def METHOD_NAME(self):
    """
    Called by portalsessionhandler. Starts the bot.
    """
    def errback(fail):
        logger.log_err(fail.value)
    # set up session and connect it to sessionhandler
    self.bot.init_session("rssbot", self.url, self.sessionhandler)
    self.bot.uid = self.uid
    self.bot.logged_in = True
    self.sessionhandler.connect(self.bot)
    # start repeater task
    self.bot.update(init=True)
    self.task = task.LoopingCall(self.bot.update)
    if self.rate:
        self.task.METHOD_NAME(self.rate, now=False).addErrback(errback)