Dear Log,
Today's hack from my ~/.emacs file:
(global-set-key "\M-t" 'spawn-terminal)
(defun spawn-terminal ()
"Spawn a new terminal window"
(interactive)
(cond
((string-equal "screen" (getenv "TERM"))
(shell-command "screen -X screen")) ;DWIM!
((string-equal "x" window-system)
(shell-command "gnome-terminal&"))
(t (error
"I don't know how to spawn a terminal"))))
Customize as you like.