sub getImportantValue {
	my $subscriber = shift;

	#subscription length in seconds
        my $subscriptionLength = $ENV{SUBSCRIPTION_LENGTH} ;

	my $stored = $memd->get($subscriber);
	if (defined($stored)) {
		return $stored;
	}

	#we don't have a value
 	#maybe it's their first time?  # or maybe the old value expired
	#get value from remote system
	my $value = getValueFromOtherPlace($stuff, $needed, $for, $query);
	$memd->set($subscriber, $value, $subscriptionLength);
	return $value;
}