code: @Override
  	public synchronized Map<Object, Object> getProperties()
  	{
  
  		if (properties == null || this.isAlwaysReload())
  		{
  			loadProperties();
  		}
  
  		// return copy
  
  		return new HashMap<Object, Object>(properties);
  	}
docs: /*
  (non-Javadoc)
  
  @see nyla.solutions.core.util.Settings#getProperties()