jkeck/application.html.erb

## application.html.erb
<html>
  <body>
    <%= some_method %>
  </body>
</html>

## application_helper.rb
module ApplicationHelper
  def some_method
    begin
      xml = Timeout::timeout(15) {
        #some net http call that would take longer than 15 seconds
      }
    rescue Timeout::Error
      return "The operation timed out"
    end
    xml
  end
end
	module ApplicationHelper
	def some_method
	begin
	xml = Timeout::timeout(15) {
	#some net http call that would take longer than 15 seconds
	}
	rescue Timeout::Error
	return "The operation timed out"
	end
	xml
	end
	end