I have been thinking a lot lately about the direction my life will go to. Everything has been so hectic recently; everything coming in all at once without any warning. It's frustrating. And frankly, I'm quite tired of it.

Tired of programming, tired of thinking, tired of my whole life. Tired of so many people depending on me. Tired of making sure I live up to those expections so I won't let anyone down.

No, I'm not guing insane or anything. I guess I just need a break. And yes, that included the almost two-month-long omgwtfrofl-where-are-your-blog-entries-pao thing. Yes, I feel a lot better now.

Oh yeah, most likely the next entry will be located at Codesturbator.com already and not here, as I'll clear this space to contain my portfolio and the like. Yes, Ms. Pau Tapay, I will enable replying there.

Laters.

I realized that I love programming, but I cannot bear to do programming as a means for something else.

Programming, like many other things, is something that should be enjoyed simply because it is. Not because one will gain money, or credits, or commendations. As with many other things, one should not perform an act with nothing but the benefit that will potentially follow in mind. For in doing so, one forgets the true value of programming, in that it as a deep and thoroughly enjoyable experience of learning and discovery.

It is sad that many programmers nowadays lose their true intent and passion for programming, and instead only sees the paycheck behind it. I think one should never lose sight of one's true goals in life; that one should never allow oneself to be detracted to other paths by mundane glimmering objects offering only skin-deep pleasure and sustenance. That long-term benefits clearly outweighs short-term ones.

If all programmers follow that, then what a bug-free world we will finally achieve.

For those who still doesn't know it, Google has released a beta of Google Talk, an instant messaging software based on the Jabber protocol.

A commendable thing Google did is that the software is pretty lightweight as it contains the features only necessary for an instant messaging software, however, it also still pretty much lacks significant functionality for it to be able to properly compete against other IM software in the market, like AOL, MSN, or Yahoo. It's understandable that it still is in a way, "incomplete," as signified by the "Beta" in the name, but what Google product doesn't have "Beta" in the name.

Google Talk is still pretty much new to the IM battle, so I'll reserve my judgment once it has matured enough to be at par with its competitors. As for now, however, I'll be sticking with Yahoo Messenger.

Sorry, Google. Try to at least exert more effort next time.

The team apparently took a mid-season break from Avatar: The Last Airbender. It has been confirmed, however, that season two is already in production. Season One's Episode 14, tentatively titled "The Fortune Teller" is scheduled to be shown on the 23^rd of September 2005. Episode 17 also known to be tentatively titled, "The Gliders".

If the Season One episodes already completed, and the team is already working on Season Two, then why aren't they airing season one? I think it's all a big marketing ploy to increase hype about the series, kind of similar to what Google is doing with their GMail "beta".

Fine, fine. It's their show, so they can do anything they want with it. They should remember, though, that too much witholding can also lead to greatly reduced anticipation. Everything can backfire. And what can, usually does.