# File common/lib/symbiosis/utils.rb, line 181
    def get_param(setting, parent_dir, opts = {})
      fn = File.join(parent_dir, setting)

      #
      # Return false unless we can read the file
      #
      return false unless File.exists?(fn) and File.readable?(fn)

      #
      # Read the file.
      #
      contents = safe_open(fn, File::RDONLY, opts){|fh| fh.read}.to_s
      
      #
      # Return true if the file was empty
      #
      return true if contents.empty?

      #
      # Otherwise return the contents
      #
      return contents
    end