httparty problem

sessions_controller.rb

class SessionsController < ApplicationController
  @base_uri = 'service.hwrdprkns.com:8080/'
  
  def new
    @title = 'Sign In'
  end
  
  def create
    
    if params[:session][:email].blank? || params[:session][:password].blank?
      flash[:error] = 'You must fill out both fields.'
      @title = 'Sign In'
      redirect_to '/signin'
    end
    
    vendor = authenticate(params[:session][:email],params[:session][:password])
    if vendor.nil?
      flash.now[:error] = 'Invalid email and password combination.'
      redirect_to '/signin'
    else
      #redirect user to show page. 
    end
  end
  
  
  def authenticate(email,password)
    key = Base64.encode64(email+':'+password)
    params_hash = {:headers => {:authentication =>'Basic '+key}}
    response = HTTParty.get(@base_uri+'vendors/verifyVendorCredentials', params_hash)
    raise response
  end
  
  def destroy
    sign_out
    redirect_to root_path
  end
  
end