def getLogger(name=None):

    '''
    return a logger instrumented with additional 1-letter logging methods;
    '''

    logger = logging.getLogger(name=name)

    if not hasattr(logger, 'd'):
        def d(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
            return self.log(DEBUG, msg, *args, **kwargs)
        logger.d = types.MethodType(d, logger)

    if not hasattr(logger, 'v'):
        def v(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
            return self.log(VERBOSE, msg, *args, **kwargs)
        logger.v = types.MethodType(v, logger)

    if not hasattr(logger, 'i'):
        def i(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
            return self.log(INFO, msg, *args, **kwargs)
        logger.i = types.MethodType(i, logger)

    if not hasattr(logger, 'w'):
        def w(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
            return self.log(WARN, msg, *args, **kwargs)
        logger.w = types.MethodType(w, logger)

    if not hasattr(logger, 'e'):
        def e(self, msg, *args, **kwargs):
            return self.log(ERROR, msg, *args, **kwargs)
        logger.e = types.MethodType(e, logger)

    return logger
return a logger instrumented with additional 1-letter logging methods;