# File lib/hawlerhelper.rb, line 125
  def self.request(method, uri, referer, headers, proxy, proxyport)
    uri = valid_uri(uri) or return nil
    method.downcase!

    begin
      http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port, proxy, proxyport)

      req = uri.query.nil? ? uri.path : "#{uri.path}?#{uri.query}"

      unless (referer.nil?)
        headers["Referer"] = referer.to_s unless (headers["Referer"])
      end

      if (uri.scheme == "https")
        http.use_ssl = true 
        http.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_NONE
      end
      response = http.send "request_#{method}", req, headers
    rescue Exception => e
      puts "Connection to #{uri} failed! -- #{e}"
      return nil
    end

    response
  end