getparsedresponse.rb

def get_parsed_response(url, query)
  # Use HTTParty gem to make a get request 
  response = HTTParty.get(url + query)
  # Parse the resulting JSON so it's now a Ruby Hash
  parsed = JSON.parse(response.body)
  # Return nil if we got no results from the API.  
  parsed['status'] != 'ZERO_RESULTS' ? parsed : nil
end