. Makan pagi, siang dan malam katering, laundry juga dikerjakan orang, kamar mandinya pake air hangat, kamarnya ber-AC... Wuidih pokok'e mantep (promosi tempat wisata apa? -__-)

Sedangkan di setiap hari Sabtu diadakan tes di rumah, lembar soal dipegang oleh koordinator kami Kak Novi. Sabtu selalu menjadi nervous breakdown bagi kami. Keseluruhan perkembangan hasil tes itu menjadi evaluasi apakah program ini berhasil dan perlu dilanjutkan. Yah, Tofina ini adalah tim pertama... dan (sepertinya) terakhir yang dibuat dengan mengadakan kerjasama antara Yohannes Surya Institute dengan Pertamina.

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Sekian sekilas info tentang Tofina. Tiba-tiba saja saya jadi kangen masa-masa pelatihan di sana, karena itu saya menulis mengenai ini. Mungkin nanti juga saya akan berbagi cerita lebih banyak, lebih ke pengalamannya :)

Furs and Tale

There. I stood still, staring through the window glass with full focus, capturing every motion of that creature again. It just sat down there on the front yard of my house, backing me with vision locked to the direction of the tree branches. Sometimes it gracefully turned his head to its sides, almost exchanged glimpse with me. I wanted those pair of eyes to meet mine. I wished for it to happen, but that was just silly. I could watch its motion forever, if it doesn't leave me first.

Yes. There was nothing more weird and exciting at the same time than staring silently at a cat. I love cats more than you could imagine. No exceptions. I don't pick my favorite cat, because generally I love them all. Whether it's Tabby Cat, Persian, Maine Coon, or whatever, I don't care. I like seeing their silly attitude and adorableness, even when they could be terribly annoying. There's always this inside feeling to hug every of them I meet, directly or just visually.

Cats are everywhere. They are in my school, house neighborhood, across the street, even in mall parking lots. I once lived in a neighborhood full of wild dogs, but I was still able to meet lots of cats. Their survival skill is high. They salvage your outside garbage can to search for organic trash we don't need, steal some fresh meat or fish from your sloppily opened kitchen, or fight each other to snatch food from.

They are amazing individualistic animals. They don't spend time in groups even when they sometimes need company. They don't give a damn about each other. If they don't like a certain one, they fight. They're no hypocrites.

Cats don't give a damn about their owner. They will come when they need food and leave after business finished. They receive your hugs and pets just to kill the time. They thank us in selfish ways. When they're not eating, they will play... alone or by another cat. They scratch your sofa, rip off your curtain, aim the TV cable, or attack your ballpoint through their fantasy adventure. They do actions we'd love to take moments to watch.

Cats mate with whichever partner they want and won't care about it. Mother cats don't whine for having so much children and she would raise them well until her kids have to live on their own. There are so much love and ignorance from the parents, but they survive anyway.

Cats live in total freedom. They do what they want, they do what they need and nothing changes their minds. Cats spend 1/6 of their lifetime to clean up by licking their body with tongue. They are useless for humans, pet or not. Cats annoy you, disturb you, break your stuffs, make you clean their mess but bring you charm at the same time.

To me, my love to cats is like a blind love. I love them despite all things they are capable to do to torture my sanity. Their manner inspires me and their beauty attracts me. They have a pair of eyes that could pierce sharply to you when annoyed, or blankly stare at you in fear and curiosity. Their face expresses fondness toward your kind but nevertheless scared that you might shove it away. They gaze upon you with a begging look and also represent a mind that says "If you don't want to, I can take better care of myself" at the exact moment.

I want to be like cats. I want to be able to care about nothing I don't want to. I want to ignore how someone left me alone and meet them again as if nothing happened. I want to survive every place like they do. I adore their irresistible cuteness. I like that expression on their faces when they climb a tree or receive meal from their owner.

I can't understand people who dislike cats. Sure, they're annoying, but to me cats just represent our ideal, ignorant lifestyle. We are now being demanded by career, aspiration to be wealthy and needs of unimportant things. In fact, what we basically need are just like cats: food to survive, and clothes - when it's furs to them, and a place, or several places, to stay. We would just do what we need to... just like cats.

Play Days Are Over

#nowplaying Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over

Okay, so I changed the title from the song a little bit... just to fit my mood tonight. I'm getting serious with my mind at this very moment.

I've been thinking of my future lately. As a freshman in High School, it may be quite too early to consider about what style I have to die with. However, I realize that my sloppy and lazy habit got my daily routines move seemingly faster than ever, then days to days passes quickly.

During times, I could not think of anything worthy to escape boring daily activities like going to school. Well, I actually could, but things will turn out messy. I always try to play some guitar when I get home, sketch artworks from scratch, make music videos, or similar things expressed through art and productive. To show the world I can really DO something for them.

I have no talents. Wise quotes often say that everybody has talent. I think I'm the only exception. The only things I can do are totally selfish. I read comics, not heavy literature, and most times I don't understand the storyline or plot or whatsoever so I would not make a decent writer. I listen to music, just to waste the time. Sure, I can be a hardcore Linkin Park fan like I always say, but there are people who love them more than I could ever do. I rarely study for I underestimate academic stuffs. I'm socially awkward, and nobody ever needs me hang around. I say lots of lame things, and stupidly think people will like me for that. I have religion, but not truly a believer from heart. I’m not nice, either. I’m a jerk, a hypocrite.

I don’t have a certain dream. The worst thing ever happens to human’s soul is inside of me. I’m empty. I live chasing nothing. I want to excel in everything. That is nearly my ambition, but I’m an untalented perfectionist. It’s like the universe is trying to stop my attempts of being worthy. I’m holding on to what I haven’t got.

I’ve stuck to what is in front of me. I don’t think far ahead. But now I’m wondering of what I will be. I see that every second someone is achieving what they want, what they’re destined to be. Am I going to be one of those dirty moolah-oriented politicians or green environmental activist? Am I going to work in mailroom or write movie scripts? I don’t know.

On some comics I read, there are protagonists who chase their dream since childhood even if it risks their lives. That’s it. I’ve wanted to be that person who dares to lose my life for something, to die with honor. Except what is that thing? Pride, religion, dream, football club, country, favorite band? Doesn’t matter which one, I’m still a messed-up teen for this moment. I’m gonna die for something one day. Yes.

I want to invent something that will change the world and blow human sanity. I want to make that Sci-Fi movie beyond-reach society real. I want to build a time machine or create a teletransporter.

Yes, I want to be a lot of things, I want to expertise every thing, but that’s not quite my dream. I’m still looking for that passion to keep me alive. I’m searching for myself. Oh, yes. That is my current aspiration.

Of Comics and Reading Talent

Thinking of some earcatching titles for this post but end up failing miserably as usual...

Today is the last day of Early Semester Holiday, and I have done nothing special except for Wednesday, when I went to a non-tourism river and rented a boat with my family to cruise along and catch a glimpse of this surprisingly cute primata called "Bekantan" or under scientific name Nasalis larvatus which is, FYI, an endangered species. We traveled at exact noon or 12 p.m, making the hot journey not a very comfortable one, especially because those animals aren't coming out around that time. We did manage to see some, though. :D

Anyway, despite of that occassion, my holiday went disappointingly boring. Luckily a new episode of LPTV aired yesterday and it was a fun one. So besides living on internet, I eat and breathe, I pray and play (music), listening to music as usual, I mostly read books and... comics.

A-ha. We're getting into comics. I want to review some things about two of my most-read comics on these day-offs, which are released just recently.


THIS is the first one: Komik KambingJantan 2
If you're youth and you're Indonesian, you would totally be familiar with this title. Yep, the briliant and famous Raditya Dika is now back with some concept which artwork is done by once again Dio Rudiman.
Like the first one, this comic contains his story as a college student in Australia. Still with his comical actions, it spits jokes through the art, narration, and storyline. A difference with the first edition I noticed is the "Nicole" character was drew nicer in the comic 1. And this new release focuses on the motion actions, but the drawing is kinda rough for such thing, I should say. There are lot more jest and joke, and some subliminal gag in the artworks.

I like 8th chapter the most. It has light drawings, more humorous storyline than others -- though slightly tragic.
And the last chapter is awesome. It represents the author's character the most and clean gags.

The second (un)fortunate comic to review is....

ShonenMAGZ 1 year 2011. A compilation of shonen (male) manga (Japanese comic) I've been subscribing for months. I start collecting it since volume 56 and found it interesting.
However, this first 2011 edition is kind of... disappointing.
This kind of comic contains at least two chapter of each manga series it provides. When a manga is finished on a ShonenMAGZ edition, the next one will have a new manga to fill the finished one.
A new serie, which replaced the old one, is called 'Blazers Drive'.
To me, it's not a really good manga. I mean, the storyline is like has been ever: A gifted protagonist boy in a fantasy world, met some enemy, lost his family and then would win against anything in his way. It has too much too-pushing jokes.
I like the idea of a different situation of skill-power. It puts a thing named Mysticker as an individual's power. The mysticker can give the four basic-elements power they can use to fight. But that's not a reason to love this manga. Among the whole series, this one still stands as my least favorite.
My problem is not only with Blazers Drive, but also with BECK and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle.
When I read BECK, my first impression was "this one is cool". It tells about a fictional rock band (I love rock music), their struggle through the world of music business and the dark side of it, an idea hard to find. BUT, the twist in the plots is kind of confusing nowadays. Talking about an unfinished song that fires a conflict is still a big question mark for me. Stiff jokes and artwork too.
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle? It's been in ShonenMAGZ from the start so before Blazers Drive released, this one is the least favorite. I don't get the story because I don't follow the serie from the beginning. It has advancing plots and twist. It's actually good and the artwork is amazing, but I just don't know what happens to this and that person. It has too much character I don't know.

So folks, because my holiday and your weekend ends in... *stares at clock* an hour, I wish you and myself luck for a good starter Monday tomorrow! :D Good night.