code: function httpRequest(url) {
      var deferred = Q.defer();
      request(url, function(err, response, body) {
        if (err) {
          deferred.reject(new Error(err));
        } else if (!err && response.statusCode !== 200) {
          deferred.reject(new Error(response.statusCode));
        } else {
          deferred.resolve(body);
        }
      });
      return deferred.promise;
    }
docs: Helper function that handles the http request
  
  @param {string} url