def safe_slice(list_, *args):
    """ safe_slice(list_, [start], stop, [end], [step])
        Slices list and truncates if out of bounds
    """
    if len(args) == 3:
        start = args[0]
        stop  = args[1]
        step  = args[2]
    else:
        step = 1
        if len(args) == 2:
            start = args[0]
            stop  = args[1]
        else:
            start = 0
            stop = args[0]
    len_ = len(list_)
    if stop > len_:
        stop = len_
    return list_[slice(start, stop, step)]
safe_slice(list_, [start], stop, [end], [step])
        Slices list and truncates if out of bounds