/**
  * function to get the instantiated self object or
  * create a new one (singleton pattern)
  */
 public static function getNomad_GateKeeper()
 {
     if (is_null(self::$_self)) {
         $gateKeeper = __CLASS__;
         self::$_self = new $gateKeeper();
     }
     return self::$_self;
 }