get fortune

;; Designed on a full Slackware 15 install.
;; Relies on the fortune application.

;; Parameters to control the output of fortune.
;; 'safe
;; 'maybe-offensive
;; 'offensive
;; 'star-trek

(cl-defun get-fortune (&optional (category 'safe))
  "Use the included fortune application to return a saying."
  (with-temp-buffer
    (let* ((db (cond
                ((eq category 'safe)            "all")
                ((eq category 'maybe-offensive) "-a")
                ((eq category 'offensive)       "-o")
                ((eq category 'star-trek)       "startrek")
                (t                              "all"))))
      (call-process "fortune" nil (current-buffer) nil db)
      (buffer-substring-no-properties (point-min) (point-max)))))