code: public function showHints() {
          if (is_null($this->showHints)) {
              $this->showHints = false;
              if (Mage::helper('core')->isDevAllowed()) {
                  if (Mage::getSingleton('core/cookie')->get('ath') || Mage::app()->getRequest()->get('ath')) {
                      $this->showHints = true;
                  }
              }
          }
          return $this->showHints;
      }
docs: Check if hints should be displayed
  
  @return bool