util.py

import os
import signal
import subprocess

def call(*args, **kwargs):
    background = kwargs.pop('background', False)
    input = kwargs.pop('input', None)
    stdin = subprocess.PIPE if input else None
    p = subprocess.Popen(args, stdin=stdin,
                         preexec_fn=lambda: signal.signal(signal.SIGPIPE, signal.SIG_DFL),
                         cwd=os.environ['HOME'], close_fds=True, **kwargs)
    if not background:
        return p.communicate(input)