Generalize how configuration variables are set

```
Right now cwm-data (and perhaps other modules) expect certain settings to be 
accessed via a properties file.  Consider moving to a more general system where 
there is a Configuration object, and filling it from a properties file is just 
one option.


```

Original issue reported on code.google.com by `bgoldow...@gmail.com` on 1 Sep 2011 at 3:12
