+# DEBUG_FEISTY_MEOW: if this variable is non-empty, then it causes the feisty meow
+# scripts to print more diagnostic information when they run. not all
+# scripts support this, but the core ones do.
+
+#export DEBUG_FEISTY_MEOW=true
+
+##############
+
+# some preconditions we want to establish before loading anything...
+
+# make sure that aliases can be used in non-interactive shells.
+shopt -s expand_aliases
+
+# patch the user variable if we were launched by one of our cron jobs.
+if [ -z "$USER" -a ! -z "$CRONUSER" ]; then
+ export USER="$CRONUSER"
+fi