Okay. I finally got it. Joy

Here's the script for receiving 1 minute notifications on emails and text messages for those who are impatient like me.


Turning it on:

blank=`gconftool-2 -g /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout`
gconftool-2 --type int --set /apps/modest/update_interval 1
gconftool-2 --type boolean --set /apps/modest/auto_update True
sudo /etc/init.d/mce restart
/usr/bin/set-backlight `gconftool-2 --get /apps/adv-backlight/brightness`
restore_value()
{
gconftool-2 --type $1 --set $2 `gconftool-2 --get $2`
}
gconftool-2 -t int -s /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout 120
gconftool-2 -t int -s /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout $blank
restore_value int /system/osso/dsm/display/display_dim_timeout
restore_value bool /system/osso/dsm/locks/touchscreen_keypad_autolock_enabled
restore_value bool /system/osso/dsm/display/display_on_with_charger


Turning it off:

blank=`gconftool-2 -g /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout`
gconftool-2 --type boolean --set /apps/modest/auto_update False
sudo /etc/init.d/mce restart
/usr/bin/set-backlight `gconftool-2 --get /apps/adv-backlight/brightness`
restore_value()
{
gconftool-2 --type $1 --set $2 `gconftool-2 --get $2`
}
gconftool-2 -t int -s /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout 120
gconftool-2 -t int -s /system/osso/dsm/display/display_blank_timeout $blank
restore_value int /system/osso/dsm/display/display_dim_timeout
restore_value bool /system/osso/dsm/locks/touchscreen_keypad_autolock_enabled
restore_value bool /system/osso/dsm/display/display_on_with_charger


The set-brightness script if you're using Advanced-Backlight in the status bar.
http://asui.garage.maemo.org/download.html

The trick was simply to restart MCE after changing the settings.

Happy.