Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008 - (Page 60)

If My Propeller Meter Only Had a Brain My first thought was, “Atlas ain’t got nothing on this boy.” Like that mythological figure of old, he, too, had the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. Both of which were slumped, and made him look drawn up in a small ball, him with his head in his hands. “That fellow is carrying a load,” I thought to myself. good father. So what if it eats my gut out? Man’s gotta’ do what a man’s gotta’ do, right partner?” He smiled at me with no humor whatsoever, and then began to make his way to the door, with a bit of a shaky weave here and there. “Hey, you OK?” I asked him. “Yeah, man,” he said in that same low voice. “I’m just great.” And he was gone. I sat there for the longest time thinking about him. ‘Cause long ago… I was him. Like him, I spent so many of my days trapped in a cold, impersonal prison — spelled “corporate America” — and not a single one of the “guards” ever cared whether I lived or died. And just like the young cowboy…it made me sick. Not for one moment did I consider every stone and every brick of that lifeless cell I lived in was created by my own hands. I put every stone in place, locked the door from the inside, and hid the key in a place I would never think to look… inside me. At first glance, we might feel sympathetic to this young fellow’s plight. It may seem that he — through no fault of his own — is trapped by duty and obligation to his family. But a bit of investigation reveals a deeper story. First, it’s very unlikely that his wife — who loves him — really wants him to be miserable and drink himself to death at an early age. Secondly, while it sounds very noble that he’s doing all this for his son’s “college education,” turns out his son is three years old! Even if he does work all his adult life to help his son, what if the son turns out to be an irresponsible doper? Or perhaps the kid may be so brilliant, he won’t need any financial assistance to attend college because his brains will afford him a free ride on a scholarship? What should he do? Leave his loved ones? Of course not. But the real truth is…he’s not as powerless as he thinks! He could go talk to someone. Men hate to do that, of course. Men think that’s a sign of weakness. Maybe it is, but isn’t living your life in misery even weaker? He could go talk to someone who might tell him, “It ain’t them. It’s you!” That would really make him mad, now wouldn’t it? They say the truth will set you free. They rarely mention that at first…it will also make you really mad. I asked on old preacher once, “Why are they doing this to me?” “They are not,” he said. “You are!” Really made me mad. Bronc really made me mad once. For some time, I had been telling him about Shine’s problems. At last he turned and looked me right in the running lights, and said, “It’s not the horse. It’s you! It’s never the horse. It’s always us!” Really made me mad. Problem was … Bronc and the old preacher were right. I sensed the young man was angry with me because I couldn’t tell him the “answer.” >>62 1 2 4 1 Menu-Driven programming with lock-out secure access 3 4 User selectable 22 different units of measurement 2 Output options: contact closure, open collector, optically isolated, 4-20mA loop 3 NEMA 4X rated enclosure with non-intrusive register programming Digital Data & Communication for SCADA Systems & Confined Space Hazards The intelligent FlowCom™ Register for the Mc ® Propeller and Water Specialties ® Flow Meters is a digital display that The dependable indicates flow rate and Mc Propeller and volumetric totalized flow. Water Specialties It’s ideal for direct reading, Flow Meters are large SCADA systems the industry’s most and remote mounting in popular propeller confined space applications. instruments for This microprocessormunicipal, industrial based display features and agricultural nonvolatile memory and water applications. a NEMA 4X enclosure. The propeller meter brain power that you always wanted is here from McCrometer. WEB m c c r o m e t e r . c o m Free Water Flow Meter Guide on CD Call McCrometer or visit us on the web for your copy. 3255 West Stetson Avenue, Hemet, CA 92545 Phone 951-652-6811 | Toll Free 800-220-2279 ©2008 McCrometer, Inc. 60 • Third Quarter 381760_McCrometer.indd 1 2008 5/23/08 4:23:35 PM http://www.mccrometer.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008

Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008 Contents From the President From Hypo to Gas - A Forward Leap If You Lose All Your Data Today... Would You Still Be in Business Tomorrow? Weaving the Wireless Web Rural Water and the Farm Bill Ensuring Your Water System's Security Guarding Against Becoming a Victim of Fraud 10 Ways to Improve Utility Efficiency New Technology Making a Difference By Being Involved Regulatory Update Source Water Protection Corner Throwing My Loop Cub Scouts Visit Alliance of Indiana Rural Water's Spring Conference Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers From the CEO

Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008

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