# File rbot/utils.rb, line 146
    def Utils.http_get(uristr, readtimeout=8, opentimeout=4)
      
      # ruby 1.7 or better needed for this (or 1.6 and debian unstable)
      Net::HTTP.version_1_2
      # (so we support the 1_1 api anyway, avoids problems)

      uri = URI.parse uristr
      query = uri.path
      if uri.query
        query += "?#{uri.query}"
      end

      proxy_host = nil
      proxy_port = nil
      if(ENV['http_proxy'] && proxy_uri = URI.parse(ENV['http_proxy']))
        proxy_host = proxy_uri.host
        proxy_port = proxy_uri.port
      end

      http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port, proxy_host, proxy_port)
      http.open_timeout = opentimeout
      http.read_timeout = readtimeout

      http.start {|http|
        begin
          resp , = http.get(query)
          if resp.code == "200"
            return resp.body
          end
        rescue => e
          # cheesy for now
          $stderr.puts "Utils.http_get exception: #{e}, while trying to get #{uristr}"
          return nil
        end
      }
    end