() phillip.lord@newcastle.ac.uk (Phillip Lord)
() Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:12:33 +0100

   (defun process-diary-file ()
     "Perform some manipulation of the diary file"
     (interactive)
     (find-file "~/.signature")
     (goto-char 1)
     (message
      (thing-at-point 'word)))

   [...] However, if you can avoid or minimize using
   global state in this way, it will make your life
   easier.

Another piece of global state is the list of buffers.
The command above has a side effect that you can avoid
by using ‘with-temp-buffer’ and ‘insert-file-contents’.

-- 
Thien-Thi Nguyen
   GPG key: 4C807502
   (if you're human and you know it)
      read my lisp: (responsep (questions 'technical)
                               (not (via 'mailing-list)))
                     => nil