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def http_get( url )
  # get the fiber our browser request is being processed in
  calling_fiber = Fiber.current

  # make an async request
  # EventMachine queues the http.callback block and executes it at some point after the http request returns
  http = EventMachine::HttpRequest.new( url ).get
  http.callback { calling_fiber.resume( http ) }

  # the calling_fiber yields control back to the EM reactor, which can continue processing other browser requests etc
  # When the async http request returns, the callback block is queued for EM to execute when it received control again.
  # The callback resumes the calling fiber, and the get method returns the result of the http get request.
  return calling_fiber.yield
end