code: public static String getStringSetting(Map<String, Object> settings, String key, String defaultVal) {
  		final Object value = settings.get(key);
  		return value != null ? value.toString() : defaultVal;
  	}
docs: Gets a String value for the setting, returning the default value if not
  specified.
  
  
  @param settings
  @param key        the key to get the String setting for
  @param defaultVal the default value to return if the setting was not specified
  @return the String value for the setting