def read(*parts):
    """
    Build an absolute path from *parts* and and return the contents of the
    resulting file.  Assume UTF-8 encoding.
    """
    with codecs.open(os.path.join(HERE, *parts), "rb", "utf-8") as f:
        return f.read()
def with_status_check(obj, *args, **kwargs):
            if obj.status not in valid_start_statuses:
                exception_msg = (
                    u"Error calling {} {}: status is '{}', must be one of: {}"
                ).format(func, obj, obj.status, valid_start_statuses)
                raise VerificationException(exception_msg)
            return func(obj, *args, **kwargs)