diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fab8f691
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+venv
+*.pyc
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/Adafruit_8x8.py b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/Adafruit_8x8.py
index df966dc9..e4589835 100644
--- a/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/Adafruit_8x8.py
+++ b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/Adafruit_8x8.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ def clear(self):
     "Clears the entire display"
     self.disp.clear()
 
+  def setBrightness(self, brightness):
+    "Sets the brightness level from 0..15"
+    self.disp.setBrightness(brightness)
+
 class ColorEightByEight(EightByEight):
   def setPixel(self, x, y, color=1):
     "Sets a single pixel"
diff --git a/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/email.py b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/email.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..464dca03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/email.py
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import os
+
+import feedparser, time
+
+import datetime
+from Adafruit_8x8 import ColorEightByEight
+
+DEBUG = 1
+os.system("export ENAME")
+os.system("export EPASS")
+USERNAME = os.environ["ENAME"]  # just the part before the @ sign, add yours here
+PASSWORD = os.environ["EPASS"] 
+
+NEWMAIL_OFFSET = 0        # my unread messages never goes to zero, yours might
+MAIL_CHECK_FREQ = 30      # check mail every 60 seconds
+
+# GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
+# GREEN_LED = 18
+# RED_LED = 23
+# GPIO.setup(GREEN_LED, GPIO.OUT)
+# GPIO.setup(RED_LED, GPIO.OUT)
+# ===========================================================================
+# 8x8 Pixel Example
+# ===========================================================================
+grid = ColorEightByEight(address=0x70)
+
+print "Press CTRL+Z to exit"
+
+smile_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11010010,0b11001100,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+neutral_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11011110,0b11000000,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+frown_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11001100,0b11010010,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+
+grid.setBrightness(15)
+
+while True:
+
+        newmails = int(feedparser.parse("https://" + USERNAME + ":" + PASSWORD +"@mail.google.com/gmail/feed/atom")["feed"]["fullcount"])
+
+        if DEBUG:
+                print "You have", newmails, "new emails!"
+
+        if newmails > NEWMAIL_OFFSET:
+                # Write a frown face
+                for i in range(0,8):
+                  grid.writeRowRaw(i, frown_bmp[i]) 
+                time.sleep(1)
+        else:
+                # Write a smiley face
+                for i in range(0,8):
+                  grid.writeRowRaw(i, smile_bmp[i]) 
+                time.sleep(1)
+
+        time.sleep(MAIL_CHECK_FREQ)
+
+
+
diff --git a/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/ex_8x8_andy.py b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/ex_8x8_andy.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7bd81ea6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/ex_8x8_andy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+
+import time
+import datetime
+from Adafruit_8x8 import ColorEightByEight
+
+# ===========================================================================
+# 8x8 Pixel Example
+# ===========================================================================
+grid = ColorEightByEight(address=0x70)
+
+print "Press CTRL+Z to exit"
+
+smile_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11010010,0b11001100,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+neutral_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11011110,0b11000000,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+frown_bmp = [0b00011110,0b00100001,0b11010010,0b11000000,0b11001100,0b11010010,0b00100001,0b00011110]
+
+grid.setBrightness(15)
+
+for x in range(1, 4):
+  for y in range(1, 4):
+    grid.setPixel(x, y)
+
+# Write a frown face
+for i in range(0,8):
+  grid.writeRowRaw(i, frown_bmp[i]) 
+time.sleep(1)
+
+# Write a neutral face
+for i in range(0,8):
+  grid.writeRowRaw(i, neutral_bmp[i]) 
+time.sleep(1)
+  
+# Write a smiley face
+for i in range(0,8):
+  grid.writeRowRaw(i, smile_bmp[i]) 
+time.sleep(1)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/test.py b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0fe8e8eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Adafruit_LEDBackpack/test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import os
+os.system("export ENAME")
+os.system("export EPASS")
+USERNAME = os.environ["ENAME"]  # just the part before the @ sign, add yours here
+PASSWORD = os.environ["EPASS"]
+
+print USERNAME
+print PASSWORD
\ No newline at end of file