Applescript is a scripting language I haven't played much with since I got my Powerbook. I actually haven't found any use of it...until now 
I have created a small Applescript which uses the shell "utility" fortune to display some wisdom in the everyday work. From the man page for fortune: «fortune - print a random, hopefully interesting, adage». The following script lets the user loop through random quotes and smart little notes and gives the option to send it to the clipboard:
- repeat
- set f_text to (do shell script "/usr/local/bin/fortune -s -n 80
- /usr/local/share/fortunes/computers")
- display dialog ¬
- f_text with icon 1 ¬
- with title ¬
- "Send Fortune to Clipboard?" buttons {"Cancel", "Next", "OK"} ¬
- default button "Next"
- if button returned of result is "Cancel" then
- display dialog "Cancel"
- exit repeat
- else if button returned of result is "Next" then
- else
- set the clipboard to f_text
- exit repeat
- end if
- end repeat
(set f_text to (do shell script "/usr/local/bin/fortune -s -n 80 /usr/local/share/fortunes/computers") should be one the same line)
As you can see, I have specified some options for the fortune command. The following bit specifies that the length of the fortunes should not be more than 80 characters:
- -s -n 80
-s can be replaced for -l to specify a minimum length instead. The path which I set at the end is the path to computer related cookies.
It is also possible to use this Applescript to set new status/mood messages in iChat/Skype (and possibly other IM applications too, but I have only tested on these). To do this, replace the line which says "set the clipboard to f_text" to:
- tell application "iChat"
- set the status message to f_text
- end tell
- tell application "Skype"
- send command "SET PROFILE MOOD_TEXT" & f_text
- end tell
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