Running a program, DOS-style

function Invoke-Shell ([string]$command, [string]$params, [switch]$raw)
{
  if (-not $raw)
  {
    $command = "`"$command`" $params"
  }
 
  cmd.exe /s /c "`"$command`""
}

Running a program as a new process

function Start-Process ([string]$application, [string]$params)
{
  [System.Diagnostics.Process]::Start($application, $params) | out-null
}

Tip of the day

"$($foo.bar)"
"$(get-item $name)"
"$($a + $b)"

Dual Filter

function DualFilter ([string]$name, [string]$params, [scriptblock]$filter)
{
  if ($params -ne "") {$params = ", $params"}
  $params = "param( [ValueFromPipeline][object]`$_ $params )"
  invoke-expression "cmdlet global:$name {$params process {$filter}}"
}

DualFilter Write-Colored '[ConsoleColor]$color' {
  Write-Host $_ -foregroundcolor $color
}

Including Scripts

function include ([string]$path)
{
  get-item "$path.ps1" | foreach-object {. $_.FullName}
}

. include "c:\ps\*"

Tip of the Day

She was resting her head in her hand. She had fallen asleep again. Hopefully they had not, against all evidence, all been killed in one easily avoidable fell swoop because she was sleeping on Sage Drive duty. She checked the screen, just in case.

Top secret cutting-edge future prediction technology, she thought. Like magic, more text appeared.

The beauty of it all, the text-based interface. Nothing to get in the way of... of...

She reflected on how she had almost managed to convince herself that the Sage Drive made good conversation.

Her slightly depressing reverie was interrupted by a muffled cheer. Her chair squeaked as she turned to look around. No one else was on the bridge. They were having another party. With a sigh, she activated the communication utility. Better than mind-reading.

The rest of the universe seemed to quickly recede into the darkness, especially everything below her stomach.

She waited for a period long enough to be acceptably considered a confused silence and responded:

Her bewilderment at this strange interjection was cut short, as she noticed that the noises were starting to get closer. People were singing. Eventually, she was able to make out the words.

The door to the bridge opened, and the singing broke into a sea of background noise as people dispersed and sat down.

She didn't bother looking. She drew back her arm is if to punch the screen when Adam's voice came from behind her. "Sarah? Is something wrong?"

She turned to the captain and waved nervously, while making a furious hand gesture behind her back towards one of the cameras on the bridge.

Julius asked, as Alex was sitting down. Julius seemed to be running the show, which was unusual for an advisory NIL, Ms. Featherstone note. Alex seemed rather like the fool in a two-person slapstick routine, minus the slapstick. She turned back to look at Julius. She returned her gaze silently and unblinkingly, in the manner of all NILs.
     We once suggested making everyone think we were blinking, but your people decided that made them uncomfortable.
     Ah yes, they did that too. "But I digress," she said out loud, startling Alex, who had been sitting in silence for several minutes, unaware of the mental narrative. "Have you heard the story of the three sages?"

...and the papers on her desk were disturbed recently, and still settling. He was about to call for help when Julius tugged on his sleeve. He turned back around to see Ms. Featherstone climbing back onto her chair. "Was there any reason for that just now, or do they not teach you about opening doors at that school of yours?" she said, dismissing the secretary, who was making frantic apologetic hand gestures just outside the door. Alex settled down. “Opening doors was not in the curriculum,” he began, “but I-” He was cut off by a mental throat-clearing from Julius. She had her head on her desk.
     “We are out in society, Alex,” Julius explained, in a tone void of annoyance, pity, or exasperation. “People ask rhetorical questions and use figures of speech. He turned to look at Ms. Featherstone. “I apologize for his social ineptitude.” He said. There was a long silence. “Erm, how about we leave and start over again?”
      “That sounds like a wonderful idea. Let’s do that.”

Suddenly, apparently without any external stimuli whatsoever, he became quite alarmed. The time had passed. He took out his pocketwatch, and hurriedly looked from it to the clock on the wall. This must be some sort of error on his part, unless... the organization wasn't as well-oiled a machine as he thought? No... impossible. He turned to look at Julius. If Julius noticed his turmoil, he was showing no sign of it. All he got was a feeling of deep and profound thought, which wasn't that different from usual. No, this was no time to get distracted. The time was definately past. Now was the time for action. He rushed to the door of the office, and, before the secretary could so much as raise her hand, kicked it open...