function &get_config_vars($name=null)
	{
		if(!isset($name) && is_array($this->_config[0])) {
			return $this->_config[0]['vars'];
		} else if(isset($this->_config[0]['vars'][$name])) {
			return $this->_config[0]['vars'][$name];
		} else {
			// var non-existant, return valid reference
			$_tmp = null;
			return $_tmp;
		}
	}