main program loop

def main():
    ''' main program loop '''
    conn = symphony.Config('/etc/es-bot/es-bot.cfg')
    # connect to pod
    try:
        agent, pod, symphony_sid = conn.connect()
        print ('connected: %s' % (symphony_sid))
    except Exception as err:
        print ('failed to connect!: %s' % (err))
    # main loop
    msgFormat = 'MESSAGEML'
    message = '<messageML> hello world. </messageML>'
    # send message
    try:
        status_code, retstring = agent.send_message(symphony_sid, msgFormat, message)
        print ("%s: %s" % (status_code, retstring))
    except Exception as err:
        print (retstring, err)